Whereas the stability of Lebanon, a pluralistic democracy in the Middle East, is in the interest of the United States and United States allies in the region; Whereas the United States has provided more than $2,000,000,000 in assistance to Lebanon in the past decade, including training and equipment for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF); Whereas the conflict in Syria threatens stability in Lebanon as a result of violent attacks against Lebanese citizens perpetrated by combatants active in Syria, as well as a massive influx of refugees fleeing the conflict; Whereas the United States has contributed more than $6,500,000,000 in humanitarian assistance for victims of the conflict in Syria, including for refugees in Lebanon; Whereas the people of Lebanon have shown great generosity in welcoming more than 1,500,000 refugees from Syria, a refugee population equal to 1/4 of its native population; Whereas Lebanon is hosting more refugees proportionally than any nation in the world; Whereas the refugee crisis has challenged Lebanon’s economy, which faces a national debt that is approximately 140 percent of gross domestic product and underperforming economic growth; Whereas the LAF have been called into direct conflict with the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) as a result of attacks carried out by the terrorist group in Lebanon; Whereas the Syrian conflict has placed additional strains on the Government of Lebanon as it continues to confront political deadlock that has kept the Presidency vacant for more than two years; Whereas the unique political constitution of Lebanon hinges on that nation’s distinct demographic and social equilibrium; Whereas the prolongation of the Syrian conflict has the potential to upset the precarious social and political balance in Lebanon; Whereas the constitution of Lebanon is further undermined by undue foreign influence, particularly by the Islamic Republic of Iran through its terrorist proxy Hizbollah