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[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.

                                  
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