IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1077 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on the continued 

importance of the United States-Lebanon relationship. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 31, 2020 

Mr. LAHOOD (for himself, Ms. SHALALA, Mr. STIVERS, and Mr. GRAVES of 

Louisiana) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on 

the continued importance of the United States-Lebanon 

relationship. 

Whereas the security, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Lebanon, a pluralistic democracy in the 

Middle East, is in the interest of the United States and 

its allies in the region; 

Whereas, for more than a decade, the United States has provided robust assistance to Lebanon, including training 

and equipment for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), 

development assistance through the Economic Support 

Fund (ESF), funding for schools and hospitals in Lebanon through the American Schools and Hospitals 


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•HRES 1077 IH 

Abroad (ASHA) Program, and funding for the U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI); 

Whereas the integrity and independence of the LAF serves 

a United States national security interest; 

Whereas the LAF has been a critical stabilizing force in Lebanon with a longstanding partnership with the United 

States military; 

Whereas the United States has provided over $1,000,000,000 

in foreign military and security assistance to the LAF; 

Whereas the LAF, as the primary institution entrusted with 

Lebanon’s defense, security, and sovereignty, is an important force to support the safety and security of Lebanon; 

Whereas international support for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) remains necessary to 

counteract destabilizing forces in Lebanon and help lower 

tensions at the Lebanon-Israel border; 

Whereas UNIFIL has been effective in facilitating tripartite 

dialogues between the Lebanese and Israeli military officials and in conducting numerous border patrols in partnership with the LAF, to deescalate the possibilities of 

‘‘unintended consequences leading to violent conflict’’; 

Whereas United States support for American institutions in 

Lebanon through programs such as ASHA, MEPI, and 

ESF assistance are vital for fostering democratic ideals 

and principles throughout Lebanon; 

Whereas Lebanon hosts an estimated 1,500,000 refugees, a 

population equal to almost one-third of its native population and the highest refugee-per-capita ratio in the 

world, despite challenges within its own social and economic sectors; 


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•HRES 1077 IH 

Whereas Hezbollah alongside corrupt elites have taken advantage of the Lebanese economy, government, and its citizens; 

Whereas Iran seeks to eliminate Lebanon’s sovereignty and 

its history as a strong United States ally and democratic 

actor in the Middle East; 

Whereas Hezbollah continues to harm the Lebanese people by 

violating United Nations Security Council Resolution 

1701 (2006), perpetuating undue foreign influence from 

Iran, harming the distinct demographic and social equilibrium of Lebanon, stoking sectarian violence, weakening 

the Lebanese economy, and supporting corruption and violence within Lebanon; 

Whereas corruption in the Lebanese public sector remains 

unchecked, despite calls for efforts to combat corruption 

in all government and social society sectors; 

Whereas the harmful politicization of the independent judiciary in Lebanon is untenable and is being met with strong 

disagreement by the Lebanese people and international 

actors; and 

Whereas respect for the rule of law and democratic principles 

of an independent and free press, long supported in Lebanon, must persist at the highest levels: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) notes that the United States provides assist3 ance to the people of Lebanon in order to support 

4 services and security for Lebanese citizens, particu5 larly to counter the growing influence and negative 

6 impact of Hezbollah and other destabilizing actors; 


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•HRES 1077 IH 

1 (2) encourages the Government of Lebanon to 

2 work actively to combat corruption in government, 

3 execute structural reforms and anticorruption meas4 ures, and work with international financial institu5 tions like the International Monetary Fund and 

6 World Bank to undertake necessary reforms in order 

7 to stabilize the economy; 

8 (3) calls on the Lebanese Government to secure 

9 the safety, freedom of movement, and access for 

10 United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon troops 

11 and mitigate any destabilizing effects on Lebanon 

12 and while supporting robust enforcement of United 

13 Nations Security Council Resolution 1701; 

14 (4) supports the right of the people of Lebanon 

15 to engage in peaceful demonstration and assembly to 

16 achieve accountability in government, democratic po17 litical representation, increased civil rights, and 

18 anticorruption reforms; 

19 (5) recognizes the Lebanese Armed Forces 

20 (LAF) as the sole institution entrusted with the de21 fense of the sovereignty of Lebanon and supports 

22 strengthening United States partnerships with the 

23 LAF to prevent terrorist groups such as Hezbollah, 

24 ISIS, and Al Qaeda from gaining influence in Leb25 anon; and 


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•HRES 1077 IH 

1 (6) recognizes the role of Lebanon and its insti2 tutions, such as an independent judiciary, free press, 

3 and multidenominational, representative government 

4 as historic examples of democratic values in the Mid5 dle East and expresses support for the continuation 

6 of democracy and democratic ideals in Lebanon. 

Æ 


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