Lebanon Reconstruction and Stabilization Act of 2006 - Authorizes the President to provide assistance for Lebanon's reconstruction and stabilization.
States that such assistance shall be implemented through the Department of State's Office of Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization and in strict compliance with all provisions of law that prevent U.S. assistance from being provided to foreign terrorist organizations.
Expresses the sense of Congress that at least $15 million for each of FY2007-FY2011 should be made available to encourage civic engagement, democratization, rule of law, and political party strengthening activities.
[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6433 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6433
To authorize assistance for the reconstruction and stabilization of
Lebanon.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 8, 2006
Mr. Farr introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on International Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize assistance for the reconstruction and stabilization of
Lebanon.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Lebanon Reconstruction and
Stabilization Act of 2006''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) On July 25, 2006, United States Ambassador to Lebanon
Jeffrey Feltman declared a humanitarian emergency in Lebanon
due to ongoing insecurity and humanitarian needs.
(2) On August 11, 2006, the United Nations Security Council
adopted Security Council Resolution 1701, calling for an end to
hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, and stating that
``the situation in Lebanon constitutes a threat to
international peace and security''.
(3) United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701,
``Stresses the importance of, and the need to achieve, a
comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.''.
(4) On August 14, 2006, the United Nations brokered a
ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel.
(5) United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701,
``Welcom[es] the efforts of the Lebanese Prime Minister and the
commitment of the Government of Lebanon, in its seven-point
plan, to extend its authority over its territory, through its
own legitimate armed forces, such that there will be no weapons
without the consent of the Government of Lebanon and no
authority other than that of the Government of Lebanon.''.
(6) United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701,
``Calls on the international community to take immediate steps
to extend its financial and humanitarian assistance to the
Lebanese people, including through facilitating the safe return
of displaced persons and, under the authority of the Government
of Lebanon, reopening airports and harbors, consistent with
paragraphs 14 and 15, and calls on it also to consider further
assistance in the future to contribute to the reconstruction
and development of Lebanon.''.
(7) It is estimated that there are approximately 8,500
unexploded ordnance in the region.
(8) The Lebanese Government estimates that Lebanon suffered
approximately $3.6 billion in damages to physical
infrastructure.
(9) Lebanon's economy has been severely impacted by the
violence, especially in the tourism sector, which compromises
15 percent of its GDP.
(10) It is in the national security interests of the United
States, Israel and the region to have a functioning Lebanese
central government that is able to protect its borders and
provide municipal services to all its citizens and a strong
economy able to generate jobs and foster economic growth.
SEC. 3. DECLARATIONS OF POLICY.
Congress makes the following declarations of policy:
(1) Assisting failed states emerging from violent conflict
is a complex and long-term task, as demonstrated by the
experience that 50 percent of such states emerging from
conditions of violent conflict slip back into violence within
five years.
(2) The United States Government recognizes the threat to
United States national security posed by failed and failing
states by adopting Directive 3000.05 for the Department of
Defense that places stabilization and reconstruction operations
on par with traditional war fighting and National Security
Policy Directive 45 for the Department of State that makes the
State Office of Coordinator for Reconstruction and
Stabilization, S/CRS, the government-wide coordinating and
planning entity for stabilization and reconstruction
operations.
(3) Therefore, it is in the best interests of the United
States Government to assist the Lebanese Government with long-
term reconstruction and stabilization to further peace and
stability within Lebanon and the greater Middle East region.
(4) United States assistance to Lebanon shall be
implemented in accordance with section 102(b) of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151-1(b)) that makes
building the capacity of local communities and institutional
capabilities of the government and people a primary goal and
``should focus on establishing and upgrading the institutional
capacities of developing countries in order to promote long-
term development''.
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION AND
STABILIZATION OF LEBANON.
(a) Authorization of Assistance.--The President is authorized to
provide assistance for the reconstruction and stabilization of Lebanon.
Assistance authorized under this subsection shall be planned,
coordinated, and implemented through the Department of State's Office
of Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization, S/CRS, and in
strict compliance with all provisions of law that prevent United States
assistance from being provided to foreign terrorists organizations.
(b) Activities Supported.--Assistance provided under subsection (a)
shall be used to carry out the following activities:
(1) Rebuild the economic and social infrastructure of
Lebanon, including roads, bridges, telecommunication systems,
water treatment plants, schools, airports and hospitals.
(2) Encourage the World Bank and International Monetary
Fund to provide housing and economic assistance in the form of
grants and micro-lending plans aimed at providing the Lebanese
people with the means to resuscitate small businesses in
Lebanon.
(3) Establish peace, reconciliation and coexistence
programs and conflict resolution programs within Lebanon and
between Lebanon and Israel.
(4) Encourage civic engagement, democratization, rule of
law, and political party strengthening activities.
(5) Support efforts to address post-traumatic stress
disorders through funding counseling services to civilians.
Special efforts should be made to provide funding to Lebanese
nongovernmental organizations specializing in such efforts.
(6) Improve education systems, with emphasis on improving
cross-sectarian educational experiences of Lebanese youth.
(7) Increase assistance under chapter 5 of part II of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2347 et seq.;
relating to International Military Education and Training) for
Lebanon.
(8) Support demining and mine awareness campaigns in
Lebanon.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
the President to carry out this section such sums as may be
necessary for each of the fiscal years 2007 through 2011.
(2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that at
least $15,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2007 through
2011 should be made available to carry out subsection (b)(4).
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
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