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Arab American Members of Congress Take the Lead in Advocating for Americans Trapped in Lebanon

Posted on Monday July 17, 2006

PRESS ADVISORY

WASHINGTON – The Arab American Institute applauds Arab American members of Congress for their leadership and advocacy on the issue of American evacuation from Lebanon. Senator John E. Sununu and Congressmen Nick Rahall (D-WV), Ray LaHood (R-IL), Darrell Issa (R-CA), and Charles Boustany (R-LA) met yesterday, July 17, with David Welch, Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs. Among the issues raised with Welch was the reported evacuation fee charged to American citizens fleeing Lebanon. The next day, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice informed Sununu that the fees would be waived.

“The Arab American community is right to feel proud of the leadership displayed today by the Arab American Congressional caucus,” said AAI President James Zogby. “It is important, however, that once American citizens are out of harm’s way we do not forget the suffering of millions of innocent Lebanese citizens as the assault on their country continues.”

On July 19, AAI will convene an emergency summit of Arab American leaders from over 15 states to meet with Congressional leaders and State Department officials calling for an immediate ceasefire. AAI has collected information from over 200 American citizens trapped in Lebanon and is starting to receive stories from Americans who have escaped on their own. To read these and other stories, click here

Below is a press release from the office of Senator John E. Sununu, Contact: Barbara J. Riley, 202-224-2841
————————————————————————————————————————WASHINGTON, DC – Following a telephone call with Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice this evening (7/18), Senator John Sununu (R-NH) announced that the administration would waive fees for United States citizens who are being evacuated by the United States military from Lebanon.

Sununu and other Members of Congress of Lebanese descent raised their concerns over this issue with Assistant Secretary of State David Welch Tuesday morning, urging that evacuation fees be waived. Congressmen Lahood, Issa, Boustany, and Rayhall attended the meeting held in Sununu’s office. (Russell Senate Office Building Room 111.)

“We’re dealing with hundreds if not thousands of evacuees from different regions of Lebanon,” said Sununu, on Tuesday evening. “It’s simply not practical to expect them to pay these fees. I appreciate the administration’s recognition of the importance of this issue at such a pressing time for so many individuals and families.”