[House Document 111-39] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] 111th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - House Document 111-39 CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO BURMA __________ MESSAGE from THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES transmitting CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO BURMA, PURSUANT TO 50 U.S.C. 1622(d)May 18, 2009.--Message and 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, 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. I have sent the enclosed notice to the Federal Register for publication, stating that the Burma emergency is to continue for 1 year beyond May 20, 2009. The crisis between the United States and Burma arising from the actions and policies of the Government of Burma, including its engaging in large-scale repression of the democratic opposition in Burma that led to the declaration of a national emergency in Executive Order 13047 of May 20, 1997, as modified in scope and relied upon for additional steps taken in Executive Order 13310 of July 28, 2003, Executive Order 13448 of October 18, 2007, and Executive Order 13464 of April 30, 2008, has not been resolved. These actions and policies are hostile to U.S. interests and pose a continuing unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. For this reason, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency with respect to Burma and maintain in force the sanctions against Burma to respond to this threat. Barack Obama. The White House, May 14, 2009. Notice ---------- Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Burma On May 20, 1997, the President issued Executive Order 13047, certifying to the Congress under section 570(b) of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1997 (Public Law 104-208), that the Government of Burma has committed large-scale repression of the democratic opposition in Burma after September 30, 1996, thereby invoking the prohibition on new investment in Burma by Untied States persons contained in that section. The President also declared a national emergency to deal with the threat posted to the national security and foreign policy of the United States by the actions and policies of the Government of Burma, invoking the authority, inter alia, of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq. On July 28, 2003, the President issued Executive Order 13310, taking additional steps with respect to that national emergency by putting in place an import ban required by the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 and prohibiting exports of financial services to Burma and the dealing in property in which certain designated persons have an interest. On October 18, 2007, the President issued Executive Order 13448, expanding the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13047 and taking additional steps to prohibit transactions or dealings with certain persons, including the Burmese regime's financial supporters and their companies, as well as individuals determined to be responsible for or to have participated in human rights abuses or to have engaged in activities facilitating public corruption in Burma. On April 30, 2008, the President issued Executive Order 13464, taking additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13047, in order to address the Government of Burma's continued repression of the democratic opposition in Burma. Because the actions and policies of the Government of Burma continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States, the national emergency declared on May 20, 1997, and the measures adopted on that date, July 28, 2003, October 18, 2007, and April 30, 2008, to deal with that emergency, must continue in effect beyond May 20, 2009. 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 with respect to Burma. This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress. Barack Obama. The White House, May 14, 2009.