Expressing the sense of the Senate concerning the ongoing conflict in Syria as it reaches its six-year mark in March, the ensuing humanitarian crisis in Syria and neighboring countries, the resulting humanitarian and national security challenges, and the urgent need for a political solution to the crisis.

strongly condemns the regime of Bashar al-Assad for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Syrian conflict, including the use of chemical weapons, in violation of its obligations as required by United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2118 (2013) and 2209 (2015), and for the widespread use of torture, summary executions, prolonged sieges, forcible relocations, and indiscriminate targeting of civilians and humanitarian actors;

condemns the Assad regime and the Government of the Russian Federation for using indiscriminate cluster munitions on civilian areas and infrastructure and for the deliberate targeting of United Nations humanitarian aid convoys;

urges all parties to the conflict, particularly the Russian Federation, Iran, and Iranian-backed militias, to immediately halt indiscriminate attacks, the imposition of starvation sieges, and other forms of warfare directed against civilians and civilian infrastructure;

strongly urges all parties to the conflict to allow for and facilitate immediate, unfettered access to humanitarian assistance throughout Syria, respecting the safety, security, independence, and impartiality of humanitarian workers and ensuring freedom of movement to deliver aid, particularly in areas of Syria controlled by opposition forces;

affirms the neutrality of medical professionals providing humanitarian assistance and health care on a non-political basis, and condemns attacks against such personnel or interference in the provision of medical care, particularly in areas of Syria controlled by opposition forces;

encourages the President to make it the policy of the United States Government to continue to coordinate a comprehensive and generous response to the Syrian humanitarian crisis, including assistance and development, and protection of human rights inside Syria and in the region;

urges all parties in Syria to support the immediate and full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2268 (2016), which calls for a cessation of hostilities in the conflict, except with ISIL and al Qaeda and their affiliated organizations, to facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance and reconstruction of war-affected communities in Syria;

affirms that the elimination of al Qaeda and ISIS safe havens in Syria, from which those organizations can plan and launch attacks against the United States and its partners, is a vital national security interest of the United States;

commends the Syrian Democratic Forces, the Syrian Arab Coalition, and other local, Syrian partner forces for their support of Operation Inherent Resolve and the efforts of the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL;

affirms that the stability of key European and Middle Eastern partners is vital to the national security of the United States and preventing the Syrian conflict from undermining that stability is a top priority for the United States;

calls on the international community to continue to support neighboring countries and host communities who are generously supporting refugees and internally displaced persons fleeing the conflict in Syria;

calls on the President to continue the active participation of the United States Government in a robust and effective diplomatic process to achieve a political agreement to the Syrian conflict; and

urges the President to develop and submit to the Committees on Foreign Relations and Armed Services of the Senate within 90 days a strategy for providing long-term stability and security in areas seized from ISIL.