The American Coalition for Syria welcomes today's passage of the bi-partisan Assad Regime Anti-Normalization Act of 2023 (H.R. 3202) by the U.S. House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC). This significant step demonstrates the U.S. Congress’s resolute commitment to counter the Assad regime’s normalization efforts pursued by regional states.
During today's markup of this critical piece of legislation, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) introduced a compelling amendment that not only bolstered H.R. 3202 but also put in place provisions to protect humanitarian NGOs and address other concerns. ACS is grateful for the almost unanimous vote, which underscores the unwavering support from Congress in staunchly opposing any normalization with the Assad regime from regional countries. This resolution is the most robust Syria-related legislation since the 2019 Caesar Act.
The proposed resolution carries significant weight as it imposes severe penalties on those engaging in business with Assad and his supporters and unequivocally prohibits the U.S. government from recognizing any government led by Bashar al-Assad or normalizing ties with his regime.
ACS extends its appreciation to Representative Wilson and the original cosponsors, including Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), Michael McCaul (R-TX), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), French Hill (R-AR), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), and Amata Radewagen (R-AS), for their leadership and unwavering dedication to this cause. ACS further thanks the HFAC members who voted to approve the resolution.
ACS urges House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to swiftly move this vital legislation to the floor for consideration. Furthermore, we encourage all Members of Congress to cosponsor and vote in favor of this resolution, reaffirming their commitment to justice and accountability. ACS remains committed to collaborating with members of Congress and other stakeholders to ensure the successful passage and effective implementation of this crucial legislation.
During today's markup of this critical piece of legislation, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) introduced a compelling amendment that not only bolstered H.R. 3202 but also put in place provisions to protect humanitarian NGOs and address other concerns. ACS is grateful for the almost unanimous vote, which underscores the unwavering support from Congress in staunchly opposing any normalization with the Assad regime from regional countries. This resolution is the most robust Syria-related legislation since the 2019 Caesar Act.
The proposed resolution carries significant weight as it imposes severe penalties on those engaging in business with Assad and his supporters and unequivocally prohibits the U.S. government from recognizing any government led by Bashar al-Assad or normalizing ties with his regime.
ACS extends its appreciation to Representative Wilson and the original cosponsors, including Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), Michael McCaul (R-TX), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), French Hill (R-AR), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), and Amata Radewagen (R-AS), for their leadership and unwavering dedication to this cause. ACS further thanks the HFAC members who voted to approve the resolution.
ACS urges House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to swiftly move this vital legislation to the floor for consideration. Furthermore, we encourage all Members of Congress to cosponsor and vote in favor of this resolution, reaffirming their commitment to justice and accountability. ACS remains committed to collaborating with members of Congress and other stakeholders to ensure the successful passage and effective implementation of this crucial legislation.
What changed in the resolution:
- The threshold connected to those who divert humanitarian aid was raised from ‘knowingly' engaging in the diversion of humanitarian assistance to ‘purposefully.’ Knowingly’ means the person knew or should have known that the misconduct was happening. ‘Purposefully,’ on the other hand, means the person is intentionally engaging in misconduct. This new standard will protect humanitarian aid organizations operating in Syria.
- The amendment maintains mandatory sanctions on those who provide material support to the Assad regime and its allies, while at the same time giving the President new authorities to sanction the accessories and family members of those involved in diverting humanitarian aid and misappropriating the properties of Syrians. Making these peripheral sanctions an authorization will ensure that innocent Syrian civilians do not get unintentionally caught up in them, especially since the sanctions include the immediate family members of sanctioned persons.
- The revisions would allow a sanctioned family member to get off the SDN list if they can prove by clear and convincing evidence that they have no history of providing material support to the Assad regime or helping their implicated immediate family members to evade financial sanctions.
- The resolution strengthens the determination into Asma al-Assad’s ‘Syria Trust for Development’ by adding new authorities which would apply in the determination including EO13894 and all other related Syria sanctions.
- It increases the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act sunset to 2032.
- It changes the standard for prohibiting ‘financial services’ to the regime to ‘commercial financial services’ and defines that as support for any bank with a market capitalization of $5 million or more. This would ensure that the resolution would not go after smaller institutions or harm remittances.
- The list of transactions—including investments, grants, contracts, or donations including (loans or other extension of credit), in areas of Syria held by the Assad regime that should be included in the annual report the administration must submit to Congress—has been increased from ‘$50,000’ to ‘$500,000’ within a single year, or in combination by the same source exceed $500,000 in aggregate.
ACS invites the media to learn more about this legislation and ongoing efforts to support it.
Please contact Jenny Lindell at jlindell@sacouncil.com or 562-335-4149 to schedule an interview or learn more.
Please contact Jenny Lindell at jlindell@sacouncil.com or 562-335-4149 to schedule an interview or learn more.
