[House Document 115-118]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]






115th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - House Document 115-118 
 
CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA

                               __________

                                MESSAGE

                                  from

                     THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

NOTIFICATION THAT THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO THE ACTIONS OF 
 THE GOVERNMENT OF SYRIA, DECLARED IN EXECUTIVE ORDER 13338 OF MAY 11, 
   2004, AS MODIFIED, IS TO CONTINUE IN EFFECT BEYOND MAY 11, 2018, 
  PURSUANT TO 50 U.S.C. 1622(d); PUBLIC LAW 94-412, SEC. 202(d); (90 
                              STAT. 1257)

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]


May 9, 2018.--Message and accompanying papers referred to the Committee 
              on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed
                                   ______

                         U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE 

79-011                        WASHINGTON : 2018 
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
To the Congress of the United States:
    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 before 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 13338 of May 
11, 2004--as modified in scope and relied upon for additional 
steps taken in Executive Order 13399 of April 25, 2006, 
Executive Order 13460 of February 13, 2008, Executive Order 
13572 of April 29, 2011, Executive Order 13573 of May 18, 2011, 
Executive Order 13582 of August 17, 2011, Executive Order 13606 
of April 22, 2012, and Executive Order 13608 of May 1, 2012--is 
to continue in effect beyond May 11, 2018.
    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 also generates 
instability throughout the region. The Syrian regime's actions 
and policies, including pursuing and using chemical weapons, 
supporting terrorist organizations, and obstructing the 
Lebanese government's ability to function effectively, continue 
to foster the rise of extremism and sectarianism and 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 Assad regime's 
use of brutal violence and human rights abuses, and calls on 
the Assad regime to stop its violent war, uphold the Cessation 
of Hostilities, enable the delivery of humanitarian assistance, 
and negotiate 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.

                                                   Donald J. Trump.
    The White House, May 9, 2018.

                                 Notice

                              ----------                              


 Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the 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 13338, in which he declared a national 
emergency with respect to the actions of the Government of 
Syria. To deal with this national emergency, Executive Order 
13338 authorized the blocking of property of certain persons 
and prohibited the exportation or reexportation of certain 
goods to Syria. The national emergency was modified in scope 
and relied upon for additional steps taken in Executive Order 
13399 of April 25, 2006, Executive Order 13460 of February 13, 
2008, Executive Order 13572 of April 29, 2011, Executive Order 
13573 of May 18, 2011, Executive Order 13582 of August 17, 
2011, Executive Order 13606 of April 22, 2012, and Executive 
Order 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 United States 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 generates instability throughout the region. The 
Syrian regime's actions and policies, including with respect to 
chemical weapons, supporting terrorist organizations, and 
obstructing the Lebanese government's ability to function 
effectively, continue to foster the rise of extremism and 
sectarianism and 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 Executive Order 13338; on April 25, 
2006, in Executive Order 13399; on February 13, 2008, in 
Executive Order 13460; on April 29, 2011, in Executive Order 
13572; on May 18, 2011, in Executive Order 13573; on August 17, 
2011, in Executive Order 13582; on April 22, 2012, in Executive 
Order 13606; and on May 1, 2012, in Executive Order 13608, must 
continue in effect beyond May 11, 2018. 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 Assad regime's 
use of brutal violence and human rights abuses and calls on the 
Assad regime to stop its violence against the Syrian people, 
uphold the Cessation of Hostilities, enable the delivery of 
humanitarian assistance, 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.

                                                   Donald J. Trump.
    The White House, May 9, 2018.

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