[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 99 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 19
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 99
Observing the 10th anniversary of the uprising in Syria.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 9, 2021
Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Risch, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Rubio, Mrs.
Shaheen, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Romney, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Hagerty,
Mr. Coons, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Booker, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Casey,
and Mr. Sullivan) submitted the following resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
March 24, 2021
Reported by Mr. Menendez, without amendment
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Observing the 10th anniversary of the uprising in Syria.
Whereas 10 years ago, on March 15, 2011, in the midst of the Arab Spring,
hundreds of Syrians peacefully assembled to call on their leadership for
democratic reforms and respect for their fundamental freedoms, sparking
a nationwide movement;
Whereas in response to the predominantly peaceful protests, Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad ordered unyielding violence against the people of Syria,
including arbitrary detentions, torture, killing, and attacks on
civilians and civilian infrastructure, often under the false premise of
combating terrorism;
Whereas over the course of this conflict, the Assad regime has exhibited
unrelenting depravity in its use of chemical weapons and barrel bombs,
deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and
schools, and committing gross violations of international humanitarian
law;
Whereas the former Syrian military photographer ``Caesar'' meticulously
photographed the Assad regime's widespread system of arrest, detention,
torture and murder of tens of thousands of Syrian protesters and
dissidents, and then courageously smuggled 55,000 of those photographs
out of Syria, exposing the regime's barbarity for the world to witness;
Whereas the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 (22 U.S.C. 8791 note),
which became law on December 20, 2019--
(1) seeks accountability for the Assad regime and its international
enablers for atrocities against the Syrian people;
(2) denies the Assad regime the resources to fuel its war machine; and
(3) sends a clear signal to the international community against
normalizing, rehabilitating, or legitimizing Assad and his backers;
Whereas Iran and Russia intervened militarily in support of the Assad regime,
enabling and actively participating in the Assad regime's horrific
brutalities against civilians in favor of advancing their narrow
interests and in some cases empowered extremist groups;
Whereas in pursuit of its narrow self-interest, Russia, backed by China, has
blunted United Nations' efforts to preserve vital border crossings that
serve as a critical humanitarian lifeline to the beleaguered Syrian
population;
Whereas the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria exacerbated the suffering of the
Syrian people through the violent and hostile seizure of territory,
misapplication of Islamic law, destruction and smuggling of antiquities,
and oil smuggling, turning Syria into a global hub for terrorist
activity;
Whereas the Assad regime, and its Russian and Iranian backers, are largely
responsible for the death of more than 500,000 Syrian civilians, and the
displacement of more than 12,000,000 men, women, and children within and
outside of Syria's borders, imposing irreversible trauma and loss for a
whole generation;
Whereas millions of Syrians are struggling to survive, with more than 13,000,000
Syrians who are in need of humanitarian assistance and more than
9,000,000 Syrians who are facing food insecurity;
Whereas international efforts to secure a peaceful political transition of power
in Syria, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution
2254, adopted on December 18, 2015, remain stymied, due almost entirely
to the intransigence of Russia and the Assad regime, holding the people
of Syria hostage;
Whereas the people and Government of the United States support the people of
Syria in their aspirations for peace, stability, dignity, and
accountability: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) solemnly observes the 10th anniversary of the Syrian
uprising;
(2) affirms that it is the policy of the United States--
(A) to seek a political solution to the Syrian
conflict;
(B) to continue to stand with the people of Syria;
(C) to further efforts to secure a permanent
ceasefire;
(D) to continue work on the constitutional
committee free from regime intransigence; and
(E) to foster conditions for free and fair
elections in accordance with United Nations Security
Council Resolution 2254;
(3) affirms that it is the policy of the United States to
promote adherence to the laws of war by all parties engaging in
hostilities in Syria;
(4) affirms that it is the policy of the United States to
support international humanitarian efforts to assist innocent
civilians, including through support for displaced populations
and the promotion of accountability for perpetrators of human
rights abuses;
(5) commits to continuing efforts to hold the Assad regime
and its Russian and Iranian backers accountable for war crimes
and crimes against humanity; including through implementation
of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019;
(6) commends the bravery of Syrian human rights defenders
who, in the service of justice and accountability, have
courageously documented the atrocities committed by the Assad
regime and its Russian and Iranian backers over the course of
this conflict;
(7) condemns the indiscriminate use of force by all actors
in Syria, including the Assad regime, its proponents, its
opponents, and extremist groups; and
(8) calls on the United States Government to reinvigorate
diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict as outlined under
United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254, and to expand
humanitarian aid to the Syrian people so they may--
(A) be free from violence, whether from the state
or other armed groups;
(B) return to their communities of their own free
will and in an informed manner;
(C) participate in transitional justice; and
(D) decide their own futures through free and fair
elections that result in a legitimate representative
government that serves all Syrians.
Calendar No. 19
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 99
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Observing the 10th anniversary of the uprising in Syria.
_______________________________________________________________________
March 24, 2021
Reported without amendment