*Administration of Donald J. Trump, 2018 *

**Letter to Congressional Leaders on Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Venezuela **

*March 2, 2018 *

*Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:) *

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 declared in Executive Order 13692 of March 8, 2015, with respect to the situation in Venezuela, is to continue in effect beyond March 8, 2018.

The situation in Venezuela, including the Government of Venezuela's erosion of human rights guarantees, persecution of political opponents, curtailment of press freedoms, use of violence and human rights violations and abuses in response to antigovernment protests, and arbitrary arrest and detention of antigovernment protestors, as well as the exacerbating presence of significant government corruption, continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. For this reason, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13692 with respect to the situation in Venezuela.

Sincerely,

DONALD J. TRUMP

NOTE: Identical letters were sent to Paul D. Ryan, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Michael R. Pence, President of the Senate.

*Categories:* Communications to Congress : Venezuela, U.S. national emergency, letter on continuation*.*

*Subjects:* Venezuela : Human rights issues; Venezuela : Political unrest and violence; Venezuela : U.S. national emergency, continuation.

*DCPD Number:* DCPD201800135.