Issa and U.S.-Lebanon Friendship Caucus Colleagues Urge Lebanon Parliament to Name President Before Constitutional Deadline

On October 20, Co-Chair of the U.S.-Lebanon Friendship Caucus Representative Darrell Issa (CA-50) sent a letter joined by bipartisan colleagues to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging the Biden Administration to engage with Lebanon’s Parliament as it works to elect a new president prior to an upcoming constitutional deadline. He was joined by co-chairs Darin LaHood (IL-18) and Debbie Dingell (MI-12), and caucus members David Joyce (OH-14) and Dan Kildee (MI-05) in signing the letter.

“Lebanon has only days to fulfill its constitutional duty and meet the moment for its people by electing a new president,” Rep. Issa said. “The historic maritime agreement last week with Israel should also serve to unify Lebanon’s institutions and create the momentum necessary to end systemic corruption and deliver a durable system of government capable of leading a great nation.”

Congressmen Issa, Hudson Sound Alarm on Biden Administration’s Clear Failure to Avert Severe Shortfall of Emergency Smallpox Vaccine

On October 21, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50) and Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-08) sent a letter to HHS Secretary Becerra detailing serious concerns with the Biden Administration’s poor handling of the Strategic National Stockpile’s dwindling supply of smallpox vaccines and demanding clear answers to address this failure to prepare for a severe potential crisis.

“Every presidential administration owes the American people its absolute best when it comes to protecting the homeland and adequately preparing for the crises we know can occur. By any objective measure, this is a test the Biden Administration has failed,” said Rep. Issa. “By not making it a priority to wisely manage our emergency supply of critical smallpox vaccines, the Biden Administration has ignored the obvious lessons of the last pandemic, failed a core responsibility of governance, and put the nation at risk. That’s why Rep. Hudson and I are demanding the facts and insisting on solutions. We certainly haven’t gotten either one so far.”

“While the Biden administration has decided to devote considerable attention to the emerging, yet rare, monkeypox outbreak, I am deeply concerned about recent reports regarding the impact of these efforts on our nation’s supply of smallpox vaccines,” said Rep. Hudson. “As a leader on strengthening our strategic national stockpile and preparing our nation for future pandemics and biological threats, I am proud to join with Rep. Issa in holding the Biden administration accountable to ensure all Americans are protected from smallpox and other potential health security threats. Particularly with recent nuclear and biological threats coming from abroad, the Administration must provide answers and a plan to be prepared.”

Darrell Issa is the Representative of California’s 50th Congressional District. The District encompasses the central and northeastern parts of San Diego County and a portion of Riverside County, including the communities of Fallbrook, San Marcos, Valley Center, Ramona, Escondido, Santee, Lakeside, El Cajon, Temecula, and the mountain and desert areas of the San Diego-Imperial County line. Issa served as the Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform from 2011-2015