Washington, DC: September 12, 2016. (PCP) Last Friday, September 9, Congressman Richard Hanna (R-NY) introduced a bipartisan resolution highlighting the political and refugee crisis in Lebanon to coincide with IDC's third annual National Advocacy Day. The resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives on the challenges posed to long-term stability in Lebanon by the conflict in Syria as a result of violent attacks against Lebanese citizens perpetrated by combatants active in Syria and a massive influx of refugees fleeing the conflict. With approximately 1.5 million declared Syrian refugees and an additional half million who are undeclared, Lebanon is hosting more refugees proportionally than any country in the world. The refugee crisis has further depressed the economy of Lebanon, which has a national debt of approximately 140 percent of the gross domestic product. Leading experts Dr. Robert Danin of the Council on Foreign Relations, and IDC board members Professor Alexis Moukarzel , Neemat Frem, and Judge Joseph Boohaker discussed solutions to the refugee and political crisis in Lebanon at IDC's National Advocacy Convention Policy and Awareness Symposium last Friday. IDC President Toufic Baaklini applauded Congressman Hanna for his introduction of this important resolution. "Lebanon is a beacon of pluralism and has the largest percentage of Christians in the Middle East. It is in the interests of the United States to help preserve its unique political constitution, a pluralistic democracy in the Middle East with a framework of confessionalism, by ensuring that it is not destabilized by the refugee crisis," Baaklini stated. The resolution was introduced with 14 original co-sponsors, Representatives Ralph Abraham (R-AL), Darrell Issa (R-CA), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), David Cicilline (D-RI), James McGovern (D-MA), Brian Higgins (D-NY), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Charles Boustany (R-LA), Donald Beyer (D-VA), Gwen Graham (D-FL), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Randy Weber (R-TX), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), and Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE). The resolution encourages continued coordination between the Secretary of State, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and humanitarian organizations, to ensure that refugees from the conflict in Syria, including those in Lebanon, are supported in such a way as to mitigate any potentially destabilizing effect on their host countries and recognizes the importance of United States and international assistance to the people of Lebanon, in order to build the capacity of Lebanon to provide services and security for Lebanese citizens and particularly to curb the influence of Hezbollah. Senators Shaheen (D-NH) and Perdue (R-GA) will be introducing the companion senate resolution today.