Message to the Congress on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to the Actions of the Government of Syria

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 8, 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 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, 2019.      The regime's brutal war on the Syrian people, who have been calling for freedom and a representative government, not only endangers the Syrian people themselves, but also generates instability throughout the region.  The Syrian regime's actions and policies, including pursuing and using chemical weapons, supporting terrorist organizations, and obstructing the Lebanese government's ability to function effectively continue to foster the rise of extremism and sectarianism and 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, uphold existing ceasefires, enable the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and negotiate 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.                                DONALD J. TRUMP   THE WHITE HOUSE,     May 8, 2019.

NOTICE - CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 8, 2019 NOTICE - - - - - - - CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC        On May 12, 2014, by Executive Order 13667, the President declared a national emergency pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States constituted by the situation in and in relation to the Central African Republic, which has been marked by a breakdown of law and order, intersectarian tension, widespread violence and atrocities, and the pervasive, often forced recruitment and use of child soldiers, threatens the peace, security, or stability of the Central African Republic and neighboring states.      The situation in and in relation to the Central African Republic continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.  For this reason, the national emergency declared on May 12, 2014, to deal with that threat must continue in effect beyond May 12, 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 declared in Executive Order 13667.      This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.                                DONALD J. TRUMP   THE WHITE HOUSE,     May 8, 2019.

Message to the Congress on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to the Central African Republic

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 8, 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 declared in Executive Order 13667 of May 12, 2014, with respect to the Central African Republic is to continue in effect beyond May 12, 2019.      The situation in and in relation to the Central African Republic, which has been marked by a breakdown of law and order, intersectarian tension, widespread violence and atrocities, and the pervasive, often forced recruitment and use of child soldiers, threatens the peace, security, or stability of the Central African Republic and the neighboring states, and continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.  Therefore, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13667 with respect to the Central African Republic.                                DONALD J. TRUMP THE WHITE HOUSE,     May 8, 2019.

PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP IS CUTTING OFF FUNDS THE IRANIAN REGIME USES TO SUPPORT ITS DESTRUCTIVE ACTIVITIES AROUND THE WORLD

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 8, 2019

PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP IS CUTTING OFF FUNDS THE IRANIAN REGIME USES TO SUPPORT ITS DESTRUCTIVE ACTIVITIES AROUND THE WORLD “We call on the regime to abandon its nuclear ambitions, change its destructive behavior, respect the rights of its people, and return in good faith to the negotiating table.” – President Donald J. Trump   ONE YEAR LATER: One year after withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal, President Donald J. Trump continues to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its malign activity. One year ago, President Trump withdrew from the fatally flawed, one-sided Iran deal and began the process of reimposing sanctions on the terror-sponsoring regime. Today, President Trump is imposing additional sanctions on Iran’s metal sectors. These sanctions are being imposed on Iran’s iron, steel, aluminum, and copper sectors.    With this action, the United States has now imposed sanctions on Iran’s top three exports – oil, petrochemicals, and metals. The Administration is imposing tougher sanctions on Iran than ever before because the regime continues to engage in destructive and destabilizing activities. The regime has maintained its nuclear ambitions and continues to develop its ballistic missile capabilities and support terrorism. The United States will aggressively enforce its sanctions, and those who continue to engage in sanctionable activity involving Iran will face severe consequences.   WORST DEAL EVER NEGOTIATED: The Iran deal was a disastrous one-sided deal that failed to end Iran’s nuclear program and the full range of the regime’s malign activity.  President Trump withdrew from the Iran deal because it failed to protect American national security interests and enabled Tehran’s malign behavior. The Iran deal left Iran with future pathways to pursue nuclear weapons. The regime was allowed to preserve its nuclear infrastructure, keep enriching uranium, and continue research and development. The deal included incomplete mechanisms for inspections and verification. The extensive nuclear archive exposed by Israel proves Tehran pursued nuclear weapons and secretly preserved its blueprints and database to do so. The deal failed to address Iran’s wide range of malign activities, including its global terrorist campaign, unjust detention of Americans, ballistic missile development, and more. The regime received an influx of cash because of sanctions relief that it has used to engage in and support terrorism and to destabilize the Middle East. MAXIMUM PRESSURE CAMPAIGN: President Trump launched a strategy to address the totality of Iran’s malign activities and ensure Iran is never allowed to develop nuclear weapons. President Trump reimposed the nuclear-related sanctions that were lifted under the deal. The President reimposed sanctions on Iran’s energy, shipping, and financial sectors. President Trump ended prior significant reduction exceptions to oil sanctions on Iran, aiming to bring Iran’s oil exports to zero and deny the regime its principal revenue source.  The Administration designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, further targeting resources it uses for its global terror campaign.  This maximum pressure campaign is working, having already denied the regime direct access to more than $10 billion in oil revenue since May 2018. The Trump Administration will continue to apply maximum pressure on the Iranian regime until its leaders change their destructive behavior and return to the negotiating table. ###

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 8, 2019 Statement from President Donald J. Trump Regarding Imposing Sanctions with Respect to the Iron, Steel, Aluminum, and Copper Sectors of Iran   One year ago, I dramatically strengthened our national security by ceasing America’s participation in the horrible, one-sided Iran nuclear deal. Today, I am signing an executive order to impose sanctions with respect to Iran’s iron, steel, aluminum, and copper sectors, the regime’s largest non-petroleum-related sources of export revenue. Under the Iran nuclear deal, Iran was free to engage in and sponsor terrorist networks, develop its missile force, foment regional conflicts, unjustly detain United States citizens, and brutalize its own people, all while maintaining a robust nuclear infrastructure—not to mention, as we now know, its extensive nuclear weapons archive. A lot can change in a year when we make bold decisions to defend America’s national security. Because of our action, the Iranian regime is struggling to fund its campaign of violent terror, as its economy heads into an unprecedented depression, government revenue dries up, and inflation spirals out of control. We are successfully imposing the most powerful maximum pressure campaign ever witnessed, which today’s action will further strengthen. Over the last month, the United States has taken several steps to increase the effectiveness of our campaign. We designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and increased the pressure on Iran ten-fold through full application of United States sanctions on Iranian oil exports. Today’s action targets Iran’s revenue from the export of industrial metals—10 percent of its export economy—and puts other nations on notice that allowing Iranian steel and other metals into your ports will no longer be tolerated. Tehran can expect further actions unless it fundamentally alters its conduct. Since our exit from the Iran deal, which is broken beyond repair, the United States has put forward 12 conditions that offer the basis of a comprehensive agreement with Iran. I look forward to someday meeting with the leaders of Iran in order to work out an agreement and, very importantly, taking steps to give Iran the future it deserves.

Message to the Congress on Imposing Sanctions with Respect to the Iron, Steel, Aluminum, and Copper Sectors of Iran

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 8, 2019 TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:      Pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), I hereby report that I have issued an Executive Order (the "order") with respect to Iran that takes additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 12957 of March 15, 1995, and to supplement the authorities provided in the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act of 2012 (subtitle D of title XII of Public Law 112-239).      The order takes steps to deny Iran revenue, including revenue derived from the export of products from Iran's iron, steel, aluminum, and copper sectors, that may be used to provide funding and support for the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, terrorist groups and networks, campaigns of regional aggression, and military expansion.      The order blocks the property and interests in property of persons determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State:   to be operating in the iron, steel, aluminum, or copper sector of Iran, or to be a person that owns, controls, or operates an entity that is part of the iron, steel, aluminum, or copper sector of Iran;   to have knowingly engaged, on or after the date of the order, in a significant transaction for the sale, supply, or transfer to Iran of significant goods or services used in connection with the iron, steel, aluminum, or copper sectors of Iran;   to have knowingly engaged, on or after the date of the order, in a significant transaction for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transport, or marketing of iron, iron products, aluminum, aluminum products, steel, steel products, copper, or copper products from Iran;   to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to the order; or   to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to the order.      The order also authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to impose correspondent and payable-through account-related sanctions on a foreign financial institution upon determining the foreign financial institution has, on or after the date of the order, knowingly conducted or facilitated a significant financial transaction:   for the sale, supply, or transfer to Iran of significant goods or services used in connection with the iron, steel, aluminum, or copper sectors of Iran;   for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transport, or marketing of iron, iron products, aluminum, aluminum products, steel, steel products, copper, or copper products from Iran; or   for or on behalf of any persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to the order.      I have delegated to the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the authority to take such actions, including adopting rules and regulations, to employ all powers granted to the President by IEEPA as may be necessary to implement the order.      I am enclosing a copy of the order I have issued.                              DONALD J. TRUMP THE WHITE HOUSE,     May 8, 2019.

EXECUTIVE ORDER - IMPOSING SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE IRON, STEEL, ALUMINUM, AND COPPER SECTORS OF IRAN

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 8, 2019 EXECUTIVE ORDER - - - - - - - IMPOSING SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE IRON, STEEL, ALUMINUM, AND COPPER SECTORS OF IRAN       By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (8 U.S.C. 1182(f)), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, find that:     It remains the policy of the United States to deny Iran all paths to both a nuclear weapon and intercontinental ballistic missiles, and to counter the totality of Iran's malign influence in the Middle East.  It is also the policy of the United States to deny the Iranian government revenue, including revenue derived from the export of products from Iran's iron, steel, aluminum, and copper sectors, that may be used to provide funding and support for the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, terrorist groups and networks, campaigns of regional aggression, and military expansion.     In light of these findings and in order to take further steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 12957 of March 15, 1995, and to supplement the authorities provided in the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act of 2012 (subtitle D of title XII of Public Law 112-239), I hereby order:     Section 1.  (a)  All property and interests in property that are in the United States, that hereafter come within the United States, or that are or hereafter come within the possession or control of any United States person of the following persons are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in:  any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State:         (i)    to be operating in the iron, steel, aluminum, or copper sector of Iran, or to be a person that owns, controls, or operates an entity that is part of the iron, steel, aluminum, or copper sector of Iran;         (ii)   to have knowingly engaged, on or after the date of this order, in a significant transaction for the sale, supply, or transfer to Iran of significant goods or services used in connection with the iron, steel, aluminum, or copper sectors of Iran;         (iii)  to have knowingly engaged, on or after the date of this order, in a significant transaction for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transport, or marketing of iron, iron products, aluminum, aluminum products, steel, steel products, copper, or copper products from Iran;         (iv)   to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this section; or         (v)    to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this section.     (b)  The prohibitions in this section apply except to the extent provided by statutes, or in regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this order, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted before the date of this order.     Sec. 2.  (a)  The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to impose on a foreign financial institution the sanctions described in subsection (b) of this section upon determining that the foreign financial institution has, on or after the date of this order, knowingly conducted or facilitated any significant financial transaction:         (i)    for the sale, supply, or transfer to Iran of significant goods or services used in connection with the iron, steel, aluminum, or copper sectors of Iran;         (ii)   for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transport, or marketing of iron, iron products, aluminum, aluminum products, steel, steel products, copper, or copper products from Iran; or         (iii)  for or on behalf of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order.     (b)  With respect to any foreign financial institution determined by the Secretary of the Treasury in accordance with this section to meet any of the criteria set forth in subsection (a)(i) through (a)(iii) of this section, the Secretary of the Treasury may prohibit the opening, and prohibit or impose strict conditions on maintaining, in the United States of a correspondent account or payable-through account by such foreign financial institution.     (c)  The prohibitions in subsection (b) of this section apply except to the extent provided by statutes, or in regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this order, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted before the date of this order.     Sec. 3.  I hereby determine that the making of donations of the types of articles specified in section 203(b)(2) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(2)) by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order would seriously impair my ability to deal with the national emergency declared in Executive Order 12957, and I hereby prohibit such donations as provided by this section.     Sec. 4.  The prohibitions in section 1 of this order include:     (a)  the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to subsection (a) of that section; and     (b)  the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.     Sec. 5.  The unrestricted immigrant and nonimmigrant entry into the United States of aliens determined to meet one or more of the criteria in subsection 1(a) of this order would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, and the entry of such persons into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, is therefore hereby suspended.  Such persons shall be treated as persons covered by section 1 of Proclamation 8693 of July 24, 2011 (Suspension of Entry of Aliens Subject to United Nations Security Council Travel Bans and International Emergency Economic Powers Act Sanctions).     Sec. 6.  (a)  Any transaction that evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading or avoiding, causes a violation of, or attempts to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.     (b)  Any conspiracy formed to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.     Sec. 7.  Nothing in this order shall apply to transactions for the conduct of the official business of the Federal Government or the United Nations (including its specialized agencies, programmes, funds, and related organizations) by employees, grantees, or contractors thereof.     Sec. 8.  For the purposes of this order:     (a)  the term "entity" means a partnership, association, trust, joint venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization;     (b)  the term "foreign financial institution" means any foreign entity that is engaged in the business of accepting deposits, making, granting, transferring, holding, or brokering loans or credits, or purchasing or selling foreign exchange, securities, commodity futures or options, or procuring purchasers and sellers thereof, as principal or agent.  It includes, but is not limited to, depository institutions, banks, savings banks, money service businesses, trust companies, securities brokers and dealers, commodity futures and options brokers and dealers, forward contract and foreign exchange merchants, securities and commodities exchanges, clearing corporations, investment companies, employee benefit plans, dealers in precious metals, stones, or jewels, and holding companies, affiliates, or subsidiaries of any of the foregoing.  The term does not include the international financial institutions identified in 22 U.S.C. 262r(c)(2), the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the North American Development Bank, or any other international financial institution so notified by the Secretary of the Treasury;     (c)  the term "Government of Iran" includes the Government of Iran, any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, including the Central Bank of Iran, and any person owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, the Government of Iran;     (d)  the term "Iran" means the Government of Iran and the territory of Iran and any other territory or marine area, including the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, over which the Government of Iran claims sovereignty, sovereign rights, or jurisdiction, provided that the Government of Iran exercises partial or total de facto control over the area or derives a benefit from economic activity in the area pursuant to international arrangements;     (e)  the term "knowingly," with respect to conduct, a circumstance, or a result, means that a person has actual knowledge, or should have known, of the conduct, the circumstance, or the result;     (f)  the term "person" means an individual or entity; and     (g)  the term "United States person" means any United States citizen, permanent resident alien, entity organized under the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States (including foreign branches), or any person in the United States.     Sec. 9.  For those persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order who might have a constitutional presence in the United States, I find that because of the ability to transfer funds or other assets instantaneously, prior notice to such persons of measures to be taken pursuant to this order would render those measures ineffectual.  I therefore determine that for these measures to be effective in addressing the national emergency declared in Executive Order 12957, there need be no prior notice of a listing or determination made pursuant to section 1 of this order.     Sec. 10.  The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to take such actions, including adopting rules and regulations, and to employ all powers granted to the President by IEEPA as may be necessary to implement this order.  The Secretary of the Treasury may, consistent with applicable law, redelegate any of these functions within the Department of the Treasury.  All agencies shall take all appropriate measures within their authority to implement this order.     Sec. 11.  (a)  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.     (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.     (c)  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. 12.  The measures taken pursuant to this order are in response to actions of the Government of Iran occurring after the conclusion of the 1981 Algiers Accords, and are intended solely as a response to those later actions.                           DONALD J. TRUMP THE WHITE HOUSE,     May 8, 2019.

West Wing Reads First Lady Melania Trump Announces Expansion of Her ‘Be Best’ Initiative with Focus on Child Welfare and Drug Abuse

First Lady Melania Trump Announces Expansion of Her ‘Be Best’ Initiative with Focus on Child Welfare and Drug Abuse “First Lady Melania Trump marked the anniversary of her ‘Be Best’ campaign on Tuesday by announcing the expansion of the initiative and another international trip,” Andrew O’Reilly reports for Fox News. The First Lady’s “Be Best” initiative “will now include children of all ages, not just babies born dependent on opioids and other addictive substances, and young mothers. The social media pillar will broaden to add online safety to the emphasis on bullying and good citizenship online.” Click here to read more.  First Lady: “Be Best” has one goal—to educate children and parents Today, President Donald J. Trump travels to Panama City, Florida, where he will receive a briefing on ongoing recovery efforts at Tyndall Air Force Base, the News Herald reports. “The eye of Hurricane Michael passed directly over Tyndall Air Force Base, leaving the structures devastated and the base’s capabilities compromised”—but the U.S. Air Force intends to rebuild Tyndall into a “base of the future” once Congressional Democrats stop obstructing the funding.   “House Democrats are escalating their campaign against the Trump Administration with complaints that its resistance to Congressional requests for documents is a threat to democracy . . . The real offense against the Constitution here is by Democrats,” The Wall Street Journal editorial board writes. “The current pseudo-impeachment is a fraud on the Constitution and the American public.” “President Trump on Sunday announced additional incoming tariffs on China, reminding Beijing that its days of negotiating with weak counterparts are over, at least as far as it concerns the United States,” Christian Whiton writes in Fox Business. “Rather than cave in or walk away, Trump has cranked up the pressure on China . . . Either they shape up or face the consequences of more economic pain, as they help fill the coffers of the U.S. Treasury through higher tariffs.” “The Department of Veterans Affairs is achieving record levels of transparency, which is a vital step to improving care for veterans at VA nursing home facilities,” Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie writes in The Hill. “These unprecedented improvements, and the many strides we are making to hold ourselves accountable and put our Veterans first, are all part of enacting President Trump’s promise to correct the problems of the past.”

President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Personnel to Key Administration Posts

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 7, 2019 President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Personnel to Key Administration Posts Today, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to nominate the following individual to a key position in his Administration: Theodore Rokita of Indiana, to be a Member of the AMTRAK Board of Directors for the remainder of a five-year term, expiring January 3, 2021.    --- Today, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key positions in his Administration: Jeffrey P. Feingold of Florida, to be a Member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council for the remainder of a five-year term, expiring January 15, 2023. John Donovan of Texas, to be a Member of the President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee. Heather Nauert of New York, to be a Member of the President’s Commission of White House Fellowships.  Today, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to be Members of the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiation for four-year terms: •    James Fitterling of Michigan •    Joseph Nicosia of Tennessee

May 7, 2019 Statement from the Press Secretary

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 7, 2019

Statement from the Press Secretary   Today, we welcome the release of Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, who were pardoned by Burma’s civilian government.  Jailed for over 500 days since December 2017 for reporting on atrocities against the Rohingya, we are delighted they will be reunited with their families.  We hope that other jailed journalists in Burma will also be allowed their freedom.  A free press, freedom of religion, and the rule of law are fundamental principles for any democracy.  The United States will continue promoting a stable, prosperous, and democratic transition in Burma. ###

1600 Daily The White House • May 7, 2019 First Lady Melania Trump celebrates 1 year of ‘Be Best’

The White House • May 7, 2019 First Lady Melania Trump celebrates 1 year of ‘Be Best’ “One year ago today, I announced Be Best, an awareness campaign dedicated to the children of this country and all over the world,” First Lady Melania Trump said today in the White House Rose Garden. “It continues to have one goal, which is to educate children and parents about the issues they face.”  Highlights: One year of First Lady Melania Trump’s “Be Best” Broken into 3 pillars of protecting well-being, promoting online safety, and fighting opioid abuse among children and their families, “Be Best” is the First Lady’s signature White House initiative. In the past year, she has taken that message across both the United States and the world, including visits to 9 countries and a solo trip to Africa last fall. After a year’s worth of hearing directly from children, parents, teachers, and professionals, the First Lady announced today that she’ll be expanding on some of these core principals to broaden the initiative’s reach even further. In the digital sphere, for example, Be Best will promote programs that encourage both online safety and digital citizenship in today’s technology-driven world. Today’s anniversary celebration brought together participants with a mix of expert insight and deeply moving personal stories: Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health, explained the importance of spiritual well-being for children today.   Microsoft’s Toni Townes-Whitley talked about the decades-long effort to protect children and teens online.   “America This Week” host Eric Bolling, who lost a son to accidental overdose, thanked the First Lady for helping lift the stigma on opioids.   “I am here with one goal, which is to help children reach their full potential so they can grow up happy, healthy and contribute positively to society and the world,” the First Lady said. “If we listen to our kids, whether it’s their fears, interests, ideas, or concerns, we can provide them the support and tools they need to thrive.” Learn more about the First Lady’s signature initiative, Be Best. Video of the day: Tiger Woods awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom Last night, President Donald J. Trump awarded our Nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to one of the greatest athletes in American sports. “Tiger Woods is a global symbol of American excellence, devotion, and drive,” President Trump said during the ceremony. Indeed, Tiger Woods transformed the game of golf as he reached new levels of dominance—and inspired a generation of young Americans to take an interest in the sport. On Sunday, April 14, the country tuned in yet again, this time as Woods captured his fifth Masters victory. After being hampered by a string of significant injuries, last month’s win represented his first major title in more than a decade and his 15th in total. Off the course, Woods has been a devoted philanthropist. Junior golf programs across the country are supported by the TGR Foundation, and more than 165,000 students have been given a chance to pursue their dreams in STEM fields thanks to his Learning Lab. “We are inspired by everything you have become and attained,” President Trump told Woods yesterday. “These qualities embody the American spirit of pushing boundaries, defying limits, and always striving for greatness.” Watch Tiger Woods deliver remarks from the Rose Garden. In photos: President Trump presents the Medal of Freedom to Woods