[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 43 (Monday, October 25, 2004)]
[Page 2476]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Letter to Congressional Leaders on Continuation of the National 
Emergency With Respect to Significant Narcotics Traffickers Centered in 
Colombia

October 19, 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 
significant narcotics traffickers centered in Colombia is to continue in 
effect beyond October 21, 2004, to the Federal Register for publication. 
The most recent notice continuing this emergency was published in the 
Federal Register on October 20, 2003 (68 Fed. Reg. 60023).
    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 extreme 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 of United States persons and by 
depriving them of access to U.S. commercial and financial markets.
     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. An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this letter.