[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 123 (Tuesday, July 18, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2989-S2990]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Mr. Rubio):
  S. 2342. A bill to prohibit any official action to recognize or 
normalize relations with any Government of Syria that is led by Bashar 
al-Assad; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2342

       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 ``Assad Regime Anti-
     Normalization Act of 2023''.

     SEC. 2. PROHIBITION OF RECOGNITION OF ASSAD REGIME.

       (a) Statement of Policy.--It is the policy of the United 
     States--
       (1) not to recognize or normalize relations with any 
     Government of Syria that is led by Bashar al-Assad due to the 
     Assad regime's prior and ongoing crimes against the Syrian 
     people, including failure to meet the criteria outlined in 
     section 7431(a) of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act 
     of 2019 (title LXXIV of Public Law 116-92; 22 U.S.C. 8791 
     note);
       (2) to actively oppose recognition or normalization of 
     relations by other governments with any Government of Syria 
     that is led by Bashar Al-Assad, including by fully 
     implementing the mandatory primary and secondary sanctions in 
     the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 and 
     Executive Order 13894 (84 Fed. Reg. 55851; relating to 
     blocking property and suspending entry of certain persons 
     contributing to the situation in Syria); and
       (3) to use the full range of authorities, including those 
     provided under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 
     2019 and Executive Order 13894, to deter reconstruction 
     activities in areas under the control of Bashar al-Assad.

[[Page S2990]]

       (b) Prohibition.--In accordance with subsection (a), no 
     Federal official or employee may take any action, and no 
     Federal funds may be made available, to recognize or 
     otherwise imply, in any manner, United States recognition of 
     Bashar al-Assad or any Government in Syria that is led by 
     Bashar al-Assad.
                                 ______