Press Releases

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-09) issued the following statement after introducing H.J. Res. 70, legislation terminating the national emergency related to Libya declared by President Obama on February 25, 2011 in Executive Order 13566. 

“There are currently 41 extended national emergencies that are subject to periodic Congressional review and periodic presidential reporting requirements including the declaration related to Libya that is more than a decade old. 

The National Emergencies Act mandates Congress consider joint resolutions terminating national emergencies every six months, yet Congress has never, not even once, reviewed the legitimacy of the national emergency related to Libya since its declaration by President Obama in 2011. 

Almost hilariously, the extended national emergency related to Libya continues to cite Muammar Qadhafi as the reason for the declaration, even though Qadhafi has been dead for almost 12 years.  You can’t make this stuff up. 

At no time since 2011 has Libya posed a military or economic threat to the United States.  The people of Libya deserve to live in a manner of their choosing without the prospect of U.S. bombings, attacks or color revolutions thrust upon them by corrupt and misguided American agencies - none of whom are acting with Congressional approval. 

The following statement, set forth in the emergency declaration, is patently false and unsupported by any credible evidence:

“The situation in Libya continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States, and measures are needed to protect against the diversion of assets or other abuses by members of Qadhafi’s family, their associates, and other persons hindering Libyan national reconciliation.”

The true situation is that no group or person in Libya currently poses a threat to our national security.  Furthermore, even if there was some hostility, none of it rises to the level of an “unusual and extraordinary threat to national security and foreign policy.”

My legislation terminates this national emergency declaration related to Libya, restores dignity and due process to the people of Libya, and restores the required congressional role over the power of the purse, sanctions, and termination of never-ending national emergency declarations,” concluded Congressman Gosar.

Background:

The National Emergencies Act of 1976 (NEA) provides the President of the United States the authority to declare a national emergency. Under this law, the President can utilize 148 temporary tyrannical powers only meant for times of actual emergency. 

Section 202 of the NEA (50 USC 1622) mandates that Congress must consider a joint resolution to terminate a national emergency no later than six months after it’s declared, and within every six months after that. Under the NEA, resolutions terminating national emergencies are subject to expedited procedures.  In addition to required Congressional review, Biden has failed to provide Congress with periodic national emergency expenditure reports as required by 50 USC 1641(c).

There are currently 41 declared national emergencies still in effect in the United States. 

Click here to read my recently published opinion editorial in the Washington Times that provides additional details regarding the NEA and the need for Congress to debate and vote to terminate all current emergency declarations.