The Lebanese American Council for Democracy Once Again Takes a Leading Role in Introducing Pro-Lebanon Legislation, the Lebanon and Syria Liberation Act

Lebanon and Syrian Liberation Act was introduced by Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Congressman Elliot Engel to mark the second landmark in pro-Lebanon legislation. The bill strengthens sanctions against the government of Syria and supports the restoration of sovereignty and democratic rule in Lebanon.

WASHINGTON, DC (PRWEB) March 10, 2005

Yesterday, a second piece of landmark pro-Lebanon legislation—the Lebanon and Syria Liberation Act—was introduced by Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Florida) and Congressman Elliot Engel (D-New York). At a press conference following the new bill’s introduction, Ros-Lehtinen said, “Through the introduction of the Lebanon and Syria Liberation Act (LASLA), or as I like to refer to it, LA-SYRIA-LA, which means ‘No Syria No’ in Arabic, we seek to intensify the pressure on the Syrian regime.” The new bill strengthens sanctions against the government of Syria, and establishes a program to support a transition to a democratically elected government in Syria and the restoration of sovereignty and democratic rule in Lebanon.

This historic achievement can be linked to Washington’s most effective pro-Lebanon lobby, the Lebanese American Council for Democracy. Just as it took the leading role among Lebanese American groups in introducing the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act, and just as it rallied Lebanese-Americans around that bill, so has the LACD taken the lead in the introduction of this new bill today.

Both of the new bill’s original sponsors thanked the LACD during their remarks at a post-introduction press conference today. Congressman Engel recalled that LACD President Tony Haddad promised him that one day the two would together visit a free Lebanon, and Engel expressed the opinion that that day is coming soon. Similarly, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen said, “I would like to thank the LACD for their ongoing efforts on behalf of their brothers and sisters in Lebanon. Their dedication and commitment for decades were instrumental in securing the passage of the Syria and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act last year and in moving resolutions and other legislation this Congress. Tony, a million thanks to you and to all the freedom-loving Lebanese Americans that your group represents.”

Haddad thanked Engel and Ros-Lehtinen for the pivotal role they have played in the fight of the Lebanon’s liberation. Haddad described them as “Washington’s two most valuable pro-Lebanon representatives.”

# # #


Contact