In recent days, there have been a series of consecutive legislative visits to Syria of varying importance, the latest being an official visit—the first of its kind by a bipartisan delegation since the fall of the Assad regime. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and her Republican colleague Joe Wilson, active on the Syrian file, visited Damascus accompanied by the US special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack. The visit included meetings with the new head of the Foreign Relations Committee, Ahmed Al-Shar’, representatives of the transitional government, and a private meeting with the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Hind Qabawat, discussing strengthening civil society, accountability for war crimes, peace and reconciliation, economic prosperity, and post-conflict reconstruction.

The delegation also met with the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, to show support and discuss the integration of the SDF with the Syrian armed forces. They met with various religious leaders representing multiple sects and civil society representatives to emphasize the necessity of a democratic Syria that respects the rights of all Syrians, according to a statement from Senator Shaheen’s office.

These meetings carry deep implications, most notably a pledge to work on passing a US bill to permanently lift sanctions on Syria, proposed by Shaheen and several Senate colleagues. Although President Donald Trump announced a full lifting of sanctions on Syria, the Caesar Act, passed by Congress and effective since 2019, restricts presidential powers and allows only temporary waivers renewable every 180 days. Some lawmakers say this hinders long-term investments and reconstruction efforts due to fears of sanctions returning. Therefore, Shaheen in the Senate and Wilson in the House pledged to include the sanctions lifting bill in the upcoming defense funding bill to be reviewed by Congress next week, a bill usually passed with rare bipartisan consensus.

Senator Shaheen expressed clear support, stressing the importance of Syria being able to stand on its own after the fall of the Assad regime, which would make it a cornerstone of stability in the Middle East. She affirmed that the US is ready to be a partner for a new Syria moving in the right direction.

Wilson noted his long-standing activity with the Syrian-American community, adding, “Their constant dream was for a day when Damascus would be free. I believe that day has come.”

The two legislators are heading back to Washington to prepare for Congress’s return from summer recess, aiming to rally support for the Caesar sanctions lifting bill, hoping for its approval soon, possibly coinciding with Ahmed Al-Shar’s anticipated visit to New York to participate in the United Nations General Assembly next month.