[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 171 (Tuesday, October 29, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H8568-H8576]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 PROTECT AGAINST CONFLICT BY TURKEY ACT

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 4695) to impose sanctions with respect to Turkey, and for other 
purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4695

       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 ``Protect Against Conflict by 
     Turkey Act'' or the ``PACT Act''.

     SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the United States and Turkey have been treaty allies 
     since 1952, when Turkey became a member of the North Atlantic 
     Treaty Organization (NATO);
       (2) being a NATO member means that Turkey is treaty bound 
     to safeguard the principles of democracy, individual liberty, 
     and the rule of law and, importantly, should be united with 
     other NATO allies in efforts for collective defense and the 
     preservation of peace and security;
       (3) Turkey's military invasion of northern Syria on October 
     9, 2019, is an unacceptable and unnecessary escalation of 
     tensions with the potential to cause a severe humanitarian 
     crisis and undo the collective gains made in the fight 
     against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) by the 
     United States and the 81 countries and organizations of the 
     Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, including NATO and the 
     European Union (EU);
       (4) Turkey should immediately cease attacks against the 
     Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Kurdish and Arab civilians, 
     and other religious and ethnic minority communities in 
     northern Syria and recall its forces back to Turkey;
       (5) targeted sanctions against Turkey are an appropriate 
     response in order for Turkey to be held accountable for its 
     military invasion of northern Syria;
       (6) Turkey's military invasion of northern Syria is the 
     latest example of the weakening and problematic United 
     States-Turkey bilateral relationship and undermines the 
     security of the United States and its NATO allies, including 
     that of Turkey;
       (7) the SDF have been critical partners to United States 
     and allied counter-ISIS and broader counterterrorism efforts 
     in Syria, and the United States should continue this 
     partnership with the SDF;
       (8) the United States Government should utilize diplomatic 
     and military tools to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS;
       (9) the United States should stand by critical allies and 
     partners;
       (10) Russian and Iranian political and military influence 
     in Syria present a threat to United States national security 
     interests; and
       (11) the United States Government, in concert with the 
     international community, should hold accountable members of 
     the Syrian regime and the Governments of the Russian 
     Federation and Iran for atrocities against the Syrian people.

     SEC. 3. SANCTIONS AGAINST SENIOR TURKISH OFFICIALS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 15 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the President shall impose the 
     sanctions described in section 14 with respect to the 
     following foreign persons in connection with Turkey's 
     military invasion of northern Syria on October 9, 2019:
       (1) The Minister of National Defense of Turkey.
       (2) The Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed 
     Forces.
       (3) The Commander of the 2nd Army of the Turkish Armed 
     Forces.
       (4) The Minister of Treasury and Finance of Turkey.
       (b) Additional Sanctions.--
       (1) List.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Director 
     of National Intelligence, shall submit to the President and 
     appropriate congressional committees a list of the following 
     foreign persons in connection with Turkey's military invasion 
     of northern Syria on October 9, 2019:
       (A) Senior Turkish defense officials involved in the 
     decision to invade northern Syria.
       (B) Senior Turkish military officials leading attacks 
     against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Kurdish and Arab 
     civilians, or other religious or ethnic minority communities 
     in northern Syria.
       (C) Turkish officials significantly facilitating Turkey's 
     military invasion of northern Syria.
       (D) Any Turkish official or member of the Turkish Armed 
     Forces who is responsible for, complicit in, or has directly 
     or indirectly engaged, or has attempted to engage, in any of 
     the following relating to Turkey's military invasion of 
     northern Syria:
       (i) A violation of the law of armed conflict.
       (ii) A gross violation of internationally recognized human 
     rights.
       (2) Updates.--The list required under paragraph (1) shall 
     be updated every 60 days, until the sanctions under this 
     section are terminated in accordance with section 7.
       (3) Imposition of sanctions.--Not later than 15 days after 
     submission of the list required under paragraph (1) and each 
     update relating thereto in accordance with paragraph (2), the 
     President shall impose the sanctions described in section 14 
     with respect to foreign persons identified in such list and 
     related updates.
       (c) Waiver.--
       (1) In general.--The President may waive, on a case-by-case 
     basis and for a period of not more than 90 days, the 
     imposition of sanctions under this section with respect to a 
     foreign person if the President--
       (A) determines that--
       (i) it is vital to the national security interests of the 
     United States to do so; and
       (ii) Turkey--

       (I) has halted attacks against the SDF, Kurdish and Arab 
     civilians, and other religious and ethnic minority 
     communities in northern Syria; and
       (II) is not hindering counter-terrorism operations against 
     ISIS; and

       (B) not later than 15 days before issuing such a waiver, 
     submits to the appropriate congressional committees a 
     justification relating to such determination.
       (2) Renewal of waivers.--The President may, on a case-by-
     case basis, renew a waiver under paragraph (1) for an 
     additional period of not more than 90 days if, not later than 
     15 days before such a waiver expires, the President 
     determines it is vital to the national security interests of 
     the United States to do so and submits to the appropriate 
     congressional committees a justification relating to such 
     determination.

     SEC. 4. PROHIBITION ON ARMS TRANSFERS TO TURKISH MILITARY 
                   UNITS IN SYRIA.

       (a) Prohibition.--No United States defense articles, 
     defense services, or technology under the Arms Export Control 
     Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.) may be transferred to the 
     Government of Turkey if such articles, services, or 
     technology could be used in operations by the Turkish Armed 
     Forces in northern Syria.
       (b) Exception.--The prohibition under subsection (a) shall 
     not apply to transfers for ultimate end use by the United 
     States military or for use in military operations approved by 
     the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
       (c) No Use of Emergency Authority.--The authority of the 
     President to waive statutory congressional review periods 
     under the Arms Export Control Act in cases in which an 
     emergency exists shall not apply to the transfer of defense 
     articles, defense services, or technology to the Government 
     of Turkey.

     SEC. 5. SANCTIONS AGAINST FOREIGN PERSONS PROVIDING ARMS TO 
                   TURKISH ARMED FORCES IN SYRIA.

       (a) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Director 
     of National Intelligence, shall submit to the President and 
     appropriate congressional committees a list of any foreign 
     persons determined to knowingly have provided, on or after 
     such date of enactment, defense articles, defense services, 
     or technology (as such terms are defined and described in the 
     Arms Export Control Act) to the Government of Turkey if such 
     articles, services, or technology could be used in operations 
     by the Turkish Armed Forces in northern Syria.
       (2) Updates.--The list required under paragraph (1) shall 
     be updated every 60 days or as new information becomes 
     available, until the sanctions under this section are 
     terminated in accordance with section 7.
       (b) Imposition of Sanctions.--The President shall impose 
     the sanctions described in section 14 with respect to any 
     foreign persons identified on the list and related updates 
     required under subsection (a).
       (c) Exception.--The sanctions imposed pursuant to this 
     section shall not apply to transfers for ultimate end use by 
     the United States military or for use in military operations 
     approved by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
       (d) Waiver.--
       (1) In general.--The President may waive, on a case-by-case 
     basis and for a period of not more than 90 days, the 
     imposition of sanctions under this section with respect to a 
     foreign person if the President determines it is important to 
     the national security interests of the United States to do so 
     and, not later than 15 days before issuing such a waiver, 
     submits to the appropriate congressional committees a 
     justification relating to such determination.
       (2) Renewal of waivers.--The President may, on a case-by-
     case basis, renew a waiver

[[Page H8569]]

     under paragraph (1) for an additional period of not more than 
     90 days if, not later than 15 days before such a waiver 
     expires, the President determines it is important to the 
     national security interests of the United States to do so and 
     submits to the appropriate congressional committees a 
     justification relating to such determination.

     SEC. 6. TARGETED FOREIGN FINANCIAL SANCTIONS.

       (a) Halk Bankasi or Halkbank.--Not later than 15 days after 
     the date of enactment of this Act, the President shall impose 
     the sanctions described in section 14(1) with respect to Halk 
     Bankas( or Halkbank or any successor entity thereof.
       (b) Financial Institutions.--
       (1) In general.--If the Secretary of State, in consultation 
     with the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Treasury, and 
     Director of National Intelligence, determines that any 
     foreign financial institution, in addition to the foreign 
     financial institutions specified in subsection (a), has 
     knowingly facilitated significant transactions for the 
     Turkish Armed Forces or defense industry relating to Turkey's 
     military invasion of northern Syria on October 9, 2019, the 
     President shall, not later than 60 days after any such 
     determination, impose the sanctions described in section 
     14(1) with respect to any such foreign financial institution.
       (2) Waiver.--
       (A) In general.--The President may waive, on a case-by-case 
     basis and for a period of not more than 90 days, the 
     imposition of sanctions under this subsection if the 
     President--
       (i) determines that--

       (I) it is vital to the national security interests of the 
     United States to do so; and
       (II) Turkey--

       (aa) has halted attacks against the Syrian Democratic 
     Forces, Kurdish and Arab civilians, and other religious and 
     ethnic minority communities in northern Syria; and
       (bb) is not hindering counter-terrorism operations against 
     ISIS; and
       (ii) not later than 15 days before issuing such a waiver, 
     submits to the appropriate congressional committees a 
     justification relating to such determination.
       (B) Renewal of waivers.--The President may, on a case-by-
     case basis, renew a waiver under subparagraph (A) for an 
     additional period of not more than 90 days if, not later than 
     15 days before such a waiver expires, the President 
     determines it is vital to the national security interests of 
     the United States to do so and submits to the appropriate 
     congressional committees a justification relating to such 
     determination.

     SEC. 7. TERMINATION AUTHORITY.

       (a) Sections 3, 4, and 5.--The authority to impose 
     sanctions under sections 3 and 5 (and the sanctions imposed 
     pursuant to such sections) and the prohibitions under section 
     4 shall terminate if the President determines and submits to 
     the appropriate congressional committees a finding that--
       (1) Turkey has halted attacks against the Syrian Democratic 
     Forces, Kurdish and Arab civilians, and other religious and 
     ethnic minority communities in northern Syria;
       (2) Turkish forces not involved in coordinated operations 
     with NATO allies or the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS have 
     withdrawn from northern Syria; and
       (3) Turkey is not hindering counter-terrorism operations 
     against ISIS.
       (b) Section 6.--The authority to impose financial sanctions 
     under section 6 (and the sanctions imposed pursuant to such 
     section) shall terminate if the President determines and 
     submits to the appropriate congressional committees the 
     finding described in subsection (a)(1).

     SEC. 8. IMPOSITION OF CERTAIN SANCTIONS UNDER COUNTERING 
                   AMERICA'S ADVERSARIES THROUGH SANCTIONS ACT 
                   AGAINST TURKEY.

       (a) Determination.--For the purposes of section 231 of the 
     Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (22 
     U.S.C. 9525), Turkey's acquisition of the Russian S-400 air 
     and missile defense system beginning July 12, 2019, shall be 
     considered to be a significant transaction described in such 
     section.
       (b) Sanctions.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the President shall impose five or 
     more of the sanctions described in section 235 of the 
     Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (22 
     U.S.C. 9529) with respect to the Government of Turkey.

     SEC. 9. PLANS AND REPORTS TO ADDRESS NATIONAL SECURITY 
                   THREATS CAUSED BY TURKEY'S MILITARY INVASION OF 
                   NORTHERN SYRIA.

       Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act--
       (1) the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees--
       (A) a plan to ensure that ISIS detainees and families held 
     in Syria remain under proper custody, in accordance with 
     internationally recognized human rights requirements, and in 
     a manner that does not threaten United States security 
     interests; and
       (B) a report on the impact that Turkey's military invasion 
     of northern Syria is having on counterterrorism operations in 
     Syria; and
       (2) the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate 
     congressional committees a plan for how the United States 
     will assist the Syrian Democratic Forces, Kurdish and Arab 
     civilians, and other religious and ethnic minority 
     communities affected by Turkey's military invasion of 
     northern Syria on October 9, 2019.

     SEC. 10. REPORT ON NET WORTH OF TURKISH PRESIDENT RECEP 
                   TAYYIP ERDOGAN.

       Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the 
     Secretary of the Treasury and the Director of National 
     Intelligence, shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
     committees a report on the estimated net worth and known 
     sources of income of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan 
     and his family members (including spouse, children, parents, 
     and siblings), including assets, investments, other business 
     interests, and relevant beneficial ownership information.

     SEC. 11. REPORT ON TURKEY'S MILITARY INVASION OF NORTHERN 
                   SYRIA.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the Russian Federation and Iran continue to--
       (A) exploit a security vacuum in Syria; and
       (B) pose a threat to vital United States national security 
     interests; and
       (2) continued Turkish military activity inside Syria will 
     negatively impact the national security interest and regional 
     stability of the United States.
       (b) Report Required.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator 
     of the United States Agency for International Development, 
     and the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, shall 
     submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report 
     on Turkey's military invasion of northern Syria on October 9, 
     2019, including the impact of the withdrawal of United States 
     troops from northern Syria. The Secretary of State shall 
     provide an updated report or briefing to the appropriate 
     congressional committees as circumstances warrant.
       (2) Elements of the report.--The report, and any update 
     thereto, required under paragraph (1) shall include the 
     following elements:
       (A) A description of the impact of Turkey's military 
     invasion of northern Syria on the ability of ISIS to 
     reconstitute a physical caliphate.
       (B) A description of the impact of the invasion on the 
     Russian Federation's military and political influence in 
     Syria.
       (C) A description of the impact of the invasion on Iran's 
     ability to increase its military and political influence in 
     Syria.
       (D) A comprehensive assessment of the United States 
     Government's activities to counter Iranian and Russian 
     Federation influence in Syria.
       (E) An outline of planned joint actions by the Department 
     of State and the Department of Defense, in consultation with 
     the heads of the other appropriate Federal agencies, 
     regarding all stabilization funds or activities for Syria, 
     and an explanation of how such funds and activities can 
     contribute to stabilization in the current environment and 
     without limited United States troop presence in northern 
     Syria.
       (F) The creation and use by the Government of Turkey of 
     ``safe zones'' to justify the involuntary or uninformed 
     return of Syrian refugees from Turkey to Syrian territory, to 
     justify the forced displacement of Syrians inside Syria, or 
     to prevent Syrians from seeking international protections.
       (G) The role of the Government of Turkey and Turkish-backed 
     forces in facilitating humanitarian actors, including 
     international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs), for 
     cross-border work from Turkey and in ensuring efficient, open 
     supply lines for humanitarian assistance and personnel 
     through border crossing points on the Turkey-Syria and Iraq-
     Syria borders, and facilitating safe passage of humanitarian 
     assistance to Syrians inside Syria based on need.
       (H) The actions of the Government of Turkey and Turkish-
     backed forces in the operation of all camps for families 
     displaced by conflict as civilian facilities, and ensuring 
     that camp residents, in particular women and children, are 
     treated as civilian victims of conflict in accordance with 
     international law and standards.
       (I) The actions of the Government of Turkey and Turkish-
     backed forces in taking effective measures to protect 
     civilians and civilian infrastructure, including health 
     facilities, water pumping stations, and restricting use of 
     explosive weapons in populated areas.

     SEC. 12. STRATEGY TO PREVENT THE RESURGENCE OF THE ISLAMIC 
                   STATE OF IRAQ AND SYRIA (ISIS) AND ITS 
                   AFFILIATES.

       (a) Strategy Required.--Not later than 60 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator 
     of the United States Agency for International Development, 
     and the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, shall 
     jointly submit to the appropriate congressional committees a 
     strategy to prevent the resurgence of Islamic State of Iraq 
     and Syria (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria.
       (b) Elements of the Strategy.--The strategy required under 
     subsection (a) shall include the following elements:
       (1) A summary of the United States national security 
     interests in Iraq and Syria and the impact a resurgence of 
     ISIS would have on such interests.
       (2) A assessment of current training and support programs 
     by Federal agency or department, specifically focused on 
     countering

[[Page H8570]]

     ISIS and other terrorist organizations, including non-lethal 
     assistance, training, and organizational capacity for the 
     Syrian Democratic Forces, the Iraqi Security Forces, the 
     Kurdish Peshmerga, and others to counter gains by ISIS and 
     its affiliates.
       (3) A description of United States Government efforts to 
     support, develop, and expand local governance structures in 
     areas in Syria previously liberated from ISIS control.
       (4) An estimate of the number of current, active ISIS 
     members in Iraq and Syria, including an assessment of those 
     being held in detainee camps or prisons.
       (5) A comprehensive plan to address ISIS detainees 
     currently being held in Syria and Iraq, including the 
     following elements:
       (A) The designation of an existing official within the 
     Department of State to serve as a senior-level coordinator to 
     coordinate, in conjunction with the lead and other relevant 
     agencies, all matters for the United States Government 
     relating to the long-term disposition of ISIS foreign 
     terrorist fighter detainees, including all matters in 
     connection with--
       (i) repatriation, transfer, prosecution, and intelligence-
     gathering;
       (ii) coordinating a whole-of-government approach with other 
     countries and international organizations, including 
     INTERPOL, to ensure secure chains of custody and locations of 
     ISIS foreign terrorist fighter detainees;
       (iii) coordinating technical and evidentiary assistance to 
     foreign countries to aid in the successful prosecution of 
     ISIS foreign terrorist fighter detainees; and
       (iv) all multilateral and international engagements led by 
     the Department of State and other agencies that are related 
     to the current and future handling, detention, and 
     prosecution of ISIS foreign terrorist fighter detainees.
       (B) A description, which may be in classified form, of ISIS 
     senior leadership and infrastructure and efforts to target 
     leadership figures.
       (C) A comprehensive description of United States activities 
     utilizing social media and other communication technologies 
     to counter ISIS's propaganda, influence, and ability to 
     recruit fighters domestically and internationally, including 
     with private technology companies, and how such activities 
     are being coordinated across the United States Government.
       (D) A description of the efforts of the United States 
     Government, including economic sanctions, to deny financial 
     resources, including revenues from natural resources 
     extraction, sale of antiquities, kidnapping, extortion, 
     taxation, smuggling, access to cash storage sites, and access 
     to international financial networks, to ISIS and its 
     affiliates, in conjunction with international partners and 
     financial institutions.
       (E) A description of United States Government efforts to 
     support credible war crimes prosecutions against ISIS 
     fighters.
       (F) A plan to ensure the delivery of humanitarian 
     assistance.

     SEC. 13. REPORT ON ACCOUNTABILITY FOR VIOLATIONS OF 
                   INTERNATIONAL LAW, INCLUDING THE LAW OF ARMED 
                   CONFLICT, AND OTHER HARM TO CIVILIANS IN SYRIA 
                   DURING TURKEY'S MILITARY INVASION.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) Turkish and pro-Turkish forces should end all practices 
     involving arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, 
     torture, arbitrary executions, and other unlawful treatment; 
     and
       (2) all stakeholders in Turkey's military invasion of 
     northern Syria should reveal the fate or the location of all 
     persons who have been subjected to enforced disappearance by 
     such stakeholders.
       (b) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall 
     submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report 
     that describes the causes and consequences of civilian harm 
     occurring during Turkey's military invasion of northern 
     Syria, including violations of the law of armed conflict and 
     gross violations of internationally recognized human rights, 
     as a result of the actions of all parties to the conflict.
       (2) Elements.--The report required under paragraph (1) 
     shall include the following elements:
       (A) A description of civilian harm occurring in the context 
     of Turkey's military invasion, including--
       (i) mass casualty incidents; and
       (ii) damage to, and destruction of, civilian infrastructure 
     and services, including--

       (I) hospitals and other medical facilities;
       (II) electrical grids;
       (III) water systems; and
       (IV) other critical infrastructure.

       (B) A description of violations of the law of armed 
     conflict committed during Turkey's military invasion by all 
     forces involved in the Turkish-led coalition and all forces 
     fighting on its behalf and by any other combatants in the 
     conflict, including--
       (i) alleged violations of the law of armed conflict;
       (ii) specific instances of failure by the parties to the 
     conflict to exercise distinction, proportionality, and 
     precaution in the use force in accordance with the law of 
     armed conflict;
       (iii) arbitrary denials of humanitarian access and the 
     resulting impact on the alleviation of human suffering;
       (iv) extra-judicial executions and detention-related 
     abuses; and
       (v) other acts that may constitute violations of the law of 
     armed conflict.
       (C) Recommendations for establishing accountability 
     mechanisms for civilian harm, violations of the law of armed 
     conflict, and gross violations of internationally recognized 
     human rights perpetrated by Turkish and pro-Turkish forces in 
     Syria, including the potential for prosecuting individuals 
     perpetrating, organizing, directing, or ordering such 
     violations.

     SEC. 14. SANCTIONS DESCRIBED.

       The sanctions described in this section are the following:
       (1) Asset blocking.--The President shall exercise all of 
     the powers granted by the International Emergency Economic 
     Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (except that the 
     requirements of section 202 of such Act (50 U.S.C. 1701) 
     shall not apply) to the extent necessary to block and 
     prohibit all transactions in all property and interests in 
     property of a 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.
       (2) Aliens inadmissible for visas, admission, or parole.--
       (A) Visas, admission, or parole.--A foreign person 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.).
       (B) Current visas revoked.--The visa or other entry 
     documentation of a foreign person shall be revoked, 
     regardless of when such visa or other entry documentation is 
     or was issued. A revocation under this subparagraph shall 
     take effect immediately and automatically cancel any other 
     valid visa or entry documentation that is in the foreign 
     person's possession.
       (C) Exception to comply with united nations headquarters 
     agreement.--Sanctions under this paragraph shall not apply to 
     an individual if admitting such individual 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 of the United States.

     SEC. 15. IMPLEMENTATION.

       (a) In General.--The President--
       (1) may exercise all authorities provided to the President 
     under sections 203 and 205 of the International Emergency 
     Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 1704) to carry out 
     this Act; and
       (2) shall issue such regulations, licenses, and orders as 
     are necessary to carry out this Act.
       (b) 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 any 
     person who violates, attempts to violate, conspires to 
     violate, or causes a violation of any prohibition of this 
     Act, or an order or regulation prescribed under this Act, to 
     the same extent that such penalties apply to a person that 
     commits an unlawful act described in subsection (a) of that 
     section.

     SEC. 16. EXCEPTION RELATING TO IMPORTATION OF GOODS.

       (a) In General.--The authorities and requirements to impose 
     sanctions under this Act or any amendments made by this Act 
     shall not include the authority or requirement to impose 
     sanctions on the importation of goods.
       (b) Good Defined.--In this section, 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.

     SEC. 17. HUMANITARIAN WAIVER.

       The President may waive the application of any provision of 
     this Act (other than section 16) for the purpose of providing 
     humanitarian assistance if the President certifies to the 
     appropriate congressional committees that such a waiver is 
     important to address a humanitarian need and consistent with 
     the national security interests of the United States, not 
     later than 15 days before issuing such a waiver, the 
     President submits to such committees a justification relating 
     to such determination.

     SEC. 18. UNITED STATES REFUGEE PROGRAM PRIORITIES.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of State, in consultation 
     with the Secretary of Homeland Security shall designate, as 
     Priority 2 refugees of special humanitarian concern--
       (1) Syrian Kurds, stateless persons who habitually resided 
     in Syria, and other Syrians, who partnered with, or worked 
     for or directly with, the United States Government in Syria 
     for an aggregate period of not less than 1 year;
       (2) Syrian Kurds, stateless persons who habitually resided 
     in Syria, and other Syrians, who were employed in Syria, for 
     an aggregate period of not less than 1 year, by--
       (A) a media or nongovernmental organization based in the 
     United States;
       (B) an organization or entity that has received a grant 
     from, or entered into a cooperative agreement or contract 
     with, the United States Government; or

[[Page H8571]]

       (C) an organization that--
       (i) was continuously physically present in Northeast Syria 
     between 2011 and the date of the enactment of this Act; and
       (ii) has partnered with an organization described in 
     subparagraph (A) or (B);
       (3) the spouses, children, sons, daughters, siblings, and 
     parents of aliens described in paragraph (1); or
       (4) Syrian Kurds, stateless persons who habitually resided 
     in Syria, and other Syrians, who have an immediate relative 
     (as defined in section 201(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1151(b)(2)(A)(i)) or a family 
     member described in section 203(a) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 
     203(a)) who is physically present in the United States.
       (b) Eligibility for Admission as a Refugee.--An alien may 
     not be denied the opportunity to apply for admission as a 
     refugee under this section solely because such alien 
     qualifies as an immediate relative of a national of the 
     United States or is eligible for admission to the United 
     States under any other immigrant classification.
       (c) Membership in Certain Syrian Organizations.--An 
     applicant for admission to the United States under this 
     section may not be deemed inadmissible solely because the 
     applicant was a member of, or provided support to, the Syrian 
     Democratic Forces.
       (d) Exclusion From Numerical Limitations.--Aliens provided 
     refugee status under this section shall not be counted 
     against any numerical limitation under section 201, 202, 203, 
     or 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1151, 
     1152, 1153, and 1157).
       (e) Identification of Other Persecuted Groups.--The 
     Secretary of State, or the designee of the Secretary, is 
     authorized to classify other groups of Syrians, including 
     vulnerable populations, as Priority 2 refugees of special 
     humanitarian concern.
       (f) Satisfaction of Other Requirements.--Aliens designated 
     as Priority 2 refugees of special humanitarian concern under 
     this section shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements 
     under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
     U.S.C. 1157) for admission to the United States.

     SEC. 19. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Admission; admitted; alien.--The terms ``admission'', 
     ``admitted'', and ``alien'' have the meanings given such 
     terms in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
     (8 U.S.C. 1101).
       (2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
     ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on 
     Armed Services, and the Committee on Financial Services of 
     the House of Representatives; and
       (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on 
     Armed Services, and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
     Urban Affairs of the Senate.
       (3) Foreign person.--The term ``foreign person'' means an 
     individual or entity that is not a United States person.
       (4) Gross violations of internationally recognized human 
     rights.--The term ``gross violations of internationally 
     recognized human rights'' has the meaning given such term in 
     section 502B(d)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
     U.S.C. 2304(d)(1)).
       (5) Knowingly.--The term ``knowingly'' with respect to 
     conduct, a circumstance, or a result, means that a person has 
     actual knowledge, or should have known, of the conduct, the 
     circumstance, or the result.
       (6) United states person.--The term ``United States 
     person'' means--
       (A) a United States citizen or an alien lawfully admitted 
     for permanent residence to the United States; or
       (B) an entity organized under the laws of the United States 
     or any jurisdiction within the United States, including a 
     foreign branch of such an entity.

     SEC. 20. SUNSET.

       This Act shall terminate on the date that is three years 
     after the date on which sanctions imposed pursuant to this 
     Act have terminated.

  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.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H.R. 4695.
  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, I have described the administration's approach to 
international affairs as ``fly by the seat of your pants'' foreign 
policy, but over time, we have seen a pattern emerge. The President of 
the United States stokes a crisis and then steps in with some sort of 
half measure in a failed attempt to look like a great deal is 
happening.
  You can't be the arsonist and the fireman at the same time. And the 
situation in Syria right now may be the clearest example of this and 
the most disastrous.
  Around 2 weeks ago, President Trump gave Turkey's President Erdogan 
the green light to launch a military invasion of northern Syria, and 
that is precisely what Turkey did.
  What followed was a gruesome campaign slaughtering our Syrian Kurdish 
partners who fought alongside the United States against ISIS. Already 
nearly 200,000 people, including women, children, and families, have 
been displaced, driven from their ancestral homes--ethnic cleansing at 
its worst.
  The deal we signed with Erdogan has led directly to this ethnic 
cleansing in northern Syria's indigenous Kurdish region. It is really a 
disgrace. These people fought with us. These people took bullets for 
us. These people were our loyal and faithful allies. For the United 
States to turn our backs on them, or to start a chain of events that 
would hurt them, really is a very dark day in our country's history.
  As the Kurds fight to survive this onslaught, they have been forced 
to abandon their watch over the prisons holding thousands of ISIS 
fighters. Over 100 of these terrorists have reportedly escaped. Now, 
the situation in northeast Syria is a humanitarian and national 
security crisis.
  In a region already rife with conflict, Turkey's military operation 
is wreaking even more havoc. And rather than hold Turkey accountable 
for how they have conducted this bloody campaign, President Trump has 
given them a free pass. When the head of ISIS was finally killed, 
President Trump, unfortunately, thanked the Turks, thanked the Turkish 
Government. That doesn't sit right with me.
  First, the administration arranged a sham cease-fire that gave 
Erdogan all he could have wanted. Then, Turkey entered into an 
agreement with Vladimir Putin that ceded America's influence in the 
region to Russia. And then, President Trump lifted sanctions on Turkey 
once the Kurds fled.
  President Trump has let Erdogan off scot-free for a heinous assault 
that is destabilizing the region and threatening international 
security. President Trump and President Erdogan are responsible for the 
catastrophe in northeast Syria. They both must be held accountable.
  On October 16, the House passed a measure rebuking President Trump 
for this disastrous policy--passed, I will note, with overwhelming 
bipartisan support.
  Now, the United States needs to make sure that Turkish President 
Erdogan faces consequences for his behavior. Because President Trump 
has failed to demonstrate American leadership in this regard, it is now 
on Congress to step up and impose consequences on Turkey.
  The PACT Act, which is this act, underscores the devastating 
consequences of Turkey's invasion and President Trump's decision to 
step back and let it happen. It employs targeted smart sanctions to 
incentivize Erdogan to stop his military offensive, cease violence 
against Syrian Kurdish communities, and withdraw from Syria.
  These sanctions are specifically designed to target the Turkish 
officials and institutions responsible for the bloodshed in Syria 
without senselessly hurting the Turkish people. After all, it is 
Erdogan, not the Turkish people, who is responsible for this horror.
  Erdogan is an authoritarian thug. His rule has left a glaring black 
mark on Turkey's historic secular, democratic traditions. We need to 
pressure him while ramping up diplomacy in the hopes of getting Turkey 
back on the right track as a NATO ally. That is one of the goals of 
this measure.
  This bipartisan legislation also requires the Trump administration to 
develop concrete strategies for combating ISIS, protecting Syrian 
Kurdish communities, and ensuring Syrians who partnered with American 
forces, as well as NGOs and humanitarian organizations, can be safely 
resettled in the United States.
  This is a smart response to address the calamity caused by Turkish 
forces in Syria. It is up to Congress to act to make it clear where the 
American Government stands.
  I want to thank my friend Ranking Member McCaul for working with me 
to introduce this legislation, and I

[[Page H8572]]

hope all of our colleagues will join us in supporting it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                                         House of Representatives,


                                 Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                                 Washington, DC, October 28, 2019.
     Hon. Richard E. Neal,
     Committee on Ways and Means,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Neal: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 
     4695, the Protect Against Conflict by Turkey Act. I 
     appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this 
     legislation.
       I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means under House 
     Rule X, and that your Committee will forgo action on H.R. 
     4695 to expedite floor consideration. I further acknowledge 
     that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill 
     does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the 
     matters contained in the bill that fall within your 
     jurisdiction. I will also support the appointment of 
     Committee on Ways and Means conferees during any House-Senate 
     conference convened on this legislation.
       Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is 
     included in the Congressional Record during floor 
     consideration of the bill. Thank you again for your 
     cooperation regarding the legislation. I look forward to 
     continuing to work with you as the measure moves through the 
     legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Eliot L. Engel,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Ways and Means,

                                 Washington, DC, October 29, 2019.
     Hon. Eliot L. Engel,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Engel: In recognition of the desire to 
     expedite consideration of H.R. 4695, the Protect Against 
     Conflict by Turkey (PACT) Act, the Committee on Ways and 
     Means agrees to waive formal consideration of the bill as to 
     provisions that fall within the rule X jurisdiction of the 
     Committee on Ways and Means.
       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.
       Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter 
     confirming this understanding and would ask that a copy of 
     our exchange of letter on this matter be included in the 
     Congressional Record during floor consideration of H.R. 4695.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Richard E. Neal,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                 Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                                 Washington, DC, October 28, 2019.
     Hon. Maxine Waters,
     Committee on Financial Services, House of Representatives, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairwoman Waters: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 
     4695 the Protect Against Conflict by Turkey Act. I appreciate 
     your willingness to work cooperatively on this legislation.
       I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on Financial Services under 
     House Rule X, and that your Committee will forgo action on 
     H.R. 4695 to expedite floor consideration. I further 
     acknowledge that the inaction of your Committee with respect 
     to the bill does not waive any future jurisdictional claim 
     over the matters contained in the bill that fall within your 
     jurisdiction. I also acknowledge that your Committee will be 
     appropriately consulted and involved as this or similar 
     legislation moves forward, and will support the appointment 
     of Committee on Financial Services conferees during any 
     House-Senate conference convened on this legislation.
       Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is 
     included in the Congressional Record during floor 
     consideration of the bill. Thank you again for your 
     cooperation regarding the legislation. I look forward to 
     continuing to work with you as the measure moves through the 
     legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Eliot L. Engel,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                              Committee on Financial Services,

                                 Washington, DC, October 29, 2019.
     Hon. Elliot Engel,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing concerning H.R. 4695, the 
     ``Protect Against Conflict by Turkey Act'' or the ``PACT 
     Act'. In order to permit the H.R. 4695 to proceed 
     expeditiously to the House Floor, I agree to forgo formal 
     consideration of the bill.
       The Committee on Financial Services takes this action to 
     forego formal consideration of H.R. 4695 with our mutual 
     understanding that, by foregoing formal consideration of H.R. 
     4695 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 with 
     regard to any matters in the Committee's 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 that 
     involves the Committee's jurisdiction and request your 
     support for any such request.
       Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter 
     confirming this understanding, and I 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. 4695.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Maxine Waters,
     Chairwoman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                               Committee on Foreign Relations,

                                 Washington, DC, October 28, 2019.
     Hon. Jerrold Nadler,
     Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Nadler: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 
     4695, the Protect Against Conflict by Turkey Act. I 
     appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this 
     legislation.
       I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on the Judiciary under House 
     Rule X, and that your Committee will forgo action on H.R. 
     4695 to expedite floor consideration. I further acknowledge 
     that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill 
     does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the 
     matters contained in the bill that fall within your 
     jurisdiction. I will also support the appointment of 
     Committee on the Judiciary conferees during any House-Senate 
     conference convened on this legislation.
       Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is 
     included in the Congressional Record during floor 
     consideration of the bill. Thank you again for your 
     cooperation regarding the legislation. I look forward to 
     continuing to work with you as the measure moves through the 
     legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Eliot L. Engel,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                   Committee on the Judiciary,

                                 Washington, DC, October 28, 2019.
     Hon. Eliot L. Engel,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Engel: This is to advise you that the 
     Committee on the Judiciary has now had an opportunity to 
     review the provisions in H.R. 4695, the ``Protect Against 
     Conflict by Turkey Act'' 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 forgo 
     action on H.R. 4695, 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 of Representatives,


                                 Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                                 Washington, DC, October 28, 2019.
     Hon. Carolyn B. Maloney,
     Acting Chairwoman, Committee on Oversight and Reform, House 
         of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairwoman Maloney: I am writing to you concerning 
     H.R. 4695, the PACT Act. I appreciate your willingness to 
     work cooperatively on this legislation.
       I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on Oversight and Reform under 
     House Rule X, and that your Committee will forgo action on 
     H.R. 4695 to expedite floor consideration. I further 
     acknowledge that the inaction of your Committee with respect 
     to the bill does not waive any future jurisdictional claim 
     over the matters contained in the bill that fall within your 
     jurisdiction. I will also support the appointment of 
     Committee on Oversight and Reform conferees during any House-
     Senate conference convened on this legislation.
       Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is 
     included in the Congressional Record during floor 
     consideration of the bill. Thank you again for your 
     cooperation regarding the legislation. I look forward to 
     continuing to work with you as the measure moves through the 
     legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Eliot L. Engel,
                                                         Chairman.

[[Page H8573]]

     
                                  ____
                                         House of Representatives,


                            Committee on Oversight and Reform,

                                 Washington, DC, October 28, 2019.
     Hon. Eliot Engel,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 
     4605, the Protect Against Conflict by Turkey (PACT) Act. 
     There are certain provisions in the legislation which fall 
     within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Oversight 
     and Reform.
       In the interest of permitting your Committee to proceed 
     expeditiously on this bill, I am willing to waive this 
     Committee's right to sequential referral. I do so with the 
     understanding that by waiving consideration of the bill, the 
     Committee on Oversight and Reform does not waive any future 
     jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in 
     the bill which fall within its Rule X jurisdiction. I request 
     that you urge the Speaker to name Members of this Committee 
     to any conference committee which is named to consider such 
     provisions.
       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 respective 
     Committees.
           Sincerely,
                                               Carolyn B. Maloney,
                                                Acting Chairwoman.

  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4695, the Protect Against 
Conflict by Turkey Act.
  The death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi this past weekend is a major win in 
our counter-ISIS campaign, and I congratulate our brave special 
operators for a job well done, the men and women of our intelligence 
community, and our President for a bold decision.
  The world is better off without this sick and deranged leader of the 
so-called caliphate. Baghdadi still has thousands of followers 
committed to terrorism. While their leader's death is a huge blow, we 
must stay vigilant to keep them from reconstituting or carrying out 
attacks in the West and to our homeland.
  With that, we cannot allow Turkey's invasion to hinder, in any way, 
our counter-ISIS campaign.
  My friend, Chairman Eliot Engel, and I coauthored this legislation to 
give the White House additional congressional support to sanction 
Turkey for its recent actions and the leverage to ensure Turkey upholds 
the vital cease-fire negotiated by Vice President Pence.
  In the President's own words: ``Should Turkey fail to honor its 
obligations, including the protection of religious and ethnic 
minorities . . . we reserve the right to reimpose crippling 
sanctions.''
  In addition, our bill ensures there are Presidential waivers to 
provide flexibility for the administration on how almost all the 
sanctions are administered.
  This bill incentivizes Turkey to comply with the cease-fire. If they 
do not, there will be consequences in the form of crippling sanctions.
  Turkey is also a vital NATO partner, and I am hopeful they will cease 
their destabilizing actions and act as a responsible partner.
  With that in mind, let's recap how we got here today.
  On October 9, Erdogan's forces charged across the border, unleashing 
a potential humanitarian crisis for the people in northern Syria. The 
assault has expanded Assad and Putin's grip on Syrian territory.
  As I said 2 weeks ago, I am concerned this incursion will damage U.S. 
interests in the Middle East and the Syrian people, including the 
Kurds, our ally. The only beneficiaries of more violence and more chaos 
in Syria are America's adversaries, and that is Vladimir Putin, Bashar 
al-Assad, Iran, and terror groups like ISIS.
  On October 17, the administration brokered a cease-fire with Turkey, 
which has held to date. This has helped to stabilize the situation and 
prevent a worst-case scenario from taking place. I applaud the Vice 
President and Secretary Pompeo for that delicate negotiation with 
President Erdogan, and I believe that our bipartisan resolution, which 
disapproved of the Turkish incursion last week, I believe, helped in 
these negotiations.
  Our bill today--my bill with Mr. Engel--codifies the administration's 
agreement in Ankara and will help to strengthen the President's hand in 
ensuring that Turkey upholds its commitments.
  Our bill imposes penalties on Turkey if it continues its offensive in 
northern Syria. Specifically, it sanctions Turkish officials involved 
in the military operation in Syria. It blocks U.S. weapons sales to 
Turkey that could be used in Syria and sanctions foreign entities 
selling such weapons to Turkey. It sanctions banks supporting Turkey's 
defense sector in the Syria campaign.
  Our bill also requires the administration to develop plans to adjust 
our counterterrorism strategy to respond to the changing situation on 
the ground.
  I am pleased that the administration heard our call for a residual 
force in Syria. I can think of nothing more dangerous than withdrawing 
all of our troops in Syria, as we saw when we withdrew, under the 
previous administration, from Iraq to 10,000 forces. That is when we 
saw the rise of ISIS and the so-called caliphate.
  We will have a residual force in Syria working with the SDF and the 
Kurds to help defeat and make sure ISIS is never again a threat to the 
homeland.
  Finally, it identifies Turkey's purchase of the Russian S-400 system 
as a transaction subject to sanctions under the Countering America's 
Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, or CAATSA. That is very important. 
How can you be a NATO ally and purchase Russian military equipment?
  We let Turkey into NATO to protect them from the Soviet Union, and 
now our NATO ally is buying Russian military equipment and, through its 
invasion into Syria, threatening our allies.
  For these reasons, I urge support of this bill and thank Chairman 
Engel for, once again, coming to a bipartisan resolution. When, once 
again, they said it couldn't be done, we got it done, and I thank him 
for that.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for his kind 
words.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. 
Jackson Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I again rise with appreciation for the 
chairman of this committee and the ranking member of this committee and 
echo the importance of this bipartisan resolution.
  I would like us to go down memory lane, for those of us who have had 
the privilege of being here, including Mr. Engel.
  We are reminded of a secular Turkey, a Turkey where all were 
welcomed. We remember visiting some of the beautiful and wonderful 
treasures of Turkey, as we met with government officials and heard them 
reinforce their commitment to democracy, to the idea of freedom of 
religion, and that is appropriate for a 70-year member of NATO.
  We are very grateful for their commitment to NATO. There are many who 
continue to advocate for Turkey's presence in NATO so that NATO could 
be comprehensive and unique. But we find ourselves now in the grips of 
a single-minded individual who does not see the beauty of democracy, 
does not see the beauty of diversity and the welcoming of those from 
many places to Turkey, or the orderly process and the strong role they 
can play in the Mideast.

  Yet, on a midnight call or a late-night call on a Sunday night, 
speaking to this administration, the Turkish President didn't consult 
or maybe offer options. What we have gleaned from the media is that 
they said: We are coming into Syria.
  In the midst of them coming into Syria, they created a humanitarian 
crisis with fleeing women and children, destroying homes, taking people 
away from their homeland, and just doing havoc.
  There must be order in the world, respect and dignity, and a respect 
for the sanctity of life.
  I am glad to rise in support of this legislation, to target Turkey 
for sanctions that will not be lifted until Turkey withdraws from 
northern Syria.
  The bill requires concrete strategies from the administration for 
combating ISIS and protecting Syrian Kurdish communities and an 
analysis of human rights violations committed by Turkish forces, as 
well as a refugee program.
  It goes with my earlier designation that this is a humanitarian 
crisis in response to the needs of the people.

[[Page H8574]]

  


                              {time}  1545

  This is not an act of war. This is to seek peace. This bill freezes 
assets and imposes a mandatory visa ban against senior officials of 
Turkey, including the Minister of National Defense, who apparently 
would not listen.
  Additionally, the PACT Act prohibits all arms transfers that Turkey 
could use in Syria--bloodshed against the people, not peace.
  Finally, the PACT Act imposed targeted sanctions on Halkbank, a 
Turkish bank with ties to President Erdogan.
  We would have wished to be around the diplomatic table to resolve the 
issues in Syria. We might have been on the verge of doing that. There 
was a calmness on the border, the northern border. We had a certain 
number of troops.
  Great opportunities remained before Turkey, but unwise and unilateral 
decisions were made. Part of that was the withdrawing of our Armed 
Forces from northern Syria.
  But I think it is clear to those of us who do want peace that there 
was a way of doing it. These sanctions should send a very strong 
message to Syria that we are, one, recognizing the Kurds.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Crow). The time of the gentlewoman has 
expired.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman from Texas an 
additional 30 seconds.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. These sanctions should send a strong message to 
Syria that, one, we in the United States take seriously the intrusion 
of Turkey into the Kurdish area.
  It should send a strong message to President Erdogan to recognize 
that he cannot bully his way through in the region.
  It should also send a strong message to Iran and Russia and to our 
ISIS foes that America is serious about peace, but doing it in a manner 
that provides as safe a pathway for peace as possible.
  I would hope and would have wanted the decision that the President 
made on the phone call never to have occurred. It did occur.
  Unfortunately, President Erdogan was a partner in this, and we must 
make a very strong statement that the United States will not stand for 
this kind of bullying and that we will ensure that we will find peace, 
but in the right way.
  Mr. Speaker, with that, I support H.R. 4695.
  Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the Committees on the Judiciary 
and on Homeland Security, and as a sponsor of the legislation, I rise 
in strong support of H.R. 4695, the ``Protect Against Conflict By 
Turkey'' or PACT Act, and I thank the Chairman and Ranking Member of 
the House Committee on Foreign Affairs for their bipartisan 
collaboration and hard work in bringing this important legislation to 
the floor.
  I strongly support the PACT Act because it holds Turkey accountable 
for its brutal invasion of northern Syria and imposes against it tough, 
targeted sanctions and highlights the negative consequences of Turkey's 
invasion and the President's acquiescence to this act of aggression.
  Under the legislation, most of the sanctions will not be lifted until 
Turkey withdraws from northern Syria and the bill requires concrete 
strategies from the Administration for combatting ISIS, protecting 
Syrian Kurdish communities, an analysis of human rights violations 
committed by Turkish forces as well as a refugee program designation 
for Syrians who partnered with or worked directly for the U.S. in 
Syria.
  Specifically, the PACT Act freezes assets freezes and imposes a 
mandatory visa ban against senior officials of Turkey, including the 
Minister of National Defense, the Chief of General Staff of Turkish 
military, the Commander of Turkish 2nd Army, which has led the Syrian 
incursion; the Minister of Treasury and Finance, who by the way is 
Turkey President Erdogan's son-in-law); and additional senior Turkish 
defense officials involved in the invasion of Syria and anyone 
committing human rights abuses.
  Additionally, the PACT Act prohibits all arms transfers that Turkey 
could use in Syria and makes unavailable the use of the emergency 
provision of Arms Export Control Act (AECA) that the President might 
otherwise have used to get around congressional holds on arms sales to 
Turkey.
  Finally, the PACT Act imposed targeted sanctions on Halkbank, a 
Turkish bank with ties to President Erdogan, and additional Turkish 
banks facilitating transactions for the Turkish military's operations 
in Syria.
  Mr. Speaker, I have devoted my congressional career working to 
advance initiatives that will bring peace to troubled regions of the 
globe.
  For example, I strongly supported the two-state solution to bring 
peace between Palestinians and Israelis.
  Similarly, I worked with my colleagues and the executive branch to 
end the genocide and bloodshed in Darfur and for peace, stability, and 
reconciliation in Afghanistan.
  About this time two years ago, I had just returned from important 
meetings in the Middle East where I was part of an eight-member 
congressional delegation to the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.
  Mr. Speaker, the unwise and unilateral decision to withdraw U.S. 
armed forces from Northern Syria and abandon the Kurds, perhaps our 
most indispensable ally in the region is a mistake of incalculable 
damage.
  Instead of furthering United States interests, the decision to 
withdraw American troops from Northern Syria undermines them and 
emboldens Russia, Iran, Syria, and ISIS, all implacable foes of the 
United States.
  At the same time the decision squanders the progress made to date by 
the United States, working with the Kurds, to defeat ISIS and destroy 
its caliphate and props up the bloody Assad regime in Syria and puts at 
risk thousands of innocent men, women, and children.
  Mr. Speaker, the President's decision weakens the United States 
because trusted allies will no longer rely upon the commitment of our 
country to defend freedom or keep its word, and worst of all, it 
consigns the Kurds, our devoted and dedicated friends, to certain death 
and carnage at the hands of the Turkish military under the leadership 
of autocrat President Recep Erdogan.
  I urge the President, as Commander-in-Chief, to reinstate and resume 
the tried and true practice of orderly and systematic consultation with 
national security professionals, specifically the Secretary of State, 
the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 
the intelligence community, our key allies and foreign policy experts.
  For nearly 75 years, since the end of World War II, the United States 
has been the indispensable nation in the world and because of the 
leadership asserted by the United States, international peace has been 
preserved and global conflagration avoided.
  This task has never been easy or inexpensive, except when compared to 
the alternative of violence, bloodshed, and chaos.
  President Kennedy recognized this and observed in his 1961 Inaugural 
Address that ``In the long history of the world, only a few generations 
have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum 
danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility--I welcome it.''
  I urge all Members to join me in voting for this critically important 
bipartisan legislation, vote to pass the PACT Act.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Bilirakis).
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I offer congratulations again to Chairman 
Engel and Ranking Member McCaul for this very important Turkey 
sanctions bill.
  Mr. Speaker, for nearly 13 years, I have felt like I have been one of 
the lone voices in the wilderness decrying the actions of Turkey as it 
systematically denies its citizens basic human rights by invading and 
occupying an EU country, the Republic of Cyprus; stripping religious 
minorities of their religious freedom; persecuting journalists and 
academics for writing about the Armenian genocide; and invading and 
provoking hostilities on a daily basis in the Eastern Mediterranean.
  As co-chair of the International Religious Freedom Caucus, I am 
especially grateful for this PACT Act calling for the administration to 
outline how it will assist religious and ethnic minorities affected by 
war crimes perpetrated by Prime Minister Erdogan.
  Additionally, in my role as co-chair of the Hellenic Caucus, I have 
called for the administration to halt the delivery of F-35s to Turkey, 
given its purchase of Russia's S-400 missile defense system.
  I am pleased this bill goes further and imposes 231 sanctions for 
Turkey's intransigence.
  I urge support of this legislation so that we can send a unified, 
bipartisan message to Turkey that, if you want to be considered a 
strategic ally of the United States, a true ally, you have to act like 
one.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to again thank the chairman, the ranking member, 
and the entire Foreign Affairs Committee for bringing up this very 
important bill.

[[Page H8575]]

  

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Hurd).
  Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Texas for 
yielding, and I am proud to rise today in support of the bipartisan 
PACT Act to hold Turkey accountable for its destabilizing and dangerous 
decision to invade northern Syria and attack America's Kurdish allies.
  After years of fighting side by side with American forces against 
ISIS, Syrian Kurds are now under siege and fleeing their homes. 
According to the United Nations, over 180,000 people have been 
displaced, including 80,000 children. Many are fleeing to the Kurdistan 
region of Iraq, which already hosts over 200,000 refugees from the 
Syrian civil war.
  Turkey's reckless actions have created a humanitarian crisis that 
will strain our partners in the region and provide ISIS with an 
opportunity to reemerge as a threat to the United States.
  The international community must come together to provide assistance 
to Kurds and refugees in both Syria and Iraq.
  The U.S. Special Envoy for Syria also told Congress last week that 
there have been several incidents of potential war crimes committed by 
Turkey or its proxies, including the use of white phosphorus, which can 
be used as a chemical weapon on civilians and in extrajudicial 
killings.
  We cannot stand idly by while Turkey undermines the fight against 
ISIS, attacks our Kurdish allies, and puts hundreds of thousands of 
innocent civilians in harm's way.
  These sanctions are an appropriate response that holds Turkey 
responsible for its actions and provides incentives for President 
Erdogan to change course.
  One thing I learned during my time as an undercover officer in the 
CIA is that America only succeeds when our enemies fear us and our 
allies trust us.
  As members of NATO, both the U.S. and Turkey have committed to unite 
their efforts for collective defense and for preservation of peace and 
security. I hope our Turkish counterparts will recommit to these 
principles and work with us to address shared security concerns and 
protect the successes of joint U.S.-Kurdish efforts to drive ISIS out 
of Syria.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my friends, the gentleman from New York and the 
gentleman from Texas, for their work and their commitment on this 
important, bipartisan bill, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Kinzinger), a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
  Mr. KINZINGER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding.
  It is sad that we are here. As a military member, I spent some time 
at the Incirlik Air Base in Turkey in `06, or maybe a little before in 
`05. I think we all, as Members of this body, have probably been there 
in our travels and see some amazing potential for a country that really 
straddles two continents and plays such an important role in the 
future. But it is sad to see what has happened.
  So, I reluctantly have to rise today in support of H.R. 4695, the 
Protect Against Conflict by Turkey Act, also known as the PACT Act.
  I cosponsored this because I am worried about the direction of 
President Erdogan and the direction he is taking the Republic of 
Turkey.
  The leader of a country with so much to offer the world should not be 
cozying up to the likes of Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad--Vladimir 
Putin, who oversees a failing nation, quite honestly, and is not the 
future. Yet that is exactly what Erdogan is doing when he decided to 
invade Syria.
  Far too many men, women, and children have died at the hands of 
Assad, Putin, and Khamenei.
  It is unthinkable that a leader of a NATO nation will be joining the 
list of murderous thugs; but, given the latest developments in Syria, 
many of our Kurdish partners will likely die because of Erdogan's 
offensive.
  These are the same Kurdish fighters who, while we lost less than 20 
soldiers in the fight against ISIS from combat, lost over 10,000 of 
their own men and women.
  These are the same Kurdish fighters who spent the past 5 years 
hunting ISIS leader Abu al-Baghdadi alongside our men and women in 
uniform, and we saw that come to fruition in a great way this weekend.
  Without their constant pressure on the ISIS networks, our operators 
may have never had the chance to bring him to justice--not to mention 
the fact that Turkey, inevitably, threatened to attack our troops in 
northern Syria.
  That is why I am proud to cosponsor this. By applying targeted 
sanctions against those directly responsible for the operations, we are 
sending a message to the Erdogan government that the U.S. will hold 
them liable for their actions. If he does not want to act like a NATO 
nation, then his government will feel the repercussions of such 
decisions.
  I thank Chairman Engel and Ranking Member McCaul for their steadfast 
leadership of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and I commend them for 
their ability to work in a bipartisan manner to advance measures in 
America's interest.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Pelosi), our Speaker of the House.
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I 
thank Mr. Engel, distinguished chairman of the Foreign Affairs 
Committee, and the distinguished ranking member of the committee, Mr. 
McCaul, for their leadership in bringing this important, bipartisan 
bill to the floor.
  Mr. Speaker, as we all know, 3 weeks ago the President unleashed an 
escalation of chaos and insecurity in Syria when he gave Turkey the 
green light to attack our Kurdish partners, threatening lives, risking 
regional security, and undermining America's credibility as a 
trustworthy ally.
  And then, instead of holding Turkey accountable for its aggression, 
the President reversed his sanctions in exchange for a so-called cease-
fire, which the Turks clearly stated was not a cease-fire.
  Today, Democrats and Republicans come together to demonstrate the 
strong, smart leadership that has sorely been lacking from the White 
House, as the House passed this tough, targeted sanctions bill to hold 
the Turks accountable for their attacks on our Kurdish partners.
  We salute Chairman Engel and Ranking Member McCaul once again for 
their leadership on this PACT Act and on the resolution opposing 
President Trump's decision on Syria, including H.J. Res. 77, a 
bipartisan, bicameral resolution which passed the House on a 354-60 
vote.
  Here are the facts:
  Our Kurdish partners freed millions of people and tens of thousands 
of square miles from the grip of ISIS. Throughout the fight, they 
sustained nearly 11,000 casualties.
  Until recently, our Kurdish partners protected America's security and 
the security of the region as more than 10,000 ISIS fighters and tens 
of thousands of ISIS family members were under their control.
  Yet, in a matter of weeks, the President has put our progress at 
risk. Even with the death of al-Baghdadi, ISIS remains a serious and 
resurgent threat. The death of a top ISIS leader does not mean the 
death of ISIS.
  Scores of fighters remain under uncertain conditions in Syrian 
prisons and at risk of a jailbreak. Nearly 800 ISIS supporters and 
family members have reportedly escaped. To say that Turkey and Syria 
still adequately guard the prisoners is outrageous and dangerous.
  At the same time, more than 250,000 Kurdish civilians have fled their 
homes because of Turkish attacks. Dozens of civilians, in addition to 
possibly hundreds of brave Kurdish fighters, have been killed.
  The only winners from the President's disastrous decision in Syria 
are ISIS, the Syrian Government, Iran, and Russia.
  With these targeted, strong sanctions, America is holding accountable 
top Turkish officials responsible for human rights abuses, including 
attacking our Kurdish partners.
  We are penalizing Turkish financial institutions that perpetuate 
President Erdogan's corruption and abuses, and

[[Page H8576]]

are preventing the sale of arms to Turkey for use in Syria.
  As the House passes this legislation, we again call upon the 
President to support the Kurdish communities and work to ensure that 
the Turkish military acts with restraint, and we require the Trump 
administration to finally present a clear strategy to defeat ISIS.
  Mr. Speaker, I know we have bipartisan support for this legislation. 
Again, I salute Ranking Member McCaul and Chairman Engel for bringing 
this legislation to the floor, which is a vote to support the sacrifice 
of our military and our allies and a vote to restore strength, 
strategy, and sanity to our national security policy.
  I think that a very strong, bipartisan vote in the House, similar to 
the one we had on H.J. Res. 77, will send a very clear message that we 
can come together--and we will come together--in the interest of our 
national security; in the interest of Americans' values, which are part 
of our strength; and, again, to fight terrorism wherever it exists so 
that it does not reach our shores.

                              {time}  1600

  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I want to echo Madam Speaker's comments. When we stand united on the 
floor of the Congress, as Americans, that is when we send the strongest 
message overseas to adversaries.
  I want to thank Mr. Engel for his strong work in working with me to 
get to a positive place where we can actually get to a solution to what 
has been a challenging and very fluid situation. It is always an honor 
to work with the gentleman on the Foreign Affairs Committee.
  In these times of crises we are, I believe, strongest on the world 
stage when the executive and legislative branch speak in one voice.
  In his testimony before our committee, Ambassador Jeffrey, the 
Special Envoy to Syria said:

       I saw firsthand the effect of congressional sanctions when 
     we visited with the Turkish negotiating team; that these 
     sanctions have been helpful in getting the Turks to agree to 
     the cease-fire.

  And I believe the resolution that we passed helped get Turkey to the 
cease-fire as well.
  Finally, I want to thank our partners in the Syrian Democratic Forces 
for their ongoing dedication to countering ISIS. And I want to say to 
the SDF, from the Nation's Capitol, on the House floor, that the 
American people are grateful for everything you have done for us, for 
everything you have worked for, and everything you have sacrificed to 
keep the world safer.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this important 
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume 
for the purpose of closing.
  I would like to again thank Ranking Member McCaul for his partnership 
in writing this important bipartisan bill. And it is even more than 
just a partnership. It is working together on both sides of the aisle 
to do good for the American people. That is really what this should all 
be about, particularly when we are talking about foreign affairs. So I 
want to thank Mr. McCaul for working closely with me and for really 
making this a real collaborative bill.
  The measure before us represents what the Foreign Affairs Committee 
does best, bipartisan, commonsense legislation that advances American 
interests and American values on the global stage.
  The PACT Act holds Turkey accountable for its bloodshed in Syria. It 
calls on Erdogan to immediately stop his campaign of ethnic cleansing 
to expel Syrian Kurds and other minority groups from their homeland, 
and to start living up to the democratic values that we expect from a 
NATO ally, values that, right now, are under constant attack in Turkey.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a sad coincidence. Today is the 96th anniversary 
of the founding of the Republic of Turkey. For nearly a century, the 
Turkish people have fought hard to grow and preserve democracy in their 
country, and Erdogan has done such incredible damage to that legacy.
  I call on all my colleagues to join me and Mr. McCaul in supporting 
this legislation and sending a strong message that the United States 
Congress will not condone Turkey's horrific atrocities against the 
Kurds. Not only will we not condone it, we oppose it; we will speak out 
about it; and we will try in every way we can to stop it.
  I urge my colleagues to support this very important measure, and 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. 4695, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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