H.R. 31: Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019

116th Congress · introduced 2019-01-03 · International Affairs · Latest: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 107.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2019-01-03 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-16] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 107. 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.

What does this mean?

Official title

Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019

Plain summary

Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 This bill establishes additional sanctions and financial restrictions on institutions and individuals related to the conflict in Syria. The Department of the Treasury shall determine whether the Central Bank of Syria is a financial institution of primary money laundering concern. If so, Treasury shall impose one or more special measures, such as requiring domestic financial institutions to maintain additional records on transactions involving the bank. The President shall impose sanctions on foreign persons that (1) provide significant support or engage in a significant transaction with the Syrian government or those acting on behalf of Syria, Russia, or Iran; or (2) are knowingly responsible for serious human rights abuses against the Syrian people. The bill also imposes sanctions on those that knowingly provide various goods or services to Syria, such as aircraft for the military, technology for the government's domestic petroleum production, items on the U.S. Munitions List, and items that the President believes are being used to commit human rights abuses against the Syrian people. The sanctions include blocking of financial transactions and barring of entry into the United States. Such sanctions shall not apply to activities related to providing humanitarian aid or supporting democratic institutions in Syria. The President may suspend the sanctions under certain conditions, including if it is in the United States' national security interests. The Department of State is authorized to assist entities that are conducting criminal investigations and gathering evidence to prosecute those responsible for war crimes in Syria.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-16] · 57 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 31, Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 (2019-06-06)

Cosponsors on this site

Michael T. McCaul (R-TX), Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), J. French Hill (R-AR), Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA), Randy K. Weber, Sr. (R-TX), Grace Meng (D-NY), Ann Wagner (R-MO), Thomas R. Suozzi (D-NY), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), André Carson (D-IN), Bradley Scott Schneider (D-IL), William R. Keating (D-MA), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Mike Levin (D-CA), Robin L. Kelly (D-IL), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Bill Foster (D-IL), Dina Titus (D-NV), Norma J. Torres (D-CA), Andy Barr (R-KY), Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Brad Sherman (D-CA)

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)

Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
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 (Reported to Senate)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-116hr31.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/116/hr>

Record fed-us-cong116-hr31 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116