'Syria Accountability Act' being rushed through congress

Syria Bill A Step Closer to Vote
Contact Congress to Relay your Opposition

Issue: Representatives Eliot Engel (D-New York) and House International Relations Subcommittee on Middle East Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Florida) introduced on April 12 the "Syria Accountability Act and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act" (H.R. 1828). Senators Barbara Boxer (D-California) and Rick Santorum (R-Pennsylvania) introduced similar legislation on May 1 called the "Syria Accountability Act"(S. 982).

A hearing before the House International Relations Committee on H.R. 1828 is scheduled for September 16 and 17. This scheduled hearing increases the possibility of the Syria Accountability Act coming before the House and Senate for a vote.

The proposed legislation includes a series of findings, "sense of Congress" views and statements of policy, all of which are highly critical of Syrian government policies. The proposed legislation seeks to "hold Syria accountable for the serious international security problems it has caused in the Middle East" by requiring the President to determine and report to Congress that Syria has completely stopped support for terrorism, ended its occupation of Lebanon, stopped its development of weapons of mass destruction, and ceased its illegal importation of Iraqi oil and illegal shipments of weapons and other military items to Iraq. The President must also certify that substantial progress has been made in achieving peace agreements between Israel-Syria and Israel-Lebanon. Until the President does so, he is required to prohibit export to Syria of any item on the U.S. munitions list or Commerce control list of dual-use items.

In addition, unless Syria meets certain conditions, the President would be required to impose two additional sanctions from a "menu" of six sanctions. The President would also be required to report to Congress every six months detailing Syria’s progress to end terrorism and meet other obligations outlined in the proposed legislation. According to H.R. 1828, the report must include details about any connections between terrorists or terrorist groups that maintain offices, facilities, or bases in Syria or Syrian occupied areas of Lebanon as well ways in which the U.S. is increasing efforts against Hizballah "given the recognition that Hizballah is equally or more capable than al Qaeda."

Response: We urge you to contact your members of Congress to express your opposition and to ask them to vote against "Syria Accountability Act" (H.R. 1828 and S. 982) should it come to the floor for consideration. The proposed legislation could circumvent the Executive Branch's constitutional authority to conduct U.S. foreign policy. In addition, adopting the proposed legislation as fighting continues in Iraq and the Bush Administration continues to work on the "Road Map" for peace in the Middle East would send a confusing message to the international community that raises serious doubts about American intentions in the region and about the Administration's commitment to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East. Finally, the proposed legislation appears to purposefully set the Syrian compliance standard so high which would force the President to severely undermine current U.S.-Syrian relations and possibly jeopardize successful U.S.-Syrian cooperation in the war against global terrorism. Instead of singling out one country, the U.S. Congress should endorse the creation of a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). ADC firmly agrees with Secretary of State Colin Powell statement on April 15, 2003: "With respect to weapons of mass destruction, it has always been U.S. policy that we would like to see that whole region free of weapons of mass destruction."

Take Action: Call, write, fax or email your members of Congress expressing your opposition to the "Syria Accountability Act" (H.R. 1828 and S. 982) and asking them to vote against it. A rush to pass this legislation could preclude alternatives to addressing American concerns about Syrian policies. This could lead to serious difficulties for American credibility and national security interests in the region.

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