For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 17, 2003
Message to the Congress of the United States
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 declara-tion, 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. Consistent with this provision, I have sent the
enclosed notice, stating that the emergency declared with respect to
significant narcotics traffickers centered in Colombia is to continue
in effect beyond October 21, 2003, to the Federal Register for
publication. The most recent notice continuing this emergency was
published in the Federal Register on October 18, 2002.
The circumstances that led to the declaration on October 21, 1995,
of a national emergency have not been resolved. The actions of
significant narcotics traffickers centered in Colombia continue to pose
an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign
policy, and economy of the United States and to cause unparalleled
violence, corruption, and harm in the United States and abroad. For
these reasons, I have determined that it is necessary to maintain
economic pressure on significant narcotics traffickers centered in
Colombia by blocking their property or interests in property that are
in the United States or within the possession or control of United
States persons and by depriving them of access to the United States
market and financial system.
GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
October 16, 2003.
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