[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 71 (Thursday, May 17, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3277-S3278]
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 13047 OF MAY 20, 1997, WITH 
                        RESPECT TO BURMA--PM 49

  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 Burma that was 
declared on May 20, 1997, is to continue in effect beyond May 20, 2012.
  The Burmese government has made progress in a number of areas 
including

[[Page S3278]]

releasing hundreds of political prisoners, pursuing cease-fire talks 
with several armed ethnic groups, and pursuing a substantive dialogue 
with Burma's leading pro-democracy opposition party. The United States 
is committed to supporting Burma's reform effort, but the situation in 
Burma continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the 
national security and foreign policy of the United States. Burma has 
made important strides, but the political opening is nascent, and we 
continue to have concerns, including remaining political prisoners, 
ongoing conflict, and serious human rights abuses in ethnic areas. For 
this reason, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the 
national emergency with respect to Burma and to maintain in force the 
sanctions that respond to this threat.
                                                        Barack Obama.  
The White House, May 17, 2012.

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