Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes sanctions and other restrictions related to Turkey's military invasion of northern Syria, and requires the composition of a new strategy to counter the Islamic State.

Highlights:

• Requires the President of the United States to exercise all powers granted by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to block and prohibit all transactions in all property and interests in property if such property and interests are in the United States, come within the United States, or are or come within the possession or control of a United States person (Sec. 14).

• Defines “United States person” as a United States citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence to the United States, or an entity organized under the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States, including a foreign branch of such an entity” (Sec. 19).

• Requires the President to impose sanctions with respect to the following foreign persons in connection with Turkey’s military invasion of northern Syria on October 9, 2019, no later than 15 days after the enactment of this act (Sec. 3):

• The Minister of National Defense of Turkey;

• The Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces;

• The Commander of the 2nd Army of the Turkish Armed Forces; and

• The Minister of Treasury and Finance of Turkey. 

• Prohibits any US defense articles, defense services, or technology under the Arms Export Control Act from being transferred to the Turkish government if such articles, services, or technology could be used in operations by the Turkish Armed Forces in northern Syria (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that exceptions to the above highlight include transfers for ultimate end use by the US military or for use in military operations approved by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Sec. 4). 

• Requires the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Director of National Intelligence, to submit a list of any foreign persons determined to knowingly have provided defense articles, defense services, or technology to the Turkish government if such articles, services, or technology could be used in operations by the Turkish Armed Forces in northern Syria, no later than 30 days after the enactment of this act (Sec. 5). 

• Requires the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Director of National Intelligence, to submit a list of the following foreign persons in connection with Turkey’s military invasion of northern Syria, to the President and appropriate congressional committees, no later than 30 days after the enactment of this act (Sec. 3):

• Senior Turkish defense officials involved in the decision to invade northern Syria;

• Senior Turkish military officials leading attacks against the Syrian Democratic Forces, Kurdish and Arab civilians, or other religious or ethnic minority communities in northern Syria;

• Turkish officials significantly facilitating Turkey’s military invasion of northern Syria; and 

• Any Turkish official or member of the Turkish Armed Forces who is responsible for, complicit in, or has directly or indirectly engaged in a violation of the law of armed conflict or a gross violation of internationally recognized human rights, relating to Turkey’s military invasion of northern Syria.

• Authorizes the President to waive, on a case-by-case basis for 90 days, the imposition of sanctions under this act with respect to a foreign person if they determine that it is important to national security interests, and requires that no later than 15 days before issuing such waiver, the President must submit a justification relating to such determination to the appropriate congressional committees (Sec. 5).

• Requires the President to impose financial sanctions on Halk Bankasi or Halkbank if a determination is made by the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of the Treasury, and Director of National Intelligence, that a foreign financial institution knowingly facilitated significant transactions for the Turkish Armed Forces or defense industry relating to Turkey’s military invasion of northern Syria on October 9, 2019 (Sec. 6).

• Specifies that the above sanctions must be imposed no later than 60 days after such a determination is made (Sec. 6). 

• Authorizes the President to waive, on a case-by-case basis, the imposition of sanctions if the President determines that (Sec. 6):

• Turkey:

• Has halted attacks against the Syrian Democratic Forces, Kurdish and Arab civilians, and other religious and ethnic minority communities in northern Syria; and 

• Is not hindering counter-terrorism operations against ISIS;

• It is vital to the national security interests of the US to do so; and 

• Requires the President to submit a justification relating to such determination to the appropriate congressional committees no later than 15 days before issuing such waiver (Sec. 6),.

• Requires the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Director of National Intelligence, to submit a report on the estimated net worth of known sources of income for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his family members, including assets, investments, other business interests, and relevant beneficial ownership information to the appropriate Congressional committees, no later than 120 days after the enactment of this act (Sec. 10).

• Requires the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, and the heads of other appropriate federal agencies, to jointly submit a strategy to prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), no later than 60 days after the enactment of this act, and must include the following elements (Sec. 12):

• A summary of the US national security interests in Iraq and Syria, and the impact a resurgence of ISIS would have on such interests;

• An assessment of current training and support programs by Federal agency or department specifically focused on countering ISIS and other terrorist organizations, including non-lethal assistance, training, and organizational capacity for the Syrian Democratic Forces, the Iraqi Security Forces, the Kurdish Peshmerga, and others to counter gains by ISIS and its affiliates;

• A description of US government efforts to support, develop, and expand local governance structures in areas in Syria previously liberated from ISIS control;

• An estimate of the number of current, active ISIS members in Iraq and Syria, including an assessment of those being held in detainee camps or prisons; and 

• A comprehensive plan to address ISIS detainees currently being held in Iraq and Syria. 

• Requires the strategy mentioned in the previous sub-highlight to include, but not be limited to, the following (Sec. 12):

• The designation of an existing official within the Department of State to serve as a senior-level coordinator to organize all matters for the US government relating to the long-term disposition of ISIS foreign terrorist fighter detainees, including all matters in connection with:

• Repatriation, transfer, prosecution, and intelligence-gathering;

• Coordinating a whole-of-government approach with other countries and international organizations, including the International Crime Police Organization (INTERPOL), to ensure secure chains of custody and locations of ISIS foreign terrorist fighter detainees;

• Coordinating technical and evidentiary assistance to foreign countries to aid in the successful prosecution of ISIS foreign terrorist fighter detainees; and 

• All multilateral and international engagements led by the Department of State and other agencies related to the current and future handling, detention, and prosecution of ISIS foreign terrorist fighter detainees;

• A description of ISIS senior leadership and infrastructure, and efforts to target leadership figures;

• A comprehensive description of US activities utilizing social media and other communication technologies to counter ISIS’s propaganda, influence, and ability to recruit fighters domestically and internationally, including with private technology companies, and how such activities are being coordinated across the US government; and 

• A plan to ensure the delivery of humanitarian assistance. 

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text