[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 63 (Tuesday, May 7, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H2475]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO THE ACTIONS OF 
   THE GOVERNMENT OF SYRIA--MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
                      STATES (H. DOC. NO. 113-22)

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Daines) laid before the House the 
following message from the President of the United States; which was 
read and, together with the 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, 2013.
  While the Syrian regime has reduced the number of foreign fighters 
bound for Iraq, the regime's brutal war on the Syrian people, 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 pursuing chemical and biological weapons, supporting 
terrorist organizations, and obstructing the Lebanese government's 
ability to function effectively, 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 Assad regime's use of 
brutal violence and human rights abuses and calls on the Assad regime 
to stop its violent war and step aside to 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.
                                                        Barack Obama.  
The White House, May 7, 2013.

                          ____________________