Sponsors (2)
Introduced January 29, 2026 by Lindsey O. Graham · Last progress January 29, 2026
The bill increases U.S. pressure on Syrian and terrorist actors—strengthening counterterrorism tools, targeted sanctions, and congressional oversight while preserving humanitarian channels—at the cost of higher compliance and enforcement burdens, potential humanitarian and diplomatic fallout, and some concentration of decision-making authority.
All Americans: The bill strengthens U.S. counterterrorism pressure by enabling designation, asset-blocking, investment prohibitions, and continued reliance on local partners (SDF) to disrupt ISIS and regime-aligned networks and reduce immediate terror threats.
Congress and the public: The bill increases legislative oversight and transparency by naming appropriate congressional committees, requiring a written presidential national-security justification for delisting Syria, and creating a structured, time-limited review and disapproval process.
Humanitarian actors and vulnerable civilians: The bill preserves channels for humanitarian trade (food, medicine, agricultural goods) and allows continuation/extension of existing Treasury licenses, helping maintain relief flows to civilians.
Small businesses, financial firms, and customers: The bill significantly raises compliance costs and legal risk by broadly defining 'United States person' (including foreign branches), lowering mens rea with an expansive 'knowingly' definition, granting broad IEEPA authority, and authorizing civil/criminal penalties—creating extensive regulatory, litigation, and operational burdens.
Humanitarian organizations, aid workers, academics, and ordinary Syrians: Sanctions, visa bans, and broad prohibitions risk impeding legitimate humanitarian assistance, academic/diplomatic exchanges, and reconstruction activity—potentially worsening civilian hardship in Syria.
U.S. diplomacy and coalition relations: Formal U.S. backing for and recognition of the SDF and expansive designations could complicate relations with the Syrian government, regional partners, and some allies (including some NATO partners), risking reduced cooperation or escalation in the region.
Based on analysis of 12 sections of legislative text.
Designates al‑Nusrah as an FTO, mandates sanctions on senior Syrian officials/entities, creates congressional review for removing Syria from the state‑sponsor list, and preserves narrow humanitarian exceptions.
Requires immediate designation of al‑Nusrah Front (Hay’at Tahrir al‑Sham) as a foreign terrorist organization, mandates sanctions on senior Syrian government officials and entities, and establishes a statutory congressional review process that delays and allows Congress to disapprove a presidential decision to remove Syria from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. The measure affirms U.S. support for the Kurdish‑led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), creates definitions and conduct standards for who is covered, preserves humanitarian and intelligence exceptions, authorizes use of IEEPA, and sunsets five years after enactment.