[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 65 (Wednesday, May 9, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S3040]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     REPORT ON THE CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY THAT WAS 
  ORIGINALLY DECLARED IN EXECUTIVE ORDER 13338 OF MAY 11, 2004, WITH 
RESPECT TO THE BLOCKING OF PROPERTY OF CERTAIN PERSONS AND PROHIBITION 
   OF EXPORTATION AND RE-EXPORTATION OF CERTAIN GOODS TO SYRIA--PM 47

  The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message 
from the President of the United States, together with an accompanying 
report; which was referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
Urban Affairs:

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, 2012.
  While the Syrian regime has reduced the number of foreign fighters 
bound for Iraq, the regime's own brutality and repression of its 
citizens who have been calling for freedom and a representative 
government endangers not only the Syrian people themselves, but could 
yield greater instability throughout the region. The Syrian regime's 
actions and policies, including obstructing the Lebanese government's 
ability to function effectively, pursuing chemical and biological 
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 with respect to this threat and to maintain in force 
the sanctions to address this national emergency.
  In addition, the United States condemns the Asad regime's use of 
brutal violence and human rights abuses and calls on the Asad regime to 
step aside and immediately begin a transition in Syria to a political 
process 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.
                                                        Barack Obama.  
The White House, May 9, 2012.

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