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Title III — Assistance for the people of Syria

S. 52 · 116th Congress · Jan 8, 2019 · Lineage

III Assistance for the people of Syria

Sec. 301 Briefing on monitoring and evaluating of ongoing assistance programs in Syria and to the Syrian people

(a)
In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall brief the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate on the monitoring and evaluation of ongoing assistance programs in Syria and for the Syrian people, including assistance provided through multilateral organizations.
(b)
Matters To be included— The briefing required by subsection (a) shall include a description of—
(1)
the specific project monitoring and evaluation efforts, including measurable goals and performance metrics for assistance in Syria;
(2)
the memoranda of understanding entered into by the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development, and their respective Inspectors General, and the multilateral organizations through which United States assistance will be delivered that formalize requirements for the sharing of information between such entities for the conduct of audits, investigations, and evaluations; and
(3)
the major challenges to monitoring and evaluating such programs.

Sec. 302 Assessment of potential methods to enhance the protection of civilians

(a)
In general— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall brief the appropriate congressional committees on the potential effectiveness, risks, and operational requirements of military and non-military means to enhance the protection of civilians inside Syria, especially civilians who are in besieged areas, trapped at borders, or internally displaced.
(b)
Consultation— The briefing required by subsection (a) shall be informed by consultations with the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development, the Department of Defense, and international and local humanitarian aid organizations operating in Syria.
(c)
Appropriate congressional committees defined— In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means—
(1)
the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives; and
(2)
the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate.

Sec. 303 Assistance to support entities taking actions relating to gathering evidence for investigations into war crimes or crimes against humanity in Syria since March 2011

(a)
In general— Except as provided in subsection (b), the Secretary of State, after consultation with the Attorney General and the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, is authorized, consistent with the national interest, to provide assistance to support entities that are conducting criminal investigations, supporting prosecutions, or collecting evidence and preserving the chain of custody for such evidence for eventual prosecution, against those who have committed war crimes or crimes against humanity in Syria, including the aiding and abetting of such crimes by foreign governments and organizations supporting the Government of Syria, since March 2011.
(b)
Limitation— No assistance may be provided under subsection (a) while President Bashar al-Assad remains in power—
(1)
to build the investigative or judicial capacities of the Government of Syria; or
(2)
to support prosecutions in the domestic courts in Syria.
(c)
Briefing— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall brief the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate on assistance provided under subsection (a).

Sec. 304 Codification of certain services in support of nongovernmental organizations’ activities authorized

(a)
In general— Except as provided in subsection (b), section 542.516 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations (relating to certain services in support of nongovernmental organizations’ activities authorized), as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, shall—
(1)
remain in effect on and after such date of enactment; and
(2)
in the case of a nongovernmental organization that is authorized to export or reexport services to Syria under such section on the day before such date of enactment, apply to such organization on and after such date of enactment to the same extent and in the same manner as such section applied to such organization on the day before such date of enactment.
(b)
Exception—
(1)
In general— Section 542.516 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, as codified under subsection (a), shall not apply with respect to a foreign person that has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189), or otherwise designated as a terrorist organization, by the Secretary of State, in consultation with or upon the request of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security.
(2)
Effective date— Paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to a foreign person on and after the date on which the designation of that person as a terrorist organization is published in the Federal Register.

Sec. 305 Briefing on strategy to facilitate humanitarian assistance

(a)
In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall brief the appropriate congressional committees on the strategy of the President to help facilitate the ability of humanitarian organizations to access financial services to help facilitate the safe and timely delivery of assistance to communities in need in Syria.
(b)
Consideration of data from other countries and nongovernmental organizations— In preparing the strategy required by subsection (a), the President shall consider credible data already obtained by other countries and nongovernmental organizations, including organizations operating in Syria.
(c)
Appropriate congressional committees defined— In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means—
(1)
the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives; and
(2)
the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.