New Syria Bill Introduced
Contact Your Representative

ISSUE

On April 12, 2003, Representatives Eliot Engel (D-New York) and House 
International Relations Subcommittee on Middle East Chairwoman Illeana 
Ros-Lehtinen (R-Florida) introduced the "Syria Accountability Act and 
Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003" (H.R. 1828).  The 
legislation has been referred to the House International Relations 
Committee for consideration.

This new legislation is updated from last year’s "Syria Accountability 
Act" (H.R. 4483, 107th Congress).  H.R. 1828 includes thirty-six 
findings, eight "sense of Congress" views and an eleven-point 
statement of policy, all of which are highly critical of Syrian 
government policies.  The 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 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 Representative to ask the he or she not 
cosponsor the "Syria Accountability Act and Lebanese Sovereignty 
Restoration Act of 2003" (H.R. 1828).  Parts of H.R. 1828, including 
the section "Statement of Policy," appear to circumvent the Executive 
Branch’s constitutional authority to conduct U.S. foreign policy.  In 
addition, cosponsoring H.R. 1828 as U.S. troops continue to fight in 
Iraq and when the Administration is about to announce a "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, 
H.R. 1828 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).  NAAA-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 Representatives to ask them to 
withhold cosponsoring the "Syria Accountability Act and Lebanese 
Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003" (H.R. 1828) and to urge the House 
International Relations Committee to hold a hearing on U.S.-Syria 
relations.  A rush to cosponsor H.R. 1828 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.

Please visit www.naaa-adc.org to take action now.  

Together, we will make a difference!

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Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)
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