[House Document 118-37]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
118th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - House Document 118-37
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, 2023,
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, 2023.--Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered
to be printed
_________
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
39-011 WASHINGTON : 2023
The White House,
Washington, May 8, 2023.
Hon. Kevin McCarthy,
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 publiction 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, 2023.
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.
Sincerely,
Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
Notice
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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-existirtg 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, 2023. 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 Goyernment 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, 2023.
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