PAGER Act

Bill Number

H.R. 1844

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

International Affairs

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-03-05: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Last Updated

2025-07-11T08:05:53Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The PAGER Act (Preventing Armed Groups from Engaging in Radicalism) aims to restrict U.S. financial support to the Lebanese Armed Forces and related entities until Lebanon takes concrete steps to eliminate the influence of Hezbollah and affiliated groups, which the U.S. views as terrorist organizations. It seeks to promote the disarmament of militias in line with international resolutions and protect U.S. interests by curbing Iranian and Hezbollah ties in Lebanon.

Key Provisions

• Funding Restrictions on Lebanese Armed Forces (Section 2): Starting 60 days after enactment, no U.S. federal funds can be provided to the Lebanese Armed Forces until the Secretary of State certifies to Congress that Lebanon meets eight specific conditions, including:
• No longer recognizing Hezbollah, Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc, or Amal as legitimate political parties, and barring their members from government positions.
• Fully implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559 (2004), which requires disbanding and disarming all militias, including expelling Hezbollah from strongholds.
• Establishing a stronger Lebanese military and security presence in Hezbollah areas to prevent resurgence.
• Ensuring no coordination between the Lebanese military and Hezbollah, its affiliates, or other U.S.-designated terrorist groups.
• Prohibiting Lebanese military members from receiving support from Iranian or Hezbollah-linked entities.
• Destroying or disarming any Iranian-provided military aid.
• Dismissing legal charges in Lebanese courts against U.S. citizens who criticize Hezbollah, such as journalists appearing on Israeli media.
• Restrictions on UN Funding (Section 3): After 60 days, U.S. funds to the United Nations Development Programme cannot support livelihood programs for Lebanese military or internal security personnel.
• Terrorist Designation (Section 4): Designates "Suhil Bahij Gharab" (likely an individual or group) as a specially designated global terrorist under Executive Order 13224, which blocks property and prohibits transactions with entities supporting terrorism.
• Reporting Requirements (Section 5): The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and CIA Director, must submit reports to Congress every 180 days on Hezbollah and Iranian influences in the Lebanese government, including the Ministry of Defense.
• Definitions (Section 6): Specifies "appropriate congressional committees" as the House and Senate Committees on Foreign Affairs/Relations and Armed Services.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Overrides prior laws ("notwithstanding any other provision of law") to impose strict conditions on U.S. aid to Lebanon, potentially halting ongoing military assistance programs.
• Introduces mandatory certifications and reporting, which were not previously required for Lebanese aid, linking funding directly to anti-Hezbollah actions.
• Expands sanctions by designating a new entity under existing executive authority, adding to U.S. terrorist blacklists without needing new legislation.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The U.S. State Department faces increased administrative burdens for certifications and reports, potentially straining foreign aid budgets and requiring coordination with Defense and intelligence agencies.
• On Citizens: American citizens in Lebanon, especially journalists or critics of Hezbollah, may benefit from protections against Lebanese legal actions, reducing risks of arrests or charges.
• On International Relations: Could strain U.S.-Lebanon ties by withholding aid, weakening Lebanon's military against threats like Israel or internal instability; may pressure Lebanon to align more with U.S. anti-terrorism goals but risk alienating allies sympathetic to Hezbollah. Impacts UN programs by limiting U.S. contributions to Lebanese security support, affecting broader humanitarian efforts.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. Government: Congress (oversight committees), State Department (certifications and reports), and military/intelligence agencies (consultations).
• Lebanese Entities: Government of Lebanon (including parliament and cabinet), Lebanese Armed Forces, and internal security forces (face funding cuts unless conditions met).
• Terrorist-Affiliated Groups: Hezbollah, Amal, Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc, and Iranian-linked organizations (targeted for exclusion and disarmament).
• International Organizations: United Nations Development Programme (restricted U.S. funding for specific programs).
• Individuals: "Suhil Bahij Gharab" (new sanctions); U.S. citizens advocating against Hezbollah (legal protections in Lebanon).
• Broader Lebanese Population: Citizens in Hezbollah strongholds may see shifts in security presence, potentially improving stability or escalating tensions.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens U.S. enforcement of UN Resolution 1559 by tying it to aid conditions, potentially setting precedents for conditioning foreign assistance on domestic reforms. The terrorist designation under Executive Order 13224 enhances sanctions regime without court involvement.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's constitutional authority over appropriations (Article I, Section 9), allowing restrictions on foreign spending; does not infringe on executive foreign policy powers but requires executive certifications, promoting checks and balances.
• Political: Signals strong U.S. opposition to Hezbollah and Iranian influence, possibly influencing Middle East dynamics by incentivizing Lebanese political changes; could face criticism for intervening in Lebanon's sovereignty or complicating peace efforts, but bolsters U.S. counterterrorism stance.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]

Cosponsors (3)

Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5], Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA-1], Rep. Fine, Randy [R-FL-6]

Recent Actions

• 2025-03-05: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
• 2025-03-05: Introduced in House
• 2025-03-05: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Preventing Armed Groups from Engaging in Radicalism — issued 2025-03-05 — PDF (5 pages)