Durbin, LaHood Introduce Bill to Offer Protection for Lebanese People

DURBIN, LAHOOD INTRODUCE BILL TO OFFER PROTECTION FOR LEBANESE PEOPLE

Tuesday, August 8, 2006

[PEORIA, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congressman Ray LaHood (R-IL) met with members of the local Lebanese community on Tuesday to discuss the Lebanese Temporary Protected Status Act of 2006. Durbin introduced the bi-partisan bill in the Senate last week in response to the crisis in Lebanon and LaHood plans to offer similar legislation in the House in September. The bill would make Lebanon eligible for temporary protected status (TPS) for an initial twelve-month period and would allow Lebanese nationals currently in the United States to remain here because ongoing hostilities make it unsafe for them to return to Lebanon.

"Innocent civilians are bearing the brunt of Hezbullah's provocative actions," Durbin said. "At this delicate moment in U.S.-Arab relations, giving temporary protected status to Lebanon will send a positive signal about U.S. concern for the suffering of innocent Lebanese civilians. This is an affirmative step that Congress can, and should, take to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon."

http://durbin.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=261522&&