[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 20 (Thursday, January 31, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S812-S815]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           TEXT OF AMENDMENTS

  SA 89. Mr. LEE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him 
to the bill S. 1, to make improvements to certain defense and security 
assistance provisions and to authorize the appropriation of funds to 
Israel, to reauthorize the United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act 
of 2015, and to halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, and 
for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. 335. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

       Nothing in this title may be construed as an authorization 
     for the use of military force.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 90. Mr. RISCH submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1, to make improvements to certain defense and 
security assistance provisions and to authorize the appropriation of 
funds to Israel, to reauthorize the United States-Jordan

[[Page S813]]

Defense Cooperation Act of 2015, and to halt the wholesale slaughter of 
the Syrian people, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on 
the table; as follows:

       In section 205(a), insert after ``establishment of the 
     United States Development Finance Corporation'' the 
     following: ``(which means the end of the transition period, 
     as defined in section 1461 of the Better Utilization of 
     Investments Leading to Development Act of 2018 (division F of 
     Public Law 115-254))''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 91. Mr. RISCH submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1, to make improvements to certain defense and 
security assistance provisions and to authorize the appropriation of 
funds to Israel, to reauthorize the United States-Jordan Defense 
Cooperation Act of 2015, and to halt the wholesale slaughter of the 
Syrian people, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the 
table; as follows:

       On page 18, between lines 17 and 18, insert the following:
       (3) Form of report.--The report required under paragraph 
     (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include 
     a classified annex.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 92. Mr. MERKLEY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 65 proposed by Mr. McConnell (for himself, Mr. Graham, Mr. 
Blunt, Mr. Burr, Mr. Romney, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Rubio, Mr. 
Sasse, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Tillis, 
Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Young, and Mr. 
Boozman) to the bill S. 1, to make improvements to certain defense and 
security assistance provisions and to authorize the appropriation of 
funds to Israel, to reauthorize the United States-Jordan Defense 
Cooperation Act of 2015, and to halt the wholesale slaughter of the 
Syrian people, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the 
table; as follows:

       Strike ``ON WITHDRAWALS OF UNITED STATES FORCES FROM SYRIA 
     AND AFGHANISTAN'' and all that follows through ``Syria or 
     Afghanistan'' and insert:
       ``SENSE OF CONGRESS ON TRANSITION OF MILITARY AND SECURITY 
     OPERATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN.
       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) After al Qaeda attacked the United States on September 
     11, 2001, the United States Government rightly sought to 
     bring to justice those who attacked us, to eliminate al 
     Qaeda's safe havens and training camps in Afghanistan.
       (2) Members of the Armed Forces, intelligence personnel, 
     and diplomatic corps have skillfully achieved these 
     objectives, culminating in the death of Osama bin Laden.
       (3) Operation Enduring Freedom was the longest military 
     operation in United States history, and combined with 
     Operation Freedom's Sentinel the United States' involvement 
     in Afghanistan has exceeded $1,000,000,000,000 in costs to 
     the United States taxpayer and continues to cost taxpayers 
     over $45,000,000,000 a year.
       (4) Members of the United States Armed Forces have served 
     in Afghanistan valiantly and with honor, and many have 
     sacrificed their lives and health in service to their 
     country;
       (5) The United States has suffered more than 2,000 deaths 
     in Afghanistan (including at least 13 in 2018), and the 
     United States has dropped more than 5,200 bombs in 2018, a 
     record high.
       (6) Former Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, reflecting 
     consensus within United States and international security 
     experts, has concluded that there is no military solution to 
     the conflict in Afghanistan, stating, ``It's all working to 
     achieve a political reconciliation, not a military victory. 
     The victory will be a political reconciliation.''
       (7) Over the past 17 years, the mission of the United 
     States has evolved to include a prolonged nation-building 
     effort in Afghanistan.
       (8) Such nation-building efforts in Afghanistan are 
     undermined by endemic corruption, high illiteracy, tribal 
     fractions, and a historic aversion to a strong central 
     government in that country.
       (9) The United States Government will continue to support 
     the development of Afghanistan with a strong diplomatic and 
     counterterrorism presence in the region.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the announcement by Special Representative for 
     Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad that the United 
     States and the Taliban agreed on a draft framework that could 
     lead to the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from 
     Afghanistan and that ``[t]he Taliban have committed, to [the 
     Administration's] satisfaction, to do what is necessary that 
     would prevent Afghanistan from ever becoming a platform for 
     international terrorist groups or individuals'' should be 
     welcomed and a reflection of an appropriate diplomatic 
     approach to end U.S. military involvement in the country.
       (2) the President should complete the transition of the 
     responsibility for military and security operations in 
     Afghanistan to the Government of Afghanistan as soon as 
     possible but no later than September 18, 2021, the 20th 
     anniversary of the enactment of Public Law 107-40, the 
     Authorization for Use of Military Force against those 
     responsible for the attacks on September 11, 2001, in 
     conjunction with efforts to turn the draft framework into a 
     durable peace between the Government of Afghanistan and the 
     Taliban;
       (3) the U.S. should re-double diplomatic efforts to support 
     our Afghan partners as they prepare to hold presidential 
     elections in 2019;
       (4) any cost savings resulting from a troop withdrawal 
     should be re-programmed to increase bilateral humanitarian 
     assistance and to maintain gains in human rights to include 
     advances made for women and girls to Afghanistan in an amount 
     no less than one percent of the annual cost to the U.S. 
     budget of our military engagement in Afghanistan in fiscal 
     year 2018; and
       (5) not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment 
     of this Act, the President should submit to Congress a 
     report--
       (A) including a plan for the complete transition of all 
     military and security operations in Afghanistan to the 
     Government of Afghanistan.
       (B) assessing the likely humanitarian needs of Afghanistan 
     in the ten years following a U.S. military withdrawal; and
       (C) assessing efforts by Special Representative Khalilzad 
     to turn the draft framework reached with the Taliban into a 
     durable peace agreement between the Government of Afghanistan 
     and the Taliban.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 93. Mr. PETERS (for himself and Ms. Stabenow) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1, to make 
improvements to certain defense and security assistance provisions and 
to authorize the appropriation of funds to Israel, to reauthorize the 
United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015, and to halt the 
wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, and for other purposes; which 
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       On page 43, between lines 20 and 21, insert the following:
       (5) Threshold for application to contracts.--The authority 
     to adopt and enforce measures under subsection (a) to 
     restrict contracting for goods and services shall not apply 
     to contracts with a value of less than $1,000,000.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 94. Mr. PETERS (for himself and Ms. Stabenow) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1, to make 
improvements to certain defense and security assistance provisions and 
to authorize the appropriation of funds to Israel, to reauthorize the 
United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015, and to halt the 
wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, and for other purposes; which 
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       On page 43, strike lines 12 through 20.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 95. Mr. MERKLEY (for himself, Mr. Coons, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Van 
Hollen, and Ms. Cortez Masto) submitted an amendment intended to be 
proposed by him to the bill S. 1, to make improvements to certain 
defense and security assistance provisions and to authorize the 
appropriation of funds to Israel, to reauthorize the United States-
Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015, and to halt the wholesale 
slaughter of the Syrian people, and for other purposes; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end, add the following:

                      TITLE V--GENERAL PROVISIONS

     SEC. 501. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON UNITED STATES BILATERAL 
                   ASSISTANCE TO THE WEST BANK AND GAZA.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The dire health and economic conditions facing the 
     Palestinian people has created a humanitarian crisis in the 
     West Bank and Gaza. The United States has long been a leader 
     in helping address the plight of innocent civilians.
       (2) These fragile conditions could contribute to 
     circumstances that would undermine Israel's security and 
     stability in the region.
       (3) The Department of State has failed to obligate any of 
     the funds Congress appropriated in fiscal year 2017 and 
     fiscal year 2018, $302,750,000 and $257,500,000, 
     respectively, for bilateral assistance to the West Bank and 
     Gaza.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the Executive branch should expend during fiscal year 
     2019 for bilateral assistance to the West Bank and Gaza--
       (A) $196,500,000 for the Economic Support Fund;
       (B) $60,000,000 for International Narcotics Control and Law 
     Enforcement; and
       (C) $1,000,000 for Nonproliferation, Anti-Terrorism, 
     Demining and Related Programs; and

[[Page S814]]

       (2) this funding is focused primarily on providing food, 
     medical care, and other humanitarian goods and services and 
     these expenditures must be consistent with the restrictions 
     outlined in the Taylor Force Act (title X of division S of 
     Public Law 115-141) and shall only be provided through 
     nongovernmental organizations and shall not directly benefit 
     the Palestinian Authority.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 96. Mr. MENENDEZ proposed an amendment to amendment SA 65 proposed 
by Mr. McConnell (for himself, Mr. Graham, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Burr, Mr. 
Romney, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Sasse, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. 
Grassley, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. 
Sullivan, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Young, and Mr. Boozman) to the 
bill S. 1, to make improvements to certain defense and security 
assistance provisions and to authorize the appropriation of funds to 
Israel, to reauthorize the United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act 
of 2015, and to halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, and 
for other purposes; as follows:

       At the end of the amendment, add the following:
       (c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
     construed as a declaration of war or an authorization of the 
     use of military force.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 97. Mr. RISCH submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1, to make improvements to certain defense and 
security assistance provisions and to authorize the appropriation of 
funds to Israel, to reauthorize the United States-Jordan Defense 
Cooperation Act of 2015, and to halt the wholesale slaughter of the 
Syrian people, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the 
table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. CLARIFICATION OF DEADLINE FOR REPORT ON ESTABLISHING 
                   AN ENTERPRISE FUND FOR JORDAN.

       For purposes of section 205(a), the term ``establishment of 
     the United States Development Finance Corporation'' means the 
     end of the transition period, as defined in section 1461 of 
     the Better Utilization of Investments Leading to Development 
     Act of 2018 (division F of Public Law 115-254).
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 98. Mr. RISCH submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1, to make improvements to certain defense and 
security assistance provisions and to authorize the appropriation of 
funds to Israel, to reauthorize the United States-Jordan Defense 
Cooperation Act of 2015, and to halt the wholesale slaughter of the 
Syrian people, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the 
table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. FORM OF REPORT ON THE COOPERATION OF THE UNITED 
                   STATES AND ISRAEL WITH RESPECT TO COUNTERING 
                   UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS.

       The report required under section 123(d) shall be submitted 
     in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 99. Mr. TOOMEY (for himself, Mr. Van Hollen, Mrs. Shaheen, and Mr. 
Johnson) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the 
bill S. 1, to make improvements to certain defense and security 
assistance provisions and to authorize the appropriation of funds to 
Israel, to reauthorize the United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act 
of 2015, and to halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, and 
for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. REPORT ON UNITED STATES POLICY IN SYRIA.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The regime of Bashar al Assad has committed gross 
     atrocities against the people of Syria.
       (2) The commission of these atrocities led to the eruption, 
     and continuation, of the Syrian civil war.
       (3) The ensuing conflict has resulted in the death of over 
     400,000 Syrian civilians.
       (4) The Syrian civil war has caused over 5,500,000 Syrians 
     to flee their country as refugees and over 6,000,000 others 
     to be displaced from their homes inside Syria.
       (5) The Assad regime has repeatedly used chemical weapons 
     against its own people.
       (6) In 2011 the Assad regime released from its prisons many 
     of the terrorists who would subsequently lead the Islamic 
     State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
       (7) ISIS has organized, executed, and inspired countless 
     terror attacks throughout the world since its emergence, 
     including in the United States.
       (8) By the end of 2014, ISIS controlled one third of the 
     territory of Syria and one third of the territory of Iraq.
       (9) Since 2014, the United States has lead Operation 
     Inherent Resolve, with the help of allies, to degrade and 
     destroy ISIS.
       (10) Approximately 2,000 members of the United States Armed 
     Forces are deployed to Syria under Operation Inherent 
     Resolve.
       (11) The United States and its allies have succeeded in 
     seizing back nearly all the physical territory held by ISIS 
     in 2014.
       (12) Tens of thousands of ISIS terrorists remain in Syria 
     and Iraq despite having lost much of their territorial 
     ``Caliphate''.
       (13) The Islamic State continues to pose a threat to the 
     security of the United States and that of its allies.
       (14) Syrian Kurdish fighters in the People's Protection 
     Units, or YPG, have served as effective and trustworthy 
     allies in the fight against ISIS.
       (15) The Government of Turkey views these Kurdish forces as 
     an enemy and has expressed its intention to destroy them.
       (16) The support of the Russian and Iranian regimes in 
     Syria has been invaluable to the reinforcement of the Assad 
     government.
       (17) Russian-backed forces have directly assaulted United 
     States Armed Forces deployed in Syria on at least one 
     occasion.
       (18) The Government of Iran seeks to entrench its presence 
     in Syria as a means of supporting its terrorist proxies, like 
     Hezbollah and Hamas, and harming its enemies, like Israel.
       (19) Ensuring the existence of Israel, America's most 
     important ally in the Middle East, remains a key United 
     States interest in the region.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the pursuit of a clear, publicly-articulated strategy 
     will guide any withdrawal of United States Armed Forces in 
     Syria;
       (2) such a strategy aims to ensure that the Syrian civil 
     war ends through peaceful, political means;
       (3) such a strategy includes the consideration of and 
     planning for the security interests of the Syrian Kurdish 
     allies of the United States;
       (4) such a strategy recognizes that ISIS and al Qaeda 
     terrorists in Syria continue to pose a threat to the United 
     States and its allies;
       (5) such a strategy includes among its objectives the 
     complete degradation and long-term destruction of ISIS;
       (6) such a strategy will seek to prevent the emergence of 
     another terrorist group in Syria capable of threatening the 
     security of the United States once ISIS is defeated;
       (7) such a strategy recognizes the destabilizing impact of 
     Iran in Syria; and
       (8) such a strategy includes among its objectives the 
     removal of all Iranian-commanded forces from Syria.
       (c) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to 
     Congress a report detailing United States policy in Syria.
       (2) Form.--The report required under paragraph (1) shall be 
     submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified 
     annex.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 100. Mr. GARDNER (for himself and Mr. Coons) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1, to make 
improvements to certain defense and security assistance provisions and 
to authorize the appropriation of funds to Israel, to reauthorize the 
United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015, and to halt the 
wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, and for other purposes; which 
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end, add the following:

         TITLE V--CYBERSECURITY SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO IRAN

     SEC. 501. MANDATORY SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO IRAN RELATING 
                   TO SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES UNDERMINING 
                   CYBERSECURITY.

       (a) Investigation.--The President shall initiate an 
     investigation into the possible designation of an Iranian 
     person under subsection (b) upon receipt by the President of 
     credible information indicating that the person has engaged 
     in conduct described in that subsection.
       (b) Designation.--The President shall designate under this 
     subsection any Iranian person that the President determines 
     has directly or indirectly--
       (1) engaged in significant activities undermining 
     cybersecurity conducted by the Government of Iran; or
       (2) acted for or on behalf of the Government of Iran in 
     connection with such activities.
       (c) Sanctions.--The President shall block and prohibit all 
     transactions in all property and interests in property of any 
     Iranian person designated under subsection (b) 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.
       (d) Suspension of Sanctions.--
       (1) In general.--The President may suspend the application 
     of sanctions under subsection (c) with respect to an Iranian 
     person only if the President submits to the appropriate 
     congressional committees in writing a certification described 
     in paragraph (2) and a detailed justification for the 
     certification.
       (2) Certification described.--

[[Page S815]]

       (A) In general.--A certification described in this 
     paragraph with respect to an Iranian person is a 
     certification by the President that--
       (i) the person has not, during the 12-month period 
     immediately preceding the date of the certification, directly 
     or indirectly engaged in activities that would qualify the 
     person for designation under subsection (b); and
       (ii) the person is not expected to resume any such 
     activities.
       (B) Form of certification.--The certification described in 
     subparagraph (A) shall be submitted in unclassified form but 
     may include a classified annex.
       (e) Reimposition of Sanctions.--If sanctions are suspended 
     with respect to an Iranian person under subsection (d), such 
     sanctions shall be reinstated if the President determines 
     that the person has resumed the activity that resulted in the 
     initial imposition of sanctions or has engaged in any other 
     activity subject to sanctions relating to the involvement of 
     the person in significant activities undermining 
     cybersecurity on behalf of the Government of Iran.
       (f) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
     construed to limit the authority of the President pursuant to 
     the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 
     1701 et seq.), the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, 
     Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8501 et 
     seq.), or any other provision of law.
       (g) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
     President shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
     committees a report that describes significant activities 
     undermining cybersecurity conducted by the Government of 
     Iran, a person owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, 
     by that Government, or any person acting for or on behalf of 
     that Government.
       (2) Elements.--Each report required by paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:
       (A) An assessment of the extent to which a foreign 
     government has provided material support to the Government of 
     Iran, to any person owned or controlled, directly or 
     indirectly, by that Government, or to any person acting for 
     or on behalf of that Government, in connection with the 
     conduct of significant activities undermining cybersecurity.
       (B) A strategy to counter efforts by Iran to conduct 
     significant activities undermining cybersecurity directed 
     against the United States that includes a description of 
     efforts to engage foreign governments in preventing the 
     Government of Iran, persons owned or controlled, directly or 
     indirectly, by that Government, and persons acting for or on 
     behalf of that Government from conducting significant 
     activities undermining cybersecurity.
       (3) Form of report.--Each report required by paragraph (1) 
     shall be submitted in an unclassified form but may include a 
     classified annex.

                          ____________________