,,iii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #ccg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,august #d1 #bjba,mrs4 ,shaheen 7for herself and ,mr4 ,rubio7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,,resolution ,recognizing the anniversary of the explosion at the ,port of ,beirut on ,august #d1 #bjbj1 and expressing solidarity with the ,lebanese people4 ,whereas1 on ,august #d1 #bjbj1 an estimated #b1gej tons of ammonium nitrate detonated at the ,port of ,beirut1 killing more than #bjj people1 injuring more than #g1ejj1 displacing an estimated #cjj1jjj1 and causing an estimated #d1fjj1jjj1jjj in property damage2 ,whereas reports suggest that the ammonium nitrate that detonated in the blast had been confiscated from the ,,mv ,rhosus1 an abandoned cargo ship1 in #bjad and had been unsafely stored at the ,port of ,beirut despite warnings of the risks posed by the stockpile from multiple customs and security officials in successive governments2 ,whereas1 in addition to the #cjj1jjj estimated to be displaced by the blast1 ,lebanon also hosts #a1ejj1jjj refugees from conflicts in ,syria1 ,iraq1 and the ,palestinian ,territories2 ,whereas1 the ,united ,nations estimates that #c1bjj1jjj ,lebanese nationals and refugees are in need in ,lebanon1 including #c1jjj1jjj people in need of health assistance and #b1cjj1jjj people in need of food and agricultural assistance2 ,whereas the people of ,lebanon face what the ,world ,bank has described as a 8deliberate depression0 and an economic crisis compounded by the explosion at the ,port of ,beirut and impasse of governance2 ,whereas the ,world ,bank projects that more than half of the population of ,lebanon lives in poverty in #bjba and #be percent lives in extreme poverty2 ,whereas the ,world ,bank estimates that inflation increased from #aj percent in ,january #bjbj to #abj percent in ,august #bjbj while1 according to the ,central ,administration of ,statistics for ,lebanon1 food prices rose #djb percent between ,december #bjai and ,december #bjbj2 ,whereas1 #c days after the explosion on ,august #d1 #bjbj1 the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development activated a ,disaster ,assistance ,response ,team 7,,dart7 and stood up a ,response ,management ,team 7,,rmt7 to coordinate the response of the ,united ,states ,government1 which included-- 7#a7 #ae1ajj1jjj to support emergency food and health response activities2 7#b7 #aj1ejj1jjj to the ,world ,food ,program 7,,wfp7 in order to reach #cjj1jjj people affected by the explosions2 7#c7 coordination at an international donors conference1 raising an additional #bih1jjj1jjj in assistance2 7#d7 an airlift of emergency health kits containing critical medical commodities sufficient to support up to #fj1jjj people for #c months2 and 7#e7 supporting the ,office of the ,,un ,high ,commissioner for ,refugees 7,,unhcr7 to provide primary and secondary health care services to vulnerable individuals1 including in response to the ,,covid-#ai pandemic2 ,whereas1 #a year after the explosion1 domestic ,lebanese investigations into the blast have been stalled and no answers have been provided to the ,lebanese public2 ,whereas1 on ,august #aj1 #bjbj1 the ,lebanese government referred the ,beirut explosion to the ,judicial ,council for investigation and1 on ,august #ac1 #bjbj1 ,judge ,fadi ,sawan was appointed to head the investigation and possible prosecution2 ,whereas ,judge ,sawan charged several government officials with criminal negligence for ignoring warnings regarding unsafe conditions created by the storage of chemicals at the ,port of ,beirut2 ,whereas those officials accused of negligence in the ,port blast have claimed immunity from prosecution and filed legal efforts to remove ,judge ,sawan from the probe2 ,whereas1 on ,february #ah1 #bjba1 ,judge ,sawan was removed from the investigation1 further delaying justice for the victims of the blast and the people of ,lebanon2 ,whereas ,hezbollah1 designated by the ,department of ,state as a foreign terrorist organization1 benefits from governmental corruption at the ,port of ,beirut that allows for the illicit import and export of goods2 ,whereas1 on ,july #cj1 #bjba1 the ,european ,union1 with the support of the ,department of ,state and the ,department of the ,treasury1 adopted a sanctions regime targeting corrupt actors within the government of ,lebanon2 and ,whereas the people of ,lebanon across the political and sectoral spectrum have demanded accountability for the tragic events of ,august #d1 #bjbj1 and have requested that their governing and economic institutions implement meaningful reform1 accountability1 and transparency2 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 stands with the people of ,lebanon #a year on from the horrific tragedy of the ,port of ,beirut explosion and acknowledges the burdens that the ,lebanese people have shouldered2 7#b7 supports the demands of the people of ,lebanon for transparency1 accountability1 and an end to systemic and endemic corruption in the ,government of ,lebanon2 7#c7 further supports continued efforts by the ,united ,states ,government to provide humanitarian relief in concert with other governments and international partners in a manner that directly benefits the ,lebanese people and is through properly-vetted channels1 organizations1 and individuals2 7#d7 commends the ,european ,union for developing1 with the support of the ,united ,states1 the framework of sanctions regime to prompt accountability and good governance in ,lebanon2 7#e7 calls on all ,lebanese officials to respect and abide by an independent and transparent judiciary investigation into the cause of1 and responsibility for1 the port explosion2 and 7#f7 further calls on ,lebanese political leaders to form and approve a stable1 democratic1 and legitimate government and to immediately implement the reforms necessary to ensure good governance and economic stability4