[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 75 (Wednesday, May 9, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S2592]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE

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     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 36

  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 before 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, 2018.
  The regime's brutal war on the Syrian people, who have been calling 
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 pursuing 
and using chemical weapons, supporting terrorist organizations, and 
obstructing the Lebanese government's ability to function effectively, 
continue to foster the rise of extremism and sectarianism and 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, uphold the Cessation of Hostilities, enable 
the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and negotiate 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.
                                                     Donald J. Trump.  
The White House, May 9, 2018.  

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