Washington, D.C. – Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) joined the committee’s Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-NY) in reintroducing the “Caesar Syrian Civilian Protection Act” to impose sanctions on supporters of Syria’s Assad regime, encourage negotiations to end ongoing atrocities, and support prosecution of war criminals.  The reintroduction of the “Caesar Syrian Civilian Protection Act,” which passed the House unanimously last November, coincides with last week’s anniversary of the devastating Syria conflict.

Chairman Royce, the bill’s original cosponsor, said: “As the Syrian conflict enters a seventh year, there are 480,000 dead civilians and countless more that’ve been beaten, tortured and starved by Assad and his backers.  Last week, I met with Syrian doctors who endured barrel bomb and chlorine gas attacks as they treated thousands of people in eastern Aleppo.  Earlier today I met with ‘Caesar,’ whose incredible testimony three years ago provided stark evidence of the atrocities being committed by Assad and his backers.  Both ‘Caesar’ and these brave doctors stressed that this slaughter will continue across Syria until Assad and his backers are held accountable.

“That is why I am joining Rep. Engel in reintroducing legislation to impose new sanctions on Assad’s war machine.  This bill, which passed the House unanimously last year, will give the U.S. much-needed leverage to help stop the slaughter of more innocent Syrians.”

NOTE: Yesterday, Chairman Royce participated in the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s event to recognize the atrocities and crimes against humanity suffered by Syrian civilians.  The event included a photo display entitled, “Inside Syria’s Torture Machine,” which documents the Assad regime’s torture and execution of innocent Syrian civilians including women and children.  More information about the event is available HERE.

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