[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 68 (Wednesday, May 7, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2792-S2793]
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 41

  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, 2014.
  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 supporting terrorist organizations and impeding 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 Asad regime's use of 
brutal violence and human rights abuses and calls on the Asad regime to 
stop its violent war and 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, 2014.

                                 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. 1701-1706, 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. To deal with this national emergency, Executive 
Order 13338 authorized the blocking of property of certain persons and 
prohibited the exportation or re-exportation of certain goods to 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 U.S. and international efforts 
with respect to the stabilization and reconstruction of 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 also is generating instability throughout 
the region. The Syrian regime's actions and policies, including the use 
of chemical

[[Page S2793]]

weapons, supporting terrorist organizations, and impeding 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. As a result, the national 
emergency declared on May 11, 2004, and the measures to deal with that 
emergency adopted on that date in Executive Order 13338; on April 25, 
2006, in Executive Order 13399; on February 13, 2008, in Executive 
Order 13460; on April 29, 2011, in Executive Order 13572; on May 18, 
2011, in Executive Order 13573; on August 17, 2011, in Executive Order 
13582; on April 22, 2012, in Executive Order 13606; and on May 1, 2012, 
in Executive Order 13608; must continue in effect beyond May 11, 2014. 
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 Asad regime's use of 
brutal violence and human rights abuses and calls on the Asad regime to 
stop its violent war and 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.
  This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and 
transmitted to the Congress.
                                                        Barack Obama.  
The White House, May 7, 2014.

                          ____________________