[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 80 (Wednesday, May 8, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H2967]
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. 118-138)

  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 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, 2024.
  The regime's brutality and repression of the Syrian people, who have 
called 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 with 
respect to chemical weapons and supporting terrorist organizations, 
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 in Executive Order 13338 with respect 
to Syria.
  In addition, the United States condemns the brutal violence and human 
rights violations and abuses of the Assad regime and its Russian and 
Iranian enablers. The United States calls on the Assad regime, and its 
backers, to stop its violent war against its own people, enact a 
nationwide ceasefire, facilitate the unhindered delivery of 
humanitarian assistance to all Syrians in need, and negotiate a 
political settlement in Syria in line with United Nations Security 
Council Resolution 2254. The United States will consider changes in 
policies and actions of the Government of Syria in determining whether 
to continue or terminate this national emergency in the future.
                                                 Joseph R. Biden, Jr.  
The White House, May 8, 2024.

                          ____________________