,,iii  #aaeth ,,congress  #ast ,session 
,s4 ,,res4 #aif  ,,in ,,the ,,senate    
,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states  ,june #ba1
 #bjag,mrs4 ,shaheen 7for herself1 ,mr4 
,perdue1 and ,mr4 ,bennet7 submitted the
 following resolution2 which was        
referred to the ,committee on ,foreign  
,relations  ,,resolution  ,expressing   
the sense of the ,senate on the         
challenges the conflict in ,syria poses 
to long-term stability and prosperity in
 ,lebanon4  ,whereas the stability of   
,lebanon1 a pluralistic democracy in the
 ,middle ,east1 is in the interest of   
the ,united ,states and ,united ,states 
allies in the region2 ,whereas the      
,united ,states has provided more than  
#b1jjj1jjj1jjj in assistance to ,lebanon
 in the past decade1 including training 
and equipment for the ,lebanese ,armed  
,forces 7,,laf72 ,whereas the conflict  
in ,syria threatens stability in        
,lebanon as a result of violent attacks 
against ,lebanese citizens perpetrated  
by combatants active in ,syria1 as well 

as a massive influx of refugees fleeing 
the conflict2 ,whereas the ,united      
,states has contributed more than       
#f1ejj1jjj1jjj in humanitarian          
assistance for victims of the conflict  
in ,syria1 including for refugees in    
,lebanon2 ,whereas the people of        
,lebanon have shown great generosity in 
welcoming more than #a1ejj1jjj refugees 
from ,syria1 a refugee population equal 
to #a_/d of its native population2      
,whereas ,lebanon is hosting more       
refugees proportionally than any nation 
in the world2 ,whereas the refugee      
crisis has challenged ,lebanon's        
economy1 which faces a national debt    
that is approximately #adj percent of   
gross domestic product and              
underperforming economic growth2        
,whereas the ,,laf have been called into
 direct conflict with the ,islamic      
,state in ,iraq and al-,sham 7,,isis7 as
 a result of attacks carried out by the 
terrorist group in ,lebanon2 ,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    
years2 ,whereas the unique political    
constitution of ,lebanon hinges on that 
nation's distinct demographic and social
 equilibrium2 ,whereas the prolongation 
of the ,syrian conflict has the         
potential to upset the precarious social
 and political balance in ,lebanon2     
,whereas the constitution of ,lebanon is
 further undermined by undue foreign    
influence1 particularly by the ,islamic 
,republic of ,iran through its terrorist
 proxy ,hizbollah2 ,whereas the ,united 
,nations ,security ,council passed      
,resolution #agja in #bjjf1 which calls 
for the disarmament of all armed groups 
in ,lebanon and stresses the importance 
of full control over ,lebanon by the    
,government of ,lebanon2 and ,whereas   
,hizbollah continues to violate ,united 
,nations ,security ,council ,resolution 
#agja1 including by replenishing its    

stock of rockets and missiles in ,south 
,lebanon3 ,now1 therefore1 be it  ,that 
the ,senate-- 7#a7 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 ,hizbollah2  7#b7          
encourages continued coordination       
between the ,department of ,state1 the  
,united ,nations ,high ,commissioner for
 ,refugees1 and humanitarian            
organizations to ensure that refugees   
from the conflict in ,syria1 including  
those in ,lebanon1 are supported in such
 a way as to mitigate any potentially   
adverse effect on their host countries2 
7#c7 recognizes that it is in the       
interest of the ,united ,states to seek 
a negotiated end to the conflict in     
,syria that includes the ultimate       
departure of ,bashar al-,assad1 which   
would allow for the eventual return of  
the millions of ,syrian refugees in     

,lebanon1 ,jordan1 ,turkey1 and other   
countries around the world2  7#d7       
supports full implementation of ,united 
,nations ,security ,council ,resolution 
#agja2 and  7#e7 recognizes the ,,laf as
 the sole institution entrusted with the
 defense of ,lebanon's sovereignty and  
supports ,united ,states partnerships   
with the ,,laf1 particularly through the
 global coalition to defeat the         
terrorist group ,,isis4