[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 8, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H3497]
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. 116-30)

  The SPEAKER pro tempore 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 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, 2019.
  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 existing ceasefires, 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 8, 2019.

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