A flurry of bills were introduced in Congress in October and November to respond to the sudden announcement by US President Donald Trump that US troops would withdraw from the border with Turkey and North and East Syria. The Senate bill S.2641 and the House bill H.R.4695 are two bills to watch. S.2641 will hopefully go to a vote soon, pass the Senate, and then the two versions will get combined and pass into law.
The following is a comprehensive list of all of the bills that are relevant to North and East Syria, with status updates. The most relevant bills appear at the top of the list.
Bills in US Congress Relevant to North and East Syria
S.2641 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
“Promoting American National Security and Preventing the Resurgence of ISIS Act of 2019”
This bill is a comprehensive response to Turkey’s military operations against the Kurds and people of North and East Syria. (1) It sanctions government officials, military officers, and other high-ranking personnel who were involved in the decision to invade Syria in October 2019. It also restricts US weapons sales to Turkey. (2) It provides a new authorization for increased humanitarian aid from the United States to North and East Syria. (3) It creates a special refugee program for Syrian Kurds, the SDF soldiers who fought ISIS, other Syrians who participated in US programs to fight ISIS, local government officials in North and East Syria, and other persecuted groups in Syria. (4) It calls for the immediate development and plan for implementation of a strategy for the enduring defeat of ISIS, and addresses the processing of ISIS detainees being held by the SDF, as well as ISIS sleeper cells. (5) The bill starts a new investigation into Turkish war crimes.
Sponsor: Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID] (Introduced 10/17/2019)
Cosponsors: (18) Committees: Senate – Foreign Relations
Update: PASSED SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE. Must now be cleared by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in order to go to the Senate floor for a general Senate vote.
H.R.4695 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
“Protect Against Conflict by Turkey Act”
A bill (1) imposing meaningful sanctions on the Turkish military, government officials, and military officials, (2) calling for a strategy to prevent the resurgence of ISIS, addressing ISIS detainees being held by the SDF, as well as sleeper cells, (3) calling for a report on Turkish war crimes in Syria, and (4) creating a a special refugee program for Syrians who participated in US programs to fight ISIS and persecuted groups in Syria.
Sponsor: Rep. Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-16] (Introduced 10/16/2019)
Cosponsors: (104) Committees: House – Foreign Affairs; Financial Services; Oversight and Reform; Ways and Means; Judiciary; Armed Services
Update: PASSED HOUSE. Has been received by the Senate.
H.J.Res.77 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
“Opposing the decision to end certain United States efforts to prevent Turkish military operations against Syrian Kurdish forces in Northeast Syria.”
This resolution expresses Congress’s opposition to the decision to end US efforts to prevent Turkey’s military operations against Kurdish forces in northeast Syria. It also calls on (1) Turkey to immediately cease unilateral military action in northeast Syria and respect existing agreements, (2) the United States to continue supporting Syrian Kurdish communities through military and humanitarian support and ensure that the Turkish military acts with restraint, and (3) the White House to present a clear and specific plan for the enduring defeat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Editor’s Note: Although this is a strongly-worded statement, and calls for a clear plan to defeat ISIS, it is in essence only a statement, and does not contain policy mechanisms.
Sponsor: Rep. Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-16] (Introduced 10/15/2019)
Cosponsors: (64) Committees: House – Foreign Affairs
Update: PASSED HOUSE. On Senate Calendar as Calendar Item #246.
S.2644 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
“Countering Turkish Aggression Act of 2019”
A bill imposing meaningful sanctions on the Turkish military, government officials, and military officials, calling for a strategy for the enduring defeat of ISIS, and calling for a report on US personnel in Syria.
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC] (Introduced 10/17/2019)
Cosponsors: (15)
Update: The bill was introduced by Senator Graham. It was placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar as Calendar No. 249.
H.R.4692 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
“Countering Turkish Aggression Act of 2019”
Sponsor: Rep. Cheney, Liz [R-WY-At Large] (Introduced 10/16/2019)
Cosponsors: (117) Committees: House – Foreign Affairs; Financial Services; Oversight and Reform; Judiciary; Ways and Means
Update: The bill was introduced and assigned to relevant committees. It has not been approved by relevant committees.
H.R.4694 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
“United States-Turkey Relations Review Act of 2019”
Sponsor: Rep. Kinzinger, Adam [R-IL-16] (Introduced 10/16/2019)
Cosponsors: (19) Committees: House – Foreign Affairs; Armed Services
Update: The bill was introduced and assigned to relevant committees. It has not been approved by relevant committees.
H.Res.640 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
“Condemning the global persecution of Christians.”
Sponsor: Rep. Palmer, Gary J. [R-AL-6] (Introduced 10/18/2019)
Cosponsors: (41) Committees: House – Foreign Affairs
Update: The bill was introduced and assigned to relevant committees. It has not been approved by relevant committees.
S.J.Res.59 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
“A joint resolution expressing the sense of Congress on the precipitous withdrawal of United States Armed Forces from Syria and Afghanistan, and Turkey’s unprovoked incursion into Syria.”
Sponsor: Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY] (Introduced 10/22/2019)
Cosponsors: (23)
Update: The bill was introduced by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. It was placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar as Calendar No. 259.
S.2755 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
“A bill to require a report on the plan to secure the enduring defeat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.”
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY] (Introduced 10/30/2019)
Cosponsors: (9)
Update: The bill was introduced by Senator Schumer. It was placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar as Calendar No. 281.
S.J.Res.57 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
“A joint resolution opposing the decision to end certain United States efforts to prevent Turkish military operations against Syrian Kurdish forces in Northeast Syria.”
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ] (Introduced 10/15/2019)
Cosponsors: (3) Committees: Senate – Foreign Relations
Update: The bill was introduced and assigned to relevant committees. It has not been approved by relevant committees.
S.Res.409 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
“A resolution requesting information on Turkey’s human rights practices in Syria pursuant to section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.”
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ] (Introduced 11/06/2019)
Cosponsors: (3) Committees: Senate – Foreign Relations
Update: The bill was introduced and assigned to relevant committees. It has not been approved by relevant committees.
S.Res.418 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
“A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the Government of Turkey’s crackdown on dissent related to its incursion into northeast Syria, and broader human rights violations.”
Sponsor: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN] (Introduced 11/12/2019)
Cosponsors: (9) Committees: Senate – Foreign Relations
Update: The bill was introduced and assigned to relevant committees. It has not been approved by relevant committees.
S.2624 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
“A bill to prohibit arms sales to Turkey.”
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY] (Introduced 10/17/2019)
Cosponsors: (2) Committees: Senate – Foreign Relations
Update: The bill was introduced and assigned to relevant committees. It has not been approved by relevant committees.
H.R.5182 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
“To prohibit the Department of Defense from deploying strategic assets of the United States in the Republic of Turkey.”
Sponsor: Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6] (Introduced 11/19/2019)
Cosponsors: (3) Committees: House – Armed Services
Update: The bill was introduced and assigned to relevant committees. It has not been approved by relevant committees.
S.Res.361 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
“A resolution acknowledging the Kurds’ vital role in stopping the spread of ISIS militants in the Middle East, and for other purposes.”
Sponsor: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA] (Introduced 10/17/2019)
Cosponsors: (1) Committees: Senate – Foreign Relations
Update: The bill was introduced and assigned to relevant committees. It has not been approved by relevant committees.
S.2832 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
“Turkey Human Rights Promotion Act of 2019”
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (Introduced 11/12/2019)
Cosponsors: (1) Committees: Senate – Foreign Relations
Update: The bill was introduced and assigned to relevant committees. It has not been approved by relevant committees.
H.R.4873 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
“Syrian Partner Protection Act”
The bill would set aside 4,000 visas a year for Syrians or others who worked alongside U.S. forces in the area as interpreters or other jobs.
Sponsor: Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6] (Introduced 10/28/2019)
Cosponsors: (24) Committees: House – Judiciary; Foreign Affairs
Update: The bill was introduced and assigned to relevant committees. It has not been approved by relevant committees.