    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
    [January 16, 2004]
    [Pages 78-79]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders on Continuation of the National
    Emergency With Respect to Terrorists Who Threaten To Disrupt the Middle
    East Peace Process
    January 16, 2004

    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,
    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 the
    enclosed notice, stating that the emergency declared with respect to
    foreign terrorists who threaten to disrupt the Middle East peace process
    is to continue in effect beyond January 23, 2004, to the Federal
    Register for publication. The most recent notice continuing this
    emergency was published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2003 (68
    FR 3161).
        The crisis with respect to the grave acts of violence committed by
    foreign terrorists that disrupt the Middle East peace process that led
    to the declaration of a national emergency on January 23, 1995, as
    expanded on August 20, 1998, has not been resolved. Terrorist groups
    continue to engage in activities that have the purpose or effect of
    threatening the Middle East peace process and that are hostile to United
    States interests in the region. Such actions constitute 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 the national emergency declared with respect
    to foreign terrorists who threaten to disrupt the Middle East peace
    process and to maintain in force the economic sanctions against them to
    respond to this threat.
             Sincerely,

                                                              George W. Bush

    Note: Identical letters were sent to J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the
    House of Representatives, and Richard B. Cheney, President of the
    Senate. The notice is listed in Appendix D at the end of this volume.

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