[House Document 112-19]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
112th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 112-19
CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA
__________
COMMUNICATION
from
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
transmitting
NOTIFICATION THAT THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO BLOCKING
PROPERTY OF CERTAIN PERSONS AND PROHIBITING THE EXPORTATION AND
REEXPORTATION OF CERTAIN GOODS TO SYRIA, ORIGINALLY DECLARED ON MAY 11,
2004, BY EXECUTIVE ORDER 13338, IS TO CONTINUE IN EFFECT BEYOND MAY 11,
2011, PURSUANT TO 50 U.S.C. 1622(d)
May 2, 2011.--Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered
to be printed
The White House,
Washington, April 29, 2011.
Hon. John Boehner,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Speaker: 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 to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed
notice stating that the national emergency with respect to the
actions of the Government of Syria declared in Executive Order
13338 of May 11, 2004, and relied upon for additional steps
taken in Executive Order 13399 of April 25, 2006, and Executive
Order 13460 of February 13, 2008, is to continue in effect
beyond May 11, 2011.
The Syrian government has reduced the number of foreign
fighters bound for Iraq--although the fighters have still
created serious problems there--but its actions and policies,
including continuing support for terrorist organizations,
damaging the Lebanese government's ability to function, and
pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and missile programs,
pose a continuing 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 in effect the national emergency declared
with respect to this threat and to maintain in force the
sanctions to address this national emergency. In addition, the
United States condemns the use of violence against peacefully
demonstrating citizens in Syria, and calls on the Syrian
government to respect human rights and to forge a credible path
to a future of greater freedom, democracy, opportunity, and
justice. As we have communicated to the Syrian government
directly, the United States will consider changes in the
policies and actions of the Government of Syria in determining
whether to continue or terminate this national emergency in the
future.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama.
Notice
----------
Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Actions of
the Government of Syria
On May 11, 2004, pursuant to his authority under the
International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1701-
1706, and the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty
Restoration Act of 2003, Public Law 108-175, the President
issued Executive Order 13338, in which he declared a national
emergency with respect to the actions of the Government of
Syria. To deal with this national emergency, Executive Order
13338 authorized the blocking of property of certain persons
and prohibited the exportation or reexportation of certain
goods to Syria. On April 25, 2006, and February 13, 2008, the
President issued Executive Order 13399 and Executive Order
13460, respectively, to take additional steps with respect to
this national emergency.
The President took these actions to deal with the unusual
and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign
policy, and economy of the United States constituted by the
actions of the Government of Syria in supporting terrorism,
maintaining its then-existing occupation of Lebanon, pursuing
weapons of mass destruction and missile programs, and
undermining U.S. and international efforts with respect to the
stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq.
The Syrian government has reduced the number of foreign
fighters bound for Iraq--although the fighters have still
created serious problems there--but its actions and policies,
including continuing support for terrorist organizations,
damaging the Lebanese government's ability to function, and
pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and missile programs,
continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the
national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United
States. As a result, the national emergency declared on May 11,
2004, and the measures adopted on that date, on April 25, 2006,
in Executive Order 13399, and on February 13, 2008, in
Executive Order 13460, to deal with that emergency must
continue in effect beyond May 11, 2011. Therefore, in
accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act,
50 U.S.C. 1622(d), I am continuing for 1 year the national
emergency declared with respect to certain actions of the
Government of Syria. In addition, the United States condemns
the use of violence against peacefully demonstrating citizens
in Syria, and calls on the Syrian government to respect human
rights and to forge a credible path to a future of greater
freedom, democracy, opportunity, and justice. The United States
will consider changes in the policies and actions of the
Government of Syria in determining whether to continue or
terminate this national emergency in the future and would
welcome progress by the Government of Syria on these matters.
This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and
transmitted to the Congress.
Barack Obama.
The White House, April 29, 2011.