ASKS FROM CONGRESS

 

● Pass an Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) in Syria which gives President Trump the expansiveness and flexibility to neutralize the Assad regime’s Air Force and air bases which are being used to kill civilians, as well as ISIS.

 

● Co-sponsor the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act and Preventing Destabilization of Iraq and Syria Act  (H.R.1677/S. 138): Introduced by Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Ed Royce (R-CA) in the House and Bob Casey (D-PA), and Marco Rubio (R-FL) in the Senate, this bill sanctions foreign persons complicit in support the Assad regime’s human rights violations in Syria and approves funds for the post-war reconstruction of Syria after the Assad regime leaves power. The bill also requires a White House study on the feasibility of safe zones and no-fly zones to protect civilians in Syria and funds investigations into war crimes in Syria. Passed House unanimously last Congress.

 

● Introduce a bill designating Iranian-backed militias in Syria as terrorists: Iranian-backed militias in Syria including the Nujaba Movement, Abu Fadel Abbas Brigade, Fatemeyoon Brigade, Zeinabeyoon Brigade, and others are closely linked to the Iranian Quds Forces and Lebanese Hezbollah, both of which are listed as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. We therefore ask that Congress work to craft legislation that designates these groups as FTOs.

 

● Co-sponsor the Terror Free Skies Act (H.R. 566/S. 420): Led by Peter Roskam (R-IL) in the House and Marco Rubio (R-FL) in the Senate, this bill sanctions Iranian airliners Mahan Air and Iran Air, which transports weapons and military personnel from Iran to proxies in Syria. This bill blocks Iranian officials from purchasing $25 billion in Boeing aircraft, which would benefit Assad.

  

● Co-sponsor the Counteracting Russian Hostilities Act (H.R.1751/S. 94): Sponsored by Alex Mooney (R-W.Va.) in the House and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in the Senate, this bill imposes additional sanctions on Russia for its increased aggressions around the world, most notably in Ukraine and in Syria. The bill calls for an international investigation into allegations that Russia committed war crimes in Syria. The bill also requires that, before issuing a sanctions waiver, the President certifies to Congress that Russia is working to end its military activities in Syria.