Legistorm: Transparency's Sidekick

I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, find that theGovernment of Syria continues to engage in certain conduct that formed thebasis for the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13338 of May11, 2004, including but not limited to undermining efforts with respect tothe stabilization of Iraq. I further find that the conduct of certainmembers of the Government of Syria and other persons contributing to publiccorruption related to Syria, including by misusing Syrian public assets orby misusing public authority, entrenches and enriches the Government ofSyria and its supporters and thereby enables the Government of Syria tocontinue to engage in certain conduct that formed the basis for thenational emergency declared in Executive Order 13338. In light of thesefindings, and to take additional steps with respect to the nationalemergency declared in Executive Order 13338 of May 11, 2004, I herebyorder:

Section 1. (a) Except to the extent provided in section 203(b)(1), (3),and (4) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(1), (3) and (4)), the Trade SanctionsReform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 (title IX, Public Law 106 387),or regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuantto this order, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any licenseor permit granted prior to the effective date of this order, all propertyand interests in property that are in the United States, that hereaftercome within the United States, or that are or hereafter come within thepossession or control of any United States person, including any overseasbranch, of the following persons are blocked and may not be transferred,paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in: persons determined bythe Secretary of the Treasury, after consultation with the Secretary ofState, to be responsible for, to have engaged in, to have facilitated, orto have secured improper advantage as a result of, public corruption bysenior officials within the Government of Syria.

(b) The prohibitions in paragraph (a) of this section include, but are notlimited to, (i) the making of any contribution or provision of funds,goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any person designatedpursuant to this order, and (ii) the receipt of any contribution orprovision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

Sec. 2. Section 3(a)(iv) of Executive Order 13338 is hereby amended toread as follows:

"(iv) to be or to have been responsible for or otherwise significantlycontributing to actions taken or decisions made by the Government of Syriathat have the purpose or effect of undermining efforts to stabilize Iraq orof allowing the use of Syrian territory or facilities to undermine effortsto stabilize Iraq; or".

Sec. 3. (a) Any transaction by a United States person or within theUnited States that evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading oravoiding, or attempts to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in thisorder is prohibited.

(b) Any conspiracy formed to violate any of the prohibitions set forth inthis order is prohibited.

Sec. 4. For purposes of this order:

(a) the term "person" means any individual or entity;

(b) the term "entity" means a partnership, association, trust, jointventure, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization; and

(c) the term "United States person" means any United States citizen,permanent resident alien, entity organized under the laws of the UnitedStates or any jurisdiction within the United States (including foreignbranches), or any person in the United States.

Sec. 5. I hereby determine that the making of donations of the typespecified in section 203(b)(2) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(2)) by, to, orfor the benefit of, persons whose property and interests in property areblocked pursuant to section 1 of this order would seriously impair myability to deal with the national emergency declared in Executive Order13338 and relied upon for additional steps taken in Executive Order 13399of April 25, 2006, and I hereby prohibit such donations as provided bysection 1 of this order.

Sec. 6. For those persons whose property and interests in property areblocked pursuant to section 1 of this order who might have a constitutionalpresence in the United States, I find that, because of the ability totransfer funds or other assets instantaneously, prior notice to suchpersons of measures to be taken pursuant to this order would render thesemeasures ineffectual. I therefore determine that for these measures to beeffective in addressing the national emergency declared in Executive Order13338 and relied upon for additional steps taken in Executive Order 13399,there need be no prior notice of a determination made pursuant to thisorder.

Sec. 7. The Secretary of the Treasury, after consultation with theSecretary of State, is hereby authorized to take such actions, includingthe promulgation of rules and regulations, and to employ all powers grantedto the President by IEEPA as may be necessary to carry out the purposes ofthis order. The Secretary of the Treasury may redelegate any of thesefunctions to other officers and agencies of the United States Government,consistent with applicable law. All executive agencies of the UnitedStates Government are hereby directed to take all appropriate measureswithin their authority to carry out the provisions of this order and, whereappropriate, to advise the Secretary of the Treasury in a timely manner ofthe measures taken.

Sec. 8. Nothing in this order is intended to affect the continuedeffectiveness of any rules, regulations, orders, licenses, or other formsof administrative action issued, taken, or continued in effect heretoforeor hereafter under 31 C.F.R. chapter V, except as expressly terminated,modified, or suspended by or pursuant to this order.

Sec. 9. This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right orbenefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by anyparty against the United States, its departments, agencies,instrumentalities, or entities, its officers or employees, or any otherperson.

GEORGE W. BUSH