{"bills":[{"photos":{"featured":"https://assets.causes.com/bill/photo/hr31-116/featured_caesar-syria-civilian-protection-act-of-2019-1548461005.jpg","featured_large":"https://assets.causes.com/bill/photo/hr31-116/featured_large_caesar-syria-civilian-protection-act-of-2019-1548461005.jpg","shareable":"https://n.causes.com/share-images/bills/hr31-116.png"},"introduced_on":"2019-01-03","title_override":"Do Sanctions on Assad’s Supporters Need to be Increased?","summary_override":"

This bill would impose new sanctions on supporters of the Assad regime in Syria, encourage negotiations to end the crisis, and begin investigations that will eventually lead to the prosecution of war criminals.

It would impose new sanctions on anyone who:

Does business with or provides financing to the Syrian government, its intelligence or security services, or the Central Bank of Syria;
Provides aircraft or spare parts (or financing for either) to Syria’s airlines;
Does business with transportation or telecommunications businesses controlled by the Syrian government;
Supports Syria’s energy industry.

The president would be able to waive sanctions on a case-by-case basis. Sanctions could also be suspended if the parties to the conflict engage in meaningful negotiations and the violence against civilians has ceased. The suspension would be renewable if it is critical to the continuation of negotiations and attacks against civilians have ceased.

The Secretary of State would be authorized to support entities that are collecting and preserving evidence for the eventual prosecution of those who committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria. The president would be required to give Congress a report with the names of those who are responsible for or are complicit with violating the human rights of the Syrian people.

The bill would also require the president to submit a report on the potential effectiveness, risks, and operational requirements of establishing and maintaining a no-fly zone or safe zone over part or all of Syria.

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Do Sanctions on Assad’s Supporters Need to be Increased?