Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

12 April 2003

Last action

12 December 2003 · President

Status

Became Public Law No: 108-175.

Summary

Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 - Declares the sense of Congress that: (1) the Government of Syria should immediately and unconditionally halt support for terrorism, permanently and openly declare its total renunciation of all forms of terrorism, and close all terrorist offices and facilities in Syria, including the offices of Hamas, Hizballah, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command; (2) the Government of Syria should take other specified steps to withdraw its armed forces from Lebanon, halt development of certain weapons, halt illegal imports and transshipments of Iraqi oil and illegal sales and supplies of weapons and military-related equipment to Iraq; (3) the Government of Lebanon should deploy the Lebanese armed forces to all areas of Lebanon, including South Lebanon, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 520 (September 17, 1982) (Security Council Resolution 520); (4) the Governments of Lebanon and Syria should enter into serious unconditional bilateral negotiations with the Government of Israel in order to realize a full and permanent peace; (5) the United States should continue to provide humanitarian and educational assistance to the people of Lebanon only through appropriate private, nongovernmental organizations and appropriate international organizations, until such time as the Government of Lebanon asserts sovereignty and control over all of its territory and borders and achieves full political independence; and (6) being in violation of several key United Nations Security Council resolutions and pursuing policies which undermine international peace and security, Syria should not have been permitted to join the United Nations Security Council or serve as the Security Council's President, and should be removed from the Security Council. Declares that it is U.S. policy: (1) Syria will be held responsible for attacks committed by Hizballah and other terrorist groups with offices or other facilities in Syria, or bases in areas of Lebanon occupied by Syria; (2) the United States shall impede Syria's ability to support acts of international terrorism and efforts to develop or acquire weapons of mass destruction; (3) the Secretary of State will continue to list Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism until it ends support for terrorism, including its support of Hizballah and other terrorist groups in Lebanon and its hosting of terrorist groups in Damascus, and comes into full compliance with U.S. law relating to terrorism and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373 (September 28, 2001); (4) efforts against Hizballah will be expanded given the recognition that Hizballah is equally or more capable than al Qaeda; (5) the full restoration of Lebanon's sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity is in the U.S. national security interest; (6) Syria is in violation of Security Council Resolution 520 through its continued occupation of Lebanese territory and its encroachment upon its political independence; (7) Syria's obligation to withdraw from Lebanon is not conditioned upon progress in the Israeli-Syrian or Israeli-Lebanese peace process but derives from Syria's obligation under Security Council Resolution 520; (8) Syria's acquisition of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs threaten the security of the Middle East and U.S. national security interests; (9) Syria is in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 661 (August 6, 1990) and subsequent relevant resolutions through its continued purchase of oil from Iraq and shipments of weapons and other military equipment to Iraq; (10) Syria will be held accountable for any harm to Coalition armed forces of Operation Iraqi Freedom caused by shipments of military supplies from Syria to Iraq; and (11) the United States will not provide any assistance to Syria and will oppose multilateral assistance for Syria until Syria withdraws its armed forces from Lebanon, halts the development and deployment of weapons of mass destruction and medium and long range surface to surface ballistic missiles, and complies with Security Council Resolution 661 and subsequent relevant resolutions. Sets forth the following penalties against Syria until the President determines and certifies to Congress that Syria meets the requirements of this Act. Directs the President to prohibit the export to Syria of any item, including the issuance of an export license, on the United States Munitions List or Commerce Control List of dual-use items in the Export Administration Regulations. Requires the President, at the same time, to impose two or more of the following sanctions: (1) prohibit the export to Syria of U.S. products (other than food and medicine); (2) prohibit U.S. businesses from investing or operating in Syria; (3) restrict Syrian diplomats in Washington, D.C., and at the United Nations in New York City, to travel only within a 25-mile radius of Washington, D.C., or the United Nations headquarters building, respectively; (4) prohibit aircraft of any air carrier owned or controlled by Syria to take off from, land in, or overfly the United States; (5) reduce U.S. diplomatic contacts with Syria (other than those required to protect U.S. interests or carry out the purposes of this Act); and (6) block transactions in any property in which the Government of Syria has any interest, by any person, or with respect to any property, subject to U.S. jurisdiction. Authorizes the President to waive such sanctions for one or more six-month periods if the President determines that it is in the vital national security interest of the United States to do so and reports his reasons to Congress. Authorizes the President to provide development assistance to Syria and Lebanon under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 if he certifies to Congress that: (1) Syria meets the requirements of this Act; (2) substantial progress has been made both in negotiations aimed at achieving a peace agreement between Israel and Syria and in negotiations aimed at achieving a peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon; and (3) the Government of Syria is strictly respecting the sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity, and political independence of Lebanon under the sole and exclusive authority of the Government of Lebanon through the Lebanese army throughout Lebanon, as required under Security Council Resolution 520. Requires annual reports to the appropriate congressional committees on Syria's progress in complying with the requirements of this Act.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

12 April 2003
Introduced
Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
Source: IntroReferral
12 April 2003
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
12 April 2003
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
8 October 2003
Vote
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 33 - 2.
Source: Committee
8 October 2003
Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
15 October 2003
Floor
Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Source: Floor
15 October 2003
Calendars
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 190.
Source: Calendars
15 October 2003
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
15 October 2003
Vote
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 398 - 4, 5 Present (Roll no. 543). (text: CR H9418-9420)
Source: Floor
15 October 2003
Floor
DEBATE - By unanimous consent, the House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 1828.
Source: Floor
15 October 2003
Vote
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 398 - 4, 5 Present (Roll no. 543).(text: CR H9418-9420)
Source: Floor
15 October 2003
Floor
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9418-9431)
Source: Floor
15 October 2003
Vote
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Source: Floor
15 October 2003
Reported
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on International Relations. H. Rept. 108-314.
Source: Committee
15 October 2003
Reported
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on International Relations. H. Rept. 108-314.
Source: Committee
16 October 2003
Introduced
Received in the Senate, read twice.
Source: IntroReferral
11 November 2003
Vote
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Yea-Nay Vote. 89 - 4. Record Vote Number: 445.
Source: Floor
11 November 2003
Floor
Measure laid before Senate. (consideration: CR S14403-14417)
Source: Floor
12 November 2003
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
20 November 2003
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
20 November 2003
Vote
On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 408 - 8, 1 Present (Roll no. 654).
Source: ResolvingDifferences
20 November 2003
Vote
Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 408 - 8, 1 Present (Roll no. 654).
Source: NotUsed
20 November 2003
Vote
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
20 November 2003
Floor
DEBATE - The House proceed with forty minutes of debate on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments to H.R. 1828
Source: Floor
20 November 2003
Passed
Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments. (consideration: CR H11759-11762, H11843-11844; text as House agreed to Senate amendments: CR H11759)
Source: ResolvingDifferences
2 December 2003
President
Presented to President.
Source: President
2 December 2003
Floor
Presented to President.
Source: Floor
12 December 2003
Became law
Became Public Law No: 108-175.
Source: President
12 December 2003
Became law
Signed by President.
Source: BecameLaw
12 December 2003
President
Signed by President.
Source: President

Votes

11 November 2003 · Bill Passed · On Passage of the Bill H.R. 1828 · Bill Passed · Official source

Yes 89 · No 4 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 7

Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.

Versions

Enrolled Bill · — · Download file
Public Law · 12 December 2003 · Download file
Engrossed Amendment Senate · 11 November 2003 · Download file
Received in Senate · 16 October 2003 · Download file
Reported in House · 15 October 2003 · Download file
Engrossed in House · 15 October 2003 · Download file
Introduced in House · 12 April 2003 · Download file

Documents

19 official files

Enrolled Bill (text)

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Enrolled Bill (text)
Enrolled Bill · EN
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Enrolled Bill (PDF)
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Public Law (text)
Public Law · EN · 12 December 2003
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Public Law (PDF)
Public Law · EN · 12 December 2003
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Public Law
summary · EN · 12 December 2003
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Engrossed Amendment Senate (text)
Engrossed Amendment Senate · EN · 11 November 2003
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Engrossed Amendment Senate (PDF)
Engrossed Amendment Senate · EN · 11 November 2003
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Passed Senate amended
summary · EN · 11 November 2003
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Received in Senate (text)
Received in Senate · EN · 16 October 2003
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Received in Senate (PDF)
Received in Senate · EN · 16 October 2003
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Engrossed in House (text)
Engrossed in House · EN · 15 October 2003
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Engrossed in House (PDF)
Engrossed in House · EN · 15 October 2003
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Reported in House (text)
Reported in House · EN · 15 October 2003
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Reported in House (PDF)
Reported in House · EN · 15 October 2003
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Passed House amended
summary · EN · 15 October 2003
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Reported to House with amendment(s)
summary · EN · 15 October 2003
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Introduced in House (text)
Introduced in House · EN · 12 April 2003
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Introduced in House (PDF)
Introduced in House · EN · 12 April 2003
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Introduced in House
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Related records

related to ← Syria Accountability Act of 2003
amends ← To make technical and other corrections.

Related across the Repo ecosystem

Direct relationships are identifier-backed. Topic context means shared TopicMembership — not a citation and not causation.

Direct relationships

Legal framework · Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 · H.R. 1828 (108th) · US

Identifier matchPROJECTS_FROM
Same us record 108-hr-1828 projected from PoliticalRepo US row.
Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.

Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-bill/1828
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/108/hr/1828
us · 108-hr-1828 · source updated 7 April 2025