[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 138 (Tuesday, September 13, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S5673]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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   SENATE RESOLUTION 553--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE ON THE 
   CHALLENGES THE CONFLICT IN SYRIA POSES TO LONG-TERM STABILITY AND 
                         PROSPERITY IN LEBANON

  Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself and Mr. Perdue) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 553

       Whereas the stability of Lebanon, a pluralistic democracy 
     in the Middle East, is in the interests of the United States 
     and United States allies in the region;
       Whereas the United States has provided more than 
     $2,000,000,000 in assistance to Lebanon in the past decade, 
     including training and equipment for the Lebanese Armed 
     Forces (LAF);
       Whereas the conflict in Syria threatens stability in 
     Lebanon as a result of violent attacks against Lebanese 
     citizens perpetrated by combatants active in Syria, as well 
     as a massive influx of refugees fleeing the conflict;
       Whereas the United States has contributed more than 
     $5,500,000,000 in humanitarian assistance for victims of the 
     conflict in Syria, including for refugees in Lebanon;
       Whereas the people of Lebanon have shown great generosity 
     in welcoming more than 1,000,000 refugees from Syria, a 
     refugee population equal to \1/4\ of its native population;
       Whereas Lebanon is hosting more refugees proportionally 
     than any nation in the world;
       Whereas the refugee crisis has challenged Lebanon's 
     economy, which faces a national debt that is approximately 
     140 percent of gross domestic product and underperforming 
     economic growth;
       Whereas the LAF have been called into direct conflict with 
     the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) as a result of 
     attacks carried out by the terrorist group in Lebanon;
       Whereas the Syrian conflict has placed additional strains 
     on the Government of Lebanon as it continues to confront 
     political deadlock that has kept the presidency vacant for 
     more than two years;
       Whereas the unique political constitution of Lebanon hinges 
     on that nation's distinct demographic and social equilibrium;
       Whereas the prolongation of the Syrian conflict has the 
     potential to upset the precarious social and political 
     balance in Lebanon;
       Whereas the constitution of Lebanon is further undermined 
     by undue foreign influence, particularly by the Islamic 
     Republic of Iran through its terrorist proxy Hizbollah;
       Whereas the United Nations Security Council passed 
     Resolution 1701 in 2006, which calls for the disarmament of 
     all armed groups in Lebanon and stresses the importance of 
     full control over Lebanon by the Government of Lebanon; and
       Whereas Hizbollah continues to violate United Nations 
     Security Council Resolution 1701, including by replenishing 
     its stock of rockets and missiles in South Lebanon: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the importance of bilateral United States 
     assistance to the Government of Lebanon in building its 
     capacity to provide services and security for Lebanese 
     citizens and curbing the influence of Hizbollah;
       (2) encourages continued coordination between the 
     Department of State, the United Nations High Commissioner for 
     Refugees, and humanitarian organizations to ensure that 
     refugees from the conflict in Syria, including those in 
     Lebanon, are supported in such a way as to mitigate any 
     potentially adverse effect on their host countries;
       (3) recognizes that it is in the interests of the United 
     States to seek a negotiated end to the conflict in Syria that 
     includes the ultimate departure of Bashar al-Assad, which 
     would allow for the eventual return of the millions of Syrian 
     refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, and other countries 
     around the world;
       (4) supports full implementation of United Nations Security 
     Council Resolution 1701; and
       (5) recognizes the LAF as the sole institution entrusted 
     with the defense of Lebanon's sovereignty and supports United 
     States partnerships with the LAF, particularly through the 
     global coalition to defeat the terrorist group ISIS.

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