,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #agjf ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,march #ac1 #bjai,mr4 ,engel 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,kinzinger1 ,mr4 ,mc,caul1 and ,mr4 ,brendan ,f4 ,boyle of ,pennsylvania7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,financial ,services1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to limit assistance for areas of ,syria controlled by the ,government of ,syria or associated forces1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,no ,assistance for ,assad ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,seven years into the conflict in ,syria1 over #aa million ,syrians have been displaced from their homes and more than #dgj1jjj have been killed4 7#b7 ,since the conflict in ,syria began1 the ,united ,states has provided more than #g4g billion to meet humanitarian needs of the ,syrian people1 making the ,united ,states the world's single largest donor to the ,syrian humanitarian response4 7#c7 ,it is estimated that the reconstruction of ,syria could cost between #bjj and #cej billion4 7#d7 ,according to the #bjah ,transparency ,international ,corruption ,index1 ,syria is among the most corrupt countries in the world4 7#e7 ,in ,august #bjag1 the ,government of the ,people's ,republic of ,china hosted a trade fair in ,syria1 and a ,chinese-,arab business group announced a #b billion commitment from the ,chinese ,government to fund the construction of industrial parks in ,syria4 7#f7 ,the ,russian ,federation's ,chamber of ,commerce and ,industry stated that ,russian businesses will have first priority in the allotment of reconstruction funds that ,syria receives1 and ,russia signed a bilateral agreement with ,syria giving ,russia exclusive oil and gas rights in areas under ,assad regime control4 #c4 ,statement of policy ,it is the policy of the ,united ,states that ,united ,states foreign assistance made available for reconstruction or stabilization in ,syria should be used only in a democratic ,syria or in areas of ,syria not controlled by a government led by ,bashar al-,assad or associated forces4 #d4 ,limitation on assistance for areas of ,syria controlled by the ,government of ,syria or associated forces 7a7 ,limitation 7#a7 ,in general ,except as provided in subsection 7c71 for each of the fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbd1 amounts authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for assistance described in paragraph 7#b7 may not be provided1 directly or indirectly1 for any area of ,syria controlled by the ,government of ,syria or associated forces1 as determined by the ,secretary of ,state1 unless a certification described in subsection 7b7 is in effect4 7#b7 ,assistance described ,assistance referred to in paragraph 7#a7 is the following3 7,a7 ,assistance to carry out stabilization activities for the relevant area4 7,b7 ,assistance to carry out reconstruction activities for the relevant area4 7b7 ,certification 7#a7 ,in general ,a certification described in this subsection is a certification submitted by the ,president to the appropriate congressional committees that contains a determination that the following criteria have been met3 7,a7 ,the air space over ,syria is no longer being utilized by the ,government of ,syria or the ,government of the ,russian ,federation to target civilian populations through the use of incendiary devices1 including barrel bombs1 chemical weapons1 and conventional arms1 including air-delivered missiles and explosives4 7,b7 ,areas of ,syria besieged by the forces of the ,government of ,syria1 the ,government of the ,russian ,federation1 the ,government of ,iran1 or associated forces are no longer cut off from international aid and have regular access to humanitarian assistance1 freedom of travel1 and medical care4 7,c7 ,the ,government of ,syria is releasing all political prisoners forcibly held within the prison system of the regime of ,bashar al-,assad and the ,government of ,syria is allowing full access to the same facilities for investigations by appropriate international human rights organizations4 7,d7 ,the forces of the ,government of ,syria1 the ,government of the ,russian ,federation1 the ,government of ,iran1 and associated forces are no longer engaged in deliberate targeting of medical facilities1 schools1 residential areas1 and community gathering places1 including markets1 in violation of international norms4 7,e7 ,the ,government of ,syria is-- 7i7 taking steps to verifiably fulfill its commitments under the ,convention on the ,prohibition of the ,development1 ,production1 ,stockpiling and ,use of ,chemical ,weapons and on their ,destruction1 done at ,geneva ,september #c1 #aiib1 and entered into force ,april #bi1 #aiig 7commonly known as the ,chemical ,weapons ,convention71 and the ,treaty on the ,non-,proliferation of ,nuclear ,weapons1 done at ,washington1 ,london1 and ,moscow ,july #a1 #aifh1 and entered into force ,march #e1 #aigj 7#ba ,,ust #dhc72 and 7ii7 making tangible progress toward becoming a signatory to the ,convention on the ,prohibition of the ,development1 ,production and ,stockpiling of ,bacteriological 7,biological7 and ,toxin ,weapons and on their ,destruction1 done at ,washington1 ,london1 and ,moscow ,april #aj1 #aigb1 and entered into force ,march #bf1 #aige 7#bf ,,ust #ehc74 7,f7 ,the ,government of ,syria is permitting the safe1 voluntary1 and dignified return of ,syrians displaced by the conflict4 7,g7 ,the ,government of ,syria is taking verifiable steps to establish meaningful accountability for perpetrators of war crimes in ,syria and justice for victims of war crimes committed by the ,assad regime1 including by participation in a credible and independent truth and reconciliation process4 7,h7 ,the ,government of ,syria has halted the development and deployment of ballistic and cruise missiles4 7#b7 ,effective period ,a certification shall be in effect under this subsection for a period of #ij days beginning on the date on which the ,president submits the certification to the appropriate congressional committees4 7#c7 ,renewal or report ,not later than #ij days after the date on which the ,president submits to the appropriate congressional committees a certification under this subsection the ,president shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees either-- 7,a7 a new certification under this subsection indicating that the conditions described in paragraph 7#a7 are continuing to be met2 or 7,b7 a report that-- 7i7 describes why the ,president is unable to make a new certification under this subsection2 and 7ii7 contains a certification that no funds will be obligated or expended to provide assistance described in subsection 7a7 in contravention of subsection 7a74 7c7 ,exception 7#a7 ,in general ,the limitation on assistance under subsection 7a7 shall not apply with respect to-- 7,a7 assistance for projects to be administered by local organizations that reflect the aims1 needs1 and priorities of local communities in ,syria2 7,b7 assistance for projects to meet basic human needs in ,syria1 including-- 7i7 drought relief2 7ii7 assistance to refugees1 internally displaced persons1 and conflict victims2 7iii7 the distribution of food and medicine2 and 7iv7 the provision of health services2 and 7,c7 assistance to carry out the activities described in subsection 7b77#a77;,e74 7#b7 ,report and determination ,the ,president shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report and determination for each of the fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbd on each project with respect to which this subsection applies during the preceding fiscal year1 including-- 7,a7 a description of the project2 7,b7 a description of how ,united ,states funds with respect to the project were used2 7,c7 the geographic location or locations of the project2 and 7,d7 a determination with respect to whether the project benefitted an official of the ,assad regime4 7#c7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that1 to the greatest extent practicable1 the ,united ,states should not fund projects described in this subsection with respect to which the ,government of ,syria1 any official of the ,government of ,syria1 and any immediate family member of an official of the ,government of ,syria have a financial or material interest or are affiliated with the implementing partner of the project4 7d7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,appropriate congressional committees ,the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7,b7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate4 7#b7 ,associated forces ,the term associated forces includes forces of the ,government of the ,russian ,federation1 the ,government of ,iran1 ,iranian-backed proxy militias1 and ,hezbollah4 7#c7 ,directly or indirectly ,the term directly or indirectly includes assistance to multilateral institutions and international governmental organizations1 such as the ,united ,nations and related agencies1 the ,international ,monetary ,fund1 and the ,world ,bank4 #e4 ,report on delivery of ,united ,states humanitarian assistance to ,syria 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,state and the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on delivery of ,united ,states humanitarian assistance to ,syria4 7b7 ,matters ,to be included ,the report required by subsection 7a7 shall include the following3 7#a7 ,a description of the challenges of access to areas of ,syria controlled by the ,government of ,syria or associated forces for purposes of providing ,united ,states humanitarian assistance1 including assistance funded through multilateral institutions and international governmental organizations4 7#b7 ,a description of where such ,united ,states humanitarian assistance has been able to be delivered in such areas4 7#c7 ,a description of where such ,united ,states humanitarian assistance has been denied access in such areas4 7#d7 ,a description of how the ,united ,states ,government is working to improve access to such areas4 7#e7 ,a description of the roles and responsibilities of ,united ,states allies and partners and other countries in the region in ensuring access to such areas4 7#f7 ,a description of how such ,united ,states humanitarian assistance and implementing partners of such assistance are monitored and evaluated4 7#g7 ,a description of the major challenges that the ,united ,states faces in monitoring such ,united ,states humanitarian assistance and how the ,united ,states is working to overcome such challenges4 7#h7 ,a description of the strategy of the ,united ,states to deliver humanitarian assistance to areas of ,syria controlled by the ,government of ,syria or associated forces and in which the ,government of ,syria or associated forces is impeding access to such areas4 7c7 ,definitions ,in this section1 the term appropriate congressional committees and associated forces have the meanings given such terms in section #d7;d74