[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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