[House Document 118-138]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




118th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 118-138

 
      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 SYRIA DECLARED 
IN EXECUTIVE ORDER 13338 OF MAY 11, 2004, AS AMENDED, IS TO CONTINUE IN 
 EFFECT BEYOND MAY 11, 2024, PURSUANT TO 50 U.S.C. 1622(d); PUBLIC LAW 
                  94-412, SEC. 202(d); (90 STAT. 1257)




May 8, 2024.--Message and accompanying papers referred to the Committee 
              on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed
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 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, 2024.
    The regime's brutality and repression of the Syrian people, 
who have called 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 and supporting terrorist organizations, 
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 
in Executive Order 13338 with respect to Syria.
    In addition, the United States condemns the brutal violence 
and human rights violations and abuses of the Assad regime and 
its Russian and Iranian enablers. The United States calls on 
the Assad regime, and its backers, to stop its violent war 
against its own people, enact a nationwide ceasefire, 
facilitate the unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance 
to all Syrians in need, and negotiate a political settlement in 
Syria in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 
2254. The United States will consider changes in policies and 
actions of the Government of Syria in determining whether to 
continue or terminate this national emergency in the future.

                                               Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
    The White House, May 8, 2024.

                                 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 et 
seq.) 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. 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 called 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 and supporting terrorist organizations, 
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 in 
Executive Order 13338, which was expanded in scope in Executive 
Order 13572, and with respect to which additional steps were 
taken in Executive Order 13399, Executive Order 13460, 
Executive Order 13573, Executive Order 13582, Executive Order 
13606, and Executive Order 13608, must continue in effect 
beyond May 11, 2024. 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 brutal violence 
and human rights violations and abuses of the Assad regime and 
its Russian and Iranian enablers. The United States calls on 
the Assad regime, and its backers, to stop its violent war 
against its own people, enact a nationwide ceasefire, 
facilitate the unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance 
to all Syrians in need, and negotiate a political settlement in 
Syria in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 
2254. The United States will consider changes in 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.

                                               Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
    The White House, May 8, 2024.