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. 113-22); Congressional Record Vol. 159, No. 63

<!-- -->

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. 113-22)

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Daines) 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 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--

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, 2013.

While the Syrian regime has reduced the number of foreign fighters

bound for Iraq, the regime's brutal war on the Syrian people, who have

been calling for freedom and a representative government, endangers not

only the Syrian people themselves, but could yield greater instability

throughout the region. The Syrian regime's actions and policies,

including pursuing chemical and biological weapons, supporting

terrorist organizations, and obstructing the Lebanese government's

ability to function effectively, continue to 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 and step aside to allow 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.

Barack Obama.

The White House, May 7, 2013.

&nbsp;