    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [May 16, 2008]
    [Pages 689-690]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Congress on Continuation of the National Emergency With
    Respect to Burma
    May 16, 2008

    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. I have sent the enclosed notice to the Federal
    Register for publication, stating that the Burma emergency is to
    continue beyond May 20, 2008.
        The crisis between the United States and Burma arising from the
    actions and policies of the Government of Burma, including its engaging
    in large-scale repression of the democratic opposition in Burma, that
    led to the declaration of a national emergency on May 20, 1997, and its
    expansion on October 18, 2007, and April 30, 2008, has not been
    resolved. These actions and policies are hostile to U.S. interests and
    pose a continuing 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
    with respect to Burma and maintain in force the sanctions against Burma
    to respond to this threat. This action does not inhibit any efforts on
    the part of the United States to

    [[Page 690]]

    provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Burma in the aftermath
    of Cyclone Nargis.

                                                              George W. Bush

     The White House,

     May 16, 2008.

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