[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 169 (Thursday, October 11, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6876-S6879]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IRAQ AND SYRIA GENOCIDE EMERGENCY RELIEF AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2017

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 227, H.R. 390.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 390) to provide emergency relief for victims 
     of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in Iraq 
     and Syria, for accountability for perpetrators of these 
     crimes, and for other purposes.



 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  On page S6876, October 11, 2018, in the second column, the 
following appears: The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report 
the bill by title. The legislative clerk read as follows: A bill 
(H.R. 390) to provide for emergency relief to victims of genocide, 
crimes against humanity, and war crimes in Iraq and Syria, to 
provide accountability for perpetrators of these crimes, and for 
other purposes.
  
  The online Record has been corrected to read: The PRESIDING 
OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The legislative 
clerk read as follows: A bill (H.R. 390) to provide emergency 
relief for victims of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war 
crimes in Iraq and Syria, for accountability for perpetrators of 
these crimes, and for other purposes.


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, 
which had been reported from the Committee on Foreign Relations, with 
an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu 
thereof the following:

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Iraq and 
     Syria Genocide Emergency Relief and Accountability Act of 
     2017''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings; sense of Congress.
Sec. 3. Sense of Congress on the urgent need for a political solution 
              to the crisis in Syria.
Sec. 4. Definitions.
Sec. 5. Statement of policy.
Sec. 6. Actions to promote accountability in Iraq and Syria for acts of 
              genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.
Sec. 7. Identification of and assistance to address humanitarian, 
              stabilization, and recovery needs of certain persons in 
              Iraq and Syria.
Sec. 8. Reports.
Sec. 9. Technical assistance authorized.
Sec. 10. Department of State Rewards for Justice Program.
Sec. 11. Syria Study Group.
Sec. 12. Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian 
              Arab Republic.
Sec. 13. Prohibition on additional funding.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) Religious and ethnic minorities in Iraq and Syria are 
     persecuted groups. The Secretary of State of State declared 
     on March 17, 2016, and August 15, 2017, that the Islamic 
     State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), is responsible for genocide, 
     crimes against humanity, and other atrocity crimes against 
     several of these groups, including Christians and Yezidis.
       (2) The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on 
     the Syrian Arab Republic stated in its February 3, 2016, 
     report, ``The Government has committed the crimes against 
     humanity of extermination, murder, rape or other forms of 
     sexual violence, torture, imprisonment, enforced 
     disappearance and other inhuman acts. Based on the same 
     conduct, war crimes have also been committed. Both Jabhat Al-
     Nusra and some anti-Government armed groups have committed 
     the war crimes of murder, cruel treatment, and torture.''.
       (3) The International Criminal Investigative Training 
     Assistance Program and the Office of Overseas Prosecutorial 
     Development Assistance and Training of the Department of 
     Justice have provided technical assistance to governmental 
     judicial and law enforcement entities in Iraq, including with 
     funding support from the Department of State.
       (4) According to the Department of State's annual reports 
     on international religious freedom--
       (A) the number of Christians living in Iraq has dropped 
     from an estimated 800,000 to 1,400,000 in 2002 to fewer than 
     250,000 in 2016; and
       (B) the number of Yezidis living in Iraq has dropped from 
     500,000 in 2013 to between 350,000 and 400,000 in 2016.
       (5) The annual reports on international religious freedom 
     also suggest that--
       (A) Christian communities living in Syria, which had 
     accounted for between 8 and 10 percent of Syria's total 
     population in 2010, are now considerably smaller as a result 
     of the civil war; and
       (B) the population of approximately 80,000 Yezidis in 2010 
     may now be larger because of refugees from Iraq.
       (6) On December 21, 2016, the United Nations General 
     Assembly adopted a resolution to establish the International, 
     Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the 
     Investigation and Prosecution of Those Responsible for the 
     Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the 
     Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011.
       (7) Local communities and entities have sought to mitigate 
     the impact of violence directed against religious and ethnic 
     minorities in Iraq and Syria, including the Chaldean Catholic 
     Archdiocese of Erbil (Kurdistan Region of Iraq), which has 
     used private funds to provide assistance to internally 
     displaced Christians, Yezidis, and Muslims throughout the 
     greater Erbil region, while growing needs and diminishing 
     resources have made it increasingly difficult to continue 
     these efforts.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--Congress--
       (1) strongly condemns--
       (A) the ongoing violence, the use of chemical weapons, 
     targeting of civilian populations with barrel, incendiary, 
     and cluster bombs and SCUD missiles, and the systematic gross 
     human rights violations carried out by the Government of 
     Syria and pro-government forces under the direction of 
     President Bashar al-Assad; and
       (B) all abuses committed by violent extremist groups and 
     other combatants involved in the civil war in Syria;
       (2) expresses its support for the people of Syria seeking 
     democratic change;

[[Page S6877]]

       (3) urges all parties to the conflict--
       (A) to immediately halt indiscriminate attacks on 
     civilians;
       (B) to allow for the delivery of humanitarian and medical 
     assistance; and
       (C) to end sieges of civilian populations;
       (4) calls on the President to support efforts in Syria, and 
     on the part of the international community, to ensure 
     accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and 
     genocide committed during the conflict; and
       (5) supports the request in United Nations Security Council 
     Resolutions 2139 (2014), 2165 (2014), and 2191 (2014) for the 
     Secretary-General to regularly report to the Security Council 
     on the implementation of the resolutions, including paragraph 
     2 of Resolution 2139, which ``demands that all parties 
     immediately put an end to all forms of violence [and] cease 
     and desist from all violations of international humanitarian 
     law and violations and abuses of human rights''.

     SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE URGENT NEED FOR A POLITICAL 
                   SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS IN SYRIA.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The transnational Salafi-jihadi organizations Islamic 
     State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and al Qaeda are utilizing the 
     conflict in Syria and the actions of the Assad regime to 
     recruit and mobilize fighter and popular support.
       (2) The crisis in Syria has led to the creation of 
     terrorist safe havens controlled by ISIS and al Qaeda, along 
     with other extremist groups, which have become bases from 
     which to plan, direct, and inspire attacks against the United 
     States and its allies and partners.
       (3) The spread of violence perpetuated by the civil war in 
     Syria and the flow of refugees is a threat to the security of 
     our allies in the Middle East and Europe, placing immense 
     domestic and humanitarian burdens on Syria's neighbors, most 
     notably Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, and Iraq.
       (4) The Syrian conflict has allowed Iran's Islamic 
     Revolutionary Guard Corps and its proxies to increase their 
     influence in parts of Syria and potentially threaten Israel's 
     borders.
       (5) The United Nations Security Council resolutions 2332 
     (2016), 2268 (2016), and 2139 (2014) call for the 
     implementation of a cessation of hostilities in Syria and 
     reaffirm the international community's support for the 
     immediate, direct, and uninhibited access of humanitarian 
     workers throughout the Syrian Arab Republic.
       (6) The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 
     estimates that the Syrian conflict has created over 5,000,000 
     refugees and 6,300,000 internally displaced persons.
       (7) Widespread and systematic attacks on civilians, 
     schools, hospitals, and other civilian infrastructure, in 
     violation of international humanitarian law, continue in 
     Syria, in particular as result of the actions of the Assad 
     regime and its Russian and Iranian supporters.
       (8) Amnesty International has documented evidence of mass 
     human rights abuses of detainees at the Assad Regime's 
     Saydnaya Military Prison, including the summary execution by 
     hanging of an estimated 5,000 to 13,000 detainees between 
     September 2011 and December 2015.
       (9) The regime of Bashar al-Assad has repeatedly blocked 
     civilian access to or diverted humanitarian assistance, 
     including medical supplies, from besieged and hard-to-reach 
     areas, in violation of United Nations Security Council 
     resolutions.
       (10) The Assad regime is subject to and in violation of 
     both United Nations Security Council Resolution 2118 (2013) 
     on the Framework for Elimination of Syrian Chemical Weapons 
     and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2209 (2015) 
     Condemning the Use of Chlorine Gas in Syria.
       (11) The Governments of the Russian Federation and Iran 
     have supported the Assad regime, perpetuated the conflict, 
     and deployed tactics and strategies that have caused grave 
     harm to civilians, including their conduct in the siege of 
     eastern Aleppo which may constitute war crimes and crimes 
     against humanity.
       (12) The United States Government has provided nearly 
     $6,000,000,000 since 2011 in humanitarian assistance to 
     communities and people directly impacted by the Syrian 
     conflict, including $364,000,000 that will be provided in 
     fiscal year 2017 for refugees and other people displaced by 
     the Syrian conflict.
       (13) The United States Armed Forces are leading the Global 
     Coalition to Counter ISIS and are deployed with Coalition 
     allies within the territory of Syria and are working by, 
     with, and through local Syrian partner forces to defeat ISIS 
     and stabilize territory taken from it.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--Congress--
       (1) urges all parties to the conflict in Syria, 
     particularly the Russian Federation, Iran, and Iranian-backed 
     militias, to immediately halt indiscriminate attacks, the 
     imposition of starvation sieges, and other forms of warfare 
     directed against civilians and civilian infrastructure;
       (2) strongly urges all parties to the conflict to respect 
     the safety, security, independence, and impartiality of 
     humanitarian workers and medical professionals, ensuring 
     freedom of movement to deliver aid, particularly in areas of 
     Syria controlled by opposition forces;
       (3) encourages the President to make it the policy of the 
     United States Government to continue to coordinate a 
     comprehensive and generous response to the humanitarian 
     crisis in Syria, including assistance and development and 
     protection of human rights inside Syria and in the region;
       (4) urges all parties in Syria to support the immediate and 
     full implementation of United Nations Security Council 
     Resolution 2268 (2016), which calls for a cessation of 
     hostilities in the conflict, except with respect to ISIS and 
     al Qaeda and their affiliated organizations, and to 
     facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance and 
     reconstruction of war-affected communities in Syria;
       (5) affirms that the elimination of al Qaeda and ISIS safe 
     havens in Syria from which those organizations can plan and 
     launch attacks against the United States and its partners is 
     a vital national security interest of the United States;
       (6) affirms that the stability of key European and Middle 
     Eastern partners is vital to the national security of the 
     United States, and preventing the Syrian conflict from 
     undermining that stability is a top priority for the United 
     States;
       (7) calls on the international community to continue to 
     support neighboring countries and host communities who are 
     generously supporting refugees and internally displaced 
     persons fleeing the conflict in Syria;
       (8) calls on the President to continue the active 
     participation of the United States Government in a robust and 
     effective diplomatic process to achieve a political agreement 
     to the Syrian conflict; and
       (9) urges the President to develop and submit to the 
     Committees on Foreign Relations and Armed Services of the 
     Senate and the Committees on Foreign Affairs and Armed 
     Services of the House of Representatives within 90 days a 
     strategy for providing long-term stability and security in 
     areas seized from ISIS in Syria.

     SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
     ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
       (B) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate;
       (C) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
       (D) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (E) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of 
     Representatives; and
       (F) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives.
       (2) Genocide.--The term ``genocide'' means any offense 
     described in section 1091(a) of title 18, United States Code.
       (3) Humanitarian, stabilization, and recovery needs.--The 
     term ``humanitarian, stabilization, and recovery needs'', 
     with respect to an individual, includes water, sanitation, 
     hygiene, food security, nutrition, shelter, housing, 
     reconstruction, medical, education, and psychosocial needs.
       (4) Hybrid tribunal.--The term ``hybrid tribunal'' means a 
     temporary criminal tribunal that involves a combination of 
     domestic and international lawyers, judges, and other 
     professionals to prosecute individuals suspected of 
     committing war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide.
       (5) Internationalized domestic court.--The term 
     ``internationalized domestic court'' means a domestic court 
     with the support of international advisers.
       (6) Transitional justice.--The term ``transitional 
     justice'' means the range of judicial, nonjudicial, formal, 
     informal, retributive, and restorative measures employed by 
     countries transitioning out of armed conflict or repressive 
     regimes--
       (A) to redress legacies of atrocities; and
       (B) to promote long-term, sustainable peace.
       (7) War crime.--The term ``war crime'' has the meaning 
     given the term in section 2441(c) of title 18, United States 
     Code.

     SEC. 5. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

       It is the policy of the United States to ensure that 
     assistance for humanitarian, stabilization, and recovery 
     needs of individuals who are or were nationals and residents 
     of Iraq or Syria, and of communities from those countries, is 
     directed toward those individuals and communities with the 
     greatest need, including those individuals from communities 
     of religious and ethnic minorities.

     SEC. 6. ACTIONS TO PROMOTE ACCOUNTABILITY IN IRAQ AND SYRIA 
                   FOR ACTS OF GENOCIDE, CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, 
                   AND WAR CRIMES.

       (a) Assistance.--The Secretary of State and the 
     Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
     Development are authorized, in consultation with the 
     government of Iraq, to provide assistance, including 
     financial and technical assistance, as may be necessary and 
     appropriate to support the efforts of entities, including 
     nongovernmental organizations with expertise in international 
     criminal investigations and law, to undertake the following 
     activities to address crimes of genocide, crimes against 
     humanity, or war crimes in Iraq by ISIS since January 2014:
       (1) Conducting criminal investigations.
       (2) Developing indigenous investigative and judicial 
     skills, including by partnering, directly mentoring, and 
     providing equipment and infrastructure, as necessary, to 
     effectively adjudicate cases in accordance with due process 
     and respect for the rule of law.
       (3) Collecting and preserving evidence and the chain of 
     evidence, including for use in prosecutions in domestic 
     courts, hybrid tribunals, and internationalized domestic 
     courts, consistent with the activities described in 
     subsection (b).
       (b) Actions by Foreign Governments.--The Secretary of 
     State, in consultation with the Attorney General, the 
     Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of National 
     Intelligence, and the Director of the Federal Bureau of 
     Investigation, shall encourage governments of foreign 
     countries to include in appropriate security databases and 
     security screening procedures of such countries information 
     to identify suspected ISIS members for whom credible evidence 
     exists of having committed acts of genocide, crimes

[[Page S6878]]

     against humanity or war crimes in Iraq and Syria since 
     January 2014, and to prosecute such individuals for acts of 
     genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes, as 
     appropriate.
       (c) Consultation.--In carrying out subsection (a), the 
     Secretary of State shall consult with, and consider credible 
     information from, entities described in such subsection.

     SEC. 7. IDENTIFICATION OF AND ASSISTANCE TO ADDRESS 
                   HUMANITARIAN, STABILIZATION, AND RECOVERY NEEDS 
                   OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN IRAQ AND SYRIA.

       (a) Identification.--The Secretary of State, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator 
     of the United States Agency for International Development, 
     and the Director of National Intelligence, shall seek to 
     identify--
       (1) the threats of persecution and other early-warning 
     indicators of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war 
     crimes against individuals--
       (A) who are or were nationals and residents of Iraq or 
     Syria, are members of a religious or ethnic minority group in 
     either such country, and against whom ISIS has committed acts 
     of genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes since 
     January 2014, as determined by the Secretary of State; or
       (B) who are members of another religious or ethnic minority 
     group in Iraq or Syria that the Secretary of State has 
     identified as a persecuted group;
       (2) the religious and ethnic minority groups in Iraq or 
     Syria identified pursuant to paragraph (1) that are at risk 
     of forced migration within or across the borders of Iraq, 
     Syria, or a country of first asylum, and the primary reasons 
     for such risk;
       (3) the humanitarian, stabilization, and recovery needs of 
     individuals and groups described in paragraphs (1) and (2), 
     including the assistance provided by the United States and by 
     the United Nations, respectively, to address the 
     humanitarian, stabilization, and recovery needs, and mitigate 
     the risks of forced migration, of individuals and groups 
     described in paragraphs (1) and (2), and assistance provided 
     through the Funding Facility for Immediate Stabilization and 
     Funding Facility for Expanded Stabilization; and
       (4) to the extent practicable and appropriate, the 
     entities, including faith-based entities, that are providing 
     assistance to address the humanitarian, stabilization, and 
     recovery needs of individuals and groups described in 
     paragraphs (1) and (2), and the extent to which the United 
     States is providing assistance to or through such entities.
       (b) Additional Consultation.--In carrying out subsection 
     (a), the Secretary of State shall consult with, and consider 
     credible information from--
       (1) individuals and groups described in paragraphs (1) and 
     (2) of such subsection; and
       (2) entities described in paragraph (4) of such subsection.
       (c) Assistance.--The Secretary of State and the 
     Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
     Development are authorized to provide assistance, including 
     financial and technical assistance as necessary and 
     appropriate, to support entities described in subsection 
     (a)(4) that the Secretary and the Administrator determine 
     have access, and are capable of effectively managing and 
     delivering such assistance, to the individuals and groups 
     described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of such subsection.

     SEC. 8. REPORTS.

       (a) Implementation Report.--Not later than 90 days after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State 
     shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional 
     committees that includes--
       (1) a detailed description of the efforts taken, and 
     efforts proposed to be taken, to implement the provisions of 
     this Act;
       (2) an assessment of--
       (A) the feasibility and advisability of prosecuting 
     suspected ISIS members for whom credible evidence exists of 
     having committed acts of genocide, crimes against humanity, 
     or war crimes in Iraq since January 2014, in domestic courts 
     in Iraq, hybrid tribunals, and internationalized domestic 
     courts; and
       (B) the measures needed--
       (i) to ensure effective criminal investigations of such 
     individuals; and
       (ii) to effectively collect and preserve evidence and 
     preserve the chain of evidence, for prosecution;
       (3) recommendations for legislative remedies and 
     administrative actions to facilitate the implementation of 
     this Act.
       (b) Support for the Investigation and Prosecution of War 
     Crimes.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a 
     report to the appropriate congressional committees that 
     includes--
       (1) a detailed description of the efforts taken, and 
     efforts proposed to be taken, by the Secretary of State to 
     implement subsections (a) and (b) of section 5; and
       (2) an assessment of--
       (A) the feasibility and advisability of prosecuting 
     suspected ISIS members for whom credible evidence exists of 
     having committed genocide, crimes against humanity, or war 
     crimes in Iraq since January 2014, in domestic courts in 
     Iraq, hybrid tribunals, and internationalized domestic 
     courts; and
       (B) the capacity building, and other measures, needed to 
     ensure effective criminal investigations of such individuals.
       (c) Report on Accountability for War Crimes, Crimes Against 
     Humanity, and Genocide in Syria.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall 
     submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees 
     on war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in 
     Syria. The Secretary of State shall submit another such 
     report not later than 180 days after the Secretary determines 
     that the violence in Syria has ceased.
       (2) Elements.--The reports submitted under paragraph (1) 
     shall include--
       (A) a description of alleged war crimes, crimes against 
     humanity, and genocide perpetrated during the civil war in 
     Syria, including--
       (i) incidents that may constitute war crimes, crimes 
     against humanity, or genocide committed by the regime of 
     President Bashar al-Assad and all forces fighting on its 
     behalf;
       (ii) incidents that may constitute war crimes, crimes 
     against humanity, or genocide committed by violent extremist 
     groups, anti-government forces, and any other combatants in 
     the conflict;
       (iii) any incidents that may violate the principle of 
     medical neutrality and, if possible, the identification of 
     the individual or individuals who engaged in or organized 
     such incidents; and
       (iv) if possible, a description of the conventional and 
     unconventional weapons used for such crimes and the origins 
     of such weapons; and
       (B) a description and assessment by the Office of Global 
     Criminal Justice of the Department of State, the United 
     States Agency for International Development, the Department 
     of Justice, and other appropriate agencies of programs that 
     the United States Government has undertaken to ensure 
     accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and 
     genocide perpetrated against the people of Syria by the 
     regime of President Bashar al-Assad, violent extremist 
     groups, and other combatants involved in the conflict, 
     including programs--
       (i) to train investigators within and outside of Syria on 
     documenting, investigating, developing findings of, and 
     identifying and locating alleged perpetrators of war crimes, 
     crimes against humanity, or genocide, including--

       (I) the number of United States Government or contract 
     personnel currently designated to work full-time on such 
     issues; and
       (II) identifying the authorities and appropriations being 
     used to support such training efforts;

       (ii) to promote and prepare for a transitional justice 
     process or processes for the perpetrators of war crimes, 
     crimes against humanity, and genocide in Syria beginning in 
     March 2011;
       (iii) to document, collect, preserve, and protect evidence 
     of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in 
     Syria, including support for Syrian, foreign, and 
     international nongovernmental organizations, and other 
     entities, including the International, Impartial and 
     Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and 
     Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious 
     Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab 
     Republic since March 2011 and the Independent International 
     Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic; and
       (iv) to assess the influence of accountability measures on 
     efforts to reach a negotiated settlement to the Syrian 
     conflict during the reporting period.
       (3) Form.--The reports required under paragraph (1) may be 
     submitted in unclassified or classified form, but shall 
     include a publicly available annex.
       (d) Transitional Justice Study.--Not later than 180 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
     State (acting through appropriate officials and offices, 
     which may include the Office of Global Criminal Justice), 
     after consultation with the Department of Justice, the United 
     States Agency for International Development, and other 
     appropriate Federal agencies, shall--
       (1) complete a study of the feasibility and desirability of 
     potential transitional justice mechanisms for Syria, 
     including a hybrid tribunal, to address war crimes, crimes 
     against humanity, and genocide perpetrated in Syria beginning 
     in March 2011; and
       (2) submit a detailed report of the results of the study 
     conducted under paragraph (1), including recommendations on 
     which transitional justice mechanisms the United States 
     Government should support, why such mechanisms should be 
     supported, and what type of support should be offered, to--
       (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
       (B) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
       (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives; and
       (D) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives.
       (e) Form.--
       (1) In general.--Except as provided in subsection (c)(3), 
     each report required under this section shall be submitted in 
     unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex, if 
     necessary.
       (2) Protection of witnesses and evidence.--In carrying out 
     this section, the Secretary of State shall take due care to 
     ensure that the identification of witnesses and physical 
     evidence are not publicly disclosed in a manner that might 
     place such persons at risk of harm or encourage the 
     destruction of evidence by the Government of Syria, violent 
     extremist groups, anti-government forces, or any other 
     combatants or participants in the conflict.

     SEC. 9. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of State (acting through 
     appropriate officials and offices, which may include the 
     Office of Global Criminal Justice), after consultation with 
     the Department of Justice and other appropriate Federal 
     agencies, is authorized to provide appropriate assistance to 
     support entities that, with respect to war crimes, crimes 
     against humanity, and genocide perpetrated by the regime of 
     President Bashar al-Assad, all forces fighting on its behalf, 
     and all non-state armed groups fighting in the country, 
     including violent extremist groups in Syria beginning in 
     March 2011--

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       (1) identify suspected perpetrators of war crimes, crimes 
     against humanity, and genocide;
       (2) collect, document, and protect evidence of crimes and 
     preserve the chain of custody for such evidence;
       (3) conduct criminal investigations;
       (4) build Syria's investigative and judicial capacities and 
     support prosecutions in the domestic courts of Syria, 
     provided that President Bashar al-Assad is no longer in 
     power;
       (5) support investigations by third-party states, as 
     appropriate; or
       (6) protect witnesses that may be helpful to prosecutions 
     or other transitional justice mechanisms.
       (b) Additional Assistance.--The Secretary of State, after 
     consultation with appropriate Federal agencies and the 
     appropriate congressional committees, and taking into account 
     the findings of the transitional justice study required under 
     section 7(d), is authorized to provide assistance to support 
     the creation and operation of transitional justice 
     mechanisms, including a potential hybrid tribunal, to 
     prosecute individuals suspected of committing war crimes, 
     crimes against humanity, or genocide in Syria beginning in 
     March 2011.
       (c) Briefing.--The Secretary of State shall provide 
     detailed, biannual briefings to the appropriate congressional 
     committees describing the assistance provided to entities 
     described in subsection (a).

     SEC. 10. DEPARTMENT OF STATE REWARDS FOR JUSTICE PROGRAM.

       Section 36(b)(10) of the State Department Basic Authorities 
     Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2708 (b)(10)) is amended by inserting 
     ``(including war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide 
     committed in Syria beginning in March 2011)'' after 
     ``genocide''.

     SEC. 11. SYRIA STUDY GROUP.

       (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established a working 
     group to be known as the ``Syria Study Group'' (in this 
     section referred to as the ``Group'').
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Group is to examine and 
     make recommendations with respect to the military and 
     diplomatic strategy of the United States with respect to the 
     conflict in Syria.
       (c) Composition.--
       (1) Membership.--The Group shall be composed of 8 members, 
     who shall be appointed as follows:
       (A) One member appointed by the chair of the Committee on 
     Armed Services of the Senate.
       (B) One member appointed by the ranking minority member of 
     the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate.
       (C) One member appointed by the chair of the Committee on 
     Foreign Relations of the Senate.
       (D) One member appointed by the ranking minority member of 
     the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
       (E) One member appointed by the chair of the Committee on 
     Armed Services of the House of Representatives.
       (F) One member appointed by the ranking minority member of 
     the Committee on Armed Services of the House of 
     Representatives.
       (G) One member appointed by the chair of the Committee on 
     Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
       (H) One member appointed by the ranking minority member of 
     the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives.
       (2) Co-chairs.--
       (A) The chair of the Committee on Armed Services of the 
     Senate, the chair of the Committee on Armed Services of the 
     House of Representatives, the chair of the Committee on 
     Foreign Relations of the Senate, and the chair of the 
     Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives 
     shall jointly designate 1 member of the Group to serve as co-
     chair of the Group.
       (B) The ranking minority member of the Committee on Armed 
     Services of the Senate, the ranking minority member of the 
     Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives, 
     the ranking minority member of the Committee on Foreign 
     Relations of the Senate, and the ranking minority member of 
     the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives shall jointly designate 1 member of the Group 
     to serve as co-chair of the Group.
       (3) Period of appointment; vacancies.--Members shall be 
     appointed for the life of the Group. Any vacancy in the Group 
     shall be filled in the same manner as the original 
     appointment.
       (d) Duties.--
       (1) Review.--The Group shall review the current situation 
     with respect to the United States military and diplomatic 
     strategy in Syria, including a review of current United 
     States objectives in Syria and the desired end state in 
     Syria.
       (2) Assessment and recommendations.--The Group shall--
       (A) conduct a comprehensive assessment of the current 
     situation in Syria, its impact on neighboring countries, 
     resulting regional and geopolitical threats to the United 
     States, and current military, diplomatic, and political 
     efforts to achieve a stable Syria; and
       (B) develop recommendations on a military and diplomatic 
     strategy for the United States with respect to the conflict 
     in Syria.
       (e) Cooperation From United States Government.--
       (1) In general.--The Group shall receive the full and 
     timely cooperation of the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary 
     of State, and the Director of National Intelligence in 
     providing the Group with analyses, briefings, and other 
     information necessary for the discharge of the duties of the 
     Group.
       (2) Liaison.--The Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of 
     State, and the Director of National Intelligence shall each 
     designate at least 1 officer or employee of their respective 
     organizations to serve as a liaison officer to the Group.
       (f) Report.--
       (1) Final report.--Not later than November 30, 2018, the 
     Group shall submit a report to the President, the Secretary 
     of Defense, the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, 
     the Committee on Armed Services of the House of 
     Representatives, the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
     Senate, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives that describes the findings, conclusions, and 
     recommendations of the Group under this section, including--
       (A) an assessment of the current security, political, 
     humanitarian, and economic situation in Syria;
       (B) an assessment of the current participation and 
     objectives of various external actors in Syria;
       (C) an assessment of the consequences of continued conflict 
     in Syria;
       (D) recommendations for a resolution of the conflict in 
     Syria, including options for a gradual political transition 
     to a post-Assad Syria and actions necessary for 
     reconciliation;
       (E) a roadmap for a United States and coalition strategy to 
     reestablish security and governance in Syria, including 
     recommendations for the synchronization of stabilization, 
     development, counterterrorism, and reconstruction efforts; 
     and
       (F) any other matters with respect to the conflict in Syria 
     that the Group considers appropriate.
       (2) Interim briefing.--Not later than June 30, 2018, the 
     Group shall provide a briefing to the Committee on Armed 
     Services of the Senate, the Committee on Armed Services of 
     the House of Representatives, the Committee on Foreign 
     Relations of the Senate, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
     of the House of Representatives on the status of its review 
     and assessment under subsection (d) and a discussion of any 
     interim recommendations developed by the Group as of the date 
     of the briefing.
       (3) Form of report.--The report submitted to Congress under 
     paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but 
     may include a classified annex.
       (g) Facilitation.--The United States Institute of Peace 
     shall take appropriate actions to facilitate the Group in the 
     discharge of its duties under this section.
       (h) Termination.--The Group shall terminate on the date 
     that is 6 months after the date on which the Group submits 
     the report required under subsection (f)(1).

     SEC. 12. INDEPENDENT INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON 
                   THE SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC.

       The Secretary of State, acting through the United States 
     Permanent Representative to the United Nations, should use 
     the voice, vote, and influence of the United States at the 
     United Nations to advocate that the United Nations Human 
     Rights Council, while the United States remains a member, 
     annually extend the mandate of the Independent International 
     Commission of Inquiry in the Syrian Arab Republic until the 
     Commission has completed its investigation of all alleged 
     violations of international human rights laws beginning in 
     March 2011 in the Syrian Arab Republic.

     SEC. 13. PROHIBITION ON ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

       No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out this Act. This Act shall be carried out using 
     amounts otherwise authorized and appropriated.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported 
amendment be withdrawn; that the Corker amendment at the desk be agreed 
to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and 
passed; that the title amendment at the desk be agreed to; and that the 
motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee-reported amendment was withdrawn.
  The amendment (No. 4055) in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
  (The amendment is printed in today's Record under ``Text of 
Amendments.'')
  The amendment was ordered to be engrossed and the bill to be read a 
third time.
  The bill was read the third time.
  The bill (H.R. 390), as amended, was passed.
  The amendment (No. 4056) was agreed to as follows:

                     (Purpose: To amend the title)

       Amend the title so as to read: ``An Act to provide relief 
     for victims of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war 
     crimes who are members of religious and ethnic minority 
     groups in Iraq and Syria, for accountability for perpetrators 
     of these crimes, and for other purposes.''.

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