[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5356 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 5356
To support Lebanon's rule of law and democratic institutions through
sanctions and support, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
August 6, 2026
Mrs. Shaheen (for herself and Mr. Lankford) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign
Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To support Lebanon's rule of law and democratic institutions through
sanctions and support, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Lebanon Sanctions,
Stabilization, and Support Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Sanctions.
Sec. 3. Stabilization.
Sec. 4. Security assistance.
Sec. 5. Oversight.
SEC. 2. SANCTIONS.
(a) In General.--The President may impose the sanctions described
in subsection (c) with respect to each foreign person, regardless of
employment, who the President determines, on or after the date of the
enactment of this Act, has knowingly and significantly engaged in any
activity described in subsection (b).
(b) Activities Described.--A foreign person has engaged in any
activity described in this subsection if the foreign person has--
(1) knowingly undertaken actions or policies that provide
material support in furtherance of the Government of Iran's
illicit financing and support of armed non-state actors in
Lebanon, including Hezbollah;
(2) significantly delayed or impeded the work of the
Lebanese Armed Forces and the Internal Security Forces to
implement the August 2025 decision to exercise a state monopoly
of arms, the September 2025 plan to achieve that monopoly by
disarming Hezbollah, the March 2026 decision to ban security
and military activities of Hezbollah, or the April 2026
decision to bring weapons in Beirut under government control;
(3) provided material support to Hezbollah; or
(4) taken significant actions to delay or impede the
progress of reforms to the banking and financial sectors of
Lebanon.
(c) Sanctions Described.--The sanctions described in this
subsection are the following:
(1) Blocking of property.--The President shall exercise all
authorities granted under the International Emergency Economic
Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to the extent necessary to
block and prohibit all transactions in property and interests
in property of a foreign person described in subsection (a) if
such property and interests in property are in the United
States, come within the United States, or come within the
possession or control of a United States person.
(2) Prohibitions on financial transactions.--The President
may exercise all authorities granted under the International
Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to the
extent necessary--
(A) to prohibit any United States financial
institution from making loans or providing credit to
the applicable foreign person; or
(B) to prohibit any transactions in foreign
exchange that are subject to the jurisdiction of the
United States and in which such foreign person has any
interest.
(3) Ineligibility for visas, admission, or parole.--
(A) Visas, admission, or parole.--An alien
described in subsection (a) 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 receive
any other benefit under the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.).
(B) Current visas revoked.--
(i) In general.--The valid visa or other
entry documentation of any alien described in
subsection (a) is subject to revocation
regardless of the issue date of the visa or
other entry documentation.
(ii) Effect.--In accordance with section
221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act
(8 U.S.C. 1201(i)), a revocation authorized
under clause (i) shall--
(I) take effect in accordance with
established procedures; and
(II) cancel any other valid visa or
entry documentation that is in the
possession of the alien.
(4) Licensing.--For any sanctions imposed pursuant to this
subsection, the Secretary of the Treasury shall issue such
general licenses and public guidance as may be necessary--
(A) to clarify that such sanctions do not apply to
any government entity with which the sanctioned person
may be officially associated;
(B) to clarify that such sanctions do not apply to
any person the sanctioned person owns or controls that
contributes to legitimate economic activity in Lebanon,
unless the owned person is itself designated based on
its behavior; and
(C) to limit adverse impacts to employment,
legitimate economic activity, and humanitarian
conditions in Lebanon.
(d) Exceptions.--
(1) Humanitarian assistance.--Sanctions under this section
may not apply to--
(A) the conduct or facilitation of a transaction
for the provision of agricultural commodities, food,
medicine, medical devices, humanitarian assistance, or
for humanitarian purposes; or
(B) transactions that are necessary for, or
ordinarily incident to, the activities described in
subparagraph (A).
(2) Intelligence activities.--Sanctions under this section
shall not apply to--
(A) any activity subject to the reporting
requirements under title V of the National Security Act
of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.); or
(B) any authorized intelligence activities of the
United States.
(3) Compliance with international obligations and law
enforcement activities.--Visa restrictions under subsection
(c)(3) shall not apply with respect to the admission or parole
of an alien into the United States if admitting or paroling the
alien is necessary--
(A) to comply with United States obligations
under--
(i) the Agreement between the United
Nations and the United States of America
regarding the Headquarters of the United
Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947,
and entered into force November 21, 1947;
(ii) the Convention on Consular Relations,
done at Vienna April 24, 1963, and entered into
force March 19, 1967; or
(iii) any other applicable international
obligations; or
(B) to carry out or assist law enforcement activity
in the United States.
(e) Rulemaking.--The President may prescribe such regulations as
are necessary to carry out the provisions of this section (which may
include regulatory exceptions), including under section 205 of the
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1704).
(f) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed
to limit the authorities of the President under the International
Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).
(g) Termination.--This section, and any sanctions imposed under
this section, shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
(h) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Admission; admitted; alien; lawfully admitted for
permanent residence.--The terms ``admission'', ``admitted'',
``alien'', and ``lawfully admitted for permanent residence''
have the meanings given those terms in section 101 of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101).
(2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives.
(3) Foreign person.--The term ``foreign person'' means any
individual or entity that is not a United States person.
(4) United states person.--The term ``United States
person'' means--
(A) a United States citizen or an alien lawfully
admitted for permanent residence to the United States;
(B) an entity organized under the laws of the
United States or any jurisdiction within the United
States, including a foreign branch of such an entity;
or
(C) any person located in the United States.
SEC. 3. STABILIZATION.
(a) Humanitarian Assistance.--The Secretary of State shall continue
to support humanitarian assistance in Lebanon in furtherance of the
political and economic stability, sovereignty, and territorial
integrity of Lebanon, which is important for regional stability and the
national economic and security interests of the United States,
including--
(1) health assistance, including logistical and technical
assistance to hospitals, ambulances, and health clinics in
affected communities, and the provision of basic public health
commodities;
(2) assistance to provide--
(A) protection, food, and shelter;
(B) water, sanitation, and hygiene; and
(C) demining and disposal of unexploded ordinance;
and
(3) technical assistance to ensure health, food, and
commodities are appropriately selected, procured, targeted,
monitored, and distributed.
(b) Incentive Fund for Reconstruction of Lebanese Government
Services and Infrastructure.--
(1) In general.--There shall be established a fund, to be
administered by the Secretary of State, which, subject to the
limitations set forth in paragraph (2), shall support--
(A) the reconstruction of services and institutions
of the Government of Lebanon and of municipal
governments in Lebanon; and
(B) the building and rebuilding of civilian
infrastructure in Lebanon.
(2) Limitation.--Amounts from the fund established pursuant
to paragraph (1) may not be made available for use by the
Council for South Lebanon.
(3) Notice before provision of assistance.--
(A) Restriction.--Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), not more than 50 percent of the
amounts deposited into the fund established pursuant to
paragraph (1) may be obligated until the Secretary of
State certifies to the Committee on Foreign Relations
of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of
the House of Representatives that--
(i) the Government of Lebanon has declared
Hezbollah's military activities illegal; and
(ii) the Lebanese Armed Forces are
implementing directives of the Government of
Lebanon regarding--
(I) the establishment of a monopoly
of force within Lebanon; and
(II) the disarmament of Hezbollah.
(B) Waiver.--The Secretary of State may waive the
restriction under subparagraph (A) after certifying to
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and
the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives that such a waiver is in the national
interest of the United States.
(c) Livelihood and Scholarship Assistance to the Lebanese Armed
Forces and the Internal Security Forces.--
(1) In general.--There shall be established a fund, to be
administered by the Secretary of State, which shall provide for
the sustainment of the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal
Security Forces in accordance with paragraph (2).
(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Department of State, for each of the
first 3 fiscal years beginning after the date of the enactment
of this Act, $20,000,000, which shall be deposited into the
fund established under paragraph (1) and expended for salaries
and stipends for members of the Lebanese Armed Forces and
Internal Security Forces.
(d) Strategy.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a strategy
to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the
House of Representatives, and the Committee on Appropriations of the
House of Representatives that details how amounts from the fund
established pursuant to this section, in conjunction with funds
authorized to be appropriated under section 4, will be used to help
support and implement a plan to expand Lebanese state services and
increase legitimate political participation in Lebanese communities
that are currently dependent on parallel services from Hezbollah.
SEC. 4. SECURITY ASSISTANCE.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations for Security Assistance to the
Lebanese Armed Forces and the Internal Security Forces.--
(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
the Department of State, for each of the first 5 fiscal years
beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act--
(A) $200,000,000 for Foreign Military Financing;
(B) $25,000,000 for International Narcotics Control
and Law Enforcement;
(C) $11,500,000 for Non-proliferation, Anti-
terrorism, Demining, and Related Programs; and
(D) $3,500,000 International Military Education and
Training.
(2) Notice before provision of assistance.--
(A) Restriction.--Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), not more than 50 percent of the funds
appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) may be obligated
until after the Secretary of State certifies to the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives that--
(i) the Government of Lebanon has declared
Hezbollah's military activities illegal; and
(ii) the Lebanese Armed Forces are
implementing directives of the Government of
Lebanon regarding--
(I) the establishment of a monopoly
of force within Lebanon; and
(II) the disarmament of Hezbollah.
(B) Inapplicability.--The restriction on obligating
funds under subparagraph (A) shall not apply to
assistance provided to special operations units and
associated enabling forces of the Lebanese Armed
Forces.
(3) Authorization of contingent funding after the first
fiscal year.--
(A) Contingency.--Subparagraph (B) shall take
effect if a briefing required under subsection (c)
during the fiscal year beginning after the date of the
enactment of this Act demonstrates meaningful progress,
as determined by the Secretary of State--
(i) by the Lebanese Armed Forces and the
Internal Security Forces to counter Iranian
proxy forces operating in Lebanon, including
Hezbollah, Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic
Jihad; and
(ii) by the Government of Lebanon to
develop and implement a plan to expand state
services and increase legitimate political
participation in Lebanese communities that are
currently dependent on parallel services from
Hezbollah.
(B) Funding.--Subject to the contingency described
in subparagraph (A), in addition to the appropriations
authorized under paragraph (1), there is authorized to
be appropriated to the Department of State, for the
second, third, fourth, and fifth fiscal year beginning
after the date of the enactment of this Act--
(i) $50,000,000 for Foreign Military
Financing;
(ii) $6,000,000 for International Narcotics
Control and Law Enforcement;
(iii) $3,000,000 for Non-proliferation,
Anti-terrorism, Demining, and Related Programs;
and
(iv) $1,000,000 for International Military
Education and Training.
(4) Authorization of additional contingent funding after
the second fiscal year.--
(A) Contingency.--Subparagraph (B) shall take
effect if the briefings required under subsection (c)
during each of the first 2 fiscal years beginning after
the date of the enactment of this Act demonstrate
meaningful progress, as determined by the Secretary of
State--
(i) by the Lebanese Armed Forces and the
Internal Security Forces to counter Iranian
proxy forces operating in Lebanon, including
Hezbollah, Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic
Jihad; and
(ii) by the Government of Lebanon to
implement a plan to expand state services and
increase legitimate political participation in
Lebanese communities that are currently
dependent on parallel services from Hezbollah.
(B) Funding.--Subject to the contingency described
in subparagraph (A), in addition to the appropriations
authorized under paragraphs (1) and (3), there is
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of
State, for each of the third, fourth, and fifth fiscal
years beginning after the date of the enactment of this
Act--
(i) $50,000,000 for Foreign Military
Financing;
(ii) $6,000,000 for International Narcotics
Control and Law Enforcement;
(iii) $3,000,000 for Non-proliferation,
Anti-terrorism, Demining, and Related Programs;
and
(iv) $1,000,000 for International Military
Education and Training.
(5) Use of funds.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to
authorizations under paragraphs (1)(B), (3)(B), and (4)(B)
shall be used by the Secretary of State to build the capacity
of the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Internal Security Forces,
including by--
(A) countering Iranian proxy forces operating in
Lebanon, including Hezbollah, Hamas, and Palestinian
Islamic Jihad;
(B) implementing--
(i) the August 2025 decision to exercise a
state monopoly of arms;
(ii) the September 2025 plan to achieve
this monopoly by disarming Hezbollah;
(iii) the March 2026 decision to ban
Hezbollah security and military activities; and
(iv) the April 2026 decision to bring
weapons in Beirut under government control;
(C) fully implementing all relevant United Nations
Security Council resolutions;
(D) training and vetting members of the Lebanese
Armed Forces and the Internal Security Forces;
(E) countering and interdicting revenue sources for
Hezbollah and other malign actors, including revenues
derived from financial crimes, Captagon, and other
illicit good production and trafficking in Lebanon;
(F) detecting and interdicting trafficking of
weapons, materials related to weapons of mass
destruction, dual-use goods, and sensitive technologies
in Lebanon; and
(G) implementing the program described in
subsection (b).
(b) Program To Build the Capacity of the Lebanese Armed Forces and
the Internal Security Forces With Respect to Captagon and Other Illicit
Goods.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of State shall establish a
program to provide assistance to strengthen the capacity of
Lebanese security institutions to identify, track, and improve
their forensics detection capabilities with respect to
financial crimes and production and trafficking of Captagon and
other illicit goods that provide a source of revenue for
Hezbollah and other malign actors.
(2) Program requirements.--Recipients of assistance from
the program required under paragraph (1)--
(A) shall be limited to Lebanese officials who have
expertise and experience or are being trained in
matters described in paragraph (1); and
(B) may be carried out, in the case of inbound
exchanges, as part of appropriate exchange programs and
international visitor programs administered by the
Department of State.
(c) Briefing.--Not later than 15 days before the obligation of any
funds appropriated pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary of State
shall brief the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on Foreign
Affairs of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives regarding--
(1) the steps taken during the previous year by the
Lebanese security institutions to counter Iranian proxy forces
operating in Lebanon, including Hezbollah, Hamas, and
Palestinian Islamic Jihad;
(2) the steps taken during the previous year by Lebanese
security institutions to counter the production and trafficking
of Captagon and other illicit goods in Lebanon;
(3) how United States assistance created or augmented the
capabilities of the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Internal
Security Forces to undertake the steps described in paragraphs
(1) and (2);
(4) how the production and trafficking of Captagon and
other revenues sources, to include financial crimes and illicit
good production and trafficking, has harmed the Lebanese
economy and benefitted Hezbollah and other malign actors;
(5) the steps taken by the Lebanese Armed Forces to counter
any instances of collusion between the Lebanese Armed Forces
and Hezbollah, such as--
(A) promoting the establishment of rapid inspection
units;
(B) conducting randomized spot checks;
(C) implementing mechanisms for incentivizing
weapons relinquishment;
(D) implementing mechanisms for incentivizing
outcome-based performance by Lebanese Armed Forces
units and personnel; and
(E) imposing consequences, such as criminal
liability, for Lebanese Armed Forces personnel who have
colluded with Hezbollah; and
(6) how the assistance authorized under subsection (a) will
further improve the capabilities of the Lebanese Armed Forces
and the Internal Security Forces to counter Iranian proxy
forces operating in Lebanon, including Hezbollah, Hamas, and
Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
SEC. 5. OVERSIGHT.
(a) Oversight of Stabilization Assistance.--
(1) Strategy.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit an
unclassified strategy, with a classified annex, if necessary,
to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives
that describes--
(A) how the United States, working with relevant
foreign governments, multilateral organizations, and
nongovernmental organizations, will support the safe,
informed, durable, and voluntary return of Syrian
refugees in Lebanon back to their home communities;
(B) the diplomatic efforts carried out by the
United States Government to urge contributing countries
of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon to
donate existing equipment, vehicles, and facilities to
the Lebanese Armed Forces upon the termination of
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon's mandate in
accordance with United Nations Security Council
Resolution 2790 (2025), pursuant to efforts to bolster
the capability of the Lebanese Armed Forces in southern
Lebanon;
(C) the diplomatic efforts carried out by the
United States Government, including by supporting
multilateral pledging events and using its positions in
international financial institutions, to encourage
strategic burden sharing and the coordination of
donations with international donors, including foreign
governments and multilateral organizations, to advance
the provision of humanitarian assistance to the people
of Lebanon, especially internally displaced persons;
and
(D) how the United States Government is--
(i) overcoming reconstruction challenges in
southern Lebanon to counter any role Hezbollah
may be playing in reconstruction and provision
of social services;
(ii) mitigating risk of diversion or
benefit to non-state armed groups in Lebanon,
particularly Hezbollah; and
(iii) ensuring effective delivery of
assistance.
(2) Initial report.--Before obligating any amounts from the
fund established pursuant to section 3(b), the Secretary of
State shall submit an unclassified report, with a classified
annex, if necessary, to the Committee on Foreign Relations of
the Senate, the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives,
and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives that describes--
(A) accounting, monitoring, evaluation or oversight
procedures being implemented to prevent the diversion
of the United States Government assistance, including
assistance from the fund established pursuant to
section 3(b), to Hezbollah or other non-state armed
groups in Lebanon or their affiliates and to ensure
such assistance is being used for the purposes for
which it was obligated; and
(B) the diplomatic efforts carried out by the
United States Government, including by supporting
multilateral pledging events and using its positions in
international financial institutions, to encourage
strategic burden sharing and the coordination of
donations with international donors, including foreign
governments and multilateral organizations, to advance
the provision of assistance for the reconstruction of
services and institutions of the Government of Lebanon
and of municipal governments in Lebanon and the
building and rebuilding of civilian infrastructure in
Lebanon.
(3) Retention and readiness report.--Not later than 180
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary
of State shall submit an unclassified report, with a classified
annex, if necessary, to the congressional committees referred
to in paragraph (2) that describes the effect of the amounts
appropriated pursuant to subsections (c) and (d) of section 3
on the retention and readiness of the Lebanese Armed Forces and
the Internal Security Forces.
(b) Oversight of Support Assistance.--Not later than 120 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the
following 3 years, the Secretary of State shall submit to the Committee
on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs
of the House of Representatives an unclassified report, with a
classified annex, if necessary, that--
(1) describes the progress made by the Government of
Lebanon, the Lebanese Armed Forces, and the Internal Security
Forces and any remaining gaps in developing and implementing a
plan, with timelines and measurable objectives--
(A) to fully disarm Hezbollah, including with the
support of the United States and the international
community;
(B) to expand state services and increasing
legitimate political participation in Lebanese
communities that are currently dependent on parallel
services from Hezbollah; and
(C) to implement--
(i) the August 2025 decision to exercise a
state monopoly of arms;
(ii) the September 2025 plan to achieve
this monopoly by disarming Hezbollah;
(iii) the March 2026 decision to ban
Hezbollah security and military activities; and
(iv) the April 2026 decision to bring
weapons in Beirut under government control;
(2) details the Government of Iran's illicit financing and
support of armed non-state actors in Lebanon, including
Hezbollah and institutions it controls, such as Al-Qard Al-
Hassan;
(3) describes whether and how the political and economic
stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Lebanon
are important for regional stability and the national economic
and security interests of the United States;
(4)(A) describes the efforts led by the United States to
coordinate and deconflict between the Lebanese Armed Forces and
the Israel Defense Forces;
(B) assesses the steps that should be taken by the Lebanese
Armed Forces to increase coordination and deconfliction;
(C) assesses the steps that should be taken by the Israel
Defense Forces to increase coordination and deconfliction;
(D) describes additional authorities or tools that may aid
these coordination and deconfliction efforts or increase the
ability of the United States to provide effective guidance to
the Lebanese Armed Forces and Israel Defense Forces; and
(E) describes efforts to build upon the monitoring
mechanism led by the United States after the Announcement of a
Cessation of Hostilities and Related Commitments on November
27, 2024, to establish a combined intelligence and military
coordination body with international partners that sets clear,
measurable objectives and time-bound metrics to ensure
credibility and transparency in the process of disarming
Hezbollah;
(5) identifies the steps the Government of Lebanon is
taking to enact reforms to Lebanon's banking and financial
sectors, including--
(A) steps to implement Lebanon's April 2025 bank
secrecy law;
(B) steps to pass and implement a law to
restructure Lebanon's banking sector; and
(C) steps to pass and implement a law to address
the allocation of losses in Lebanon's banking sector;
(6) describes the progress made toward building peaceful
relations between the Government of Lebanon and the Government
of Israel, including--
(A) steps to pursue negotiations and efforts to
impede negotiations;
(B) the advisory and coordination mechanisms set up
by the United States and the international community;
(C) progress made as a result of direct
negotiations that--
(i) recognize Lebanon's sovereignty;
(ii) affirm that the Government of Lebanon,
rather than any foreign power (such as Iran),
is the representative of the Lebanese people;
(iii) undermine Iran's claims to negotiate
for Lebanon; and
(iv) undermine Iran's attempts to intrude
in Lebanon's domestic affairs and the conduct
of its foreign policy; and
(D) steps to suspend the enforcement of, or repeal,
Lebanon's anti-normalization laws, derived from Lebanon
Law 1/1955, which was ratified by the Parliament of
Lebanon on June 23, 1955, to prohibit any economic,
commercial, or personal interactions between the people
of Lebanon and the people of Israel, and provisions of
the Lebanese Criminal Code and the Lebanese Code of
Military Justice; and
(7) describes humanitarian and reconstruction needs and
challenges in Lebanon, including--
(A) the immediate state of humanitarian needs and
the long-term reconstruction needs in Lebanon,
particularly south of the Litani river;
(B) the causes of such challenges;
(C) efforts that have been made to address these
challenges;
(D) the effects of not addressing these challenges
on the economy and security inside Lebanon; and
(E) the effects of such challenges on regional
stability and security if applicable.
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