[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 13 (Tuesday, January 22, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H970-H974]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              CAESAR SYRIA CIVILIAN PROTECTION ACT OF 2019

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 31) to require certain additional actions in connection with the 
national emergency with respect to Syria, and for other purposes, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 31

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Caesar Syria Civilian 
     Protection Act of 2019''.

 TITLE I--ADDITIONAL ACTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY 
                         WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA

     SEC. 101. MEASURES WITH RESPECT TO CENTRAL BANK OF SYRIA.

       (a) Determination Regarding Central Bank of Syria.--Not 
     later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall determine, under 
     section 5318A of title 31, United States Code, whether 
     reasonable grounds exist for concluding that the Central Bank 
     of Syria is a financial institution of primary money 
     laundering concern.
       (b) Enhanced Due Diligence and Reporting Requirements.--If 
     the Secretary of the Treasury determines under subsection (a) 
     that reasonable grounds exist for concluding that the Central 
     Bank of Syria is a financial institution of primary money 
     laundering concern, the Secretary, in consultation with the 
     Federal functional regulators (as defined in section 509 of 
     the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (15 U.S.C. 6809)), shall impose 
     one or more of the special measures described in section 
     5318A(b) of title 31, United States Code, with respect to the 
     Central Bank of Syria.
       (c) Report Required.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after making a 
     determination under subsection (a) as to whether or not the 
     Central Bank of Syria is a financial institution of primary 
     money laundering concern, the Secretary of the Treasury shall 
     submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report 
     that includes the reasons for the determination.
       (2) Form.--A report required by paragraph (1) shall be 
     submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified 
     annex.
       (3) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--In this 
     subsection, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
     means--
       (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on 
     Financial Services, and the Committee on Appropriations of 
     the House of Representatives; and
       (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on 
     Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the Senate.

     SEC. 102. SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO FOREIGN PERSONS THAT 
                   ENGAGE IN CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS.

       (a) Imposition of Sanctions.--
       (1) In general.--On and after the date that is 180 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President 
     shall impose the sanctions described in subsection (b) with 
     respect to a foreign person if the President determines that 
     the foreign person, on or after such date of enactment, 
     knowingly engages in an activity described in paragraph (2).
       (2) Activities described.--A foreign person engages in an 
     activity described in this paragraph if the foreign person--
       (A) knowingly provides significant financial, material, or 
     technological support to, or knowingly engages in a 
     significant transaction with--
       (i) the Government of Syria (including any entity owned or 
     controlled by the Government of Syria) or a senior political 
     figure of the Government of Syria;
       (ii) a foreign person that is a military contractor, 
     mercenary, or a paramilitary force knowingly operating in a 
     military capacity inside Syria for or on behalf of the 
     Government of Syria, the Government of the Russian 
     Federation, or the Government of Iran; or
       (iii) a foreign person subject to sanctions pursuant to the 
     International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 
     et seq.) with respect to Syria or any other provision of law 
     that imposes sanctions with respect to Syria;
       (B) knowingly sells or provides significant goods, 
     services, technology, information, or other support that 
     significantly facilitates the maintenance or expansion of the 
     Government of Syria's domestic production of natural gas, 
     petroleum, or petroleum products;
       (C) knowingly sells or provides aircraft or spare aircraft 
     parts that are used for military purposes in Syria for or on 
     behalf of the Government of Syria to any foreign person 
     operating in an area directly or indirectly controlled by the 
     Government of Syria or foreign forces associated with the 
     Government of Syria;
       (D) knowingly provides significant goods or services 
     associated with the operation of aircraft that are used for 
     military purposes in Syria for or on behalf of the Government 
     of Syria to any foreign person operating in an area described 
     in subparagraph (C); or
       (E) knowingly, directly or indirectly, provides significant 
     construction or engineering services to the Government of 
     Syria.
       (3) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that, 
     in implementing this section, the President should consider 
     financial support under paragraph (2)(A) to include the 
     provision of loans, credits, or export credits.
       (b) Sanctions Described.--
       (1) In general.--The sanctions to be imposed with respect 
     to a foreign person subject to subsection (a) are the 
     following:
       (A) Blocking of property.--The President shall exercise all 
     of the powers granted to the President under the 
     International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 
     et seq.) to the extent necessary to block and prohibit all 
     transactions in property and interests in property of the 
     foreign person if such property and interests in property are 
     in the United States, come within the United States, or are 
     or come within the possession or control of a United States 
     person.
       (B) Aliens ineligible for visas, admission, or parole.--
       (i) Visas, admission, or parole.--An alien who the 
     Secretary of State or the Secretary of Homeland Security (or 
     a designee of one of such Secretaries) knows, or has reason 
     to believe, has knowingly engaged in any activity described 
     in subsection (a)(2) is--

       (I) inadmissible to the United States;
       (II) ineligible to receive a visa or other documentation to 
     enter the United States; and
       (III) otherwise ineligible to be admitted or paroled into 
     the United States or to receive any other benefit under the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.).

       (ii) Current visas revoked.--

       (I) In general.--The issuing consular officer, the 
     Secretary of State, or the Secretary of Homeland Security (or 
     a designee of one of such Secretaries) shall, in accordance 
     with section 221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
     U.S.C. 1201(i)), revoke any visa or other entry documentation 
     issued to an alien described in clause (i) regardless of when 
     the visa or other entry documentation is issued.
       (II) Effect of revocation.--A revocation under subclause 
     (I)--

       (aa) shall take effect immediately; and
       (bb) shall automatically cancel any other valid visa or 
     entry documentation that is in the alien's possession.
       (2) Penalties.--The penalties provided for in subsections 
     (b) and (c) of section 206 of the International Emergency 
     Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) shall apply to a person 
     that violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or 
     causes a violation of regulations promulgated under section 
     303 to carry out paragraph (1)(A) to the same extent that 
     such penalties apply to a person that commits an unlawful act 
     described in section 206(a) of that Act.
       (3) Exception to comply with united nations headquarters 
     agreement.--Sanctions under paragraph (1)(B) shall not apply 
     with respect to an alien if admitting or paroling the alien 
     into the United States is necessary to permit the United 
     States to comply with the Agreement regarding the 
     Headquarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake Success 
     June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947, 
     between the United Nations and the United States, or other 
     applicable international obligations.

              TITLE II--ASSISTANCE FOR THE PEOPLE OF SYRIA

     SEC. 201. CODIFICATION OF CERTAIN SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF 
                   NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS' ACTIVITIES 
                   AUTHORIZED.

       (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), 
     section 542.516 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations 
     (relating to certain services in support of nongovernmental 
     organizations' activities authorized), as in effect on the 
     day before the date of the enactment of this Act, shall--
       (1) remain in effect on and after such date of enactment; 
     and
       (2) in the case of a nongovernmental organization that is 
     authorized to export or reexport services to Syria under such 
     section on

[[Page H971]]

     the day before such date of enactment, apply to such 
     organization on and after such date of enactment to the same 
     extent and in the same manner as such section applied to such 
     organization on the day before such date of enactment.
       (b) Exception.--
       (1) In general.--Section 542.516 of title 31, Code of 
     Federal Regulations, as codified under subsection (a), shall 
     not apply with respect to a foreign person that has been 
     designated as a foreign terrorist organization under section 
     219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189), 
     or otherwise designated as a terrorist organization, by the 
     Secretary of State, in consultation with or upon the request 
     of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland 
     Security.
       (2) Effective date.--Paragraph (1) shall apply with respect 
     to a foreign person on and after the date on which the 
     designation of that person as a terrorist organization is 
     published in the Federal Register.

     SEC. 202. BRIEFING ON STRATEGY TO FACILITATE HUMANITARIAN 
                   ASSISTANCE.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the President shall brief the 
     appropriate congressional committees on the strategy of the 
     President to help facilitate the ability of humanitarian 
     organizations to access financial services to help facilitate 
     the safe and timely delivery of assistance to communities in 
     need in Syria.
       (b) Consideration of Data From Other Countries and 
     Nongovernmental Organizations.--In preparing the strategy 
     required by subsection (a), the President shall consider 
     credible data already obtained by other countries and 
     nongovernmental organizations, including organizations 
     operating in Syria.
       (c) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
     means--
       (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on 
     Financial Services, and the Committee on Appropriations of 
     the House of Representatives; and
       (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on 
     Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the Senate.

                     TITLE III--GENERAL PROVISIONS

     SEC. 301. SUSPENSION OF SANCTIONS.

       (a) In General.--The President may suspend in whole or in 
     part the imposition of sanctions otherwise required under 
     this Act for periods not to exceed 180 days if the President 
     determines that the following criteria have been met in 
     Syria:
       (1) The air space over Syria is no longer being utilized by 
     the Government of Syria or the Government of the Russian 
     Federation to target civilian populations through the use of 
     incendiary devices, including barrel bombs, chemical weapons, 
     and conventional arms, including air-delivered missiles and 
     explosives.
       (2) Areas besieged by the Government of Syria, the 
     Government of the Russian Federation, the Government of Iran, 
     or a foreign person described in section 102(a)(2)(A)(ii) are 
     no longer cut off from international aid and have regular 
     access to humanitarian assistance, freedom of travel, and 
     medical care.
       (3) The Government of Syria is releasing all political 
     prisoners forcibly held within the prison system of the 
     regime of Bashar al-Assad and the Government of Syria is 
     allowing full access to the same facilities for 
     investigations by appropriate international human rights 
     organizations.
       (4) The forces of the Government of Syria, the Government 
     of the Russian Federation, the Government of Iran, and any 
     foreign person described in section 102(a)(2)(A)(ii) are no 
     longer engaged in deliberate targeting of medical facilities, 
     schools, residential areas, and community gathering places, 
     including markets, in violation of international norms.
       (5) The Government of Syria is--
       (A) taking steps to verifiably fulfill its commitments 
     under the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, 
     Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on 
     their Destruction, done at Geneva September 3, 1992, and 
     entered into force April 29, 1997 (commonly known as the 
     ``Chemical Weapons Convention''), and the Treaty on the Non-
     Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, done at Washington, London, 
     and Moscow July 1, 1968, and entered into force March 5, 1970 
     (21 UST 483); and
       (B) making tangible progress toward becoming a signatory to 
     the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, 
     Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) 
     and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction, done at 
     Washington, London, and Moscow April 10, 1972, and entered 
     into force March 26, 1975 (26 UST 583).
       (6) The Government of Syria is permitting the safe, 
     voluntary, and dignified return of Syrians displaced by the 
     conflict.
       (7) The Government of Syria is taking verifiable steps to 
     establish meaningful accountability for perpetrators of war 
     crimes in Syria and justice for victims of war crimes 
     committed by the Assad regime, including by participation in 
     a credible and independent truth and reconciliation process.
       (b) Briefing Required.--Not later than 30 days after the 
     President makes a determination described in subsection (a), 
     the President shall provide a briefing to the appropriate 
     congressional committees on the determination and the 
     suspension of sanctions pursuant to the determination.
       (c) Reimposition of Sanctions.--Any sanctions suspended 
     under subsection (a) shall be reimposed if the President 
     determines that the criteria described in that subsection are 
     no longer being met.
       (d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
     construed to limit the authority of the President to 
     terminate the application of sanctions under section 102 with 
     respect to a person that no longer engages in activities 
     described in subsection (a)(2) of that section.
       (e) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
     means--
       (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on 
     Financial Services, the Committee on Ways and Means, the 
     Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
       (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on 
     Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, the Committee on the 
     Judiciary, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.

     SEC. 302. EXEMPTIONS; WAIVERS; EXCEPTION RELATING TO 
                   IMPORTATION OF GOODS.

       (a) Exemptions.--The following activities and transactions 
     shall be exempt from sanctions authorized under this Act:
       (1) Any activity subject to the reporting requirements 
     under title V of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 
     3091 et seq.), or to any authorized law enforcement, national 
     security, or intelligence activities of the United States.
       (2) Any transaction necessary to comply with United States 
     obligations under--
       (A) the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United 
     Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered 
     into force November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and 
     the United States;
       (B) the Convention on Consular Relations, done at Vienna 
     April 24, 1963, and entered into force March 19, 1967; or
       (C) any other international agreement to which the United 
     States is a party.
       (b) Waiver.--
       (1) In general.--The President may, for periods not to 
     exceed 180 days, waive the application of any sanction 
     authorized under this Act with respect to a foreign person if 
     the President certifies to the appropriate congressional 
     committees that such a waiver is in the national security 
     interests of the United States.
       (2) Briefing.--Not later than 90 days after the issuance of 
     a waiver under paragraph (1), and every 180 days thereafter 
     while the waiver remains in effect, the President shall brief 
     the appropriate congressional committees on the reasons for 
     the waiver.
       (c) Humanitarian Waiver.--
       (1) In general.--The President may waive, for renewable 
     periods not to exceed 2 years, the application of any 
     sanction authorized under this Act with respect to a 
     nongovernmental organization providing humanitarian 
     assistance not covered by the authorization described in 
     section 201 if the President certifies to the appropriate 
     congressional committees that such a waiver is important to 
     address a humanitarian need and is consistent with the 
     national security interests of the United States.
       (2) Briefing.--Not later than 90 days after the issuance of 
     a waiver under paragraph (1), and every 180 days thereafter 
     while the waiver remains in effect, the President shall brief 
     the appropriate congressional committees on the reasons for 
     the waiver.
       (d) Exception Relating to Importation of Goods.--
       (1) In general.--The authorities and requirements to impose 
     sanctions authorized under this Act shall not include the 
     authority or requirement to impose sanctions on the 
     importation of goods.
       (2) Good defined.--In this subsection, the term ``good'' 
     means any article, natural or man-made substance, material, 
     supply or manufactured product, including inspection and test 
     equipment, and excluding technical data.
       (e) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
     means--
       (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on 
     Financial Services, the Committee on Ways and Means, the 
     Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
       (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on 
     Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, the Committee on the 
     Judiciary, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.

     SEC. 303. REGULATORY AUTHORITIES.

       The President shall, not later than 180 days after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, promulgate regulations as 
     necessary for the implementation of this Act.

     SEC. 304. SUNSET.

       This Act shall cease to be effective on the date that is 5 
     years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Engel) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.

[[Page H972]]

  



                             General Leave

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H.R. 31, the Caesar Syria Civilian 
Protection Act, as amended, currently under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this is the third time I have stood on the House floor 
to argue in favor of passing this bill, to argue that we need to dial 
up the pressure on the Assad regime; that we need to crack down on his 
enablers, namely, Iran and Russia; and that we need to push for a 
political solution that will end the years of horrific bloodshed.
  I made that case in November 2016, when the House unanimously passed 
a version of this bill. I did it again in May of 2017, and again it 
passed unanimously, only to languish in the other body for the rest of 
the Congress, stopped by one single Senator.
  In Syria, in the last 26 months that have come since the House first 
passed this bill, the suffering has continued. Over the last few weeks, 
in the Rukban refugee camp, 13 babies froze to death, and 50,000 more 
displaced people in this camp are at grave risk. They have nowhere else 
to go. Unchecked, the Assad regime will likely move in and massacre 
these innocent people.
  I could go on and on, detailing the horrors the Syrian people have 
endured at the hands of this butcher, Assad. I could describe the 
atrocities we saw in photographs smuggled out of Syria by Caesar, the 
government photographer who defected and after whom this bill is named.
  But after years of unremitting bloodshed, it is long past time for 
more talk about Syria. We need action, and my legislation would be an 
important step in the right direction.
  This bill would slap sanctions on anyone who does business with the 
Assad regime. It would go after anyone who provides financing or parts 
for aircraft that are used to bomb civilians or works with the energy 
or construction sectors controlled by the Syrian Government.
  We don't want to do accidental harm with this bill, so we have made 
sure that it would not affect NGOs providing assistance, and we want 
the administration to use this tool to create leverage, so sanctions 
could be waived or suspended if meaningful negotiations were moving 
forward.
  In this respect, this bill encourages diplomacy and a peaceful, 
sustainable solution to the conflict in Syria.
  Some people may be resigned to the idea that Assad is simply going to 
take over the country. I disagree. The United States should not abandon 
our options for applying pressure to the regime. Syria with Assad at 
the helm is a recipe for sustained conflict, not sustainable peace. For 
me, sustainable peace for the people of Syria has always been the goal.
  Let me be very clear: This bill would impose Syria-related sanctions; 
it would not impose nuclear-related sanctions.
  I know many of my colleagues are concerned about our withdrawal from 
the JCPOA. This legislation is entirely consistent with what President 
Obama promised us after entering into the Iran nuclear deal, that we 
would continue to sanction Iran for its destabilizing activities in the 
region. Sanctions under this bill would not prevent a future President 
of the United States from returning to the Iranian nuclear agreement.
  There is obviously no easy solution for the crisis in Syria. It 
wouldn't have raged on for years and years if there were a simple path 
out of it. But this bill represents one tool the administration can use 
to try to move toward that solution, to break the status quo.
  I also want to mention the fact that so many wonderful Syrian 
American groups have been fighting for this legislation, have been 
fighting against the Assad regime, and have really worked so hard over 
these past years. It has really been good working with them, although, 
obviously, very, very difficult.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                                         House of Representatives,


                              Committee on Financial Services,

                                  Washington, DC, January 5, 2019.
     Hon. Eliot L. Engel,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Engel: I am writing concerning H.R. 31, the 
     ``Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019.''
       As a result of your having consulted with the Committee on 
     Financial Servicing concerning provisions in the bill that 
     fall within our Rule X jurisdiction, I agree to forgo action 
     on the bill so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House 
     floor. The Committee on Financial Services takes this action 
     with our mutual understanding that, by foregoing 
     consideration of H.R. 31 at this time, we do not waive any 
     jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or 
     similar legislation, and that our Committee will be 
     appropriately consulted and involved as this or similar 
     legislation moves forward. Our Committee also reserves the 
     right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of 
     conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this or 
     similar legislation and request your support for any such 
     request.
       Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter 
     confirming this understanding with respect to H.R. 31 and 
     would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this 
     matter be included in the Congressional Record.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Maxine Waters,
     Chairwoman.
                                  ____



                                Congress of the United States,

                                 Washington, DC, January 10, 2019.
     Hon. Maxine Waters,
     Chairwoman, Committee on Financial Services,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairwoman Waters: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 
     31, the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019.
       I appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this 
     legislation. I recognize that the bill contains provisions 
     that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on 
     Financial Services. I acknowledge that your Committee will 
     not formally consider H.R. 31 and agree that the inaction of 
     your Committee with respect to the bill does not waive any 
     future jurisdictional claim over the matters contained in 
     H.R. 31 which fall within your Committee's Rule X 
     jurisdiction.
       I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in 
     the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the 
     bill. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this 
     legislation and look forward to continuing to work with you 
     as this measure moves through the legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Eliot L. Engel,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                      Committee on Ways and Means,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                  Washington, DC, January 9, 2019.
     Hon. Eliot L. Engel,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
      Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Engel: I am writing with respect to H.R. 31, 
     the ``Ceasar Syria Civilian Act of 2019.'' As a result of 
     your having consulted with us on provisions on which the 
     Committee on Ways and Means has a jurisdictional interest, I 
     will not request a sequential referral on this measure.
       The Committee on Ways and Means takes this action with the 
     mutual understanding that we do not waive any jurisdiction 
     over the subject matter contained in this or similar 
     legislation, and the Committee will be appropriately 
     consulted and involved as the bill or similar legislation 
     moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues 
     within our jurisdiction. The Committee also reserves the 
     right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of 
     conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this or 
     similar legislation, and requests your support for such 
     request.
       Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter 
     confirming this understanding, and would ask that a copy of 
     our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the 
     Congressional Record during floor consideration of H.R. 31.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Richard E. Neal,
     Chairman.
                                  ____



                                Congress of the United States,

                                 Washington, DC, January 10, 2019.
     Hon. Richard E. Neal,
     Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for consulting with the 
     Foreign Affairs Committee on H.R. 31, the Caesar Syria 
     Civilian Protection Act of 2019, and for agreeing to forgo a 
     sequential referral request so that the bill may proceed 
     expeditiously to the House floor.
       I agree that your declining to pursue a referral in this 
     case does not diminish or alter the jurisdiction of the 
     Committee on Ways and Means, or prejudice its jurisdictional 
     prerogatives on this bill or similar legislation in the 
     future. I would support your effort to seek appointment of an 
     appropriate number of conferees from your Committee over any 
     parts of the bill under the jurisdiction of the Committee on 
     Ways and Means to any House-Senate conference on this 
     legislation.
       I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in 
     the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the 
     bill. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this 
     legislation and look forward to continuing to work with

[[Page H973]]

     you as this measure moves through the legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Eliot L. Engel,
     Chairman.
                                  ____



                                Congress of the United States,

                                 Washington, DC, January 10, 2019.
     Hon. Jerrold Nadler,
     Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Nadler: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 
     31, the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019.
       I appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this 
     legislation. I recognize that the bill contains provisions 
     that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on the 
     Judiciary. I acknowledge that your Committee will not 
     formally consider H.R. 31 and agree that the inaction of your 
     Committee with respect to the bill does not waive any future 
     jurisdictional claim over the matters contained in H.R. 31 
     which fall within your Committee's Rule X jurisdiction.
       I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in 
     the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the 
     bill. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this 
     legislation and look forward to continuing to work with you 
     as this measure moves through the legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Eliot L. Engel,
     Chairman.
                                  ____



                                Congress of the United States,

                                 Washington, DC, January 11, 2019.
     Hon. Eliot L. Engel,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: This is to advise you that the Committee 
     on the Judiciary has now had an opportunity to review the 
     provisions in H.R. 31, the ``Caesar Syria Civilian Protection 
     Act of 2019,'' that fall within our Rule X jurisdiction. I 
     appreciate your consulting with us on those provisions. The 
     Judiciary Committee has no objection to your including them 
     in the bill for consideration on the House floor, and to 
     expedite that consideration is willing to waive sequential 
     referral, with the understanding that we do not thereby waive 
     any future jurisdictional claim over those provisions or 
     their subject matters.
       In the event a House-Senate conference on this or similar 
     legislation is convened, the Judiciary Committee reserves the 
     right to request an appropriate number of conferees to 
     address any concerns with these or similar provisions that 
     may arise in conference.
       Please place this letter into the Congressional Record 
     during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Thank 
     you for the cooperative spirit in which you have worked 
     regarding this matter and others between our committees.
           Sincerely,

                                               Jerrold Nadler,

                                                         Chairman,
                                 House Committee on the Judiciary.

  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I stand in strong support of the Caesar Syria Civilian 
Protection Act authored by my good friend Chairman Engel.
  For nearly 7 years, we have watched the barbaric Assad regime launch 
countless attacks on the people of Syria. Since the conflict began in 
2011, more than 500,000 people have been killed and 14 million have 
been forced from their homes.
  This destabilizing exodus has imposed painful burdens on neighboring 
countries. Our committee has heard disturbing testimony directly from 
Syrians caught up in this horrific nightmare. In fact, I recently met 
with the brave defector known to the world as Caesar, for whom this 
bill is named.
  His story is gut-wrenching. He told me about the shocking scale of 
torture and murder being carried out within the prisons of Syria. The 
photographic evidence he smuggled out and showed to us proves beyond 
any doubt the brutality of Bashar al-Assad. The images are shocking and 
indelible.
  The bill before us today will increase international pressure on 
Assad and his backers by targeting their means of support. Foreign 
companies and banks will have to choose between doing business with 
Assad or with the United States.
  The bill will also sanction anyone who flies weapons or fighters into 
Syria to support his murderous regime.
  This bill is about creating leverage to push the parties to 
negotiate. It is about finding a way forward, to be determined by the 
Syrian people, that does not allow Assad to continue to exterminate 
them or drive them from their homes.
  This bill, as the chairman said, has passed the House twice and is 
long overdue. I am confident it will pass tonight, and I hope that the 
Senate will take it up promptly in the new Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join us as we seek to ease the 
immense suffering of the people of Syria and give them a better hope 
for the future, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Kildee).
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this legislation, H.R. 31, 
the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019. I am a proud original 
cosponsor of this legislation.
  Over 7 years, nearly half a million Syrians killed, 6 million Syrians 
driven from their country, over 10 million Syrians displaced and forced 
from their homes, and countless acts of atrocities from the Assad 
regime.
  Clearly, it is time for this Congress to act, and this bill would do 
that. It would bring much-needed accountability to the Assad regime, 
which is responsible for horrific crimes, crimes against its own 
people. It would do so by allowing sanctions to be imposed on people 
who contribute to these coldhearted and merciless acts.
  It would require the Treasury Department to determine whether to 
target Syria's Central Bank with money laundering countermeasures.
  Quite simply, I agree with Chairman Engel. We need a political 
solution that ends Assad's crimes, removes him from power, and allows 
the Syrian people to develop their own future for their own country.
  Assad must be held accountable for the massacre of his own people, 
and this bill will begin to do just that.
  Additionally, Russia and Assad must stop standing by and 
systematically allowing ISIS to attack minority populations in Syria, 
including the Druze people.
  We cannot expect much from these actors, but it is incumbent upon 
them to protect minority populations in Syria in the territory that 
they control. Further, it is also the responsibility of the President 
of the United States and his national security team to speak with one 
voice regarding our policy in Syria and the region.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.
  Mr. KILDEE. The President has, time and time again, illustrated that 
our allies and our adversaries simply cannot trust what the President 
says. The administration needs to articulate a cohesive strategy for 
the region and for Syria, particularly after the President, with no 
warning to our partners, announced the U.S. withdrawal.

                              {time}  1645

  Finally, Mr. Speaker, like Chairman Engel, I thank all of those who 
have advocated for this bill, for their tenacity, for their engagement, 
and I urge my colleagues to join with them and stand up for them and 
immediately pass this critical legislation to hold Assad accountable.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Arkansas (Mr. Hill), an original cosponsor of the bill.
  Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished ranking 
member, and I, too, add my thanks to Chairman Engel and his 
predecessor, Chairman Royce, for their intense and passionate work on 
this important subject.
  I was an original cosponsor, and I support the passage of H.R. 31, 
the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act. This legislation imposes new 
sanctions on Syrian human rights abusers and those who facilitate the 
regime's atrocities. It also authorizes the State Department to support 
entities that are collecting and preserving that chain of evidence for 
eventual prosecution of those who have committed war crimes in Syria 
since the war began in 2011.
  The world has witnessed many examples of butchering and genocide by 
menaces throughout history: Hitler, Stalin, and Mao. They are joined in 
the last 8 years by a new name, and that is Assad and his Russian and 
Iranian collaborators.
  Until Mr. Trump's strategic airstrikes, for the prior 8 years, the 
world has blustered and twiddled while these modern menaces murdered 
the innocent civilian population in Syria. Systematically, they 
savagely bombed, bludgeoned, gassed, electrocuted, and tortured their 
people. I have seen this evidence on full display in Washington's 
Holocaust museum, and I urge all Americans to look at that exhibit.

[[Page H974]]

  I have heard eyewitness testimony from the Syrian Emergency Task 
Force. Listen to the horrors, Mr. Speaker:
  A survivor of a gas attack told The New York Times in 2017:

       My eyes were burning, my head was throbbing, and my throat 
     was blocked. I was suffocating. I tried to inhale, but all I 
     heard was a horrible rasping sound as my throat closed up. An 
     unbearable pain drummed in my head. The world began to blur. 
     I pounded my chest, but I couldn't breathe. I thought my 
     heart was going to explode.

  Does this Congress need any more testimony, Mr. Speaker?
  I commend President Trump for hearing these cries and his leadership 
to carry out airstrikes to block Assad's mass murder, and I call on him 
again to strengthen his resolve against Assad's barbarous acts and 
think of these innocent Syrian people who face these terrible 
atrocities nearly ever day.
  Finally, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 31, and I call on the 
Senate to not twiddle their thumbs any longer and act with expedition 
and pass this legislation. Let's not waste any more time bringing Assad 
and his coconspirators to justice.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I once again recognize the work of Chairman 
Engel, his cosponsors, and former Chairman Royce.
  Those of us who have talked to eyewitnesses and seen video and photos 
will never forget the atrocities perpetrated by Bashar al-Assad: the 
bombing of the hospitals, the torture of prisoners, and the gassing of 
children who died agonizing deaths in their beds.
  For 7 years international diplomats have debated ways to protect 
civilians in Syria, with no results. Today, we send a strong message 
that the United States will work to ensure that Assad's war machine is 
halted.
  It is not too late to act, as Mr. Hill eloquently stated. The people 
of Syria cannot afford further delay. I urge all Members to support it, 
and I sure hope this time the Senate will be able to pass it.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  In closing, let me thank the ranking member, Mr. McCaul, for his very 
important words.
  The world has failed the Syrian people. Nothing can undo the horrors 
they have had, and they have had to endure them for nearly 8 years. 
Nothing can bring back those who have been lost. But the world owes it 
to the living and the dead to try and bring this crisis to an end.
  The role America must play is to push for a political solution that 
allows the Syrian people to choose their own future. That is what 
American leadership looks like. That is what sets us apart from other 
great powers on the world stage.
  We simply cannot look the other way and allow Assad, Russia, and Iran 
to steamroll over Syria. That would send a terrible message to our 
allies. It would undermine security across the entire region, and it 
would cost so many more innocent lives.
  My bill would give the administration greater leverage to raise the 
cost for Assad and crack down on his lifelines. I ask that all Members 
support this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 31, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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