68 cosponsors
Would require the president to impose further sanctions on any person, company, or government he deems to have aided Syria in acquiring or developing weapons of mass destruction; invested in Syria’s petroleum industry; or exported refined petroleum products to Syria. Sanctions targeting Syria’s energy sector are intended to cripple the Syrian economy in order to deny it the ability to support terrorist organizations and develop weapons of mass destruction. Similar sanctions targeting Iran’s energy sector were passed into law in 2010. AIPAC was a strong supporter of efforts to impose sanctions on both countries.
In order for Syria to no longer be subject to already existing sanctions or those imposed by this bill, the president must certify to Congress that Syria is, among other things, no longer engaged in training, harboring, supplying, financing, or supporting Hamas, Hizballah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Fatah al-Intifada, or Fatah al-Islam.
Would authorize such sums as may be necessary to provide financial and political assistance to individuals or organizations that support democracy in Syria. Funding may only be provided if the recipient opposes violence and terrorism; advocates Syria’s adherence to weapons of mass destruction nonproliferation regimes; is dedicated to democratic values and government, and respect for human rights; works to establish equality; and supports freedom of the press, speech, association, and religion.
Would find that Syria is in violation of its agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) since it did not declare the existence of a nuclear facility bombed by Israel in 2007, and subsequently attempted to conceal the nature of the site from IAEA inspectors dispatched after the Israeli attack.
Would find that Syria provides support to terrorist groups including Hamas, Hizballah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command by giving their leadership safe-haven and allowing them to ship weapons in and out of Syria.
More on:
Supporting protestors in Syria: S. Res. 180 of 5/11/11 and H. Res. 296 of 6/3/11
Further Syria sanctions: S. 1048 of 5/23/11, H.R. 2105 of 6/3/11, S. 1472 of 8/2/11
Arab Spring: S. Res. 44 of 2/3/11, H. Res. 292 of 6/3/11, H.R. 2106 of 6/3/11, S. 1472 of 8/2/11
Conditioning assistance to Egypt: H. Amdt. 481 to H.R. 1 of 2/11/11, H.R. 1514 of 4/13/11, H.R. 2055 of 5/31/11, H.R. 2583 of 7/19/11, S. 1601 of 9/22/11, and H.R. 3671 of 12/14/11