    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
    [October 22, 2008]
    [Pages 1336-1337]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders on Continuation of the National
    Emergency With Respect to the Situation in or in Relation to the
    Democratic Republic of the Congo
    October 22, 2008

    Dear Madam 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 to the Federal Register for publication, stating that
    the national emergency with respect to the situation in or in relation
    to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the related measures
    blocking the property of certain persons contributing to the conflict in
    that country, are to continue in effect beyond October 27, 2008.
        The situation in or in relation to the Democratic Republic of the
    Congo, which has been marked by widespread violence and atrocities that
    continue to threaten regional stability and that has been addressed by
    the United Nations Security Council in numerous resolutions, including
    Resolution 1596 of April 18, 2005, Resolution 1649 of December 21, 2005,
    Resolution 1698 of July 31, 2006, and Resolution 1807 of March 31, 2008,
    continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign
    policy of the United States. For this reason, I have determined that it
    is necessary to continue the national emergency to deal with that threat
    and the related measures blocking the property of certain persons
    contributing to the conflict in that country.
             Sincerely,

                                                              George W. Bush

    Note: Identical letters were sent to Nancy Pelosi, 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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