*Administration of Barack H. Obama, 2009 *

**Message to the Congress on Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Actions of the Government of Syria **

*May 7, 2009 *

*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, 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, and relied upon for additional steps taken in Executive Order 13399 of April 25, 2006, and Executive Order 13460 of February 13, 2008, is to continue in effect beyond May 11, 2009.

The actions of the Government of Syria in supporting terrorism, pursuing weapons of mass destruction and missile programs, and undermining U.S. and international efforts with respect to the stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq pose a continuing 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.

BARACK OBAMA

The White House,

May 7, 2009.

NOTE: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on May 8.

*Categories:* Communications to Congress : Syria :: U.S. national emergency, message on continuation.

*Subjects:* Syria : Nuclear weapons development; Syria : Sanctions, U.S.; Syria : Terrorism, sponsorship; Syria : U.S. national emergency, continuation.

*DCPD Number:* DCPD200900341.