S. 617: Syria Democratic Transition Act of 2013
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S. 617: Syria Democratic Transition Act of 2013
113th Congress · introduced 2013-03-19 · International Affairs · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
federal
Follow this bill, step by step
- Where it came from: introduced 2013-03-19 · official record
- Who proposed it: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA] · what a sponsor is
- What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
- Where it stands now: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
- If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.
Official title
Syria Democratic Transition Act of 2013
Plain summary
Syria Democratic Transition Act of 2013 - Authorizes the President to furnish assistance in order to: (1) provide support for humanitarian activities taking place in and outside Syria; (2) support efforts for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Syria and the establishment of an inclusive representative form of government; (3) encourage the Arab League and other international bodies to insist that transitional and future governments in Syria are committed to democratic principles, including respect for human rights and religious freedom; (4) contribute seed funding to establish a Syria Reconstruction Fund for the physical reconstruction and reestablishment of basic services in Syria after the fall of the Assad regime; and (5) support post-transition efforts. Authorizes the President to provide assistance to: (1) the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) and the Assistance Coordination Unit to enhance their ability to provide basic services to the people of Syria and establish the beginnings of a functioning government; (2) provide training to members of the SOC and Free Syrian Army (FSA); (3) provide non-lethal equipment and training to vetted members of the FSA; and (4) allocate additional Department of State personnel to conduct vetting of opposition individuals receiving aid. Directs the President to prohibit the opening, and prohibit or impose strict conditions on the maintaining, in the United States of any account by a foreign financial institution that the President determines has conducted significant arms sales to the government of Bashar al Assad through the Central Bank of Syria or other Syrian financial institution designated for the imposition of sanctions. Provides an exception with respect to humanitarian transactions. Allows the President, following congressional notification, to waive or terminate any such sanction that is in the national security interest. Urges the President to: (1) instruct United Nations (U.N.) voluntary agencies to use the voice and vote of the United States to support additional humanitarian and development assistance to Syria, and (2) increase bilateral funding to countries which have experienced an influx of refugees from Syria. Urges the Secretary of State to work with appropriate international and regional organizations to convene an international donors group to maximize contributed resources and provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Syria. Urges the United States to develop a plan for securing conventional and unconventional weapons in Syria and preventing their illicit sale or transfer out of Syria.
Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.
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A “Yea” vote
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A “Nay” vote
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PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).
What does this mean? (plain words)
Official text
Syria Democratic Transition Act of 2013
Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)
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Alternatives
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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes
Officials and money
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA] · 10 cosponsors
Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.
Cosponsors on this site
Christopher A. Coons (D-DE), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-NY)
No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.
Words on this page, explained (3)
- Appropriation
- Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
- Resolution
- A formal statement or decision by a legislative body. Simple resolutions often only express an opinion or set rules for one chamber; they do not become law.
- Securities
- Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.
Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.
Sources
- Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)
- Congress.gov
- Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-113s617.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/113/s>
Record fed-us-cong113-s617 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong113 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong113