H.R. 31 — what changed
Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019
From Introduced in House to Engrossed in House. 4 sections amended and 1 removed between Introduced in House and Engrossed in House.
Sec. 102 Sanctions with respect to foreign persons that engage in certain transactions
Imposition of sanctions—
In general— On and after the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall impose the sanctions described in subsection (b) with respect to a foreign person if the President determines that the foreign person, on or after such date of enactment, knowingly engages in an activity described in paragraph (2).
Activities described— A foreign person engages in an activity described in this paragraph if the foreign person—
knowingly provides significant financial, material, or technological support to, or knowingly engages in a significant transaction with—
the Government of Syria (including any entity owned or controlled by the Government of Syria) or a senior political figure of the Government of Syria;
a foreign person that is a military contractor, mercenary, or a paramilitary force knowingly operating in a military capacity inside Syria for or on behalf of the Government of Syria, the Government of the Russian Federation, or the Government of Iran; or
a foreign person subject to sanctions pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) with respect to Syria or any other provision of law that imposes sanctions with respect to Syria;
knowingly sells or provides significant goods, services, technology, information, or other support that significantly facilitates the maintenance or expansion of the Government of Syria’s domestic production of natural gas, petroleum, or petroleum products;
knowingly sells or provides aircraft or spare aircraft parts that are used for military purposes in Syria for or on behalf of the Government of Syria to any foreign person operating in an area directly or indirectly controlled by the Government of Syria or foreign forces associated with the Government of Syria;
knowingly provides significant goods or services associated with the operation of aircraft that are used for military purposes in Syria for or on behalf of the Government of Syria to any foreign person operating in an area described in subparagraph (C); or
knowingly, directly or indirectly, provides significant construction or engineering services to the Government of Syria.
Sense of Congress— It is the sense of Congress that, in implementing this section, the President should consider financial support under paragraph (2)(A) to include the provision of loans, credits, or export credits.
Sanctions described—
In general— The sanctions to be imposed with respect to a foreign person subject to subsection (a) are the following:
Blocking of property— The President shall exercise all of the powers granted to the President under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to the extent necessary to block and prohibit all transactions in property and interests in property of the foreign person if such property and interests in property are in the United States, come within the United States, or are or come within the possession or control of a United States person.
Aliens ineligible for visas, admission, or parole—
Visas, admission, or parole— An alien who the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Homeland Security (or a designee of one of such Secretaries) knows, or has reason to believe, has knowingly engaged in any activity described in subsection (a)(2) is—
inadmissible to the United States;
ineligible to receive a visa or other documentation to enter the United States; and
otherwise ineligible to be admitted or paroled into the United States or to receive any other benefit under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.).
Current visas revoked—
In general— The issuing consular officer, the Secretary of State, or the Secretary of Homeland Security (or a designee of one of such Secretaries) shall, in accordance with section 221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1201(i)), revoke any visa or other entry documentation issued to an alien described in clause (i) regardless of when the visa or other entry documentation is issued.
Effect of revocation— A revocation under subclause (I)—
shall take effect immediately; and
shall automatically cancel any other valid visa or entry documentation that is in the alien’s possession.
changed
Penalties— The penalties provided for in subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) shall apply to a person that violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of regulations promulgated under section 303(b) 303 to carry out paragraph (1)(A) to the same extent that such penalties apply to a person that commits an unlawful act described in section 206(a) of that Act.
Exception to comply with United Nations Headquarters Agreement— Sanctions under paragraph (1)(B) shall not apply with respect to an alien if admitting or paroling the alien into the United States is necessary to permit the United States to comply with the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United States, or other applicable international obligations.
Sec. 302 Exemptions; Waivers; exception relating to importation of goods
Exemptions— The following activities and transactions shall be exempt from sanctions authorized under this Act:
Any activity subject to the reporting requirements under title V of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.), or to any authorized law enforcement, national security, or intelligence activities of the United States.
Any transaction necessary to comply with United States obligations under—
the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United States;
the Convention on Consular Relations, done at Vienna April 24, 1963, and entered into force March 19, 1967; or
any other international agreement to which the United States is a party.
Waiver—
changed
In general— The President may, for periods not to exceed 180 days, waive the application of any provision of sanction authorized under this Act with respect to a foreign person if the President certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that such a waiver is in the national security interests of the United States.
Briefing— Not later than 90 days after the issuance of a waiver under paragraph (1), and every 180 days thereafter while the waiver remains in effect, the President shall brief the appropriate congressional committees on the reasons for the waiver.
Humanitarian waiver—
changed
In general— The President may waive, for renewable periods not to exceed 2 years, the application of any provision of sanction authorized under this Act with respect to a nongovernmental organization providing humanitarian assistance not covered by the authorization described in section 201 if the President certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that such a waiver is important to address a humanitarian need and is consistent with the national security interests of the United States.
Briefing— Not later than 90 days after the issuance of a waiver under paragraph (1), and every 180 days thereafter while the waiver remains in effect, the President shall brief the appropriate congressional committees on the reasons for the waiver.
added
Exception relating to importation of goods—
added
In general— The authorities and requirements to impose sanctions authorized under this Act shall not include the authority or requirement to impose sanctions on the importation of goods.
added
Good defined— In this subsection, the term good means any article, natural or man-made substance, material, supply or manufactured product, including inspection and test equipment, and excluding technical data.
renumbered
was (5)
Appropriate congressional committees defined— In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means—
renumbered
was (5)(3)
the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Financial Services, the Committee on Ways and Means, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
renumbered
was (5)(4)
the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
Sec. 303 Regulatory authorities
added The President shall, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, promulgate regulations as necessary for the implementation of this Act.
removed
Implementation authority— The President may exercise all authorities provided to the President under sections 203 and 205 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 1704) for purposes of carrying out this Act.
removed
Regulatory authority— The President shall, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, promulgate regulations as necessary for the implementation of this Act.
Sec. 304 Sunset
changed
Nothing in this This Act may be construed shall cease to limit be effective on the authority of date that is 5 years after the President pursuant to date of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) or any other provision enactment of law.this Act.
Sec. 305 Sunset
removed
removed
This Act shall cease to be effective on the date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.