CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO THE ACTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF SYRIA--MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

<!-- -->

CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO THE ACTIONS OF

THE GOVERNMENT OF SYRIA\\--MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED

STATES (H. DOC. NO. 116-30)

The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following message

from the President of the United States; which was read and, together

with the accompanying papers, referred to the Committee on Foreign

Affairs and ordered to be printed:

To the Congress of the United States:

Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act, 50 U.S.C. 1622(d),

provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless,

within 90 days before 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--

as modified in scope and relied upon for additional steps taken in

Executive Order 13399 of April 25, 2006, Executive Order 13460 of

February 13, 2008, Executive Order 13572 of April 29, 2011, Executive

Order 13573 of May 18, 2011, Executive Order 13582 of August 17, 2011,

Executive Order 13606 of April 22, 2012, and Executive Order 13608 of

May 1, 2012--is to continue in effect beyond May 11, 2019.

The regime's brutal war on the Syrian people, who have been calling

for freedom and a representative government, not only endangers the

Syrian people themselves, but also generates instability throughout the

region. The Syrian regime's actions and policies, including pursuing

and using chemical weapons, supporting terrorist organizations, and

obstructing the Lebanese government's ability to function effectively

continue to foster the rise of extremism and sectarianism and pose an

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 Assad regime's use of

brutal violence and human rights abuses and calls on the Assad regime

to stop its violent war, uphold existing ceasefires, enable the

delivery of humanitarian assistance, and negotiate a political

transition in Syria that will forge a credible path to a future of

greater freedom, democracy, opportunity, and justice. The United States

will consider changes in the composition, policies, and actions of the

Government of Syria in determining whether to continue or terminate

this national emergency in the future.

Donald J. Trump.

The White House, May 8, 2019.

&nbsp;