Presidential Message to the Congress on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 22, 2019

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 situation in or in relation to the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared in Executive Order 13413 of October 27, 2006, is to continue in effect beyond October 27, 2019. The situation in or in relation to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has been marked by widespread violence and atrocities that continue to threaten regional stability, continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States.  For this reason, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13413 with respect to the situation in or in relation to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.                                  DONALD J. TRUMP   THE WHITE HOUSE,     October 22, 2019.   ###

The White House · 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW · Washington, DC 20500-0003 · USA · 202-456-1111

Text of a Notice to the Congress on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 22, 2019

NOTICE - - - - - - - CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO       On October 27, 2006, by Executive Order 13413, the President declared a national emergency with respect to the situation in or in relation to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706), ordered related measures blocking the property of certain persons contributing to the conflict in that country.  The President took this action to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States constituted by the situation in or in relation to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has been marked by widespread violence and atrocities and continues to threaten regional stability.  The President took additional steps to address this national emergency in Executive Order 13671 of July 8, 2014.     The situation in or in relation to the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States.  For this reason, the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13413 of October 27, 2006, as amended by Executive Order 13671 of July 8, 2014, and the measures adopted to deal with that emergency, must continue in effect beyond October 27, 2019.  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 the situation in or in relation to the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared in Executive Order 13413, as amended by Executive Order 13671.     This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.                                DONALD J. TRUMP   THE WHITE HOUSE,     October 22, 2019. ###

The White House · 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW · Washington, DC 20500-0003 · USA · 202-456-1111

Statement from the Press Secretary

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 22, 2019 Statement from the Press Secretary Yesterday, President Donald J. Trump authorized $4.5 million in direct support to the Syria Civil Defense (SCD) to continue United States support for the organization’s important and highly valued work in the country.  Over the course of the 8-year conflict in Syria, the SCD has rescued more than 115,000 people, including many ethnic and religious minorities.  The United States encourages our allies and partners to join us in our support for the SCD and in our efforts to protect civilians, religious and ethnic minorities, and other innocent victims of the Syrian conflict.  ### The White House · 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW · Washington, DC 20500-0003 · USA · 202-456-1111

President Donald J. Trump Announces Appointment of Individuals to Key Administration Posts

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 22, 2019

President Donald J. Trump Announces Appointment of Individuals to Key Administration Posts   Today, President Donald J. Trump announced the appointment of the following individuals to be Members of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology: Catherine P. Bessant of North Carolina Dario Gil of New York Sharon Hrynkow of Virginia H. Fisk Johnson of Wisconsin Attiganal Sreeram of Michigan Shane Wall of Oregon K. Birgitta Whaley of California

The White House · 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW · Washington, DC 20500-0003 · USA · 202-456-1111

Executive Order on President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 22, 2019

EXECUTIVE ORDER - - - - - - - PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL OF ADVISORS ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY     By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to establish an advisory council on science and technology, it is hereby ordered as follows:     Section 1.  Purpose.  In every age of our Nation's history, American ingenuity has driven technological progress and the promise of the American Dream. Scientific advancement has improved the lives of our citizens, created jobs and better futures for American workers, and kept the American people safe at home and abroad.  American thinkers, inventors, and entrepreneurs, empowered by free market capitalism and driven by bold ideas, have created an ecosystem of innovation that is the envy of the world, making our Nation prosperous and strong.     Since World War II, our Nation's greatest scientists and engineers have advised the Federal Government, guiding the United States through the nuclear age, the mission to the moon, and the transformations of the digital revolution.  Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum information science are now on the horizon, and how we address their development will determine whether they give rise to new American industries or challenge American values.  With American leadership facing fierce global competition, today more than ever our Nation is in need of new approaches for unleashing the creativity of our research enterprise and empowering private sector innovation to ensure American technological dominance.     Through collaborative partnerships across the American science and technology enterprise, which includes an unmatched constellation of public and private educational institutions, research laboratories, corporations, and foundations, the United States can usher extraordinary new technologies into homes, hospitals, and highways across the world.  These technologies would have American values at their core.  By strengthening the ties that connect government, industry, and academia, my Administration will champion a new era of American research and innovation, which will give rise to new discoveries that create the industries of the future.     Sec. 2.  Establishment.   The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) is hereby established.  The PCAST shall be composed of the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (the "Director"), and not more than 16 additional members appointed by the President.   These additional members shall include distinguished individuals from sectors outside of the Federal Government.  They shall have diverse perspectives and expertise in science, technology, education, and innovation.  The Director shall serve as the Chair of the PCAST.     Sec. 3.  Functions.   (a)  The PCAST shall advise the President on matters involving science, technology, education, and innovation policy.  The Council shall also provide the President with scientific and technical information that is needed to inform public policy relating to the American economy, the American worker, national and homeland security, and other topics.  The PCAST shall meet regularly and shall:         (i)    respond to requests from the President or the Director for information, analysis, evaluation, or advice;         (ii)   solicit information and ideas from a broad range of stakeholders on contemporary topics of critical importance to the Nation in order to inform policy making.  Stakeholders include the research community, the private sector, universities, national laboratories, State and local governments, and non profit organizations;         (iii)  serve as the advisory committee identified in subsection 101(b) of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (Public Law 102-194), as amended (15 U.S.C. 5511(b)).  In performing the functions of such advisory committee, the PCAST shall be known as the President's Innovation and Technology Advisory Committee; and         (iv)   serve as the advisory panel identified in section 4 of the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (Public Law 108-153), as amended (15 U.S.C. 7503).  In performing the functions of such advisory committee, the PCAST shall be known as the National Nanotechnology Advisory Panel.     (b)  The PCAST shall provide advice to the National Science and Technology Council in response to requests from that Council.     Sec. 4.  Administration.   (a)  The heads of executive departments and agencies shall, to the extent permitted by law, provide the PCAST with information concerning scientific and technological matters when requested by the PCAST Chair.     (b)  In consultation with the Director, the PCAST may create standing subcommittees and ad hoc groups, including technical advisory groups to assist the PCAST and provide preliminary information to the PCAST.     (c)  The Director may request that members of the PCAST, its standing subcommittees, or ad hoc groups who do not hold a current clearance for access to classified information, receive security clearance and access determinations pursuant to Executive Order 12968 of August 2, 1995 (Access to Classified Information), as amended, or any successor order.     (d)  The Department of Energy shall provide such funding and administrative and technical support as the PCAST may require.     (e)  Members of the PCAST shall serve without any compensation for their work on the PCAST, but may receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by law for persons serving intermittently in the government service (5 U.S.C. 5701-5707).     Sec. 5.  Termination.   The PCAST shall terminate 2 years from the date of this order unless extended by the President.     Sec. 6.  General Provisions.   (a)  Insofar as the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.) (FACA), may apply to the PCAST, any functions of the President under the FACA, except that of reporting to the Congress, shall be performed by the Secretary of Energy in accordance with the guidelines and procedures established by the Administrator of General Services.     (b)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:         (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or         (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.     (c)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.     (d)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.     Sec. 7.  Revocation.   Executive Order 13539 of April 21, 2010 (President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology), as amended, is hereby revoked.                           DONALD J. TRUMP   THE WHITE HOUSE,     October 22, 2019.  ###

The White House · 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW · Washington, DC 20500-0003 · USA · 202-456-1111

West Wing Reads It's a Middle-Class Boom -- How Americans are Really Doing Under Trump Economy

It's a Middle-Class Boom -- How Americans are Really Doing Under Trump Economy “The median or average-income family has seen a gain of $5,003 since Trump came into office. Median family income is now (August 2019) $65,976,” Steve Moore writes for Fox Business. “Under George W. Bush, the household income gains were a little over $400 in eight years, and under Barack Obama the gains were $1,043. That was in eight years for each. Under Trump, in less than three years, the extra income is about three times larger.” Click here to read more. “House Democrats’ top impeachment inquisitor abruptly changed from repeatedly insisting on the testimony of a whistleblower against President Donald Trump to working to prevent it,” Mollie Hemingway writes in The Federalist. “Democrats have dramatically switched from demanding transparency about the whistleblower complaint to hiding depositions, transcripts, and evidence.” “The past several weeks in Washington have shown us the worst of the swamp,” Rep. Fred Keller (R-PA) writes for Fox News. “The people in my district, both Republicans and Democrats, have repeatedly told me they are sick and tired of the way this non-transparent inquiry is going and the fact that Congress fails to do anything other than focus on tearing down the duly-elected president.”  “The United States government identified hundreds of migrants allegedly falsely claiming familial status and numerous other migrant adults attempting to pose as minors,” Jason Hopkins reports for The Daily Caller. U.S. immigration officials in the El Paso, Texas, area have identified 238 such fraudulent families. The White House · 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW · Washington, DC 20500 · USA · 202-456-1111

Statement from President Donald J. Trump Regarding the Enthronement Ceremony of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 22, 2019

Statement from President Donald J. Trump Regarding the Enthronement Ceremony of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan On behalf of the American people, Melania and I offer our warmest congratulations to the people of Japan on the occasion of the enthronement of the new Emperor and Empress. The advent of the imperial era known as “Reiwa,” meaning “beautiful harmony,” comes at a time in which the bonds of friendship between the American and Japanese people have never been stronger. Our global partnership is an unshakeable pillar of peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and the world. It is a testament to the noble endeavor of advancing democracy, liberty, and human dignity for all. We wish the people of Japan our fondest regards and utmost respect on this auspicious and joyous occasion.