[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 9, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1428-S1429]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 99--OBSERVING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UPRISING IN 
                                 SYRIA

  Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. Risch, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Rubio, Mrs. 
Shaheen, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Romney, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Hagerty, 
and Mr. Coons) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                               S. Res. 99

       Whereas 10 years ago, on March 15th, 2011, in the midst of 
     the Arab Spring, hundreds of Syrians peacefully assembled to 
     call on their leadership for democratic reforms and respect 
     for their fundamental freedoms, sparking a nationwide 
     movement;
       Whereas in response to the predominantly peaceful protests, 
     Syrian President Bashar al-Assad ordered unyielding violence 
     against the people of Syria, including arbitrary detentions, 
     torture, killing, and attacks on civilians and civilian 
     infrastructure, often under the false premise of combating 
     terrorism;
       Whereas over the course of this conflict, the Assad regime 
     has exhibited unrelenting depravity in its use of chemical 
     weapons and barrel bombs, deliberately targeting civilian 
     infrastructure, including hospitals and schools, and 
     committing gross violations of international humanitarian 
     law;

[[Page S1429]]

       Whereas the former Syrian military photographer ``Caesar'' 
     meticulously photographed the Assad regime's widespread 
     system of arrest, detention, torture and murder of tens of 
     thousands of Syrian protesters and dissidents, and then 
     courageously smuggled 55,000 of those photographs out of 
     Syria, exposing the regime's barbarity for the world to 
     witness;
       Whereas the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 
     (22 U.S.C. 8791 note), which became law on December 20, 
     2019--
           (1) seeks accountability for the Assad regime and its 
     international enablers for atrocities against the Syrian 
     people;
           (2) denies the Assad regime the resources to fuel its 
     war machine; and
           (3) sends a clear signal to the international community 
     against normalizing, rehabilitating, or legitimizing Assad 
     and his backers.
       Whereas Iran and Russia intervened militarily in support of 
     the Assad regime, enabling and actively participating in the 
     Assad regime's horrific brutalities against civilians in 
     favor of advancing their narrow interests and in some cases 
     empowered extremist groups;
       Whereas in pursuit of its narrow self-interest, Russia, 
     backed by China, has blunted United Nations' efforts to 
     preserve vital border crossings that serve as a critical 
     humanitarian lifeline to the beleaguered Syrian population.
       Whereas the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria exacerbated the 
     suffering of the Syrian people through the violent and 
     hostile seizure of territory, misapplication of Islamic law, 
     destruction and smuggling of antiquities, and oil smuggling, 
     turning Syria into a global hub for terrorist activity;
       Whereas the Assad regime, and its Russian and Iranian 
     backers, are largely responsible for the death of more than 
     500,000 Syrian civilians, and the displacement of more than 
     12,000,000 men, women, and children within and outside of 
     Syria's borders, imposing irreversible trauma and loss for a 
     whole generation;
       Whereas millions of Syrians are struggling to survive, with 
     more than 13,000,000 Syrians who are in need of humanitarian 
     assistance and more than 9,000,000 Syrians who are facing 
     food insecurity;
       Whereas international efforts to secure a peaceful 
     political transition of power in Syria, in accordance with 
     United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254, adopted on 
     December 18, 2015, remain stymied, due almost entirely to the 
     intransigence of Russia and the Assad regime, holding the 
     people of Syria hostage;
       Whereas the people and Government of the United States 
     support the people of Syria in their aspirations for peace, 
     stability, dignity, and accountability:
       Now, therefore, be it
         Resolved, That the Senate--
         (1) solemnly observes the 10th anniversary of the Syrian 
     uprising;
         (2) affirms that it is the policy of the United States--
         (A) to seek a political solution to the Syrian conflict;
         (B) to continue to stand with the people of Syria;
         (C) to further efforts to secure a permanent ceasefire;
         (D) to continue work on the constitutional committee free 
     from regime intransigence; and
         (E) to foster conditions for free and fair elections in 
     accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 
     2254;
         (3) affirms that it is the policy of the United States to 
     promote adherence to the laws of war by all parties engaging 
     in hostilities in Syria;
         (4) affirms that it is the policy of the United States to 
     support international humanitarian efforts to assist innocent 
     civilians, including through support for displaced 
     populations and the promotion of accountability for 
     perpetrators of human rights abuses;
         (5) commits to continuing efforts to hold the Assad 
     regime and its Russian and Iranian backers accountable for 
     war crimes and crimes against humanity; including through 
     implementation of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 
     2019;
         (6) commends the bravery of Syrian human rights defenders 
     who, in the service of justice and accountability, have 
     courageously documented the atrocities committed by the Assad 
     regime and its Russian and Iranian backers over the course of 
     this conflict;
         (7) condemns the indiscriminate use of force by all 
     actors in Syria, including the Assad regime, its proponents, 
     its opponents, and extremist groups;
         (8) calls on the United States Government to reinvigorate 
     diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict as outlined under 
     United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254, and to 
     expand humanitarian aid to the Syrian people so they may--
         (A) be free from violence, whether from the state or 
     other armed groups;
         (B) return to their communities of their own free will 
     and in an informed manner;
         (C) participate in transitional justice; and
         (D) decide their own futures through free and fair 
     elections that result in a legitimate representative 
     government that serves all Syrians.

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