Sec. 8. Authorization of appropriations for incentive fund for the reconstruction of Lebanese Government services and infrastructure
734 words·~3 min read·
/bill/118/s/5574/is/section-8·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
In addition to amounts already authorized to be appropriated for such purposes and in addition to any amounts authorized or appropriated by any other Act of Congress for such purposes, there is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State, for each of the fiscal years 2025 through 2029, $50,000,000, which shall be expended for— the reconstruction of services and institutions of the Government of Lebanon and of municipal governments in Lebanon; and the building and rebuilding of civilian infrastructure in Lebanon. Amounts appropriated pursuant to subsection
(a)may not be obligated or expended unless the Secretary of State submits an annual written report to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives— certifying that— the expenditure of such amounts will not directly benefit Hezbollah; any civilian infrastructure rebuilt with such amounts has not and will not be used to shelter weapons belonging to Hezbollah, or other non-state armed groups in Lebanon, including Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad; accounting, monitoring, evaluation and oversight procedures are in place to prevent the diversion of such amounts to Hezbollah, other non-state armed groups in Lebanon, or affiliates of Hezbollah or any such group; such amounts are being used for the purposes for which they were obligated; and the United States Government is taking significant steps to encourage donations for similar purposes from other countries and entities, including Japan, the United Kingdom, the European Union and its member states, and the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council; and describing— the manner and nature of Hezbollah’s participation in the Government of Lebanon and in municipal governments in Lebanon, including a description of any ministries and municipal governments that are controlled by Hezbollah, are led by members of Hezbollah, or employ significant numbers of Hezbollah members; the steps taken during the previous year to prevent United States Government assistance, including the amounts authorized to be appropriated pursuant to subsection (a), from being used by ministries of the Government of Lebanon or municipal governments in Lebanon that are controlled by Hezbollah, are led by members of Hezbollah, or employ significant numbers of Hezbollah members; the steps that will be taken during the next year to prevent United States Government assistance, including the amounts authorized to be appropriated pursuant to subsection (a), from being used by the Government of Lebanon or municipal governments in Lebanon that are controlled by Hezbollah, are led by members of Hezbollah, or employ significant numbers of Hezbollah members; which ministries and municipal governments are not controlled by Hezbollah, are not led by members of Hezbollah, and do not employ significant numbers of Hezbollah members and are eligible to receive United States Government assistance, including the amounts authorized to be appropriated pursuant to subsection
(a)and how such amounts will be used to support or reconstruct the institutions of such ministries and municipalities and the services they provide; the steps that will be taken during the next year to prevent civilian infrastructure from being used to shelter weapons used by Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad or any other non-stated armed group in Lebanon; the steps taken during the previous year to prevent civilian infrastructure from being used to shelter weapons used by Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad or any other non-stated armed group in Lebanon; the accounting, monitoring, evaluation and oversight procedures implemented during the previous year to prevent the diversion of the United States Government assistance, including the amounts authorized to be appropriated pursuant to subsection (a), to Hezbollah or other non-state armed groups in Lebanon or their affiliates and to ensure such amounts are being used for the purposes for which they were obligated; the accounting, monitoring, evaluation and oversight procedures that will be implemented during the next year to prevent the diversion of the United States Government assistance, including the amounts authorized to be appropriated pursuant to subsection (a), to Hezbollah or other non-state armed groups in Lebanon or their affiliates and that such amounts are being used for the purposes for which they were obligated; and the steps taken by the United States Government to encourage donations from other countries for similar purposes, which countries have donated for similar purposes, and the amounts of such donations. The report required under subsection
(b)shall be unclassified, but may include a classified annex that is submitted to Congress separately from the unclassified portion.