    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [October 16, 2003]
    [Pages 1334-1335]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Congress on Continuation of the National Emergency With
    Respect to Significant Narcotics Traffickers Centered in Colombia
    October 16, 2003

    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. Consistent with this provision, I have sent the
    enclosed notice, stating that the emergency declared with respect to
    significant narcotics traffickers centered in Colombia is to continue in
    effect beyond October 21, 2003, to the Federal Register for publication.
    The most recent notice continuing this emergency was
    published in the Federal Register on October 18, 2002.
        The circumstances that led to the declaration on October 21, 1995,
    of a national emergency have not been resolved. The actions of
    significant narcotics traffickers centered in Colombia continue to pose
    an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign
    policy, and economy of the United States and to cause unparalleled
    violence, corruption, and harm in the United States and abroad. For
    these reasons, I have determined that it is necessary to maintain
    economic pressure on significant narcotics traffickers centered in
    Colombia by blocking their property or interests in property that are in
    the United States or within the possession or control

    [[Page 1335]]

    of United States persons and by depriving them of access to the United
    States market and financial system.

                                                              George W. Bush

     The White House,

     October 16, 2003.

    Note: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    October 17. The notice of October 16 is listed in Appendix D at the end
    of this volume.