Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) have introduced a bipartisan amendment (SA 3889) to the 2026 defense authorization bill that would suspend U.S. sanctions on Syria under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019, contingent on strict compliance by Damascus.
The measure requires the U.S. President to certify every 120 days whether the Syrian government is meeting a series of conditions, including:
- Commitment to defeating ISIS and formally joining the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS.
- Protection and political inclusion of religious and ethnic minorities.
- Peaceful relations with neighbors, including Israel, and action against groups threatening regional security.
- An end to financing, assisting, or harboring terrorist organizations.
- Removal of foreign fighters from state and security institutions.
- Investigations and prosecutions of serious human-rights abuses since December 8, 2024, including massacres of religious minorities.
If the administration fails to certify compliance for two consecutive reporting periods, Congress states that sanctions should be immediately reimposed until Syria meets the conditions.
The amendment reflects mounting debate in Washington over how to balance pressure on Damascus with incentives for reform, amid ongoing humanitarian and security concerns.
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Amendment text: https://www.congress.gov/amendment/119th-congress/senate-amendment/3889/text
