,i #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #gcaa ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,february #b1 #bjbf,mr4 ,issa 7for himself and ,mr4 ,la,hood7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs1 and in addition to the ,committee on the ,judiciary1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 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 hinders1 obstructs or delays ,lebanon's electoral process1 including efforts to restrict or prevent ,lebanese citizens abroad from voting in parliamentary elections1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,lebanon ,election ,integrity and ,diaspora ,voting ,protection ,act of #bjbf4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,free1 fair1 and timely elections are essential to ,lebanon's sovereignty1 political stability1 and democratic governance4 7#b7 ,lebanon's constitution and electoral laws provide for participation by ,lebanese citizens residing abroad in parliamentary elections4 7#c7 ,lebanon's diaspora population - estimated in the millions - plays a critical role in the country's civic1 political1 and economic life4 7#d7 ,hezbollah and other armed groups1 corrupt political elites1 and foreign actors have historically exerted undue influence over ,lebanon's political processes1 including voter intimidation1 manipulation of electoral administration1 and obstruction of reforms enabling diaspora voting4 7#e7 ,protecting the rights of ,lebanese voters1 including those abroad1 is in the national security interest of the ,united ,states4 #c4 ,authorization of sanctions 7a7 ,in general ,the ,president is authorized1 in consultation as appropriate with the ,secretary of ,state1 the ,secretary of the ,treasury1 and the ,director of ,national ,intelligence1 to impose the sanctions described in subsection 7b7 with respect to any foreign person that the ,president determines-- 7#a7 has engaged in1 sponsored1 or provided material support for actions that-- 7,a7 constitute diaspora voting obstruction2 or 7,b7 otherwise obstruct ,lebanon's parliamentary elections2 7#b7 has obstructed the ability of ,lebanese citizens abroad to vote according to ,lebanese law2 7#c7 has acted on behalf of1 or at the direction of1 any entity engaged in such activities2 or 7#d7 has financially1 materially1 or operationally assisted in any activity described in paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#c74 7b7 ,sanctions described ,the sanctions described in this subsection are the following3 7#a7 ,asset blocking ,notwithstanding the requirements of section #bjb of the ,international ,emergency ,economic ,powers ,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #agja71 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 ,united ,states1 come within the ,united ,states1 or are or come within the possession or control of a ,united ,states person4 7#b7 ,ineligibility for visas1 admission1 or parole 7,a7 ,visas1 admission1 or parole ,a foreign person that is an alien shall be-- 7i7 inadmissible to the ,united ,states2 7ii7 ineligible to receive a visa or other documentation to enter the ,united ,states2 and 7iii7 otherwise ineligible to be admitted or paroled into the ,united ,states or to receive any other benefit under the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja et seq474 7,b7 ,current visas revoked ,the foreign person shall be subject to the following3 7i7 ,revocation of any visa or other entry documentation regardless of when the visa or other entry documentation is or was issued4 7ii7 ,a revocation under clause 7i7 shall take effect immediately and automatically cancel any other valid visa or entry documentation that is in the foreign person's possession4 7#c7 ,other measures ,any other sanction imposed using any of the powers granted to the ,president under the ,international ,emergency ,economic ,powers ,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #agja et seq474 7c7 ,penalty ,a person that violates1 attempts to violate1 conspires to violate1 or causes a violation of subsection 7d77#b77;,a7 or any regulation1 license1 or order issued under that subsection shall be subject to the penalties set forth in subsections 7b7 and 7c7 of section #bjf of the ,international ,economic ,powers ,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #agje7 to the same extent as a person that commits an unlawful act described in subsection 7a7 of that section4 #d4 ,reports to ,congress 7a7 ,initial report ,not later than #fj days after date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,president shall submit to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs1 the ,committee on ,financial ,services1 and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations and the ,committee on ,banking1 ,housing1 and ,urban ,affairs of the ,senate a report that includes-- 7#a7 an identification of each foreign person the ,president determines has engaged in the actions described in section #c7;a72 7#b7 a description of efforts undermining diaspora voting among ,lebanese citizens residing abroad2 and 7#c7 an assessment of foreign government or proxy involvement1 including ,iran-backed entities1 with respect to the upcoming ,lebanese parliamentary elections in ,may #bjbf4 7b7 ,subsequent reports ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the submission of the report required by subsection 7a71 and semi-annually thereafter1 the ,president shall submit to such committees an updated report on-- 7#a7 new individuals or entities identified as having engaged in the actions described in section #c7;a72 7#b7 any sanctions imposed in the preceding #ahj-;day period with respect to such newly identified individuals2 7#c7 progress or setbacks in ,lebanon's election administration2 and 7#d7 recommendations for strengthening election integrity and diaspora participation4 #e4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,the terms admission1 admitted1 and alien have the meanings given such terms in section #aja of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja74 7#b7 ,the term foreign person means any individual or entity that is not a ,united ,states person4 7#c7 ,the term diaspora voting obstruction means any action that directly or indirectly-- 7,a7 prevents1 limits1 delays1 or manipulates the ability of ,lebanese citizens residing abroad to vote in ,lebanon's parliamentary elections2 7,b7 undermines voter registration1 ballot distribution1 ballot collection1 or vote tabulation for overseas voters2 7,c7 intimidates1 threatens1 coerces1 or retaliates against diaspora voters2 or 7,d7 otherwise interferes with election administration in ways inconsistent with ,lebanese law4 7#d7 ,the term obstruct1 with respect to ,lebanon's parliamentary elections1 includes any action that-- 7,a7 undermines the timely conduct of parliamentary elections2 7,b7 corrupts or manipulates electoral institutions2 7,c7 engages in political violence or coercion to influence outcomes2 or 7,d7 materially supports such activities4 7#e7 ,the term ,united ,states person means-- 7,a7 a citizen1 national1 or alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the ,united ,states2 7,b7 an entity organized under the laws of the ,united ,states or any jurisdiction within the ,united ,states1 including any foreign subsidiaries of such an entity2 and 7,c7 any person located in the ,united ,states4 #f4 ,termination ,the authority to impose sanctions under this ,act shall terminate on the date that is #e years after the date of the enactment of this ,act4