Consistent with section 8(a)(1) of the War Powers
     Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1547(a)(1)), nothing in this concurrent
     resolution may be construed as authorizing the use of
     military force.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The concurrent resolution shall be debatable
for 1 hour, equally divided and controlled by Representative Mast of
Florida and Representative Meeks of New York, or their respective
designees.
  The gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mast) and the gentleman from New York
(Mr. Meeks) each control 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.

                             General Leave

  Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include any extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 108. While I
voted against a previous iteration of this resolution, I believe this
updated version has corrected the flaws of H. Con. Res. 84.
  The updated text is an important legislative assertion of Congress'
constitutional authority over matters of war and peace that will not
infringe upon America's national security interests in Lebanon, while
ensuring we stay out of another forever war that is not in our national
interest.
  We consider this resolution in the wake of the recently announced
trilateral framework between Lebanon, Israel, and the United States. I
welcome this agreement, which represents a critical step away from
continued escalation and violence.
  However, what comes next is most critical: Ensuring a ceasefire is
indeed observed by all, fully disarming Hezbollah, and preserving
Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity.

                              {time}  1920

  Since the start of Trump's illegal war of choice with Iran, civilians
in both Lebanon and Israel have suffered the consequences of continued
strikes by both Hezbollah and the Israeli military.
  Now, I strongly condemn violence against civilians in all forms and
support efforts by both the Israeli and Lebanese Governments to ensure
the safety and security of their people.
  Every government has a right and a responsibility to protect its
citizens, and Israel has a right to defend itself. However, this does
not justify disproportionate airstrikes which have killed too many
civilians, including medical workers and journalists, as well as
destroyed civilian infrastructure throughout Lebanon.
  As I continue to condemn Hezbollah's drone and rocket fire into
Israel, I note with deep concern the Israeli Defense Minister's public
pronouncement to destroy all homes in southern Lebanon border villages
and ``follow the Rafah and Beit Hanoun model in Gaza'' where the
Israeli military systematically destroyed thousands of Palestinian
homes and civilian infrastructure. These are not words of self-defense.
They are the language of collective punishment, and that must be
condemned.
  As we look to efforts to deescalate and move toward peace and
stability for both Israelis and the Lebanese, I will state for the
record that, to my knowledge, United States Forces are not currently
engaged in any active hostilities in Lebanon with the Israeli military.
Nonetheless, this resolution ensures that does not change without
congressional authorization. We must not enter another illegal,
reckless, and counterproductive war in the Middle East.
  While this resolution prohibits U.S. Forces from engaging in
hostilities in Lebanon, it makes clear it shall not prevent or in any
way limit the important mission that the United States Armed Forces are
engaged in with Lebanon; that is, the longstanding training and support
of the Lebanese Armed Forces, also known as the LAF, which are critical
to Lebanon's stability and that of the region.
  In my many meetings with both Lebanese and Israeli leaders over the
years, I deeply understand and appreciate the importance of supporting
building up Lebanon's Armed Forces--a goal which successive
administrations, both Republican and Democrat, have furthered.
Protecting that mission, which has enjoyed bipartisan support across
administrations, is precisely why this resolution is carefully drafted
to preserve it.
  This resolution stands on the side of ending forever wars and
ensuring U.S. forces are not drawn into hostilities in Lebanon.
  Any colleague who believes Congress must reassert its constitutional
authority over matters of war and peace should stand with us today.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this resolution, and I urge all of my
colleagues to do the same. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I oppose this resolution. However, I will say that I am
very glad to hear the debate offered by my colleague, Ranking Member
Meeks. He spoke about Hezbollah. We went through an entire debate
several weeks ago where the opposition refused to mention that
Hezbollah even existed, so I am glad to hear Ranking Member Meeks bring
that up.
  Hezbollah specifically targeting civilians with their every action,
that is their MO. Israel specifically targeting terrorists, that is
what is going on here.
  Now, as it relates to this piece of legislation, we have done this
exercise before, and I am glad to hear the ranking member acknowledge
that the United States is not engaged in any hostilities in Lebanon
against Hezbollah. The U.S. is not at war in Lebanon. The U.S. is not
engaged in hostilities in Lebanon. There are not U.S. combat forces
conducting operations or engaged in hostilities in Lebanon.
  They are training the Lebanese Armed Forces. Why are they training
them? Because there are at least 40,000, probably more, Hezbollah
terrorists spread across the south of Lebanon that are actively engaged
in targeting Israel and have been doing so for many years. Israel is
over there doing a good job working to wipe those terrorists out right
now, but this resolution is impossible to implement. Even if it passed,
could the author explain to me which forces would be removed? If we
don't have combat forces there, what forces are being removed? That is
a very commonsense question. I don't think we will get an answer to it,
Mr. Speaker.