Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024

Floor Speech

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Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Chair, I am proud to represent over 8,000 Lebanese- American families in my district in Illinois who care deeply about our U.S. national security.

The longstanding U.S. military investment in the independent Lebanese Armed Forces, known as the LAF, has worked to support U.S. security interests in the greater Middle East for over 15 years.

As the co-chair of the U.S.-Lebanon Friendship Caucus, we work closely with the brave men and women in the U.S. military to ensure robust and stringent oversight of the U.S. investment into the LAF and any other U.S. foreign military funding abroad.

The stability of the LAF is important not only to the security of Lebanon, but also to their neighboring countries, and the United States.

The LAF works to prevent the furtherance of terrorist and extremist groups like Hezbollah and ISIS in the region. It fights against weapons, drugs, and human smuggling, and maintains stability in a country that is a ripe target for terrorists and malign actors.

I agree with my colleagues that we must be stewards of taxpayer money and reduce wasteful government spending. However, we must also support successful policies that continue to return on our investment in protecting the long-term U.S. security interests here at home. That investment in the LAF has helped to promote U.S. interests in the greater Middle East and in Lebanon.

Mr. Chair, I oppose this amendment.

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