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119-hr-7311119th Congress

Lebanon Election Integrity and Diaspora Voting Protection Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Issa, Darrell [R-CA-48]

Introduced

Summary

Authorizes targeted sanctions on foreign actors who interfere with Lebanon's parliamentary elections and diaspora voting. It would let the President freeze assets, bar visas, and use other economic tools against those who block or manipulate overseas voting.

Show full summary
  • Foreign persons and entities: Allows asset blocking and bans on transactions and bars targeted people from U.S. visas, admission, or parole.
  • Lebanese voters and election administration: Creates a U.S. mechanism to identify and sanction those who intimidate, delay, or manipulate diaspora voting and to assess foreign or proxy involvement, including Iran-backed groups. The authority to impose sanctions ends after five years.
  • Congress and oversight: Requires an initial report within 60 days, a follow-up within 180 days, and semiannual updates that list newly identified actors, sanctions imposed, and recommendations to protect diaspora participation.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Sanctions for foreign election obstructors

If enacted, the President would be able to sanction foreign people or groups who block or interfere with Lebanon's parliamentary or diaspora voting. The President would consult with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Director of National Intelligence. Using IEEPA authority, the President would be able to block and prohibit transactions in property in the United States or controlled by U.S. persons. The bill would also make those foreign persons inadmissible to the United States and require revocation of any visas or entry documents. Violations, attempts, or conspiracies to violate related orders would be subject to penalties in IEEPA section 206.

Definitions for sanctions and reporting

If enacted, the bill would define key words used to apply the sanctions and reporting rules. It would adopt INA section 101 meanings for admission, admitted, and alien. It would define "foreign person" as anyone who is not a United States person and define "United States person" to include citizens, lawful permanent residents, entities organized under U.S. law (including foreign subsidiaries), and any person located in the United States. It would define "diaspora voting obstruction" and "obstruct" to cover actions that prevent, delay, intimidate, coerce, corrupt, or materially support interference with Lebanese overseas voting or election administration.

Sanctions authority ends after five years

If enacted, the bill would end the special sanction and visa ineligibility authority created by this Act five years after the date of enactment. The sanctioning powers and related rules would be effective upon enactment but would terminate on the five-year sunset date. After that date, the Act's specific authorities would no longer apply.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Issa, Darrell [R-CA-48]

CA • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. LaHood, Darin [R-IL-16]

    IL • R

    Sponsored 2/2/2026

  • Rep. Miller, Max L. [R-OH-7]

    OH • R

    Sponsored 2/17/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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