#Syrian Americans Urge ‘No’ Vote on the #Syria Sanctions Accountability Act of 2025 (H.R. 4427), Call on HFSC Chair Hill @RepFrenchHill to Withdraw It from Consideration
Bill Is a Backdoor Expansion of U.S. Syria #Sanctions
July 21, 2025
1/2 The Syrian American Council (SAC), together with the broader Syrian American community it represents across the United States, strongly opposes the Syria Sanctions Accountability Act of 2025 (H.R. 4427), which is scheduled for markup before the House Financial Services Committee on Tuesday, July 22 at 10:00 A.M. EST.
At a time when Syria is finally being given a pathway to rebuild, re-stabilize, and reintegrate into the international community, this bill, which was introduced by Rep. Mike Lawler @RepMikeLawler on July 16, 2025, moves the country—and U.S. policy—decisively in the wrong direction.
This Bill Undermines President #Trump’s Syria Policy:
H.R. 4427 directly contradicts the clear policy direction set forth by President Trump in his June 30, 2025 Executive Order terminating broad-based Syria sanctions. That order formally ended the Syria sanctions program, shifted U.S. posture from isolation to engagement, and opened a door for reconstruction and refugee return. President Trump’s message was simple and bold: it’s time to give Syria a chance to recover.
At the same time the bill contradicts SFRC Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen’s @SenatorShaheen@SFRCdems Syria policy, which supports sanctions relief.
Rather than supporting this shift, H.R. 4427 locks in even more burdensome conditions for sanctions relief, doubling down on a sanctions regime that is crippling Syria’s economy and deepening the suffering of ordinary Syrians.
Unnecessary and Redundant Conditions:
The bill adds two new conditions that, while well-intentioned, are both unnecessary and counterproductive:
1Captagon Trafficking
2The Assad regime’s role in Captagon production was serious—but it is already being addressed under numerous existing laws such as the Captagon Act (H.R. 6265), and the Illicit Captagon Trafficking Suppression Act of 2023 (H.R. 4681), which give the U.S. broad tools to sanction traffickers and dismantle networks.
There is no need to duplicate this mandate in the Caesar framework.
Arbitrary Detention of Religious Minorities: Again, this is a vital concern—but the Executive Order already empowers the U.S. to target human rights violators. And existing authorities under the Global Magnitsky Act, International Religious Freedom Act, and others provide robust mechanisms to hold perpetrators accountable.
Adding these issues to the Caesar Act now—after more than a decade of atrocities that included mass civilian killings and siege warfare—appears arbitrary and politically symbolic, not policy-driven.
A Delayed Path to Relief:
Given the slow legislative process, even in an ideal, best-case scenario—where Syria satisfies every condition immediately and fully—this bill’s structure would delay any sanctions relief until at least 2028, due to the new requirement that compliance be maintained for two full consecutive years. @FinancialCmte@RepMaxineWaters, @USHouseFSC@RepFrankLucas@PeteSessions@RepHuizenga@RepAnnWagner@RepAndyBarr@RepRWilliams@GOPMajorityWhip, @tomemmer@RepLoudermilk@WarrenDavidson@RepJohnRose@RepBryanSteil@RepTimmons@RepStutzman@RepRalphNorman@RepMeuser@RepYoungKim@RepDonaldsPress@RepGarbarino@RepFitzgerald@USRepMikeFlood@RepMikeLawler@RepMonicaDLC@AndyOgles@ZachNunn@RepLisaMcClain@RepMariaSalazar@MaElviraSalazar@RepTroyDowning@TroyDowningMT@RepHaridopolos@MikeHaridopolos@RepTimMooreNC@TimMooren@NydiaVelazquez@BradSherman@RepGregoryMeeks@repdavidscott@RepStephenLynch@RepAlGreen@repcleaver@jahimes
2/2 That means another three years of blocked capital, frozen reconstruction, and stagnant economy, just as Syrian families begin to return and the country begins the long road toward normalization. This delay will have devastating consequences on refugee return, housing, healthcare, food security, and infrastructure.
This Is Not Repeal—This Is Reinforcement:
The title of this bill may imply accountability or reform—but in substance, it is a backdoor expansion of the Caesar Act.
At a time when Syrians across the political spectrum are asking for relief, not punishment—when the international community is finally aligned on re-engagement—this bill tightens the screws instead of removing them.
The reality is this: this bill strengthens the Caesar sanctions at the exact moment they were supposed to end.
Our Appeal to Chairman French Hill @RepFrenchHill:
We close by addressing Chairman French Hill, who has long been a valued ally of the Syrian American community. Chairman Hill has championed critical efforts to address human rights violations in Syria, combat Captagon trafficking, promote humanitarian access, and lead principled, bipartisan work on Syria policy. We are sincerely grateful for his leadership and longstanding commitment.
Today, we call on Chairman Hill to demonstrate continued leadership—leadership that reflects the realities of this moment, not the policies of the past.
We respectfully urge Chairman Hill and the House Financial Services Committee to:
•Withdraw H.R. 4427 from consideration; and
•Work toward a clean, full repeal of the Caesar sanctions, in alignment with President Trump’s vision and the urgent needs of the Syrian people today.
Syrians need peace, investment, and a chance to rebuild—not more conditions, more penalties, and more delay.
We thank the Committee for its attention and welcome the opportunity to engage in constructive dialogue on a better path forward.
Syrian American Council
On behalf of its Syrian American community
@RepBillFoster@RepBeatty@RepJuanVargas@RepJoshG@RepGonzalez@RepCasten@AyannaPressley@RepHorsford@RepRashida@RitchieTorres@RepSylviaGarcia@RepNikema@RepPettersen@realCleoFields@sliccardo@RepLiccardo
@MhdAGhanem@RepFrenchHill I oppose H.R. 4427. Syrians have suffered enough this bill only adds more delays and pain. Please withdraw it and support real recovery and peace.
#NoToHR4427
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