[House Document 114-34]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




114th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - House Document 114-34
______________________________________________________________________
 
 CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO ACTIONS OF THE 
                          GOVERNMENT OF SYRIA

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                     THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

    NOTIFICATION THAT THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA, 
   ORIGINALLY DECLARED ON MAY 11, 2004, BY EXECUTIVE ORDER 13338, AS 
         MODIFIED, IS TO CONTINUE IN EFFECT BEYOND MAY 11, 2015

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]


May 8, 2015.--Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered 
                             to be printed
                             
                                    ______

                         U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE 

49-011                         WASHINGTON : 2015                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                             
                                           The White House,
                                           Washington, May 6, 2015.
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 the actions of the Government of Syria declared in 
Executive Order (E.O.) 13338 of May 11, 2004--as modified in 
scope and relied upon for additional steps taken in E.O. 13399 
of April 25, 2006, E.O. 13460 of February 13, 2008, E.O. 13572 
of April 29, 2011, E.O. 13573 of May 18, 2011, E.O. 13582 of 
August 17, 2011, E.O. 13606 of April 22, 2012, and E.O. 13608 
of May 1, 2012--is to continue in effect beyond May 11, 2015.
    The regime's brutal war on the Syrian people, who have been 
calling for freedom and a representative government, not only 
endangers the Syrian people themselves, but could yield greater 
instability throughout the region. The Syrian regime's actions 
and policies, including pursuing chemical and biological 
weapons, supporting terrorist organizations, and obstructing 
the Lebanese government's ability to function effectively, are 
fostering the rise of extremism and sectarianism and continue 
to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national 
security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. For 
these reasons, I have determined that it is necessary to 
continue in effect the national emergency declared with respect 
to this threat and to maintain in force the sanctions to 
address this national emergency.
    In addition, the United States condemns the Asad regime's 
use of brutal violence and human rights abuses and calls on the 
Asad regime to stop its violent war and allow a political 
transition in Syria that will forge a credible path to a future 
of greater freedom, democracy, opportunity, and justice.
    The United States will consider changes in the composition, 
policies, and actions of the Government of Syria in determining 
whether to continue or terminate this national emergency in the 
future.
            Sincerely,
                                                      Barack Obama.
                                                      
                                                      
                                                      
                                                      
                                                      
                                                      
                                                      
                                 Notice

                              ----------                              


 Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Actions of the 
                          Government of Syria

    On May 11, 2004, pursuant to his authority under the 
International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1701-
1706, and the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty 
Restoration Act of 2003, Public Law 108-175, the President 
issued Executive Order (E.O.) 13338, in which he declared a 
national emergency with respect to the actions of the 
Government of Syria. To deal with this national emergency, E.O. 
13338 authorized the blocking of property of certain persons 
and prohibited the exportation or re-exportation of certain 
goods to Syria. The national emergency was modified in scope 
and relied upon for additional steps taken in E.O. 13399 of 
April 25, 2006, E.O. 13460 of February 13, 2008, E.O. 13572 of 
April 29, 2011, E.O. 13573 of May 18, 2011, E.O. 13582 of 
August 17, 2011, E.O. 13606 of April 22, 2012, and E.O. 13608 
of May 1, 2012.
    The President took these actions to deal with the unusual 
and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign 
policy, and economy of the United States constituted by the 
actions of the Government of Syria in supporting terrorism, 
maintaining its then-existing occupation of Lebanon, pursuing 
weapons of mass destruction and missile programs, and 
undermining U.S. and international efforts with respect to the 
stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq.
    The regime's brutality and repression of the Syrian people, 
who have been calling for freedom and a representative 
government, not only endangers the Syrian people themselves, 
but also is generating instability throughout the region. The 
Syrian regime's actions and policies, including with respect to 
chemical and biological weapons, supporting terrorist 
organizations, and obstructing the Lebanese government's 
ability to function effectively, continue to pose an unusual 
and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign 
policy, and economy of the United States. As a result, the 
national emergency declared on May 11, 2004, and the measures 
to deal with that emergency adopted on that date in E.O. 13338; 
on April 25, 2006, in E.O. 13399; on February 13, 2008, in E.O. 
13460; on April 29, 2011, in E.O. 13572; on May 18, 2011, in 
E.O. 13573; on August 17, 2011, in E.O. 13582; on April 22, 
2012, in E.O. 13606; and on May 1, 2012, in E.O. 13608; must 
continue in effect beyond May 11, 2015. 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 declared with respect to the actions of the 
Government of Syria.
    In addition, the United States condemns the Asad regime's 
use of brutal violence and human rights abuses and calls on the 
Asad regime to stop its violence against the Syrian people and 
allow a political transition in Syria that will forge a 
credible path to a future of greater freedom, democracy, 
opportunity, and justice.
    The United States will consider changes in the composition, 
policies, and actions of the Government of Syria in determining 
whether to continue or terminate this national emergency in the 
future.
    This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and 
transmitted to the Congress.
                                                      Barack Obama.
    The White House, May 6, 2015.

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