[House Document 115-40]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
115th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - House Document 115-40
CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO THE ACTIONS OF
THE GOVERNMENT OF SYRIA
__________
COMMUNICATION
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, 2017,
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 11, 2017.--Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered
to be printed
______
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
69-011 WASHINGTON : 2017
The White House,
Washington, May 9, 2017.
Hon. Paul D. Ryan,
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 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,
2017.
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 and
biological 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.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Trump.
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 and biological 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,
2017. 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, 2017.
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