End the Cyprus Arms Embargo Act of 2019

I 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 4558 To modify certain disclosure requirements relating to the transfer of articles on the United States munitions list to Cyprus, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 Mr. CICILLINE (for himself, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. CRIST, Mr. DEUTCH, Mr. GOTTHEIMER, Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI, Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York, Ms. MENG, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. SARBANES, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. SCHNEIDER, Mr. SIRES, Ms. SPEIER, Mr. SUOZZI, and Ms. TITUS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs A BILL To modify certain disclosure requirements relating to the transfer of articles on the United States munitions list to Cyprus, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘End the Cyprus Arms 4 Embargo Act of 2019’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:31 Oct 02, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4558.IH H4558 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 4558 IH SEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF REQUIREMENTS ON TRANSFER 1 OF ARTICLES ON THE UNITED STATES MUNI- 2 TIONS LIST TO CYPRUS. 3 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con- 4 gress that— 5 (1) the direct sale or transfer of arms by the 6 United States to Cyprus would advance United 7 States security interests in Europe by helping to re- 8 duce the dependence of the Government of Cyprus 9 on other countries for defense-related materiel, in- 10 cluding countries that pose challenges to United 11 States interests around the world; and 12 (2) it is in the interest of the United States— 13 (A) to continue to support United Nations- 14 facilitated efforts toward a comprehensive solu- 15 tion to the division of Cyprus; and 16 (B) for the Republic of Cyprus to join 17 NATO’s Partnership for Peace program. 18 (b) MODIFICATION OF PROHIBITION.—Section 19 620C(e) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 20 2373(e)) is amended by adding at the end the following 21 new paragraph: 22 ‘‘(3) The requirement under paragraph (1) 23 shall not apply to any sale or other provision of any 24 defense article or defense service to Cyprus if the 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:31 Oct 02, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4558.IH H4558 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 4558 IH end-user of such defense or defense service is Cy- 1 prus.’’. 2 (c) EXCLUSION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE RE- 3 PUBLIC OF CYPRUS FROM CERTAIN RELATED REGULA- 4 TIONS.—Beginning on the date of the enactment of this 5 Act, the Secretary of State shall not apply a policy of de- 6 nial for exports, re-exports, or transfers of defense articles 7 and defense services destined for or originating in the Re- 8 public of Cyprus if— 9 (1) the request is made by or on behalf of Cy- 10 prus; and 11 (2) the end-user of such defense articles or de- 12 fense services is Cyprus. 13 (d) EXCEPTION.—This exclusion shall not apply to 14 any denial based upon credible human rights concerns. 15 (e) LIMITATIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF ARTICLES 16 ON THE UNITED STATES MUNITIONS LIST TO THE RE- 17 PUBLIC OF CYPRUS.— 18 (1) IN GENERAL.—The policy of denial for ex- 19 ports, re-exports, or transfers of defense articles on 20 the United States Munitions List to the Republic of 21 Cyprus shall remain in place unless the President 22 determines and certifies to the appropriate congres- 23 sional committees not less than annually that— 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:31 Oct 02, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4558.IH H4558 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 4558 IH (A) the Government of the Republic of Cy- 1 prus is continuing to cooperate with the United 2 States Government in efforts to implement re- 3 forms on anti-money laundering regulations and 4 financial regulatory oversight; and 5 (B) the Government of the Republic of Cy- 6 prus has made and is continuing to take the 7 steps necessary to deny Russian military vessels 8 access to ports for refueling and servicing. 9 (2) WAIVER.—The President may waive the 10 limitations contained in this subsection for one fiscal 11 year if the President determines that it is essential 12 to the national security interests of the United 13 States to do so. 14 (3) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMIT- 15 TEES DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appro- 16 priate congressional committees’’ means— 17 (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations 18 and the Committee on Armed Services of the 19 Senate; and 20 (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and 21 the Committee on Armed Services of the House 22 of Representatives. 23 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:31 Oct 02, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H4558.IH H4558 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS