Casey, Rubio Offer Bill to Aid Syrian Opposition

A Senate Democrat and Republican are pressing for non-lethal aid to vetted Syrian opposition groups battling the regime of President Bashar Assad.

Sens. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Marco Rubio of Florida unveiled their legislation on Tuesday. The measure would authorize additional humanitarian assistance for the Syrian people and provide equipment such as body armor and communications to opposition groups.

Casey and Rubio told reporters that the horrors of the two-year civil war have gone on too long. The lawmakers left open the possibility of arming the rebels at a later date. New York Rep. Eliot Engel introduced legislation on Monday that would arm and train vetted opposition groups.

The bipartisan Senate measure also would expand sanctions against the Central Bank of Syria.