A bill to provide funding authority to facilitate the evacuation of persons from Lebanon, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object,

though I may not object, just a few days ago, I filed H. Res. 945, the Lebanon Humanitarian Relief Act with a number of cosponsors. And I raise the question to the distinguished gentleman of whether or not what we are doing today will also include a cessation of targeting infrastructure of noncombatants, and whether or not it will also establish or give the Secretary of State the ability to, if you will, negotiate safe corridors for evacuees to be able to be evacuated.

This is a crucial time in the history of our Nation, and as well in the issues dealing with the Mideast. And I am concerned that as we consider funding for the evacuation of innocent Lebanese citizens, as has been noted, several incidents have occurred where evacuees unfortunately suffered injury or death trying to escape, therefore we should instruct the Secretary of State to negotiate with the United Nations and the participants in this conflict safe corridors for the Lebanese evacuees and also a cessation of firing on noncombat structures such as airports, hospitals, schools and otherwise.

I yield to the gentleman to know if there are any instructions in this UC with respect to any of those items.

Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, let me say that I applaud the gentleman. That is an important task, if you will. With that in mind, I will simply say, I hope that we will hear from the administration, and that this Congress will proceed in August to be able to provide direct humanitarian relief to Lebanon, and as well provide for the safe passage of those who are non- combatants innocent civilians trying to escape and to protect those structures which are not involved in this conflict.

With that, I would ask the leadership of this House to support H. Res. 945 and to bring it up immediately.

H. Res. 945

Whereas, since the commencement of hostilities, over 350

Lebanese civilians, one third of whom are children according

to the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator, and 17

Israeli civilians, have been killed;

Whereas vital infrastructure, including hospitals, power

plants, bridges, roads, and food and milk factories in

Lebanon have been destroyed;

Whereas over 600,000 people in Lebanon and hundreds of

thousands of people in Israel have been displaced;

Whereas President George W. Bush has expressed great

concern over the welfare of the people of Lebanon;

Whereas United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has

called for an immediate cease-fire;

Whereas the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator has

warned of a humanitarian disaster in Lebanon;

Whereas the Government of Lebanon has urgently appealed for

an immediate cessation to hostilities; and

Whereas the international community has expressed support

for a humanitarian corridor to Lebanon to be opened

immediately to get desperately-needed humanitarian supplies

to the suffering people of Lebanon: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

(1) calls for the cessation of the targeting by any side of

infrastructure vital to non-combatants, which also increases

the likelihood of the loss of innocent civilian life;

(2) calls for a secure humanitarian corridor to be opened

immediately via the seaports and airports of Lebanon to

alleviate the unnecessary suffering of the people of Lebanon;

(3) calls for an immediate cease-fire in line with the

urgent appeals of the Government of Lebanon and the United

Nations Secretary General; and

(4) urges a comprehensive and just solution to the Arab-

Israeli conflict to ensure that the peoples of the Middle

East can live in peace, freedom, and prosperity.

Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation, hoping for debate on humanitarian aid directly to Lebanon.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate bill (S. 3741) to provide funding authority to facilitate the evacuation of persons from Lebanon, and for other purposes, be taken from the Speaker's table, amended in the form that I have placed at the desk, and hereby passed; that the amendment placed at the desk be considered as read; and that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. Speaker, this amendment simply gives the permissive authority to the Secretary of State to access these and other previously appropriated funds to cover the evacuation of Lebanon.

Mr. Speaker, they have been in discussion with the staff as to some ideas. But their priority was to get this legislation passed because there are going to be more evacuations taking place.

So as of now I cannot tell you the exact places.

Mr. Speaker, no, there are not. It would merely ensure that the State Department could use the existing funds to get American citizens out of harm's way and to pay the debts that they have obligated both for cruises, for ships and for other things whereby they are taking people to Cypress and other points of safety, so they can pay their bills.

Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, I think especially in the closing days of the session, that Members ought to have an understanding of what is going on, even though this is martial law time.

So I would ask if the gentleman would please explain to the House what this action would do.

Mr. Speaker, continuing under my reservation, could I ask the gentleman, has the administration given us any indication of where they are likely to take funds from in order to accomplish this?

Mr. Speaker, continuing under my reservation, I would hope that the administration would let the Congress know as quickly as possible where it is planning to take funds from, so that if the Congress has any concerns, we might express those concerns before we are facing a fait accompli.

Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation.

Mr. President, on behalf of the leader, I ask that the Chair lay before the Senate a message from the House to accompany S. 3741.

The Presiding Officer laid before the Senate a message from the House as follows:

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate concur in the House amendment, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, and any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 3741 introduced earlier today.

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.