[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8212 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8212
To provide for nonapplicability of a policy of denial for exports, re-
exports, or transfers of defense articles and defense services destined
for or originating in the Republic of Cyprus.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 1, 2024
Mr. Pappas (for himself, Mr. Bilirakis, Ms. Titus, and Ms. Malliotakis)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for nonapplicability of a policy of denial for exports, re-
exports, or transfers of defense articles and defense services destined
for or originating in the Republic of Cyprus.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``End the Cyprus Embargo Act''.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) allowing for the export, re-export, or transfer of arms
subject to the United States Munitions List to the Republic of
Cyprus would advance United States security interests in Europe
by helping to reduce the dependence of the Government of the
Republic of Cyprus on other countries, including countries that
pose challenges to United States interests around the world,
for defense-related materiel;
(2) the Republic of Cyprus has successfully complied with
the conditions set forth in the Eastern Mediterranean Security
and Energy Partnership Act of 2019 (title X of division J of
Public Law 116-94) for the purposes of modifying the
prohibitions of the sale or other provisions of any defense
article or defense service to the Government of the Republic of
Cyprus and modifying the policy of denial for exports, re-
exports, or transfers of defense articles on the United States
Munitions List to the Republic of Cyprus; and
(3) it is in the interest of the United States--
(A) to continue to support United Nations-
facilitated efforts toward a comprehensive solution to
the division of Cyprus;
(B) to enhance the strategic partnership and
security relationship between the United States and
Republic of Cyprus as provided for in the Eastern
Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of
2019;
(C) to enhance the cooperation between the United
States Armed Forces and the National Guard of the
Republic of Cyprus and to enhance existing programs
such as the joint training between the National Guards
of the Republic of Cyprus and the State of New Jersey
under the auspices of the Department of Defense's State
Partnership Program; and
(D) for the Republic of Cyprus to join NATO's
Partnership for Peace program.
SEC. 3. NONAPPLICABILITY OF A POLICY OF DENIAL FOR EXPORTS, RE-EXPORTS,
OR TRANSFERS OF DEFENSE ARTICLES AND DEFENSE SERVICES
DESTINED FOR OR ORIGINATING IN THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS.
(a) In General.--Subject to subsection (d) and except as provided
in subsection (b), beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of State shall not apply a policy of denial for exports,
re-exports, or transfers of defense articles and defense services
destined for or originating in the Republic of Cyprus if--
(1) the request is made by or on behalf of the Government
of the Republic of Cyprus; and
(2) the end-user of such defense articles or defense
services is the Government of the Republic of Cyprus.
(b) Exception.--The exclusion provided for in subsection (a) shall
not apply with respect to the application of a policy of denial based
upon credible human rights concerns.
(c) Waiver.--The President may waive the exclusion provided for in
subsection (a) for a period of one fiscal year if the President
determines that it is essential to the national security interests of
the United States to do so.
(d) Termination.--
(1) In general.--The President may terminate the exclusion
provided for in subsection (a) for the 5-year period beginning
on the date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of
this Act, and may renew such termination for subsequent 5-year
periods, if, prior to each such 5-year period, the President
submits to the appropriate congressional committees a
certification that the Government of the Republic of Cyprus is
no longer--
(A) cooperating with the United States Government
in efforts to implement reforms on anti-money
laundering regulations and financial regulatory
oversight; and
(B) denying Russian military vessels access to
ports for refueling and servicing.
(2) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--In this
subsection, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the
Committee on Armed Services of the House of
Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the
Committee on Armed Services of the Senate.
<all>