November 6, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 177 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page S6451]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 409--REQUESTING INFORMATION ON TURKEY'S HUMAN RIGHTS 
     PRACTICES IN SYRIA PURSUANT TO SECTION 502B(C) OF THE FOREIGN 
                         ASSISTANCE ACT OF 1961

  Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself and Mr. Murphy) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 409

       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON TURKEY'S HUMAN RIGHTS 
                   PRACTICES IN SYRIA.

       (a) Statement Required.--Not later than 30 days after the 
     date of the adoption of this resolution, the Secretary of 
     State shall, pursuant to section 502B(c) of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2304(c)), transmit to the 
     Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives 
     a statement, prepared with the assistance of the Assistant 
     Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor and 
     the Office of the Legal Adviser, with respect to Turkey.
       (b) Elements.--The statement submitted under subsection (a) 
     shall include the following elements:
       (1) All available credible information concerning alleged 
     violations of internationally recognized human rights by the 
     Government of Turkey, its armed forces, and associated groups 
     and persons, including the denial of the right to life in the 
     context of their activities in Syria caused by indiscriminate 
     or disproportionate operations, the infliction of civilian 
     casualties, and the displacement of civilian populations;
       (2) A description of the steps the United States Government 
     has taken--
       (A) to promote respect for and observance of human rights 
     as part of Turkey's activities in Syria and discourage any 
     practices that are inimical to internationally recognized 
     human rights; and
       (B) to publicly or privately call attention to, and 
     disassociate the United States and any security assistance 
     provided for Turkey from, such practices.
       (3) An assessment, notwithstanding any such practices, 
     whether extraordinary circumstances exist that necessitate a 
     continuation of security assistance for Turkey and, if so, a 
     description of the circumstances and the extent to which the 
     assistance should be continued (subject to such conditions as 
     Congress may impose under section 502B of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2304)).
       (4) Other information, including--
       (A) an assessment from the Secretary of State of the 
     likelihood that United States security assistance, as defined 
     in section 502B(d) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
     U.S.C. 2304(d)), has been and will be used in Syria;
       (B) a description of the extent to which the activities of 
     the Government of Turkey, its armed forces, and associated 
     groups or persons have--
       (i) caused, assisted, or resulted in the release of ISIS 
     fighters, supporters, and other extremists from detention; or
       (ii) promoted conditions that support, assist or have 
     resulted or could result in a strengthening of the military 
     capabilities of such fighters and extremists within Syria, 
     including the practical control over territory;
       (C) a description of the extent to which such strengthening 
     of such capabilities of ISIS and other extremist groups and 
     persons could increase the threat to the United States, 
     United States citizens, and United States interests, both in 
     the United States and abroad;
       (D) a description of efforts by the Secretary of State and 
     other United States officials to persuade the Government of 
     Turkey to cease its activities in Syria and commitments to 
     support United States and multilateral efforts to 
     comprehensively defeat ISIS within Syria;
       (E) a determination whether Turkey's purchase and 
     acceptance of delivery of the S-400 missile system from the 
     Russian Federation constitutes a ``significant transaction'' 
     pursuant to section 231 of the Countering America's 
     Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (22 U.S.C. 9525);
       (F) a description of any actions by the Government of 
     Turkey to forcibly repatriate Syrian refugees; and
       (G) an assessment of whether the Government of Turkey is 
     blocking humanitarian aid from reaching communities in need 
     of assistance in northeast Syria.

                          ____________________