[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 42 (Monday, October 27, 2008)]
[Pages 1377-1378]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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

[[Page 1378]]

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.