Washington, D.C. — Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, introduced new legislation this week aimed at updating and refining U.S. sanctions policy toward Syria in anticipation of a post-Assad future.
The Syria Sanctions Accountability Act, unveiled on Wednesday, seeks to modernize the framework of the existing U.S. sanctions regime, provide updated criteria for sanctions relief, and set measurable benchmarks for the Syrian government to meet international anti-corruption and anti-money laundering standards.
“As the Trump Administration is already reviewing sanctions policy, we must ensure they have the tools to do so that reflect the current security environment,” said Chairman Lawler, who also serves on the House Financial Services Committee. “This bill modernizes the existing sanctions regime on Syria, requires assessments on existing sanctions relief provisions, and sets out goals for the Syrian government.”
Key Provisions of the Syria Sanctions Accountability Act Include:
Financial Oversight: Requires the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to brief Congress on exceptions granted to the Commercial Bank of Syria.
International Monitoring and Reform: Instructs U.S. representatives at the International Monetary Fund and World Bank to advocate for regular economic monitoring of Syria, better financial connectivity, and strong anti-money laundering, counter-proliferation, and anti-corruption efforts.
Export-Import Bank Review: Calls for a formal assessment by the Export-Import Bank on whether current restrictions concerning Syria remain appropriate.
Sanctions Relief Updates: Revises conditions within the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, mandating that the Syrian government take verifiable steps to halt the illegal proliferation of Captagon (a highly addictive amphetamine), cease the targeting or detention of religious minorities, and meet additional humanitarian and governance standards. It also removes outdated references to Russia and Iran from previous legislation.
Lawler emphasized that while reintegrating Syria into the international community won’t be easy, a clear and structured path must be outlined. “The al-Sharaa Administration certainly has a lot of work to do to reintegrate Syria with the U.S. and our allies. While this job should be difficult given the circumstances, it shouldn’t be impossible,” Lawler concluded.
The legislation comes as the U.S. reconsiders its long-standing approach to Syria amid ongoing regional instability and a shifting geopolitical landscape.
