Bill Summary
This bill, known as the "Syria Sanctions Accountability Act of 2025", aims to review and strengthen banking restrictions and anti-money laundering measures in relation to the Government of Syria. It also calls for the United States to use its influence at the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to support efforts to improve economic growth and financial connectivity in Syria. Additionally, the bill requires a review of the Export-Import Bank's limitations on transactions with Syria and proposes modifications to existing sanctions to ensure that the Syrian government is not utilizing its air space to target civilians, cutting off access to aid, or engaging in other human rights violations. The bill also includes a sunset clause, stating that it will no longer be in effect once the President reports to Congress that the Syrian government has met certain criteria or by December 31, 2029.
Possible Impacts
1. The Syria Sanctions Accountability Act of 2025 could affect people by limiting their access to financial services and banking restrictions, as it would review and strengthen anti-money laundering measures. This could impact individuals and businesses who rely on these services for their daily transactions and operations.
2. The Act could also affect people by potentially restricting their ability to travel to Syria, as it calls for measures to address economic growth and provide technical assistance for the government to promote anti-corruption and anti-money laundering efforts. This could impact individuals who have family or business ties in Syria, as well as humanitarian workers and aid organizations.
3. The Act could potentially have a direct impact on individuals who are political prisoners in Syria, as it calls for the release of all prisoners held by the regime of Bashar al-Assad and for investigations by international human rights organizations. This could provide hope for those who have been unjustly detained and restricted their freedom and rights.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4427 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4427
To review banking restrictions, strengthen anti-money laundering
capacity, and update sanctions with respect to the Government of Syria,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 16, 2025
Mr. Lawler introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on
Foreign Affairs, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To review banking restrictions, strengthen anti-money laundering
capacity, and update sanctions with respect to the Government of Syria,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Syria Sanctions Accountability Act
of 2025''.
SEC. 2. REVIEW OF EXCEPTIVE RELIEF FOR THE COMMERCIAL BANK OF SYRIA.
Not later than 360 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network shall
provide a briefing to the Committee on Financial Services of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban
Affairs of the Senate that contains the following:
(1) An evaluation of the impact of the exceptive relief
provided by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network under
section 5318(a)(7) of title 31, United States Code, with
respect to the Commercial Bank of Syria on May 23, 2025,
including an assessment of whether such exceptive relief
advanced the national security or foreign policy objectives of
the United States.
(2) A recommendation of whether or not to continue
exceptive relief or revise any finding with respect to the
Commercial Bank of Syria under section 5318A(a)(1) of title 31,
United States Code.
SEC. 3. ACTIONS AT THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AND THE WORLD BANK.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall instruct the
United States Executive Directors at the International Monetary Fund
and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development to use
the voice and vote of the United States to support the following:
(1) The restoration of sound data reporting and regular
economic monitoring in Syria.
(2) Technical assistance for the Government of Syria to
improve financial connectivity and strengthen measures,
consistent with international standards, regarding anti-money
laundering, weapons non-proliferation, and anti-corruption.
(3) A strategy to address priorities for economic growth in
Syria.
(b) Congressional Briefings.--Within 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and 1 year thereafter, the Secretary of the
Treasury shall provide a briefing to the Committee on Financial
Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign
Relations of the Senate on the activities described in subsection (a).
(c) Sunset.--The preceding provisions of this section shall have no
force or effect beginning on the date that is 2 years after the date of
the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 4. EXPORT-IMPORT BANK REVIEW OF COUNTRY LIMITATION SCHEDULE.
Within 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States shall--
(1) determine whether any country limitation applicable to
the Bank with respect to Syria is appropriate; and
(2) brief the Committee on Financial Services of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and
Urban Affairs of the Senate on the determination.
SEC. 5. MODIFICATION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE GOVERNMENT OF
SYRIA.
The Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 (title LXXIV of
division F of Public Law 116-92; 22 U.S.C. 8791 note) is amended--
(1) in section 7431(a)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
striking ``for renewable periods not to exceed 180
days'';
(B) by striking paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4)
and inserting the following:
``(1) The air space over Syria is not being utilized by the
Government of Syria to target civilian populations through the
use of incendiary devices, including barrel bombs, chemical
weapons, and conventional arms (including air-delivered
missiles and explosives).
``(2) Areas under the control of the Government of Syria
are no longer cut off from international aid and have regular
access to humanitarian assistance, freedom of travel, and
medical care.
``(3) The Government of Syria is releasing all political
prisoners forcibly held within the prison system of the regime
of Bashar al-Assad and the Government of Syria is allowing full
access to prison system facilities for investigations by
appropriate international human rights organizations.
``(4) The forces of the Government of Syria are no longer
engaged in deliberate targeting of medical facilities, schools,
residential areas, and community gathering places, including
markets, in violation of international norms.''; and
(C) by adding after paragraph (7) the following:
``(8) The Government of Syria is taking verifiable steps to
combat the illicit production and international illicit
proliferation of Captagon.
``(9) The Government of Syria is not engaged in the
targeting or extrajudicial detention of religious minorities in
Syria.'';
(2) in section 7432--
(A) in subsection (b)--
(i) in paragraph (1)--
(I) by striking ``, for renewable
periods not to exceed 180 days,''; and
(II) by striking ``with respect to
a foreign person''; and
(ii) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and
every 180 days thereafter while the waiver
remains in effect,''; and
(B) in subsection (c)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``, for
renewable periods not to exceed 2 years,''; and
(ii) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and
every 180 days thereafter while the waiver
remains in effect,''; and
(3) in section 7438 to read as follows:
``SEC. 7438. SUNSET.
``This title shall cease to be effective on the earlier of--
``(1) the date that is 30 days after the date that the
President reports to Congress that the Government of Syria has
met the criteria described in paragraphs (1) through (8) of
section 7431(a) for 2 consecutive years; or
``(2) December 31, 2029.''.
<all>