[House Document 113-112]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
113th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - House Document 113-112
CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO BURMA
__________
COMMUNICATION
from
THEPRESIDENTOFTHEUNITEDSTATES
transmitting
NOTIFICATION THAT THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY DECLARED WITH RESPECT TO BURMA
IS TO CONTINUE BEYOND MAY 20, 2014, PURSUANT TO 50 U.S.C. 1622(d)
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
May 15, 2014.--Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered
to be printed
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U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
39-011 WASHINGTON : 2014
The White House,
Washington, May 15, 2014.
Hon. John Boehner,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Speaker: Section 202(d) of the National
Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic
termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days
prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President
publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress
a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect
beyond the anniversary date. In accordance with this provision,
I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the
enclosed notice stating that the national emergency with
respect to Burma that was declared on May 20, 1997, is to
continue in effect beyond May 20, 2014.
The Government of Burma has made significant progress in a
number of critical areas, including the release of over 1,100
political prisoners, progress towards a nationwide ceasefire,
the legalization of unions, taking steps to improve the
country's labor standards, and allowing greater freedom of
association and expression. In addition, Burma signed an
Additional Protocol to its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement
with the International Atomic Energy Agency, a significant step
towards supporting the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons.
Despite great strides that Burma has made in its reform
effort, the situation in the country continues to pose an
unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and
foreign policy of the United States. The political opening
remains nascent, and concerns persist regarding ongoing
conflict and human rights abuses in ethnic minority areas,
particularly in Rakhine State, and the continued role of the
military in the country's political and economic activities.
Nonetheless, the United States is committed to supporting and
strengthening Burma's reform efforts to ensure that the
democratic transition is sustained and irreversible. For this
reason, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the
national emergency with respect to Burma.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama.
Notice
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Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Burma
On May 20, 1997, the President issued Executive Order
13047, certifying to the Congress under section 570(b) of the
Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs
Appropriations Act, 1997 (Public Law 104-208), that the
Government of Burma had committed large-scale repression of the
democratic opposition in Burma after September 30, 1996,
thereby invoking the prohibition on new investment in Burma by
United States persons contained in that section. The President
also declared a national emergency pursuant to the
International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1701-
1706, to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the
national security and foreign policy of the United States
constituted by the actions and policies of the Government of
Burma.
Because the actions and policies of the Government of Burma
continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the
national security and foreign policy of the United States, the
national emergency declared on May 20, 1997, and the measures
adopted to deal with the emergency in Executive Orders 13047 of
May 20, 1997; 13310 of July 28, 2003; 13448 of October 18,
2007; 13464 of April 30, 2008; 13619 of July 11, 2012; and
13651 of August 6, 2013, must continue in effect beyond May 20,
2014. Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the
National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing
for 1 year the national emergency with respect to Burma
declared in Executive Order 13047. This notice shall be
published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the
Congress.
Barack Obama.
The White House, May 15, 2014.