I 
119TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7311 
To authorize the President to impose sanctions with respect to any foreign 
person or entity that hinders, obstructs or delays Lebanon’s electoral 
process, including efforts to restrict or prevent Lebanese citizens abroad 
from voting in parliamentary elections, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 2, 2026 
Mr. ISSA (for himself and Mr. LAHOOD) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the 
Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined 
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To authorize the President to impose sanctions with respect 
to any foreign person or entity that hinders, obstructs 
or delays Lebanon’s electoral process, including efforts 
to restrict or prevent Lebanese citizens abroad from vot-
ing in parliamentary elections, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Lebanon Election In-
tegrity and Diaspora Voting Protection Act of 2026’’. 
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SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Free, fair, and timely elections are essential 
to Lebanon’s sovereignty, political stability, and 
democratic governance. 
(2) Lebanon’s constitution and electoral laws 
provide for participation by Lebanese citizens resid-
ing abroad in parliamentary elections. 
(3) Lebanon’s diaspora population – estimated 
in the millions – plays a critical role in the country’s 
civic, political, and economic life. 
(4) Hezbollah and other armed groups, corrupt 
political elites, and foreign actors have historically 
exerted undue influence over Lebanon’s political 
processes, including voter intimidation, manipulation 
of electoral administration, and obstruction of re-
forms enabling diaspora voting. 
(5) Protecting the rights of Lebanese voters, in-
cluding those abroad, is in the national security in-
terest of the United States. 
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF SANCTIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The President is authorized, in 
consultation as appropriate with the Secretary of State, 
the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Director of Na-
tional Intelligence, to impose the sanctions described in 
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subsection (b) with respect to any foreign person that the 
President determines— 
(1) has engaged in, sponsored, or provided ma-
terial support for actions that— 
(A) constitute diaspora voting obstruction; 
or 
(B) otherwise obstruct Lebanon’s par-
liamentary elections; 
(2) has obstructed the ability of Lebanese citi-
zens abroad to vote according to Lebanese law; 
(3) has acted on behalf of, or at the direction 
of, any entity engaged in such activities; or 
(4) has financially, materially, or operationally 
assisted in any activity described in paragraphs (1) 
through (3). 
(b) SANCTIONS DESCRIBED.— The sanctions de-
scribed in this subsection are the following: 
(1) ASSET BLOCKING.—Notwithstanding the re-
quirements of section 202 of the International 
Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701), 
the President may exercise of all powers granted to 
the President by that Act to the extent necessary to 
block and prohibit all transactions in all property 
and interests in property of the foreign person if 
such property and interests in property are in the 
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United States, come within the United States, or are 
or come within the possession or control of a United 
States person. 
(2) INELIGIBILITY FOR VISAS, ADMISSION, OR 
PAROLE.— 
(A) VISAS, ADMISSION, OR
PAROLE.—A 
foreign person that is an alien shall be— 
(i) inadmissible to the United States; 
(ii) ineligible to receive a visa or other 
documentation to enter the United States; 
and 
(iii) otherwise ineligible to be admitted 
or paroled into the United States or to re-
ceive any other benefit under the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et 
seq.). 
(B) CURRENT VISAS REVOKED.—The for-
eign person shall be subject to the following: 
(i) Revocation of any visa or other 
entry documentation regardless of when 
the visa or other entry documentation is or 
was issued. 
(ii) A revocation under clause (i) shall 
take effect immediately and automatically 
cancel any other valid visa or entry docu-
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mentation that is in the foreign person’s 
possession. 
(3) OTHER
MEASURES.—Any other sanction 
imposed using any of the powers granted to the 
President under the International Emergency Eco-
nomic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.). 
(c) PENALTY.—A person that violates, attempts to 
violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of sub-
section (d)(2)(A) or any regulation, license, or order 
issued under that subsection shall be subject to the pen-
alties set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 
of the International Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 
1705) to the same extent as a person that commits an 
unlawful act described in subsection (a) of that section. 
SEC. 4. REPORTS TO CONGRESS. 
(a) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after 
date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall sub-
mit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee 
on Financial Services, and the Committee on Appropria-
tions of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Banking, 
Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate a report that 
includes— 
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(1) an identification of each foreign person the 
President determines has engaged in the actions de-
scribed in section 3(a); 
(2) a description of efforts undermining dias-
pora voting among Lebanese citizens residing 
abroad; and 
(3) an assessment of foreign government or 
proxy involvement, including Iran-backed entities, 
with respect to the upcoming Lebanese parliamen-
tary elections in May 2026. 
(b) SUBSEQUENT REPORTS.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of the submission of the report re-
quired by subsection (a), and semi-annually thereafter, the 
President shall submit to such committees an updated re-
port on— 
(1) new individuals or entities identified as hav-
ing engaged in the actions described in section 3(a); 
(2) any sanctions imposed in the preceding 180- 
day period with respect to such newly identified indi-
viduals; 
(3) progress or setbacks in Lebanon’s election 
administration; and 
(4) recommendations for strengthening election 
integrity and diaspora participation. 
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