Rep. Brecheen leads statement on Syrian sanctions repeal, monitoring religious persecution

Congressman Josh Brecheen Leads Statement

on Syrian Sanctions Repeal

Washington, DC (Dec. 19th) – 134 lawmakers drafted a statement on the Syrian sanction repeal conditions found in the NDAA.

Fox News wrote an exclusive on the statement, which you can read here.

Congressman Josh Brecheen stated, "I’m grateful to the 134 Members of Congress who have committed to monitoring the treatment of religious and ethnic minorities in Syria, ensuring that the sanction repeal conditions found in the NDAA are upheld."

Brecheen was joined by US Representatives Brian Mast, Marlin Stutzman, Max Miller, Jake Ellzey, Clay Higgins, Paul Gosar, Ron Estes, Michael Cloud, Claudia Tenney, Andrew Clyde, Gary Palmer, Rich McCormick, John Moolenaar, Michael Guest, Michael Rulli, Nicole Malliotakis, Scott Perry, Lauren Boebert, Blake Moore, Mark Harris, Glenn Thompson, Nathaniel Moran, Austin Scott, Bruce Westerman, Lloyd Smucker, Ralph Norman, Randy Weber, Russell Fry, Russ Fulcher, Randy Fine, Morgan Luttrell, Jefferson Shreve, Andy Ogles, Sheri Biggs, Diana Harshbarger, Young Kim, Eli Crane, Andy Harris, Doug LaMalfa, Andy Biggs, Derek Schmidt, Tony Wied, Keith Self, Mike Bost, Barry Moore, Brian Babin, Cory Mills, Mike Kennedy, Glenn Grothman, Jay Obernolte, Daniel Webster, Mike Lawler, Eric Burlison, Mike Collins, Bill Huizinga, Nick Begich, Robert Aderholt, Stephanie Bice, Thomas Tiffany, Derrick Van Orden, David Schweikert, Ronny Jackson, Ryan Zinke, Craig Goldman, Scott DesJarlais, Ben Cline, Brandon Gill, Byron Donalds, John Rose, John Carter, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Kat Cammack, Riley Moore, Aaron Bean, Anna Paulina Luna, Nick Langworthy, August Pfluger, Julie Fedorchak, Jim Jordan, Juan Ciscomani, Ryan Mackenzie, Buddy Carter, Pete Stauber, Chip Roy, Zach Nunn, Tim Burchett, Tim Moore, Brad Finstad, Mike Ezell, John Rutherford, Michael McCaul, Burgess Owens, Mark Amodei, Harriet Hageman, Mark Alford, Michael Baumgartner, Adrian Smith, Tim Walberg, Nick LaLota, Beth Van Duyne, Tom Barrett, Celeste Maloy, Wesley Hunt, Rick Allen, Andy Barr, Mary Miller, Andrew Garbarino, Chuck Fleischmann, Gus Bilirakis, Rudy Yakym, Tracey Mann, Carlos Gimenez, Addison McDowell, Brian Jack, Chuck Edwards, John McGuire, Rick Crawford, Erin Houchin, Jeff Hurd, Virginia Foxx, Jodey Arrington, Lance Gooden, Pat Harrigan, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Morgan Griffith, Troy Downing, Carol Miller, Warren Davidson, David Joyce, Brett Guthrie, James Moylan, Chris Smith, and Victoria Spartz.

A copy of the full letter is available here [or below].

CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS REMAIN VIGILANT REGARDING OPPORTUNITIES AFFORDED BY TRUMP ADMINISTRATION

WASHINGTON, DC (December 19th) – The Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was signed into law on December 18th, 2025. This measure included a repeal of sanctions for the nation of Syria. Many Members of Congress, committed to seeking peace, prosperity, and tolerance for religious minorities in the region, worked with the Trump Administration and House leadership to secure assurances that snapback conditions regarding the repeal of Syrian sanctions would be enforced if Syria does not comply with the terms highlighted in the repeal language.

The mass murder of the Syrian Christians, Druze, Alawites, Kurds, and other religious and ethnic minorities must be a thing of the past. Congress is committed to keeping a watchful eye on the new al-Sharaa Administration to ensure protections for religious and ethnic minorities in Syria.

In the coming months, we look forward to being invited into Syria by the al-Sharaa Administration to see firsthand that the terms given to Syria by the United States have been upheld regarding the treatment of religious minorities in As Suwayda. We look forward to confirming that these terms have not been squandered by the Syrian government–whether by their President or by rogue military officials–and seeing for ourselves that the al-Sharaa Administration has created a safe environment for the religious and ethnic minorities historically persecuted in the region.

Thanks to the leadership of Speaker Johnson and Chairman Mast, the House Foreign Affairs Committee has committed to hold a hearing in early 2026 highlighting the verified change of treatment for religious minorities in Syria. As Members of Congress, we understand that the Syrian government’s adherence to the conditions laid out in the NDAA’s sanction repeal language is essential for lasting peace in the Middle East and Syria’s prosperity.