August 3, 2023
The HonorableAntony Blinken Secretary of State Department of State2201 C Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20520
Dear Secretary Blinken:As Members of Congress, we remain concerned about the dire situation in Lebanon.As follow up to our letter sent on June 12, 2023 regarding Lebanon’s ongoing political crisis and the Lebanese Parliament’s persistent inability to elect a president, we believe the United States should adopt a more direct and assertive posture to motivate the government of Lebanon to resolve the immediate presidential impasse and move toward substantive reforms.
As you know, this Friday, August 4, 2023, will mark the third anniversary of the tragic and historic explosion in the Port of Beirut which heightened the public outcry for electoral reform and representative government. The economic and humanitarian collapse of the country that came further into focus after the blast has left over three-quarters of the population living in poverty as the economy continues to fail, and the judicial review and judgment process of the Beirut Port blast remains at a standstill.
These many challenges are compounded by the Lebanese parliament’s inability to elect a president over the course of many months. Now with 12 failed attempts, Lebanon cannot proceed with the reforms necessary to alleviate the political, judicial, economic, and humanitarian crises the country faces or work to combat the influence of non-state actors and continued political corruption Inexplicably, some in the Lebanese Parliament would rather preserve the status quo and see this suffering continue for their own continued political and personal gain, rather than come together to elect a president who represents the needs of the Lebanese people.
As we have said before, if Parliamentary leaders and other political elites are unable to follow through on Lebanon’s constitution, preserve a quorum, and allow for the multiple rounds of balloting necessary for the selection of a president, the United States should consider more serious measures The time has come for such action
We therefore ask for you to strongly consider moving forward to impose targeted sanctions, including freezing any dollar-denominated assets, on those who have demonstrated a pattern of obstructing the presidential election process, including Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri, among others.
The United States has a strong interest in a stable, prosperous, and independent Lebanon. We remain committed to such a vision and stand ready to work with you to support Lebanon on its road to recovery and reform. Since the election of a president is a prerequisite to such progress, we request your continued attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Darrell Issa Darin LaHood
Max Miller Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress