Syrian Law 10

Floor Speech

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Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the pressing issue that has the potential to exponentially worsen the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn country of Syria.

I know I don't need to remind this body or the American people of the dire circumstance that the Syrian people face as their country continues to be ripped apart by a known war criminal, their President, Bashar al-Assad.

While millions of Syrians have fled the country, seeking asylum and safety in neighboring countries, the majority of these refugees' only hope is to one day return back to their home. However, the Syrian regime recently passed a law that will make that nearly impossible.

Law 10, passed in April of this year, forces all Syrians, regardless of where they are currently residing, to register and provide proof of ownership of their private properties in Syria within 30 days, or else they will be forced to hand their properties over to the state of Syria. This amounts to a massive land grab by the corrupt Syrian regime that would essentially push out the nearly 13 million displaced Syrians and ensure that they never have a chance to return home.

Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that this body will understand this and we will speak loudly.

I urge my colleagues and this administration to take a serious and critical look at this law that would have far-reaching implications for the United States and our allies who have offered these refugees temporary asylum in our nations and the disastrous consequences for the Syrian people for generations to come.

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