(WASHINGTON, DC) — A coalition of U.S. congressional leaders are calling on Lebanese-Americans to ask their representative to join the Congressional Caucus on U.S.-Lebanon Relations.
The bipartisan caucus is led by representatives Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Gwen Graham (D-FL), who recently distributed an appeal letter to their colleagues, urging them to join the caucus.
“A stable Middle East is in the best interests of our nation, and our relationship with Lebanon is one of the most important in the Middle East,” they wrote. “The caucus on U.S.-Lebanon relations will serve as an informal, bipartisan group of members dedicated to maintaining and strengthening the U.S.- Lebanese relationship.”
Issa, a Lebanese-American, has been actively involved in Lebanese-American affairs as a member of the board of directors for the American Task Force for Lebanon (ATFL), a nonprofit organization that promotes “a free and democratic Lebanon.”
“Lebanon has been a close friend to the United States, and shares our interest in peaceful and cooperative relations throughout the world,” Issa and Graham wrote.
“We should do all that we can to strengthen our bilateral relationship with Lebanon and help the people of Lebanon to realize a future of peace, prosperity, and opportunity.”
The caucus is working in cooperation with ATFL, which recently unveiled what they believe are Lebanon’s three main challenges.
According to their website, the organization hopes to lobby for “support for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and security services, broaden Lebanon’s capacity to cope with the enormous numbers of refugees from Syria, and protect vulnerable religious communities in the Middle East.”
The current list of caucus members include:
- Darrell Issa (R-CA)
- Gwen Graham (D-FL)
- Charles Boustany (R-LA)
- Betty McCollum (D-MN)
- Richard Hanna (R-NY)
- Debbie Dingell (D-MI)
- Ralph Abraham (R-LA)
- Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)
- Trent Franks (R-AZ)
- Steve Womack (R-AR)