[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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