{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://lahood.house.gov/2026/2/lahood-issa-introduce-legislation-to-ensure-diaspora-access-to-lebanon-elections", "LaHood, Issa Introduce Legislation to Ensure Diaspora Access to Lebanon Elections", "2026-02-05", "2026", "2026-02", "Republican", "House", "IL", "Darin LaHood", "L000585", "lahood.house.gov", "lahood", "https://lahood.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16) joined Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) to introduce the SAFE Lebanon Act to ensure that members of the eligible Lebanese diaspora are not prevented from voting in Lebanon\u2019s elections by authorizing sanctions on foreign individuals and entities that obstruct Lebanon\u2019s electoral process.\n\n\u201cFree and fair elections will be essential to paving the way to Lebanon\u2019s long-term stability, sovereignty, and prosperity. That is why the demonstrated obstruction of Lebanon\u2019s electoral process must be met with clear consequences. The United States has high expectations for the government of Lebanon, and this Administration stands at the ready to play a lasting role in the nation\u2019s progress. Authorizing the use of sanctions against those who seek to derail or defraud this process is a uniquely strong deterrent, will bolster needed election integrity, and strengthen confidence in the democratic system. We must put an end to the paradox that millions of Lebanese citizens around the world have a voice everywhere except Lebanon,\u201d said Congressmen LaHood and Issa.\n\n\"Lebanon must continue in the positive trajectory it undertook in 2018 and 2022 by allowing full diaspora absentee voting. The American Task Force on Lebanon thanks Reps. Darrell Issa and Darin LaHood for standing with the people of Lebanon as they seek full participation in their democratic system,\" said Amb. (ret.) Ed Gabriel, President and CEO of the American Task Force on Lebanon.\n\nBackground:\n\nLebanon\u2019s parliamentary elections have faced interference from Hezbollah, corrupt\n\npolitical elites, and foreign actors who have engaged in intimidation, manipulation of\n\nelectoral administration, and obstruction of reforms. These actions have also affected the ability of Lebanese citizens living abroad to participate in elections, despite legal provisions allowing diaspora voting. Lebanon\u2019s large global diaspora plays an important civic, political, and economic role, and protecting their voting rights is considered a national security interest of the United States.\n\nThe full text of the legislation can be found HERE.", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://lahood.house.gov/2026/2/lahood-issa-introduce-legislation-to-ensure-diaspora-access-to-lebanon-elections"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.9999160431325436, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}