[Title 3 CFR ]
[Code of Federal Regulations (annual edition) - January 1, 2012 Edition]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[[Page i]]
Title 3
The President
________________________
Revised as of January 1, 2012
2011 Compilation and Parts 100-102
Published by the Office of the Federal Register
National Archives and Records Administration as a
Special Edition of the Federal Register
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U.S. GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL EDITION NOTICE
Legal Status and Use of Seals and Logos
The seal of the National Archives and Records Administration
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the official codification of Federal regulations established
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It is prohibited to use NARA's official seal and the stylized Code
of Federal Regulations logo on any republication of this
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Any person using NARA's official seals and logos in a manner
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................................................................
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
List of Title 3 Compilations..........................................iv
Explanation of the Code of Federal Regulations........................vi
Explanation of This Title.............................................ix
How to Cite This Title................................................xi
Title 3.............................................................xiii
2011 Compilation--Presidential Documents..............................1
Chapter I--Executive Office of the President........................383
Title 3 Finding Aids.................................................393
Tables..............................................................395
List of CFR Sections Affected.......................................413
Index...............................................................415
CFR Finding Aids.....................................................427
Table of CFR Titles and Chapters....................................429
Alphabetical List of Agencies Appearing in the CFR..................449
[[Page iv]]
TITLE 3 COMPILATIONS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title 3 Compilations Proclamations Executive Orders
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1936-1938...................... 2161-2286......... 7316-7905
1938-1943...................... 2287-2587......... 7906-9347
1943-1948...................... 2588-2823......... 9348-10025
1949-1953...................... 2824-3041......... 10026-10510
1954-1958...................... 3042-3265......... 10511-10797
1959-1963...................... 3266-3565......... 10798-11134
1964-1965...................... 3566-3694......... 11135-11263
1966-1970...................... 3695-4025......... 11264-11574
1971-1975...................... 4026-4411......... 11575-11893
1976........................... 4412-4480......... 11894-11949
1977........................... 4481-4543......... 11950-12032
1978........................... 4544-4631......... 12033-12110
1979........................... 4632-4709......... 12111-12187
1980........................... 4710-4812......... 12188-12260
1981........................... 4813-4889......... 12261-12336
1982........................... 4890-5008......... 12337-12399
1983........................... 5009-5142......... 12400-12456
1984........................... 5143-5291......... 12457-12497
1985........................... 5292-5424......... 12498-12542
1986........................... 5425-5595......... 12543-12579
1987........................... 5596-5759......... 12580-12622
1988........................... 5760-5928......... 12623-12662
1989........................... 5929-6084......... 12663-12698
1990........................... 6085-6240......... 12699-12741
1991........................... 6241-6398......... 12742-12787
1992........................... 6399-6520......... 12788-12827
1993........................... 6521-6643......... 12828-12890
1994........................... 6644-6763......... 12891-12944
1995........................... 6764-6859......... 12945-12987
1996........................... 6860-6965......... 12988-13033
1997........................... 6966-7061......... 13034-13071
1998........................... 7062-7161......... 13072-13109
1999........................... 7162-7262......... 13110-13144
2000........................... 7263-7389......... 13145-13185
2001........................... 7263-7516......... 13145-13251
2002........................... 7517-7635......... 13252-13282
2003........................... 7636-7748......... 13283-13323
2004........................... 7749-7858......... 13324-13368
2005........................... 7859-7972......... 13369-13394
2006........................... 7873-8098......... 13395-13421
2007........................... 8099-8214......... 13422-13453
2008........................... 8215-8334......... 13454-13483
2009........................... 8335-8469......... 13484-13527
2010........................... 8470-8621......... 13528-13562
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2011........................... 8622-8772......... 13563-13596
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beginning with 1976, Title 3 compilations also include regulations
contained in Chapter I, Executive Office of the President.
Supplementary publications include: Presidential documents of the Hoover
Administration (two volumes), Proclamations 1870-2037 and Executive
Orders 5076-6070; Consolidated Indexes for 1936-1965; and Consolidated
Tables for 1936-1965.
[[Page vi]]
EXPLANATION
The Code of Federal Regulations is a codification of the general and
permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the Executive
departments and agencies of the Federal Government. The Code is divided
into 50 titles which represent broad areas subject to Federal
regulation. Each title is divided into chapters which usually bear the
name of the issuing agency. Each chapter is further subdivided into
parts covering specific regulatory areas.
Each volume of the Code is revised at least once each calendar year
and issued on a quarterly basis approximately as follows:
Title 1 through Title 16.................................as of January 1
Title 17 through Title 27..................................as of April 1
Title 28 through Title 41...................................as of July 1
Title 42 through Title 50................................as of October 1
The appropriate revision date is printed on the cover of each
volume.
LEGAL STATUS
The contents of the Federal Register are required to be judicially
noticed (44 U.S.C. 1507). The Code of Federal Regulations is prima facie
evidence of the text of the original documents (44 U.S.C. 1510).
HOW TO USE THE CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS
The Code of Federal Regulations is kept up to date by the individual
issues of the Federal Register. These two publications must be used
together to determine the latest version of any given rule.
To determine whether a Code volume has been amended since its
revision date (in this case, January 1, 2012), consult the ``List of CFR
Sections Affected (LSA),'' which is issued monthly, and the ``Cumulative
List of Parts Affected,'' which appears in the Reader Aids section of
the daily Federal Register. These two lists will identify the Federal
Register page number of the latest amendment of any given rule.
EFFECTIVE AND EXPIRATION DATES
Each volume of the Code contains amendments published in the Federal
Register since the last revision of that volume of the Code. Source
citations for the regulations are referred to by volume number and page
number of the Federal Register and date of publication. Publication
dates and effective dates are usually not the same and care must be
exercised by the user in determining the actual effective date. In
instances where the effective date is beyond the cut-off date for the
Code a note has been inserted to reflect the future effective date. In
those instances where a regulation published in the Federal Register
states a date certain for expiration, an appropriate note will be
inserted following the text.
OMB CONTROL NUMBERS
The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-511) requires
Federal agencies to display an OMB control number with their information
collection request.
[[Page vii]]
Many agencies have begun publishing numerous OMB control numbers as
amendments to existing regulations in the CFR. These OMB numbers are
placed as close as possible to the applicable recordkeeping or reporting
requirements.
OBSOLETE PROVISIONS
Provisions that become obsolete before the revision date stated on
the cover of each volume are not carried. Code users may find the text
of provisions in effect on a given date in the past by using the
appropriate numerical list of sections affected. For the period before
April 1, 2001, consult either the List of CFR Sections Affected, 1949-
1963, 1964-1972, 1973-1985, or 1986-2000, published in eleven separate
volumes. For the period beginning April 1, 2001, a ``List of CFR
Sections Affected'' is published at the end of each CFR volume.
``[RESERVED]'' TERMINOLOGY
The term ``[Reserved]'' is used as a place holder within the Code of
Federal Regulations. An agency may add regulatory information at a
``[Reserved]'' location at any time. Occasionally ``[Reserved]'' is used
editorially to indicate that a portion of the CFR was left vacant and
not accidentally dropped due to a printing or computer error.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
What is incorporation by reference? Incorporation by reference was
established by statute and allows Federal agencies to meet the
requirement to publish regulations in the Federal Register by referring
to materials already published elsewhere. For an incorporation to be
valid, the Director of the Federal Register must approve it. The legal
effect of incorporation by reference is that the material is treated as
if it were published in full in the Federal Register (5 U.S.C. 552(a)).
This material, like any other properly issued regulation, has the force
of law.
What is a proper incorporation by reference? The Director of the
Federal Register will approve an incorporation by reference only when
the requirements of 1 CFR part 51 are met. Some of the elements on which
approval is based are:
(a) The incorporation will substantially reduce the volume of
material published in the Federal Register.
(b) The matter incorporated is in fact available to the extent
necessary to afford fairness and uniformity in the administrative
process.
(c) The incorporating document is drafted and submitted for
publication in accordance with 1 CFR part 51.
What if the material incorporated by reference cannot be found? If
you have any problem locating or obtaining a copy of material listed as
an approved incorporation by reference, please contact the agency that
issued the regulation containing that incorporation. If, after
contacting the agency, you find the material is not available, please
notify the Director of the Federal Register, National Archives and
Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001,
or call 202-741-6010.
CFR INDEXES AND TABULAR GUIDES
A subject index to the Code of Federal Regulations is contained in a
separate volume, revised annually as of January 1, entitled CFR Index
and Finding Aids. This volume contains the Parallel Table of Authorities
and Rules. A list of CFR titles, chapters, subchapters, and parts and an
alphabetical list of agencies publishing in the CFR are also included in
this volume.
An index to the text of ``Title 3--The President'' is carried within
that volume.
[[Page viii]]
The Federal Register Index is issued monthly in cumulative form.
This index is based on a consolidation of the ``Contents'' entries in
the daily Federal Register.
A List of CFR Sections Affected (LSA) is published monthly, keyed to
the revision dates of the 50 CFR titles.
REPUBLICATION OF MATERIAL
There are no restrictions on the republication of material appearing
in the Code of Federal Regulations.
INQUIRIES
For a legal interpretation or explanation of any regulation in this
volume, contact the issuing agency. The issuing agency's name appears at
the top of odd-numbered pages.
For inquiries concerning CFR reference assistance, call 202-741-6000
or write to the Director, Office of the Federal Register, National
Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD
20740-6001 or e-mail fedreg.info@nara.gov.
SALES
The Government Printing Office (GPO) processes all sales and
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ELECTRONIC SERVICES
The full text of the Code of Federal Regulations, the LSA (List of
CFR Sections Affected), The United States Government Manual, the Federal
Register, Public Laws, Public Papers of the Presidents of the United
States, Compilation of Presidential Documents and the Privacy Act
Compilation are available in electronic format via www.ofr.gov. For more
information, contact the GPO Customer Contact Center, U.S. Government
Printing Office. Phone 202-512-1800, or 866-512-1800 (toll-free). E-
mail, gpo@custhelp.com.
The Office of the Federal Register also offers a free service on the
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site for public law numbers, Federal Register finding aids, and related
information. Connect to NARA's web site at www.archives.gov/federal-
register.
Raymond A. Mosley,
Director,
Office of the Federal Register.
January 1, 2012.
[[Page ix]]
EXPLANATION OF THIS TITLE
This volume of ``Title 3--The President'' contains a compilation of
Presidential documents and a codification of regulations issued by the
Executive Office of the President.
The 2011 Compilation contains the full text of those documents
signed by the President that were required to be published in the
Federal Register. Signature date rather than publication date is the
criterion for inclusion. With each annual volume, the Presidential
documents signed in the previous year become the new compilation.
Chapter I contains regulations issued by the Executive Office of the
President. This section is a true codification like other CFR volumes,
in that its contents are organized by subject or regulatory area and are
updated by individual issues of the Federal Register.
Presidential documents in this volume may be cited ``3 CFR, 2011
Comp.'' Thus, the preferred abbreviated citation for Proclamation 8622
appearing on page 1 of this book, is ``3 CFR, 2011 Comp., p. 1.''
Chapter I entries may be cited ``3 CFR.'' Thus, the preferred
abbreviated citation for section 100.1, appearing in chapter I of this
book, is ``3 CFR 100.1.''
This book is one of the volumes in a series that began with
Proclamation 2161 of March 19, 1936, and Executive Order 7316 of March
13, 1936, and that has been continued by means of annual compilations
and periodic cumulations. The entire Title 3 series, as of January 1,
2012, is encompassed in the volumes listed on page iv.
For readers interested in proclamations and Executive orders prior
to 1936, there is a two-volume set entitled Proclamations and Executive
Orders, Herbert Hoover (March 4, 1929, to March 4, 1933). Codified
Presidential documents are published in the Codification of Presidential
Proclamations and Executive Orders (April 13, 1945--January 20, 1989).
Other public Presidential documents not required to be published in the
Federal Register, such as speeches, messages to Congress, and
statements, can be found in the Compilation of Presidential Documents
and the Public Papers of the Presidents series. A selection of these
Office of the Federal Register publications are available for sale from
the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington,
DC 20402.
This book was prepared in the Presidential Documents and Legislative
Division under the supervision of Stacey A. Mulligan. The Chief Editor
for the 2011 Compilation was Michael J. Forcina, assisted by Lois M.
Davis.
[[Page xi]]
________________________________________________________________________
Cite Presidential documents in this volume
3 CFR, 2011 Comp.
thus: 3 CFR, 2011 Comp., p. 1
________________________________________________________________________
Cite chapter I entries in this volume
3 CFR
thus: 3 CFR 100.1
________________________________________________________________________
[[Page xiii]]
________________________________________________________________________
TITLE 3--THE PRESIDENT
Page
2011 Compilation--Presidential Documents:
Proclamations.....................................................1
Executive Orders................................................215
Other Presidential Documents....................................325
Chapter I--Executive Office of the President:
Part 100.........................................................384
Part 101.........................................................384
Part 102.........................................................384
Finding Aids:
Table 1--Proclamations...........................................395
Table 2--Executive Orders........................................399
Table 3--Other Presidential Documents............................401
Table 4--Presidential Documents Affected During 2011.............405
Table 5--Statutes Cited as Authority for Presidential Documents..409
List of CFR Sections Affected....................................413
Index............................................................415
CFR Finding Aids:
Table of CFR Titles and Chapters.................................429
Alphabetical List of Agencies Appearing in the CFR...............449
[[Page 1]]
2011 Compilation--Presidential Documents
________________________________________________________________________
PROCLAMATIONS
________________________________________________________________________
Proclamation 8622 of January 9, 2011
Honoring the Victims of the Tragedy in Tucson, Arizona
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
As a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence
perpetrated on Saturday, January 8, 2011, in Tucson, Arizona, by the
authority vested in me as President of the United States by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby
order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at
the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all
military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the
Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United
States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, January 14,
2011. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the
same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular
offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities
and naval vessels and stations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of
January, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
[[Page 2]]
Proclamation 8623 of January 14, 2011
Religious Freedom Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Our Nation was founded on a shared commitment to the values of justice,
freedom, and equality. On Religious Freedom Day, we commemorate
Virginia's 1786 Statute for Religious Freedom, in which Thomas Jefferson
wrote that ``all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to
maintain, their opinion in matters of religion.'' The fundamental
principle of religious freedom--guarded by our Founders and enshrined in
our Constitution's First Amendment--continues to protect rich faiths
flourishing within our borders.
The writ of the Founding Fathers has upheld the ability of Americans to
worship and practice religion as they choose, including the right to
believe in no religion at all. However, these liberties are not self-
sustaining, and require a stalwart commitment by each generation to
preserve and apply them. Throughout our Nation's history, our founding
ideal of religious freedom has served as an example to the world. Though
our Nation has sometimes fallen short of the weighty task of ensuring
freedom of religious expression and practice, we have remained a Nation
in which people of different faiths coexist with mutual respect and
equality under the law. America's unshakeable commitment to religious
freedom binds us together as a people, and the strength of our values
underpins a country that is tolerant, just, and strong.
My Administration continues to defend the cause of religious freedom in
the United States and around the world. At home, we vigorously protect
the civil rights of Americans, regardless of their religious beliefs.
Across the globe, we also seek to uphold this human right and to foster
tolerance and peace with those whose beliefs differ from our own. We
bear witness to those who are persecuted or attacked because of their
faith. We condemn the attacks made in recent months against Christians
in Iraq and Egypt, along with attacks against people of all backgrounds
and beliefs. The United States stands with those who advocate for free
religious expression and works to protect the rights of all people to
follow their conscience, free from persecution and discrimination.
On Religious Freedom Day, let us reflect on the principle of religious
freedom that has guided our Nation forward, and recommit to upholding
this universal human right both at home and around the world.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 16, 2011, as
Religious Freedom Day. I call on all Americans to commemorate this day
with events and activities that teach us about this critical foundation
of our Nation's liberty, and to show us how we can protect it for future
generations here and around the world.
[[Page 3]]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of
January, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8624 of January 14, 2011
Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Half a century ago, America was moved by a young preacher who called a
generation to action and forever changed the course of history. The
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. devoted his life to the struggle
for justice and equality, sowing seeds of hope for a day when all people
might claim ``the riches of freedom and the security of justice.'' On
Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday, we commemorate the 25th
anniversary of the holiday recognizing one of America's greatest
visionary leaders, and we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King.
Dr. King guided us toward a mountaintop on which all Americans--
regardless of skin color--could live together in mutual respect and
brotherhood. His bold leadership and prophetic eloquence united people
of all backgrounds in a noble quest for freedom and basic civil rights.
Inspired by Dr. King's legacy, brave souls have marched fearlessly,
organized relentlessly, and devoted their lives to the unending task of
perfecting our Union. Their courage and dedication have carried us even
closer to the promised land Dr. King envisioned, but we must recognize
their achievements as milestones on the long path to true equal
opportunity and equal rights.
We must face the challenges of today with the same strength,
persistence, and determination exhibited by Dr. King, guided by the
enduring values of hope and justice embodied by other civil rights
leaders. As a country, we must expand access to opportunity and end
structural inequalities for all people in employment and economic
mobility. It is our collective responsibility as a great Nation to
ensure a strong foundation that supports economic security for all and
extends the founding promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness to every American.
Dr. King devoted his life to serving others, reminding us that ``human
progress is neither automatic nor inevitable. Every step toward the goal
of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle--the tireless
exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.''
Commemorating Dr. King's life is not only a tribute to his contributions
to our Nation and the world, but also a reminder that every day, each of
us can play a part in continuing this critical work.
For this reason, we honor Dr. King's legacy with a national day of
service. I encourage all Americans to visit www.MLKDay.gov to learn more
about service opportunities across our country. By dedicating this day
to service, we move our Nation closer to Dr. King's vision of all
Americans living and working together as one beloved community.
[[Page 4]]
NOW, THEREFORE, I BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 17, 2011, as
the Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday. I encourage all Americans
to observe this day with appropriate civic, community, and service
programs in honor of Dr. King's life and lasting legacy.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of
January, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8625 of January 31, 2011
American Heart Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Heart disease is a staggering health problem and a leading cause of
death for American women and men. Thankfully, there are steps each of us
can take to prevent this chronic disease. In a time when one in three
adults in the United States is living with some form of cardiovascular
disease, American Heart Month provides an important reminder that it is
never too early to take action to improve our heart health.
All Americans should be aware of risk factors that can lead to heart
disease, including: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes,
obesity, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and family history.
Practicing everyday habits such as eating a balanced diet, maintaining a
healthy weight, limiting sodium consumption, exercising regularly,
avoiding tobacco, and moderating alcohol intake can reduce these risks.
Each of us can be proactive about our well being, and my Administration
is committed to helping Americans protect themselves from chronic
conditions like heart disease. Under the Affordable Care Act, all new
individual and group health plans must now provide recommended
preventive care and services without a copayment, coinsurance, or
deductible. These potentially life-saving screenings include blood
pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, and body mass index tests, as well as
counseling on quitting smoking, losing weight, and eating well. To learn
more about the risk factors and prevention of heart disease, I encourage
all Americans to visit: www.CDC.gov/HeartDisease.
To save lives in the fight against cardiovascular disease, my
Administration is investing in world-class research to prevent and treat
this and other chronic diseases. We are also continuing to raise
awareness of heart disease and its risk factors among Americans of all
ages. First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative is safeguarding
healthier hearts for the next generation by addressing the factors that
contribute to childhood obesity and its serious health consequences. The
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's The Heart Truth campaign
sends women of all ages an urgent message about their risk of heart
disease. In support of women's heart health, I encourage all Americans
to wear red or the campaign's Red Dress
[[Page 5]]
Pin on National Wear Red Day on Friday, February 4 in honor of the
movement to increase awareness of women's heart disease. Learn more by
visiting: www.HeartTruth.gov.
During American Heart Month, we honor the health professionals,
researchers, and heart health ambassadors whose dedication enables
countless Americans to live full and active lives. This month, let us
rededicate ourselves to reducing the burden of heart disease by raising
awareness, taking steps to improve our own heart health, and encouraging
our colleagues, friends, and family to do the same.
In acknowledgement of the importance of the ongoing fight against
cardiovascular disease, the Congress, by Joint Resolution approved
December 30, 1963, as amended (77 Stat. 843; 36 U.S.C. 101), has
requested that the President issue an annual proclamation designating
February as ``American Heart Month.''
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim February 2011 as American Heart Month, and I
invite all Americans to participate in National Wear Red Day on February
4, 2011. I also invite the Governors of the States, the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, officials of other areas subject to the jurisdiction of the
United States, and the American people to join me in recognizing and
reaffirming our commitment to fighting cardiovascular disease.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of
January, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8626 of January 31, 2011
National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month reflects
our Nation's growing understanding that violence within relationships
often begins during adolescence. Each year, about one in four teens
report being the victim of verbal, physical, emotional, or sexual
violence. Abusive relationships can impact adolescent development, and
teens who experience dating violence may suffer long-term negative
behavioral and health consequences. Adolescents in controlling or
violent relationships may carry these dangerous and unhealthy patterns
into future relationships. The time to break the cycle of teen dating
violence is now, before another generation falls victim to this tragedy.
Though many communities face the problem of teen dating violence, young
people can be afraid to discuss it, or they may not recognize the
severity of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. Parents and other
adults can also be uncomfortable acknowledging that young people
experience abuse, or
[[Page 6]]
may be unaware of its occurrence. To help stop abuse before it starts,
mentors and leaders must stress the importance of mutual respect and
challenge representations in popular culture that can lead young people
to accept unhealthy behavior in their relationships.
Our efforts to take on teen dating violence must address the social
realities of adolescent life today. Technology such as cell phones,
email, and social networking websites play a major role in many
teenagers' lives, but these tools are sometimes tragically used for
control, stalking, and victimization. Emotional abuse using digital
technology, including frequent text messages, threatening emails, and
the circulation of embarrassing messages or photographs without consent,
can be devastating to young teens. I encourage concerned teens, parents,
and loved ones to contact the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline at 1-
866-331-9474 or visit www.LoveIsRespect.org to receive immediate and
confidential advice and referrals.
My Administration is committed to engaging a broad spectrum of community
partners to curb and prevent teen dating violence. The Department of
Justice's Office on Violence Against Women supports collaborative
efforts to enhance teens' understanding of healthy relationships, help
them identify signs of abuse, and assist them in locating services.
Resources are available at: www.OVW.USDOJ.gov/teen--dating--
violence.htm. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also
provide tools to help prevent dating violence among teens. More
information is available at: www.CDC.gov/ChooseRespect.
During National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month--and
throughout the year--let each of us resolve to do our part to break the
silence and create a culture of healthy relationships for all our young
people. Adults who respect themselves, their partners, and their
neighbors demonstrate positive behaviors to our children--lessons that
will help them lead safe and happy lives free from violence.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim February 2011 as
National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. I call
upon all Americans to support efforts in their communities and schools,
and in their own families, to empower young people to develop healthy
relationships throughout their lives and to engage in activities that
prevent and respond to teen dating violence.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day
of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
[[Page 7]]
Proclamation 8627 of February 1, 2011
National African American History Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
The great abolitionist and orator Frederick Douglass once told us, ``If
there is no struggle, there is no progress.'' Progress in America has
not come easily, but has resulted from the collective efforts of
generations. For centuries, African American men and women have
persevered to enrich our national life and bend the arc of history
toward justice. From resolute Revolutionary War soldiers fighting for
liberty to the hardworking students of today reaching for horizons their
ancestors could only have imagined, African Americans have strengthened
our Nation by leading reforms, overcoming obstacles, and breaking down
barriers. During National African American History Month, we celebrate
the vast contributions of African Americans to our Nation's history and
identity.
This year's theme, ``African Americans and the Civil War,'' invites us
to reflect on 150 years since the start of the Civil War and on the
patriots of a young country who fought for the promises of justice and
equality laid out by our forbearers. In the Emancipation Proclamation,
President Abraham Lincoln not only extended freedom to those still
enslaved within rebellious areas, he also opened the door for African
Americans to join the Union effort.
Tens of thousands of African Americans enlisted in the United States
Army and Navy, making extraordinary sacrifices to help unite a fractured
country and free millions from slavery. These gallant soldiers, like
those in the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, served with
distinction, braving both intolerance and the perils of war to inspire a
Nation and expand the domain of freedom. Beyond the battlefield, black
men and women also supported the war effort by serving as surgeons,
nurses, chaplains, spies, and in other essential roles. These brave
Americans gave their energy, their spirit, and sometimes their lives for
the noble cause of liberty.
Over the course of the next century, the United States struggled to
deliver fundamental civil and human rights to African Americans, but
African Americans would not let their dreams be denied. Though Jim Crow
segregation slowed the onward march of history and expansion of the
American dream, African Americans braved bigotry and violence to
organize schools, churches, and neighborhood organizations. Bolstered by
strong values of faith and community, black men and women have launched
businesses, fueled scientific advances, served our Nation in the Armed
Forces, sought public office, taught our children, and created
groundbreaking works of art and entertainment. To perfect our Union and
provide a better life for their children, tenacious civil rights
pioneers have long demanded that America live up to its founding
principles, and their efforts continue to inspire us.
[[Page 8]]
Though we inherit the extraordinary progress won by the tears and toil
of our predecessors, we know barriers still remain on the road to equal
opportunity. Knowledge is our strongest tool against injustice, and it
is our responsibility to empower every child in America with a world-
class education from cradle to career. We must continue to build on our
Nation's foundation of freedom and ensure equal opportunity, economic
security, and civil rights for all Americans. After a historic recession
has devastated many American families, and particularly African
Americans, we must continue to create jobs, support our middle class,
and strengthen pathways for families to climb out of poverty.
During National African American History Month, we recognize the
extraordinary achievements of African Americans and their essential role
in shaping the story of America. In honor of their courage and
contributions, let us resolve to carry forward together the promise of
America for our children.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim February 2011 as
National African American History Month. I call upon public officials,
educators, librarians, and all the people of the United States to
observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and
activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of
February, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8628 of February 28, 2011
American Red Cross Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
For over a century, the American Red Cross has harnessed the generosity
of the American people, mobilizing us to offer assistance in the wake of
disaster. Whether aiding towns fighting rising floodwaters or nations
struggling with starvation and disease, the American Red Cross and its
international partners have served during crises across the United
States and around the world. During American Red Cross Month, we
celebrate our Nation's humanitarian spirit, and we recommit to providing
relief and hope in times of crisis.
The American Red Cross has a long history of partnering with Presidents
of the United States to confront the world's most pressing challenges.
During World War I, President Woodrow Wilson called on our citizens to
help the American Red Cross ``respond effectively and universally to the
needs of humanity under stress of war.'' This relationship continued in
1943, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed March as Red Cross
Month, urging the public to support the efforts of the American Red
Cross
[[Page 9]]
to provide resources and medical care to troops, allies, and peoples
around the world.
Emergency response organizations like the American Red Cross play a
vital role in relief operations by deploying scores of volunteers to
rebuild communities hit by disaster and by providing critical support
and resources at home and abroad. When a devastating earthquake struck
Haiti last year, the American people responded with an outpouring of
compassion, prompting an unprecedented international response and relief
effort by the American Red Cross. These efforts reflect our country's
noblest ideals, and they contribute to a climate of international trust
and cooperation.
Volunteers play an essential part in every American Red Cross effort,
from traveling to disaster zones around the world to donating blood at
local community centers. Through their service, ordinary citizens have
done extraordinary things, upholding the humanitarian mission of service
and relief organizations and keeping our Nation strong and resilient.
Though we can never fully know the challenges we will face, American Red
Cross Month reminds us that Americans will always pull together in times
of need and will always look to the future with hope and determination.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America and Honorary Chairman of the American Red Cross, by virtue of
the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim March 2011 as American Red Cross
Month. I encourage all Americans to observe this month with appropriate
programs, ceremonies, and activities, and by supporting the work of
service and relief organizations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day
of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8629 of February 28, 2011
Irish-American Heritage Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Our diverse Nation has been shaped by the sacrifices and successes of
those who crossed both land and sea in pursuit of a common dream. For
millions of Americans, this journey began in Ireland. In the wake of the
Great Hunger, many sons and daughters of Erin came to our shores seeking
a brighter day, with only courage and the enduring values of faith and
family to sustain them. Alongside many others who sought a better life
in a new Nation, these intrepid immigrants built strong communities and
helped forge our country's future. During Irish-American Heritage Month,
we honor the contributions Irish Americans have made, and celebrate the
nearly 40 million among us who proudly trace their roots back to
Ireland.
[[Page 10]]
From the earliest days of our Republic, the Irish have overcome
discrimination and carved out a place for themselves in the American
story. Through hard work, perseverance, and patriotism, women and men of
Irish descent have given their brawn, brains, and blood to make and
remake this Nation--pulling it westward, pushing it skyward, and moving
it forward. Half a century ago, John F. Kennedy became our first Irish-
American Catholic President and summoned an expectant citizenry to
greatness. This year, as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of
President Kennedy's inauguration, we recognize our 35th President and
the countless other Irish Americans whose leadership and service have
steered the course of our Nation.
Seldom in this world has a country so small had so large an impact on
another. Today, the rich culture of Ireland touches all aspects of
American society, and the friendship that binds Ireland and the United
States is marked by a shared past and a common future. As communities
across our country celebrate Irish-American Heritage Month and St.
Patrick's Day, our Nation pays tribute to the proud lineage passed down
to so many Americans from the Emerald Isle.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2011 as Irish-
American Heritage Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month
by celebrating the contributions of Irish Americans to our Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day
of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8630 of February 28, 2011
Women's History Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
During Women's History Month, we reflect on the extraordinary
accomplishments of women and honor their role in shaping the course of
our Nation's history. Today, women have reached heights their mothers
and grandmothers might only have imagined. Women now comprise nearly
half of our workforce and the majority of students in our colleges and
universities. They scale the skies as astronauts, expand our economy as
entrepreneurs and business leaders, and serve our country at the highest
levels of government and our Armed Forces. In honor of the pioneering
women who came before us, and in recognition of those who will come
after us, this month, we recommit to erasing the remaining inequities
facing women in our day.
This year, we commemorate the 100th anniversary of International Women's
Day, a global celebration of the economic, political, and social
achievements of women past, present, and future. International Women's
Day is
[[Page 11]]
a chance to pay tribute to ordinary women throughout the world and is
rooted in women's centuries-old struggle to participate in society on an
equal footing with men. This day reminds us that, while enormous
progress has been made, there is still work to be done before women
achieve true parity.
My Administration has elevated the rights of women and girls abroad as a
critical aspect of our foreign and national security policy. Empowering
women across the globe is not simply the right thing to do, it is also
smart foreign policy. This knowledge is reflected in the National
Security Strategy of the United States, which recognizes that countries
are more peaceful and prosperous when their female citizens enjoy equal
rights, equal voices, and equal opportunities. Today, we are integrating
a focus on women and girls in all our diplomatic efforts, and
incorporating gender considerations in every aspect of our development
assistance. We are working to build the participation of women into all
aspects of conflict prevention and resolution, and we are continuing to
lead in combating the scourge of conflict-related sexual violence, both
bilaterally and at the United Nations.
In America, we must lead by example in protecting women's rights and
supporting their empowerment. Despite our progress, too many women
continue to be paid less than male workers, and women are significantly
underrepresented in the science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM) fields. By tapping into the potential and talents of
all our citizens, we can utilize an enormous source of economic growth
and prosperity. The White House Council on Women and Girls has continued
to remove obstacles to achievement by addressing the rate of violence
against women, supporting female entrepreneurs, and prioritizing the
economic security of women. American families depend largely on the
financial stability of women, and my Administration continues to
prioritize policies that promote workplace flexibility, access to
affordable, quality health care and child care, support for family
caregivers, and the enforcement of equal pay laws. I have also called on
every agency in the Federal Government to be part of the solution to
ending violence against women, and they have responded with
unprecedented cooperation to protect victims of domestic and sexual
violence and enable survivors to break the cycle of abuse.
As we reflect on the triumphs of the past, we must also look to the
limitless potential that lies ahead. To win the future, we must equip
the young women of today with the knowledge, skills, and equal access to
reach for the promise of tomorrow. My Administration is making
unprecedented investments in education and is working to expand
opportunities for women and girls in the STEM fields critical for growth
in the 21st-century economy.
As we prepare to write the next chapter of women's history, let us
resolve to build on the progress won by the trailblazers of the past. We
must carry forward the work of the women who came before us and ensure
our daughters have no limits on their dreams, no obstacles to their
achievements, and no remaining ceilings to shatter.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2011 as Women's
[[Page 12]]
History Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month and to
celebrate International Women's Day on March 8, 2011 with appropriate
programs, ceremonies, and activities that honor the history,
accomplishments, and contributions of American women. I also invite all
Americans to visit www.WomensHistoryMonth.gov to learn more about the
generations of women who have shaped our history.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day
of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8631 of February 28, 2011
50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy signed an Executive Order
establishing the Peace Corps, forever changing the way America sees the
world and the world sees us. Today, one of President Kennedy's most
enduring legacies can be found in the over 200,000 current and returned
Peace Corps Volunteers who have collectively given over a half-century
of service to the cause of peace. On its 50th anniversary, the United
States Peace Corps remains an enduring symbol of our Nation's commitment
to encouraging progress, creating opportunity, and fostering mutual
respect and understanding throughout the world.
Over the past five decades, Peace Corps Volunteers have served in nearly
140 countries, bringing a wealth of practical assistance to those
working to build better lives for themselves and their communities. From
the first group of volunteers to arrive in Ghana and Tanzania in August
1961, they have been emissaries of hope and goodwill to the far corners
of our world, strengthening the ties of friendship between the people of
the United States and those of other countries. Living and working
alongside those they serve, volunteers help address changing and complex
global needs in education, health and HIV/AIDS, business and information
technology, agriculture, environmental protection, and youth
development. With each village that now has access to clean water, each
young woman who has received an education, and each family empowered to
prevent disease because of the service of a Peace Corps Volunteer,
President Kennedy's noble vision lives on.
In our increasingly interconnected world, the mission of the Peace Corps
is more relevant today than ever. Returned volunteers, enriched by their
experiences overseas, bring a deeper understanding of other cultures and
traditions back to their home communities in the United States. The
lasting accomplishments of the Peace Corps continue to strengthen
partnerships with leaders and countries around the world. This year, we
also mourn the loss and pay tribute to the extraordinary life of Sargent
Shriver, the founding director of the Peace Corps. The impact of his
decades of public service
[[Page 13]]
will echo forever in countless places across the globe that have been
touched by the Peace Corps.
On this anniversary, we honor the men and women from across the country
who have carried forward our Nation's finest tradition of service, and
we rededicate ourselves to fulfilling the dream and continuing the work
of all those who aspire and yearn for peace.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 1, 2011, as the
50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps. I call upon all Americans to
observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities
that honor the Peace Corps and its volunteers, past and present, for
their many contributions to the cause of global peace and friendship.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day
of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8632 of February 28, 2011
Death of Army Corporal Frank W. Buckles, the Last Surviving American
Veteran of World War I
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
As a mark of respect for the memory of Army Corporal Frank W. Buckles,
the last surviving American veteran of World War I, and in remembrance
of the generation of American veterans of World War I, I hereby order,
by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States of America, that, on the day of his interment, the flag of
the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and
upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval
stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the
District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its
Territories and possessions until sunset on such day. I further direct
that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same period at all
United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other
facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels
and stations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day
of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
[[Page 14]]
Proclamation 8633 of March 1, 2011
Read Across America Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Hidden in the pages of books are extraordinary worlds and characters
that can spark creativity and imagination, and unlock the potential that
lies within each of our children. Reading is the foundation upon which
all other learning is built, and on Read Across America Day, we reaffirm
our commitment to supporting America's next generation of great readers.
Cultivation of basic literacy skills can begin early and in the home. It
is family who first instills the love of learning in our future leaders
by engaging children in good reading habits and making reading a fun and
interactive activity. Regardless of language or literacy level, every
adult can inspire young people to appreciate the written word early in
life. Parents and mentors can help build fundamental skills by reading
aloud to children regularly, discussing the story, and encouraging
children to ask questions on words or content they do not understand. By
passing a passion for literature on to our sons and daughters, we
prepare them to be lifelong, successful readers, and we provide them
with an essential skill necessary for academic achievement.
Teachers also play an integral role in our students' lives, and
educators can help prepare our children to meet the challenges of
tomorrow by making reading a key component of classroom activities. Our
Nation's young people rely on the critical thinking and analytical
skills gained from reading to build other areas of knowledge, including
the subjects of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The
next generation's ability to excel in these disciplines is crucial to
America's strength and prosperity in the 21st century.
Read Across America Day marks the birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel,
better known to the world as Dr. Seuss. Through amusing wordplay and
engaging tales, his stories have helped generations of young Americans
enjoy reading and sharpen basic reading skills, vital tools for their
future success. With parents, teachers, and communities working
together, we can ensure reading is a national priority and American
pastime. By recommitting to improving literacy and raising the
expectations we have for our students, for our schools, and for
ourselves, we will win the future for our children and give every child
a chance to succeed.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2, 2011, as Read
Across America Day. I call upon children, families, educators,
librarians, public officials, and all the people of the United States to
observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of March,
in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of
the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
[[Page 15]]
Proclamation 8634 of March 4, 2011
National Consumer Protection Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Each day, families across America navigate complex financial decisions,
from buying a home or car to paying off a loan or using a credit card.
Consumer education is vital to protecting American families and
preserving economic health in the United States. When fully informed
about the potential risks in the marketplace and their rights as
consumers, Americans are better able to recognize misinformation, scams,
and abusive and deceptive practices that can endanger individual
economic security and erode the prosperity of our communities.
For more than a decade, National Consumer Protection Week has encouraged
Americans to make better-informed decisions about saving, buying,
borrowing, and investing. This year's theme, ``Your Information
Destination: www.NCPW.gov,'' highlights the resources offered by Federal
agencies and partner organizations that encourage the public to manage
their money, stay safe online, and understand mortgages and other
financial transactions. By seeking out this information, families can
both strengthen the economy and protect themselves from fraudulent
behavior. For information and resources, I encourage American consumers
to visit www.NCPW.gov.
The Federal Government has an important role to play in safeguarding
transactions, and my Administration is committed to holding abusive
companies accountable and shifting the balance of power back to the
American consumer. I was proud to sign into law the strongest consumer
protections in our Nation's history with the Credit Card Accountability,
Responsibility, and Disclosure Act (Credit CARD Act) and the Dodd-Frank
Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. One of the centerpieces
of this financial reform legislation was the creation of the Consumer
Financial Protection Bureau, which is charged with enforcing historic
financial protections and empowering Americans with clear and concise
information to make the best choices for their families. These common-
sense reforms will protect both consumers and our economy as a whole.
As a Nation, we must foster an environment that supports informed
decisionmaking, supports fair and robust competition in the marketplace,
and guards all citizens from unfair and predatory practices. During
National Consumer Protection Week, I encourage all Americans to learn
about their rights as consumers and seek out the knowledge to manage
their finances more effectively by visiting www.MyMoney.gov and
www.ConsumerFinance.gov.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 6 through March
12, 2011, as National Consumer Protection Week. I call upon government
officials, industry leaders, and advocates across the Nation to share
information about consumer protection and provide our citizens with
information about their rights as consumers.
[[Page 16]]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of
March, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8635 of March 4, 2011
Save Your Vision Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Across America, millions of men and women experience vision loss or are
affected by low vision or blindness. During Save Your Vision Week, we
reinforce the importance of routine eye care and remind all Americans to
take action to safeguard their eyesight.
Vision is important to our everyday activities, and we can all take
steps to protect and prolong our eye health. Through Healthy People
2020, the Department of Health and Human Services' science-based agenda
to prevent disease and promote health, our country's leading health
officials have identified interventions to preserve sight and prevent
blindness. Though some eye diseases and injuries are preventable or
treatable with early detection and timely treatment, many Americans do
not receive recommended eye exams and screenings. Healthy People 2020
advises each American to get vision check-ups regularly in order to
identify vision impairments at an early stage. For more information
about eye health or help finding an eye care professional, I encourage
all Americans to visit: www.NEI.NIH.gov.
Preventive eye care, including wearing ultraviolet-protective eyewear
and following good eating habits, can help support a healthy and active
lifestyle at any age. By seeking out information and taking action to
protect healthy vision--and encouraging others to do so as well--all
Americans can help preserve the precious gift of sight.
To remind Americans of the importance of safeguarding their eyesight,
the United States Congress, by joint resolution approved December 30,
1963, as amended (77 Stat. 629; 36 U.S.C. 138), has authorized and
requested the President to proclaim the first week in March of each year
as ``Save Your Vision Week.''
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim March 6 through March 12, 2011, as Save Your
Vision Week. During this time, I invite eye care professionals,
teachers, members of the media, and all organizations dedicated to
preserving eyesight to join in activities that will raise awareness of
eye and vision health.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of
March, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
[[Page 17]]
Proclamation 8636 of March 4, 2011
150th Anniversary of the Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
President Abraham Lincoln is revered in American history as the leader
who held together a fractured country and liberated millions from
slavery. His words are memorized by America's schoolchildren, and his
name is synonymous with freedom and unity. One hundred fifty years ago,
on March 4, 1861, this self-taught man, rugged rail-splitter, and humble
lawyer from Springfield, Illinois, was sworn in as our Nation's 16th
President under an unfinished dome of the United States Capitol, with
the storm clouds of civil war gathering.
President Lincoln reminded us in his Inaugural Address that America's
Union was much older than the Constitution itself, and that our national
fabric had been stitched together by shared memories and common hopes.
As we observe the 150th anniversary of his Inauguration, we reflect on
his unceasing belief and our enduring faith that we remain one Nation
and one people, sharing a bond as Americans that will never break.
Through simple eloquence and humble leadership marked by profound
wisdom--both on his Inauguration day and throughout the coming
conflict--President Lincoln charted a course to transcend our discord
and bind the wounds of a severed country. From the principles he set
forth in the Emancipation Proclamation to his transformative address on
the fields of Gettysburg, President Lincoln showed us how to preserve
and perfect ``the last, best hope of Earth.'' His actions and his memory
enabled America to move beyond a young collection of States to become a
free and unified Nation, striving for the promises and principles for
which so many fought and died.
Our revered 16th President taught us that we are more than North and
South, black and white--we are one, and we are all Americans. The forces
that divide us are not stronger than the forces that unite us, and the
``new birth of freedom'' President Lincoln called for still echoes in
each of our hearts. Today, we live in the Union he saved, inheritors of
the freedoms and progress for which he served. Through the ages, Abraham
Lincoln calls us to take a renewed devotion to the unfinished work
remaining before our Nation--joining together across all divides to
ensure that ``government of the people, by the people, for the people''
endures in our time.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 4, 2011, as a
day to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Inauguration of Abraham
Lincoln. I call upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate
programs, ceremonies, and activities that honor his memory and uphold
the principles he so nobly advanced.
[[Page 18]]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of
March, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8637 of March 16, 2011
150th Anniversary of the Unification of Italy, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
On March 17, Italy celebrates the 150th anniversary of its unification
as a single state. On this day, we join with Italians everywhere to
honor the courage, sacrifice, and vision of the patriots who gave birth
to the Italian nation. At a time when the United States was fighting for
the preservation of our own Union, Giuseppe Garibaldi's campaign for the
unification of Italy inspired many around the world in their own
struggles, including the 39th New York Infantry, also known as ``The
Garibaldi Guard.'' Today, the legacy of Garibaldi and all those who
unified Italy lives on in the millions of American women and men of
Italian descent who strengthen and enrich our Nation.
Italy and the United States are bound by friendship and common
dedication to civil liberties, democratic principles, and the universal
human rights our countries both respect and uphold. As we mark this
important milestone in Italian history, we also honor the joint efforts
of Americans and Italians to foster freedom, democracy, and our shared
values throughout the world.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 17, 2011, as a
day to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Unification of Italy. I
encourage all Americans to learn more about the history of Italian
unification and to honor the enduring friendship between the people of
Italy and the people of the United States.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of
March, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
[[Page 19]]
Proclamation 8638 of March 18, 2011
National Poison Prevention Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Each day, emergency rooms treat nearly 2,000 Americans for accidental
poisonings, and dozens die as a result of ingesting, inhaling, or
otherwise exposing themselves to poisonous substances. In many cases,
these tragic incidents are preventable. During National Poison
Prevention Week, I encourage all Americans to identify possible dangers
in the home, take action to address poisoning hazards, and learn how to
respond if a poison emergency should occur.
Children are particularly susceptible to unintentional poisoning. More
than half of all reported poison exposures involve children under the
age of six, and many occur when unsupervised children find and consume
medicines or harmful chemicals. Unintentional poisonings among young
people often occur when misusing or abusing prescription medications
such as pain killers, sedatives, and stimulants taken from a home
medicine cabinet. Parents and caregivers can help prevent these injuries
by taking simple steps to secure medications and other dangerous
materials including resealing child-resistant containers, placing drugs
and toxic chemicals out of reach of children, and storing all these
products in locked or childproof cabinets.
Sadly, death rates from unintentional poisonings have increased steadily
in recent years. Many adult poisonings stem from accidental or
intentional exposure to over-the-counter or prescription drugs. These
can be avoided by reading labels before taking medications, storing
medicines in their original containers, and safely disposing of unused
prescription medication. These actions can reduce the risk posed by
medications with abuse potential. All Americans can help prevent
needless harm from hazardous materials by becoming more aware of the
dangers of poisonings and the ways we can prevent and respond to these
incidents.
In the event of an accidental poisoning, quick action can prevent
serious injury and save lives. If confronted with a suspected poisoning,
individuals should call the national poison control hotline at 1-800-
222-1222. I encourage families to post this number near their home
telephone, which connects callers to potentially life-saving information
at local and regional poison control centers 24 hours a day, seven days
a week.
To encourage Americans to learn more about the dangers of accidental
poisonings and to take appropriate preventive measures, the Congress, by
joint resolution approved September 26, 1961, as amended (75 Stat. 681),
has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation
designating the third week of March each year as ``National Poison
Prevention Week.''
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim March 20 through March 26, 2011, as
``National Poison Prevention Week.'' I call upon all Americans to
observe this week by taking actions to protect their families from
hazardous household materials and from misuse of prescription
medications.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of
March, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8639 of March 24, 2011
100th Anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
On March 25, 1911, a fire spread through the cramped floors of the
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in lower Manhattan. Flames spread quickly
through the 8th, 9th, and 10th floors--overcrowded, littered with cloth
scraps, and containing few buckets of water to douse the flames--giving
the factory workers there little time to escape. When the panicked
workers tried to flee, they encountered locked doors and broken fire
escapes, and were trapped by long tables and bulky machines. As
bystanders watched in horror, young workers began jumping out of the
windows to escape the inferno, falling helplessly to their deaths on the
street below.
By the time the fire was extinguished, nearly 150 individuals had
perished in an avoidable tragedy. The exploited workers killed that day
were mostly young women, recent immigrants of Jewish and Italian
descent. The catastrophe sent shockwaves through New York City and the
immigrant communities of Manhattan's Lower East Side, where families
struggled to recognize the charred remains of their loved ones in
makeshift morgues. The last victims were officially identified just this
year.
A century later, we reflect not only on the tragic loss of these young
lives, but also on the movement they inspired. The Triangle factory fire
was a galvanizing moment, calling American leaders to reexamine their
approach to workplace conditions and the purpose of unions. The fire
awakened the conscience of our Nation, inspiring sweeping improvements
to safety regulations both in New York and across the United States. The
tragedy strengthened the potency of organized labor, which gave voice to
previously powerless workers. A witness to the fire, Frances Perkins
carried the gruesome images of that day through a lifetime of advocacy
for American workers and into her role as the Secretary of Labor and our
country's first female Cabinet Secretary.
Despite the enormous progress made since the Triangle factory fire, we
are still fighting to provide adequate working conditions for all women
and men on the job, ensure no person within our borders is exploited for
their labor, and uphold collective bargaining as a tool to give workers
a seat at the tables of power. Working Americans are the backbone of our
communities and power the engine of our economy. As we mark the
anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, let us resolve to
renew the urgency that tragedy inspired and recommit to our shared
responsibility to provide a safe environment for all American workers.
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NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 25, 2011, as the
100th Anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. I call upon
all Americans to participate in ceremonies and activities in memory of
those who have been killed due to unsafe working conditions.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fourth day
of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8640 of March 24, 2011
Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and
American Democracy, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
One hundred ninety years ago, Greece regained its independence and
became a symbol of democracy for the world for the second time in
history. As America recognizes this milestone in the birthplace of
democracy, we also celebrate our warm friendship with Greece and the
lasting legacy of Hellenic culture in our own country.
America's Founders drew upon the core democratic principles developed in
ancient Greece as they imagined a new government. Since that time, our
Union has strived to uphold the belief that each person has a
fundamental right to liberty and participation in the democratic
process, and Greece has continued to promote those very principles. Over
the centuries these cherished ideals--democracy, equality, and freedom--
have inspired our citizens and the world.
The relationship between the United States and Greece extends beyond our
common values and is strengthened by the profound influence of Greek
culture on our national life. From the architecture of our historic
buildings to the lessons in philosophy and literature passed on in our
classrooms, America has drawn on the deep intellectual traditions of the
Greeks in our own establishment and growth as a nation. Reinforcing the
steadfast bonds between our two countries, Americans of Greek descent
have maintained the best of their heritage and immeasurably enriched our
national character.
The American people stand with Greece to honor the legacy of democracy
wrought over 2,000 years ago and its restoration to the Hellenic
Republic nearly 200 years ago. As we celebrate the history and values of
Greece and the United States, we also look forward to our shared future
and recommit to continuing our work as friends and allies.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
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the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 25, 2011, as
Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and
American Democracy. I call upon all the people of the United States to
observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fourth day
of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8641 of March 30, 2011
Cesar Chavez Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Our Nation's story of progress is rich with profound struggle and great
sacrifice, marked by the selfless acts and fearless leadership of
remarkable Americans. A true champion for justice, Cesar Chavez
advocated for and won many of the rights and benefits we now enjoy, and
his spirit lives on in the hands and hearts of working women and men
today. As we celebrate the anniversary of his birth, we honor Cesar
Chavez's lasting victories for American workers and his noble methods in
achieving them.
Raised in the fields of Arizona and California, Cesar Chavez faced
hardship and injustice from a young age. At the time, farm workers
toiled in the shadows of society, vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.
Families like Chavez's were impoverished; exposed to hazardous working
conditions and dangerous pesticides; and often denied clean drinking
water, toilets, and other basic necessities.
Cesar Chavez saw the need for change and made a courageous choice to
work to improve the lives of his fellow farm workers. Through boycotts
and fasts, he led others on a path of nonviolence conceived in careful
study of the teachings of St. Francis of Assisi and Mahatma Gandhi, and
in the powerful example of Martin Luther King, Jr. He became a community
organizer and began his lifelong advocacy to protect and empower people.
With quiet leadership and a powerful voice, Cesar founded the United
Farm Workers (UFW) with Dolores Huerta, launching one of our Nation's
most inspiring social movements.
Cesar Chavez's legacy provides lessons from which all Americans can
learn. One person can change the course of a nation and improve the
lives of countless individuals. Cesar once said, ``Non-violence is not
inaction. . . . Non-violence is hard work. It is the willingness to
sacrifice. It is the patience to win.'' From his inspiring
accomplishments, we have learned that social justice takes action,
selflessness, and commitment. As we face the challenges of our day, let
us do so with the hope and determination of Cesar Chavez, echoing the
words that were his rallying cry and that continue to inspire so many
today, ``S[iacute], se puede'' -- ``Yes, we can.''
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NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 31 of each year
as Cesar Chavez Day. I call upon all Americans to observe this day with
appropriate service, community, and educational programs to honor Cesar
Chavez's enduring legacy.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of
March, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8642 of March 31, 2011
National Donate Life Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Americans have always been a generous people, willing to give to others
in need. In these challenging times, that spirit of service has been
abundantly evident and has made a real difference in many lives. As we
observe National Donate Life Month, we reflect on an important
opportunity to aid others--bestowing the gift of life through organ and
tissue donation.
More than 110,000 individuals are now on the national waiting list for
organ transplants, and the list continues to grow. Each year, the number
of Americans needing life-saving donations has far outstripped the
number of available donors. As a result, people lose their lives each
day while waiting.
When each donation can touch dozens of lives, it has never been more
important to make the decision to be an organ and tissue donor. I
encourage all Americans to say yes to donation by giving blood regularly
and joining their State-based donor registry. Individuals can register
online or through the registration or renewal process for a driver's
license or identification card. When considering organ donation,
Americans should consult their family members, doctor, or faith leader
about the decision to donate life. To find out more about donation and
how you can register in your State, be sure to visit:
www.OrganDonor.gov.
Together, we can all make the choice to save and improve the lives of
Americans across our country.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2011 as National
Donate Life Month. I call upon health care professionals, volunteers,
educators, government agencies, faith-based and community groups, and
private organizations to join forces to boost the number of organ and
tissue donors throughout our Nation.
[[Page 24]]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of
March, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8643 of March 31, 2011
National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Our Nation must continue to confront rape and other forms of sexual
violence as a deplorable crime. Too many victims suffer unaided, and too
many offenders elude justice. As we mark National Sexual Assault
Awareness and Prevention Month, we recommit to building a society where
no woman, man, or child endures the fear of assault or the pain of an
attack on their physical well-being and basic human dignity.
Despite reforms to our legal system, sexual violence remains pervasive
and largely misunderstood. Nearly one in six American women will
experience an attempted or completed rape at some point in her life, and
for some groups, rates of sexual violence are even higher. Almost one in
three American Indian and Alaska Native women will be sexually
assaulted. Young women ages 16 to 24 are at greatest risk, and an
alarming number of young women are sexually assaulted while in college.
Too many men and boys are also affected. With each new victim and each
person still suffering from an attack, we are called with renewed
purpose to respond to and rid our Nation of all forms of sexual
violence.
Sexual assault is considered to be the most underreported violent crime
in America, and criminal justice responses vary widely across our
country. Some communities have developed highly trained, coordinated
teams who understand the nature of sexual assault and can respond with
compassionate understanding. In other places, victims hesitate to report
these crimes because they fear the criminal justice system will respond
with skepticism or fail to bring the perpetrator to justice. We must
ensure our police, prosecutors, and courts treat victims with the
seriousness and respect they need and deserve. We must do more to
provide services that help victims recover from the trauma of sexual
assault. And ultimately, we must prevent sexual assault before it
happens.
Under Vice President Joe Biden's leadership, my Administration is
committed to engaging a broad spectrum of Federal agencies and community
partners to prevent sexual assault, support victims, and hold offenders
accountable. The Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against
Women is leading the Sexual Assault Demonstration Initiative to improve
the way sexual assault survivors are served. The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention is funding innovative prevention campaigns that
engage bystanders in reducing sexual assault, and the Department of
Education is working to combat sexual violence at schools and
universities. We will
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continue to support new approaches that show promise in changing
cultural attitudes toward sexual violence and preventing these crimes.
Each victim of sexual assault represents a sister or a daughter, a
nephew or a friend. We must break the silence so no victim anguishes
without resources or aid in their time of greatest need. We must
continue to reinforce that America will not tolerate sexual violence
within our borders. Likewise, we will partner with countries across the
globe as we work toward a common vision of a world free from the threat
of sexual violence, including as a tool of conflict. Working together,
we can reduce the incidence of sexual assault and heal lives that have
already been devastated by this terrible crime.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2011 as National
Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. I urge all Americans to
support victims and work together to prevent these crimes in their
communities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of
March, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8644 of March 31, 2011
National Cancer Control Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Over the past several decades, our Nation has made significant advances
in the fight against cancer. Improvements in early detection and
treatment of this disease have led to decreases in the rates of new
cases and deaths, and many people who are diagnosed with cancer are
living longer, with better quality of life. Despite the breadth of our
progress, an estimated 1.5 million people were diagnosed with cancer
last year, and more than half a million Americans lost their lives to
the disease. During National Cancer Control Month, we renew our
commitment to increasing awareness about cancer and reducing the burden
of this devastating illness.
There are simple steps all of us can take to protect ourselves and our
loved ones from cancer. Americans can help reduce their cancer risk with
healthy practices such as avoiding excessive sun exposure, limiting
alcohol intake, eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight,
and making physical activity part of each day. Exposure to tobacco
smoke, even from occasional smoking or secondhand smoke, is particularly
harmful. Americans striving to quit can receive help by calling 1-800-
QUIT-NOW or visiting: www.Smokefree.gov.
Screening tests can also help reduce the risk of developing certain
cancers and help detect the disease early when it is often easier to
treat. Under the
[[Page 26]]
Affordable Care Act, new health insurance plans must offer certain
screening tests, including Pap tests, mammograms, and colonoscopies, at
no extra cost. I encourage every man and woman to talk with a health
professional about available testing and when to begin screenings. All
Americans can visit www.Cancer.gov for more information about the
prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer.
My Administration is committed to continuing the advances made in cancer
research, prevention, detection, and treatment. The Healthy People 2020
initiative, which is spearheaded by the Department of Health and Human
Services, is tasked with outlining national objectives and benchmarks to
measure progress toward improving the health of all Americans. The goals
will provide a roadmap for better health and help focus our Nation's
attention on trends in cancer rates, mortality, and survival.
Americans of every background have been touched by cancer, either
through a personal diagnosis or that of a family member or friend, and
too many of us understand the terrible toll of this disease. In memory
of loved ones lost to cancer, and in tribute to the survivors and those
still fighting this disease, I call on all Americans to recognize what
each of us can do to live longer, healthier lives and to reach for a
future free from cancer.
The Congress of the United States, by joint resolution approved March
28, 1938 (52 Stat. 148; 36 U.S.C. 103), as amended, has requested the
President to issue an annual proclamation declaring April as ``Cancer
Control Month.''
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim April 2011 as National Cancer Control Month.
I encourage citizens, Government agencies, private businesses, nonprofit
organizations, and other interested groups to join in activities that
will increase awareness of what Americans can do to prevent and control
cancer.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day
of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8645 of March 31, 2011
National Child Abuse Prevention Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Our Nation's children are our hope for the future, and caring for them
is one of our greatest responsibilities. During National Child Abuse
Prevention Month, we renew our commitment to preventing child abuse and
neglect by promoting healthy families, protecting children, and
supporting communities throughout our Nation.
Although a strong family unit is the best deterrent to child abuse,
effectively intervening in the lives of children threatened by abuse is
a shared responsibility. Strengthening the bonds within families
requires community
[[Page 27]]
members and leaders to partner with parents. From schools to local
social service agencies, we can work together to protect the well-being
of our children by recognizing the signs of violence and creating safe,
stable, and nurturing environments that safeguard the promise of their
futures.
My Administration will continue to reinforce initiatives that enhance
the efforts of child protective service agencies to prevent and treat
child abuse. Last December, I was pleased to sign into law the CAPTA
(Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment) Reauthorization Act of 2010,
giving States and local authorities new tools to identify and address
abuse and neglect. This Act will also bolster prevention efforts by
addressing risk factors for mistreatment like substance abuse, mental
illness, and domestic violence. We are also supporting programs that
expand coordination of early childhood services in order to improve
outcomes for young children.
As a Nation, we must continue our work to ensure all children have the
ability to live free from abuse and neglect by advocating for the safety
of all young people. For more information about what families and
communities can do to overcome this devastating problem, concerned
Americans can visit: www.ChildWelfare.gov/Preventing.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2011 as National
Child Abuse Prevention Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this
month with programs and activities that help prevent child abuse and
provide for children's physical, emotional, and developmental needs.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of
March, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8646 of March 31, 2011
National Financial Literacy Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Americans' ability to build a secure future for themselves and their
families requires the navigation of an increasingly complex financial
system. As we recover from the worst economic crisis in generations, it
is more important than ever to be knowledgeable about the consequences
of our financial decisions. During National Financial Literacy Month, we
recommit to improving financial literacy and ensuring all Americans have
access to trustworthy financial services and products.
The financial crisis was fueled by a lack of responsibility from Wall
Street to Washington. It devastated ordinary Americans, many of whom
were caught by hidden fees and penalties or saddled with loans they
could not afford. Preventing a recurrence will require both better
behavior and oversight on Wall Street and more informed decisionmaking
on Main Street and
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in homes across our country. To lay the foundation for continued
prosperity, we must expand the availability of financial products and
services that are fair, affordable, understandable, and reliable. We
must also strive to ensure all Americans have the skills to manage their
fiscal resources effectively and avoid deceptive or predatory practices.
Building on the important protections in the Credit Card Accountability,
Responsibility, and Disclosure Act, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform
and Consumer Protection Act, which I signed into law last year, will
help restore financial stability by enforcing the strongest consumer
financial protections in history. This Act created the Consumer
Financial Protection Bureau, an agency with one job--to look out for the
interests of Americans as they interact with the financial system. My
Administration also established the President's Advisory Council on
Financial Capability to assist the American people in understanding and
addressing financial matters and to identify effective approaches to
increase financial capability through education and access.
Additionally, the National Strategy for Financial Literacy provides a
new framework for strategic coordination and an overarching financial
literacy strategy.
While our Government is taking decisive action to promote financial
stability, our Nation's prosperity will ultimately depend on our
willingness as individuals to empower ourselves and our families with
financial knowledge. For more information on improving financial
literacy, concerned individuals may visit www.MyMoney.gov or
www.ConsumerFinance.gov, or call toll-free 1-888-MyMoney for guidance
and resources.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2011 as National
Financial Literacy Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this
month with programs and activities to improve their understanding of
financial principles and practices.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of
March, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8647 of April 1, 2011
World Autism Awareness Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
With autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) affecting nearly one percent of
children in the United States, autism is an urgent public health issue
with a profound impact on millions of Americans. World Autism Awareness
Day is an opportunity to recognize the contributions of individuals with
ASDs and rededicate ourselves to the cause of understanding and
responding to autism.
[[Page 29]]
Men and women on the autism spectrum have thrived and excelled in
communities across America and around the world. Yet, despite great
progress in understanding ASDs, challenges remain for these individuals
and their loved ones. For too long, the needs of people living with
autism and their families have gone without adequate support and
understanding. While we continue to encourage the development of
resources for children on the autism spectrum and provide necessary
resources for their families, we must also remember that young people
with ASDs become adults with ASDs who deserve our support, our respect,
and the opportunity to realize their highest aspirations.
As our understanding of the autism spectrum grows, my Administration
remains dedicated to supporting children and adults impacted by autism.
Led by the Department of Health and Human Services, we have expanded
investments in autism research, public health tracking, early detection,
and services--from early intervention for children to improved long-term
services and support programs for adults. My Administration maintains a
firm commitment to advance autism research and treatment, as well as
promote education, employment, and equality for all individuals with
autism, from early childhood through employment and community life. We
will continue to work with the Congress, experts, and families to
improve Federal and State programs that assist individuals with ASDs and
their families and to bolster the impact and reach of community support
and services. I encourage all Americans to visit www.HHS.gov/autism for
more information and resources on ASDs.
With each breakthrough in research and each innovative treatment, we
open endless possibilities for the many American families who have been
touched by autism. As we mark World Autism Awareness Day, let us
recommit to improving the lives of individuals and families impacted by
ASDs and creating a world free from discrimination where all can achieve
their fullest potential.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2 of each year
as World Autism Awareness Day. I call upon the people of the United
States to learn more about autism and what they can do to support
individuals on the autism spectrum and their families.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of April,
in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of
the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
[[Page 30]]
Proclamation 8648 of April 6, 2011
National D.A.R.E. Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
As a Nation, we must work to raise a drug-free and healthy generation of
21st-century leaders. Substance abuse and its consequences have grave
impacts on our society--destroying lives, tearing apart families, and
introducing drug-related violence to our neighborhoods. Young Americans
especially need the help and support of caring adults to resist pressure
to use drugs or engage in other harmful activities.
We must address the use of illegal drugs, tobacco, and alcohol, as well
as prescription drug abuse, among youth by building knowledge of the
warning signs and risks associated with substance abuse. Though parents
must take the lead in teaching the value of drug-free living, friends,
mentors, teachers, and neighbors also have roles to play in helping
adolescents understand the dangers of alcohol and drug addiction. By
joining together to tackle this issue and encourage positive behavior,
communities can help young people reject the pressure to try illicit
substances or engage in other hazardous activity. I encourage students,
caregivers, and other concerned individuals to visit www.DrugAbuse.gov
for educational materials on the health effects and consequences of drug
abuse and addiction.
Law enforcement is often a critical partner in implementing community-
based drug abuse prevention strategies. The Drug Abuse Resistance
Education (D.A.R.E.) program, in addition to many other prevention
efforts across our country, serves as a resource in helping educate
young people on how to resist peer pressure and refrain from drug use
and violence.
My Administration is committed to reducing drug use and its consequences
through a balanced approach that includes prevention, treatment, and law
enforcement, and we are supporting national efforts to prevent drug use
before it starts. As we work to reduce substance abuse and the great
damage it causes in our communities, we will make our country stronger
and our people healthier and safer.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 7, 2011, as
National D.A.R.E. Day. I call upon all Americans to observe this day
with appropriate programs and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of April,
in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of
the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
[[Page 31]]
Proclamation 8649 of April 7, 2011
National Volunteer Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
America's story has been marked by the service of volunteers.
Generations of selfless individuals from all walks of life have served
each other and our Nation, each person dedicated to making tomorrow
better than today. They exemplify the quintessential American idea that
we can change things, make things better, and solve problems when we
work together.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of our schools and shelters, hospitals and
hotlines, and faith-based and community groups. From mentoring at-risk
youth and caring for older Americans to supporting our veterans and
military families and rebuilding after disasters, these everyday heroes
make a real and lasting impact on the lives of millions of women and men
across the globe.
Last year, nearly 63 million Americans gave of themselves through
service. Their compassion is a testament to the generosity of the
American spirit. In difficult times, Americans are coming together--
tackling our challenges instead of ignoring them--and renewing the
principle that we are our brother's keeper and our sister's keeper.
Today, as many Americans face hardship, we need volunteers more than
ever. Service opportunities tap the energy and ingenuity of our greatest
resource--the American people--to improve our neighborhoods and our
world. My Administration is committed to investing in community
solutions and increasing opportunities for Americans to serve. The
bipartisan Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act strengthened the programs
of the Corporation for National and Community Service, which engage
millions of citizens each year in service through Senior Corps,
AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America. We are building the capacity of
organizations and communities to tackle their own problems by investing
in social innovation and volunteer cultivation. And through United We
Serve, a national call to service, we are making it easier for women and
men of all ages to find volunteer opportunities or create their own
projects where they see a need.
During National Volunteer Week, we celebrate the profound impact of
volunteers and encourage all Americans to discover their own power to
make a difference. Every one of us has a role to play in making our
communities and our country stronger. I encourage all Americans to help
us renew progress and prosperity and build a brighter future for our
Nation by visiting www.Serve.gov to find a local project.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 10 through April
16, 2011, as National Volunteer Week. I call upon all Americans to
observe this week by volunteering in service projects across our country
and pledging to make service a part of their daily lives.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of
April, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8650 of April 8, 2011
National Crime Victims' Rights Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Though our homes and neighborhoods are safer than they have been in
decades, millions of Americans still become victims of crime each year.
For many citizens, a sense of security remains painfully elusive, and we
must continue to fight crime wherever it exists.
During National Crime Victims' Rights Week, we renew our commitment to
assisting those who have been victimized by crime and supporting those
who help survivors rebuild their lives. Crisis counselors, law
enforcement professionals, legal advocates, safe haven staff, and other
service providers help victims meet basic needs and find renewed hope
for their future.
My Administration remains focused on advancing the progress made in
preventing crime and enforcing the rights of its survivors. We have
shined a light on hidden crimes like cyberbullying, online child sexual
exploitation, and sexual assault on college campuses. Through the
President's Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in
Persons, we are coordinating efforts to address this heinous offense and
support its victims. The Tribal Law and Order Act I signed into law last
year gives Native communities new tools to fight crime and greater
resources to assist American Indian and Alaska Native women who have
been the victims of sexual assault or domestic abuse.
To avoid the recurrence of another financial crisis, we are also working
to prevent and prosecute financial crimes. My Administration's Financial
Fraud Enforcement Task Force helps combat fraud and restore losses
suffered by individuals affected by predatory lending, mortgage fraud,
and other deceptive financial practices.
For assistance, resources, or additional information, Americans can
visit: www.CrimeVictims.gov. As we commemorate National Crime Victims'
Rights Week, we reaffirm our pledge to join in supporting crime victims
and creating safer communities.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 10 through April
16, 2011, as National Crime Victims' Rights Week. I call upon all
Americans to observe this week by participating in events that raise
awareness of victims' rights and services and by volunteering to serve
victims in their time of need.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of
April, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8651 of April 8, 2011
Pan American Day and Pan American Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Throughout Pan American Day and Pan American Week, we celebrate the
close partnerships across our hemisphere that advance the ability of our
citizens to enjoy freedom and reach for their highest aspirations. Every
day, the future is being forged by the countries and peoples of the
Americas. The world must now recognize the Americas as a whole as a
dynamic and growing region, because the Americas are democratic and at
peace, and we are coming together to address shared challenges.
Increasingly, our hemisphere is contributing to global prosperity and
security. The bonds between our people are rooted not only in mutual
respect and shared interests and responsibilities, but also in common
values. As the nations of the Americas continue to grow, progress, and
address the challenges of our day, our friendships will be more
important than ever to attaining and maintaining security and prosperity
for all.
This year, the Americas can celebrate milestones that have strengthened
the ties between our societies. More than 60 years ago, our nations came
together in an Organization of American States and declared that
``representative democracy is an indispensable condition for the
stability, peace, and development of the region.'' A decade ago, we
reaffirmed this principle, with an Inter-American Democratic Charter
that stated ``the people of the Americas have a right to democracy and
their governments have an obligation to promote and defend it.'' This
year, we also observe the United Nations' and the Organization of
American States' designation of 2011 as the International Year for
People of African Descent, an opportunity to recognize the myriad ways
that men and women of African descent have strengthened our countries
and enriched our societies.
The Americas demonstrate to countries around the world the strength of
democracy as a means of supporting people's yearnings for freedom and
the pursuit of happiness, but we know our work is far from finished.
Many citizens in our region live in poverty or lack access to jobs and
economic opportunity, and some suffer injustice and human rights
violations, including freedom of expression. In Haiti and in other
places where natural disasters have struck, many lack access to basic
necessities. As we come together to build our economies, increase
cooperation on citizen security and trade, and promote democracy, we
know our friendships, partnerships, and shared principles will help us
overcome today's challenges and build a safer and more prosperous
future.
As we celebrate Pan American Day and Pan American Week, let us
reemphasize the cooperation between all nations of the Americas as a
vital part
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of our interconnected world. Together, we will continue to build on our
partnerships of equality and shared responsibility and demonstrate that
change is possible, every nation can be free, and there can be no
denying the dignity and human rights our countries uphold.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 14, 2011, as Pan
American Day and April 10 through April 16, 2011, as Pan American Week.
I urge the Governors of the 50 States, the Governor of the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, and the officials of other areas under the flag of the
United States of America to honor these observances with appropriate
ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of
April, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8652 of April 8, 2011
National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
The men and women of the United States Armed Forces have faced
innumerable challenges while dedicating their lives to the defense of
our liberties. Contending with perilous combat zones, deployment
overseas, and long absences from home, generations of service members
have answered America's call in its hour of need. On National Former
Prisoner of War Recognition Day, a grateful Nation acknowledges a debt
that can never be repaid and honors those who faced the most
unfathomable of challenges with the utmost bravery and conviction.
We pay solemn tribute to those American sons and daughters who have
endured unimaginable hardship at the hands of foreign captors. Often
faced with deplorable physical and mental treatment, the tremendous
personal sacrifice of these warriors exemplifies the highest of ideals--
honor, duty, and selfless service. We also pay tribute to the families
and friends of these service members, who embody the same qualities of
bravery and sacrifice exhibited by their loved ones, and bear a burden
silently measured in sleepless nights and missed birthdays.
America cherishes those veterans who have returned home after
imprisonment on foreign soil. We remain dedicated to fulfilling the
sacred trust to care for all who have borne the battle. This day and
every day, each of these heroes holds a special place of honor in our
hearts and the well-earned support of a thankful Nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 9, 2011, as
National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day. I call upon all
Americans
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to observe this day of remembrance by honoring our service members,
veterans, and all American prisoners of war. I also call upon Federal,
State, and local government officials and organizations to observe this
day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of
April, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8653 of April 11, 2011
National Equal Pay Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Generations of women have fought for the advancement of their sisters,
daughters, and themselves in acts of great courage--reaching for and
winning the right to vote, breaking barriers in America's universities
and boardrooms, and flooding the modern workforce with skilled talent.
While our Nation has come far, obstacles continue to exist for working
women, who still earn less on average than working men. Each year,
National Equal Pay Day reflects how far into the current year women must
work to match what men earned in the previous year. On National Equal
Pay Day, we rededicate ourselves to carrying forward the fight for true
economic equality for all, regardless of gender.
When the Equal Pay Act was signed into law in 1963, women earned 59
cents for every dollar earned by men. Though women today are more likely
than men to attend and graduate from college, women still earn an
average of only about 77 cents for every dollar a man earns. Even when
accounting for factors such as experience, education, industry, and
hours, this wage gap persists. Over the course of her lifetime, this gap
will cost a woman and her family lost wages, reduced pensions, and
diminished Social Security benefits. Though we have made great strides,
wage discrimination is real and women are still more likely to live in
poverty. These inequities remind us to work even harder to close the
gaps that still exist.
At a time when families across this country are struggling to make ends
meet, National Equal Pay Day reminds us that achieving equal pay for
equal work is not just a women's issue--it is a family issue. In today's
world, women represent both powerful consumers and vital wage earners.
Women make up nearly half of the labor force and mothers are the primary
or co-breadwinners in two-thirds of families. When women are not paid
fairly, the families that depend on their earnings suffer.
That is why one of my first acts as President was to sign the Lilly
Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, a law that empowers women who have been
discriminated against in their salaries to have their day in court to
make it right. I established the National Equal Pay Enforcement Task
Force to identify persistent challenges to equal pay enforcement and
ensure equal pay laws are vigorously enforced throughout our country. My
Administration also published
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Women in America: Indicators of Social and Economic Well-Being, the
first comprehensive Federal report on the status of American women in
almost 50 years, which documents that although women have higher
graduation rates than men at all academic levels, the wage gap still
persists. We are pursuing these efforts because of the simple fact that
when women are paid fairly, our whole Nation will benefit.
Achieving equal pay for women is vital to strengthening the future
prosperity of our country. For the sake of our daughters and
granddaughters, we must renew our commitment to eliminating the barriers
women face in the workforce and give both women and men the opportunity
to reach greater heights.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 12, 2011, as
National Equal Pay Day. I call upon all Americans to recognize the full
value of women's skills and their significant contributions to the labor
force, acknowledge the injustice of wage discrimination, and join
efforts to achieve equal pay.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eleventh day of
April, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8654 of April 12, 2011
Civil War Sesquicentennial
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
On April 12, 1861, artillery guns boomed across Charleston Harbor in an
attack on Fort Sumter. These were the first shots of a civil war that
would stretch across 4 years of tremendous sacrifice, with over 3
million Americans serving in battles whose names reach across our
history. The meaning of freedom and the very soul of our Nation were
contested in the hills of Gettysburg and the roads of Antietam, the
fields of Manassas and the woods of the Wilderness. When the terrible
and costly struggle was over, a new meaning was conferred on our
country's name--the United States of America. We might be tested, but
whatever our fate might be, it would be as one Nation.
The Civil War was a conflict characterized by legendary acts of bravery
in the face of unprecedented carnage. Those who lived in these times--
from the resolute African American soldier volunteering his life for the
liberation of his fellow man to the determined President secure in the
rightness of his cause--brought a new birth of freedom to a country
still mending its divisions.
On this milestone in American history, we remember the great cost of the
unity and liberty we now enjoy, causes for which so many have laid down
their lives. Though America would struggle to extend equal rights to all
our
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citizens and carry out the letter of our laws after the war, the
sacrifices of soldiers, sailors, Marines, abolitionists, and countless
other Americans would bring a renewed significance to the liberties
established by our Founders. When the guns fell silent and the fate of
our Nation was secured, blue and gray would unite under one flag and the
institution of slavery would be forever abolished from our land.
As a result of the sacrifice of millions, we would extend the promise
and freedom enshrined in our Constitution to all Americans. Through the
13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, we would prohibit slavery and
indentured servitude, establish equal protection under the law, and
extend the right to vote to former slaves. We would reach for a more
perfect Union together as Americans, bound by the collective threads of
history and our common hopes for the future.
We are the United States of America--we have been tested, we have
repaired our Union, and we have emerged stronger. As we respond to the
critical challenges of our time, let us do so as adherents to the
enduring values of our founding and stakeholders in the promise of a
shared tomorrow.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 12, 2011, as the
first day of the Civil War Sesquicentennial. I call upon all Americans
to observe this Sesquicentennial with appropriate programs, ceremonies,
and activities that honor the legacy of freedom and unity that the Civil
War bestowed upon our Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of
April, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8655 of April 14, 2011
Education and Sharing Day, U.S.A., 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
The future of our Nation depends on our ability to instill in future
generations the values that will help them write the next proud chapter
of the American story--a dedication to knowledge and a sense of
compassion for their fellow citizens. As we celebrate Education and
Sharing Day, U.S.A., we recommit to preparing our sons and daughters to
thrive with principle and purpose in the 21st century.
Over the next decade, nearly half of all new jobs will require advanced
training or a college degree. Ensuring our children meet this standard
will take the collective commitment of parents, teachers, and
communities coming together to instill a love of learning in our young
people. By doing so, we can unlock every child's potential and give them
the chance to fulfill
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their dreams, while laying the foundation for our country's continued
prosperity.
Education alone, however, cannot fully prepare our children to stand at
the helm of our Nation. In an increasingly interconnected world, America
remains a beacon of hope for many across the globe because of our open
hearts during times of extraordinary challenge and our dedication to our
common humanity. We must nurture these traits in our children to ensure
America continues to be a symbol of promise to the world.
On Education and Sharing Day, U.S.A., we celebrate the example set by
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, who dedicated
his life to improving education and fostering goodwill for all people.
His legacy continues to inspire individuals to carry forward his effort
to build a brighter future. Each year, Education and Sharing Day,
U.S.A., reminds us of our obligation to create opportunities for a
better tomorrow--life lessons we pass on to all our children.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 15, 2011, as
Education and Sharing Day, U.S.A. I call upon all Americans to observe
this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of
April, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8656 of April 15, 2011
National Park Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Every day, America's national parks--from the smallest historic sites to
the largest natural spaces--contribute to our Nation's collective health
and spirit. These places preserve our unique history and iconic symbols.
They protect ecosystems and serve as reservoirs of biodiversity. They
are sources of natural sounds, clean water, and fresh air. Our parks
provide accessible, safe, and affordable places to appreciate the bounty
of our land. They offer opportunities for wholesome outdoor recreation,
which can improve the health and vitality of all Americans.
In no place is America's natural and historic legacy more evident than
our extraordinary collection of 394 national parks. ``Healthy Parks,
Healthy People,'' the focus for this year's National Park Week,
highlights the role of public lands--whether an iconic national park or
a local green space--in connecting human and environmental well-being.
To encourage citizens to spend time in national parks, all entrance fees
will be waived during National Park Week. All Americans can visit
www.NPS.gov to find nearby parks where history can be discovered and
nature explored.
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America is fortunate to have a long history of conservation pioneers,
like President Theodore Roosevelt, who understood the value of
protecting our most precious landscapes. My Administration is building
on this legacy with the America's Great Outdoors Initiative, designed to
create a 21st-century conservation ethic and reconnect Americans with
our natural, cultural, and historic heritage. We are working to ensure
more American children have access to safe and clean parks and open
spaces close to their homes. We will better support the farmers,
ranchers, and private landowners that help protect rural landscapes and
we will manage our public lands and waters with a renewed commitment to
sound stewardship and resilience. As part of this responsibility,
Federal agencies are also partnering with the First Lady's ``Let's
Move!'' initiative on ``Let's Move Outside!,'' a program that connects
young people and their families to the outdoors to encourage healthy
recreation.
The National Park Service, with 84 million acres of land and 17,000
miles of trails, works with environmental groups, scientists, business
innovators, and health-care providers to promote physical activity in
parks. Every Federal dollar invested in our national parks generates
benefits for State and local economies. Beyond park boundaries, the
National Park Service's Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance
Program works with communities to create and enhance local parks,
revitalize rivers, preserve valuable open spaces, and develop trail and
greenway networks that provide close-to-home outdoor opportunities for
everyone--from children to seniors--to get outside, get healthy, and
have fun.
During National Park Week, we reaffirm our need to maintain connections
to the natural world. Whether on the open range or in the heart of a
bustling city, each of us can work to conserve our lands and reinforce
the importance of setting aside beautiful places for inspiration,
relaxation, and recreation for all people.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 16 through April
24, 2011, as National Park Week. I encourage all Americans to visit
their national parks and be reminded of these unique blessings we share
as a Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of
April, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
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Proclamation 8657 of April 22, 2011
Earth Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
For over 40 years, our Nation has come together on Earth Day to
appreciate and raise awareness about our environment, natural heritage,
and the resources upon which generations of Americans have depended.
Healthy land and clean water and air are essential to the health of our
communities and wildlife. Earth Day is an opportunity to renew America's
commitment to preserving and protecting the state of our environment
through community service and responsible stewardship.
From the purity of the air we breathe and the water we drink to the
condition of the land where we live, work, and play, the vitality of our
natural resources has a profound influence on the well-being of our
families and the strength of our economy. Our Nation has a proud
conservation tradition, which includes countless individuals who have
worked to safeguard our natural legacy and ensure our children can
benefit from these resources. Looking to the future of our planet,
American leadership will continue to be pivotal as we confront the
environmental challenges that threaten the health of both our country
and the globe.
Today, our world faces the major global environmental challenge of a
changing climate. Our entire planet must address this problem because no
nation, however large or small, wealthy or poor, can escape the impact
of climate change. The United States can be a leader in reducing the
dangerous pollution that causes global warming and can propel these
advances by investing in the clean energy technologies, markets, and
practices that will empower us to win the future.
While our changing climate requires international leadership, global
action on clean energy and climate change must be joined with local
action. Every American deserves the cleanest air, the safest water, and
unpolluted land, and each person can take steps to protect those
precious resources. When we reduce environmental hazards, especially in
our most overburdened and polluted cities and neighborhoods, we
prioritize the health of our families, and move towards building the
clean energy economy of the 21st century.
To meet this responsibility, Federal and local programs will continue to
ensure our Nation's clean air and water laws are effective, that our
communities are protected from contaminated sites and other pollution,
and that our children are safe from chemicals, toxins, and other
environmental threats. Partnerships and community-driven strategies,
like those highlighted by the America's Great Outdoors Initiative, are
vital to building a future where children have access to outdoor places
close to their homes; where our rural working lands and waters are
conserved and restored; and our parks, forests, waters, and other
natural areas are protected for future generations.
On Earth Day, we recognize the role that each of us can play in
preserving our natural heritage. To protect our environment, keep our
communities
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healthy, and help develop the economy of the future, I encourage all
Americans to visit www.WhiteHouse.Gov/EarthDay to learn ways to protect
and preserve our environment for centuries to come.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 22, 2011, as
Earth Day. I encourage all Americans to participate in service programs
and activities that will protect our environment and contribute to a
prosperous, healthy, and sustainable future.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-second day
of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8658 of April 27, 2011
Workers Memorial Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Every year in America, nearly four million workers suffer an
occupational injury or illness, and thousands die from work-related
injuries. These preventable tragedies disable workers, devastate
families, and erode our economy. On Workers Memorial Day, we celebrate
the improvements in American workplaces and remember those who have been
injured, sickened, or killed on the job. This year, we also recognize
the 40th anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, and we pay tribute to all those who have dedicated their
lives to ensuring safety in the workplace.
The protections working Americans enjoy today were not easily gained.
They had to be won by generations of courageous men and women, fighting
to secure decent working conditions, standing up for those most
vulnerable, and sometimes risking their own economic security and lives.
One century ago in New York City, nearly 150 young garment workers
either burned or jumped to their deaths when a fire ignited in the
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. This senseless tragedy inspired a movement,
calling Americans to pay attention to workplace conditions and bestowing
a new relevance on the importance of unions. Organized labor has
continued to give voice to millions of working men and women by
representing their views and fighting for good working conditions and
fair wages.
Until 1970, many Americans still did not have the legal right to a safe
workplace, and many employers were not legally obligated to control
hazards. The Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 and the
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 fundamentally changed
American workplaces. These laws provided workers the right to safe and
healthy workplaces, ensured workers were protected from dangerous
conditions, and provided protections to employees who reported safety
and health hazards.
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In the four decades since those landmark laws were enacted, we have seen
great progress in conditions for working Americans. Federal agencies are
helping reduce workplace injury rates and control exposure to deadly
hazards by using research on injury and illness causation, implementing
common sense standards, and promoting cooperative programs. The
Department of Labor is continuing to enforce and improve our workplace
safety regulations and is partnering with the Department of Justice to
make sure the full force of the law is brought to bear in cases where
workers are put in harm's way. Many of our Nation's employers have
embraced exemplary worker injury and illness prevention programs--
efforts that exceed Federal safety and health standards. Together, these
improvements have fostered innovation, increased productivity, and
bolstered competitiveness while saving countless lives in the process.
On Workers Memorial Day, we reflect on the vital achievements of the
past and recommit to keeping all workers safe and healthy in the future.
We owe nothing less to the countless working Americans who have built
and shaped our Nation, and to those who have lost their lives or been
injured on the job.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 28, 2011, as
Workers Memorial Day. I call upon all Americans to participate in
ceremonies and activities in memory of those killed or injured due to
unsafe working conditions.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day
of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8659 of April 29, 2011
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
This month, our Nation celebrates the contributions and accomplishments
of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). Our AAPI communities
have roots that span the globe, but their stories of striving and
success are uniquely American. As we celebrate Asian American and
Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we recognize the entrepreneurship and
fortitude of individuals who have helped build our country and shape the
American dream for centuries.
Generations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have helped develop
and defend the United States, often in the face of tremendous racial and
cultural prejudice. Despite these difficulties, AAPI men and women
struggled, sacrificed, and persevered to build a better life for their
children and all Americans.
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Today, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have a profound impact on
our society as leaders in all facets of American life, thriving as
athletes and public servants, entrepreneurs and artists. Whether as
small business owners or as proud members of the United States Armed
Forces, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are helping to write the
next chapter of the American story.
Although many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have achieved
success, far too many still struggle to overcome obstacles of
unemployment, poverty, and language barriers or face significant
education, economic, and health disparities. To help address the diverse
challenges affecting our AAPI communities, I reestablished the White
House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The
Initiative coordinates the efforts of agencies throughout the Federal
Government to promote increased access to and participation in Federal
programs for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who remain
underserved, so we can continue to be a Nation where all things are
possible for all people. All Americans can visit www.AAPI.gov to learn
more about the important work of this Initiative.
From our earliest days, intrepid men and women from the Asia-Pacific
region have forged enduring links between America and other nations as
they moved across the Pacific. In today's globalized world, these bonds
remain critical, reminding the United States of our rich shared history
and integrated future with the dynamic Asia-Pacific region. During Asian
American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, let us celebrate the
millions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders whose talents and
contributions strengthen our economy, protect our security, and enliven
our country every day.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2011 as Asian
American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. I call upon all Americans
to visit www.AsianPacificHeritage.gov to learn more about the history of
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and to observe this month with
appropriate programs and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of
April, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8660 of April 29, 2011
Jewish American Heritage Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Since before our Nation's founding, America's shores have been a safe
harbor for people seeking shelter, hope, and new lives free from
persecution. Here, people of all faiths have broken bread, come
together, and built a better future for their families. The Jewish story
is intertwined with the American story--one of overcoming great
hardship, and one of commitment to
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building a more just world. This month, we embrace and celebrate the
vast contributions Jewish Americans have made to our country.
Seeking a brighter future, a small band of Jewish refugees came to this
land more than three centuries ago, to a place called New Amsterdam.
Hundreds of years later, as Holocaust survivors and families caught
behind the Iron Curtain made their way to America, their perseverance in
the face of unimaginable tragedy inspired the world and proved that the
Jewish people will not be defeated. Many endured bigotry even here,
reminding us that we must continue to fight prejudice and violence at
home and around the globe. In this spirit, President Truman recognized
the small, fledgling nation of Israel within minutes of its creation. To
this day, we continue to foster an unbreakable partnership with Israel,
and we remain committed to pursuing peace in the region and ensuring
Israel's security.
From those first days in New Amsterdam, Jewish Americans have dedicated
their innovation, creativity, and hearts to the greater good--
contributing scientific accomplishments, pioneering works of literature
and musical genius, and performing distinguished service in our Nation's
military. Jewish Americans have defended our country since the days of
the American Revolution as devoted service members and chaplains, and
they continue to serve with distinction in our Armed Forces.
Nearly 70 years ago, during World War II, the U.S.A.T. Dorchester
suffered an explosion at sea while carrying almost a thousand soldiers
and civilian workers. On board were four Army chaplains--two Protestant,
one Catholic, and one Jewish. While the ship sank, the four chaplains
gave their own life jackets to four men without any, calmed the wounded,
and preached strength to the survivors, linking arms and praying
together as the ship submerged. In a time of great need, these chaplains
showed that their shared commitment to the lives of others was stronger
than any division of faith or background.
This same spirit is found in the countless Jewish Americans who, through
their every day actions, work to provide a better life for future
generations by joining hands with all who seek equality and progress.
This month, we remember that the history and unique identity of Jewish
Americans is part of the grand narrative of our country, forged in the
friendships and shared wisdom between people of different faiths.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2011 as Jewish
American Heritage Month. I call upon all Americans to visit
www.JewishHeritageMonth.gov to learn more about the heritage and
contributions of Jewish Americans and to observe this month with
appropriate programs, activities, and ceremonies.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of
April, in the year two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
[[Page 45]]
Proclamation 8661 of April 29, 2011
National Foster Care Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Progress in America can be measured by the opportunities we pass on to
our children. For nearly half a million youth in foster care across our
country, the best path to success we can give them is the chance to
experience a loving home where they can feel secure and thrive. During
National Foster Care Month, we renew our commitment to ensuring a
brighter future for foster youth, and we celebrate the selfless
individuals who make a meaningful difference in their lives.
Young people in foster care are in the system through no fault of their
own, and each of our Nation's children deserves a stable home and a
devoted family. Strong support structures provide children with the
environment needed to learn, grow, and reach their greatest potential.
Permanence is critical to the future success of foster youth and must be
a key component of foster care initiatives.
My Administration is committed to achieving security for every child and
supporting adolescents in foster care as they transition to adulthood.
The Permanency Innovations Initiative, spearheaded by the Department of
Health and Human Services, is providing support to public-private
partnerships focused on decreasing the number of children in long-term
foster care. Over the next 5 years, this program will invest $100
million in new intervention strategies to help foster youth move into
permanent homes, test new approaches to reducing time spent in foster
care placements, and remove the most serious barriers to finding
lasting, loving environments. Over 110,000 children in foster care today
are waiting to be adopted. Across America, there are families who need
these children as much as these children need families. I encourage
those interested in adopting a child in need of a home to explore the
life-changing resources available at www.AdoptUSKids.org.
We are also investing in the health and well-being of our young people
in foster care. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, we
have significantly increased funding for the Title IV-E adoption and
foster care assistance program to provide safe and stable out-of-home
care for children. As a result of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act I
signed into law last year, all children enrolled in foster care
automatically qualify for free meals in all Department of Agriculture
child nutrition programs. Additionally, beginning in 2014, the
Affordable Care Act will require States to extend Medicaid coverage up
to age 26 for all youth who have aged out of the foster care system.
As a Nation, we all have a responsibility to remain persistent in the
charge to provide the best care possible for children when they cannot
remain in their own homes. During National Foster Care Month, we
recognize the efforts of foster families, social workers, faith-based
and community organizations, and others that are improving the lives of
young people in foster care across our country, and I encourage all
Americans to partake in efforts to serve these children in the year
ahead.
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NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2011 as National
Foster Care Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month by
taking an active role in activities across our country that recognize
not only these cherished children and youth, but also the commitment of
so many that touch their lives at a most challenging time.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of
April, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8662 of April 29, 2011
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month shines a spotlight on the
important role physical activity plays in our Nation's health and
wellness. Participation in sports can strengthen both body and mind, and
all kinds of active pastimes can help improve physical and mental well-
being. During this month, we rededicate ourselves to educating,
engaging, and empowering Americans of all backgrounds and abilities to
live a healthy lifestyle.
Through the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, my
Administration is encouraging Americans to make physical fitness and
nutritious eating part of their daily lives. Regular physical activity
and good nutrition are essential to staying healthy. A balanced diet and
exercise can help reduce the risk of developing chronic and costly
diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. For more information
on the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition, and for
tips on exercise and nutrition, visit: www.Fitness.gov.
The health of our sons and daughters is key to our Nation's future.
Unfortunately, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled over the
past three decades, and nearly one in three children in our country is
either overweight or obese. With the help of adults serving as role
models and encouraging positive behaviors, we can give our children the
healthy future they deserve and turn around these troubling statistics.
Playing a game of basketball or taking a walk through a park with a
child may seem like small steps, but they can have an immeasurable
impact on the conduct and health of a young person. When children see
people in their lives making healthful decisions and encouraging them to
do the same, they are more likely to emulate those actions.
The First Lady's ``Let's Move!'' initiative is focused on solving the
epidemic of childhood obesity within a generation by inspiring children
to be physically active and empowering parents and caregivers to make
healthy choices for their families. In its first year, ``Let's Move!''
made great strides
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in building awareness around the issue of childhood obesity, mobilizing
support, garnering commitments across the country, and encouraging
Americans from every sector of our society to get involved. This
progress reminds us of what is possible when we work together as a
Nation to promote healthy habits.
During National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, let us reaffirm our
commitment to leading active lives and fostering healthy homes and
communities for the next generation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2011 as National
Physical Fitness and Sports Month. I call upon the people of the United
States to make daily physical activity, sports participation, and good
nutrition a priority in their lives.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of
April, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8663 of April 29, 2011
Older Americans Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Older Americans are now living longer, healthier, and richer lives than
ever before. As the eldest of the baby boomers turn 65, our Nation can
look forward to the contributions of a new generation of American
seniors. Each year, we set aside the month of May to honor older
Americans, celebrate their role in steering the course of our history,
and recognize their valuable insights and wisdom.
The theme for this year's Older Americans Month, ``Older Americans:
Connecting the Community,'' reminds us that seniors are continually
enriching lives and contributing to our country. This theme also
highlights how technology, including social media and assistive devices,
can help adults remain engaged in their communities and connected to
friends and family who may live far away.
My Administration is committed to meeting the needs and aspirations of
American seniors, both now and in the future. We are working to improve
the health and well-being of older men and women with a focus on
preventive care and community living. The historic Affordable Care Act
gives America's seniors greater freedom and control over their health
care. In addition to benefitting from more comprehensive prescription
drug coverage, most people with Medicare will now be able to receive an
annual wellness visit and many critical preventive services for free,
including certain cancer screenings such as mammograms and
colonoscopies.
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Today, millions of our Nation's seniors are making a significant
difference in society, strengthening our communities through their
service. Older Americans support the arts and serve meals at soup
kitchens. They mentor our children and stock the shelves at food
pantries and libraries. Programs supported by the Corporation for
National and Community Service and the Administration on Aging are
working to connect men and women to community service, benefiting
Americans of all ages. Interested individuals can visit
www.SeniorCorps.gov for more information and local volunteer
opportunities.
Having lived through many of our Nation's most challenging times, older
Americans have shaped the story of America and secured the promise of
our future. We are privileged to recognize these treasured citizens
during Older Americans Month, and honor both the impact they have made
and their accomplishments yet to come.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2011 as Older
Americans Month. I invite Americans of all ages to acknowledge the
contributions of older Americans during this month and throughout the
year.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of
April, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8664 of April 29, 2011
National Charter Schools Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
In communities across our country, successful public charter schools
help put children on the path to academic excellence by harnessing the
power of new ideas, ground-breaking strategies, and the collective
involvement of students, parents, teachers, and administrators. During
National Charter Schools Week, we recognize these institutions of
learning and renew our commitment to preparing our children with the
knowledge and skills they will need to compete in the 21st century.
The unique flexibility afforded to charter schools places them at the
forefront of innovation and in a unique position to spark a dialogue
with other public schools on how to organize teaching and learning and
enhance curricula. As part of our strategy for strengthening public
education, my Administration has supported charter schools and rewarded
successful innovation, encouraging States to improve their laws and
policies so students can thrive.
Equally important to a world-class education system are actions taken by
charter school authorizers and the charter community itself to
strengthen effectiveness and deliver results that improve educational
outcomes. My
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Administration will continue to encourage meaningful accountability,
including closure of low-performing charter schools and replication of
advances and reforms made at high-performing charter schools.
In order to win the global competition for new jobs and industries, we
must win the global competition to educate our children. At their best,
charter schools provide us with an opportunity to meet this challenge
and produce the next generation of great American leaders.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 1 through May 7,
2011, as National Charter School Week. I commend our Nation's charter
schools, teachers, and administrators, and I call on States and
communities to support charter schools and the students they serve.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of
April, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8665 of April 29, 2011
Law Day, U.S.A., 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
At the core of our Nation's values is our faith in the ideals of
equality and justice under law. It is a belief embedded in our most
cherished documents, and honored by President Eisenhower when he
established Law Day in 1958 as ``a day of national dedication to the
principles of government under law.'' Each Law Day, we uphold our
commitment to the rule of law and celebrate its protection of the
freedoms we enjoy.
This year, we pay tribute to one of America's Founders and our second
President, John Adams. As a young attorney in colonial Massachusetts,
John Adams was asked to represent a British officer and eight British
soldiers charged with firing into a crowd and killing five men in the
Boston Massacre. In the face of mass public outcry and at great personal
risk, he accepted the case and showed the world that America is a nation
of laws and that a fair trial is the right of all people.
President Adams' legacy of dedication to fairness and the rights of the
accused has been carried forward by members of the legal profession for
more than two centuries. It is championed by those who represent the
accused and exemplified by women and men who are devoted to securing
equal rights for all, both in America and around the world.
On this Law Day, I encourage all Americans to celebrate and reflect upon
the example left to us by President John Adams and our centuries of
adherence to the rule of law. In so doing, we help ensure future
generations will inherit and promote the ideals that help move our
Nation forward.
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NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, in accordance with Public Law 87-20, as amended, do hereby
proclaim May 1, 2011, as Law Day, U.S.A. I call upon all Americans to
acknowledge the importance of our Nation's legal and judicial systems
with appropriate ceremonies and activities, and to display the flag of
the United States in support of this national observance.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of
April, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8666 of April 29, 2011
Loyalty Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
When our Nation's Founders adopted the Declaration of Independence, they
pledged to build a government that represented America's highest ideals,
a Union that secured its people's sacred rights by ``deriving [its] just
powers from the consent of the governed.'' From the Revolutionary War to
the formation of our young country, our Founders' commitment to this
principle never wavered. In the fall of 1787, America launched its
improbable experiment in democracy, embedding in our Constitution the
core values of liberty, equality, and justice for all.
Throughout our proud history, Americans motivated by loyalty and
fidelity to these principles have worked to perfect our Union. Our
Constitution grants Americans unprecedented freedoms and opportunities.
We are free to speak our minds, worship as we please, choose our
leaders, and criticize them when we disagree. The liberties enshrined in
our founding documents define us as a people and a Nation, ensuring that
every American with the drive to work hard and play by the rules has the
chance to build a better life for their children and grandchildren.
For over two centuries, Americans have looked with pride and devotion on
a Nation that reflects its people's highest moral aspirations. On this
day, we celebrate our brave men and women in uniform and honor those who
gave their lives to keep our country safe and free. We also reflect on
the contributions of patriotic civilians united by an understanding that
citizenship is not just a collection of rights, but also a set of
responsibilities.
The ideals upheld by our forebears have stirred the resolute devotion of
the American people and inspired hope in the hearts of people from
across the globe. With trust in a future that keeps faith with our
history, we remain true to the promise of America and the spirit that
unites us all.
In order to recognize the American spirit of loyalty and the sacrifices
that so many have made for our Nation, the Congress, by Public Law 85-
529 as amended, has designated May 1 of each year as ``Loyalty Day.'' On
this day, let us reaffirm our allegiance to the United States of
America, our Constitution, and our founding values.
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NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim May 1, 2011, as Loyalty Day. This Loyalty
Day, I call upon all the people of the United States to join in support
of this national observance, whether by displaying the flag of the
United States or pledging allegiance to the Republic for which it
stands.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of
April, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8667 of April 29, 2011
National Day of Prayer, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Throughout our history, Americans have turned to prayer for strength,
inspiration, and solidarity.
Prayer has played an important role in the American story and in shaping
our Nation's leaders. President Abraham Lincoln once said, ``I have been
driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I
had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed
insufficient for the day.'' The late Coretta Scott King recounted a
particularly difficult night, during the Montgomery bus boycott, when
her husband, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., received a
threatening phone call and prayed at the kitchen table, saying, ``Lord,
I have nothing left. I have nothing left. I have come to the point where
I can't face it alone.'' Dr. King said, in that moment of prayer, he was
filled with a sense of comfort and resolve, which his wife credited as a
turning point in the civil rights movement.
It is thus fitting that, from the earliest years of our country's
history, Congress and Presidents have set aside days to recognize the
role prayer has played in so many definitive moments in our history. On
this National Day of Prayer, let us follow the example of President
Lincoln and Dr. King. Let us be thankful for the liberty that allows
people of all faiths to worship or not worship according to the dictates
of their conscience, and let us be thankful for the many other freedoms
and blessings that we often take for granted.
Let us pray for the men and women of our Armed Forces and the many
selfless sacrifices they and their families make on behalf of our
Nation. Let us pray for the police officers, firefighters, and other
first responders who put themselves in harm's way every day to protect
their fellow citizens. And let us ask God for the sustenance and
guidance for all of us to meet the great challenges we face as a Nation.
Let us remember in our thoughts and prayers those who have been affected
by natural disasters at home and abroad in recent months, as well as
those working tirelessly to render assistance. And, at a time when many
around the world face uncertainty and unrest, but also hold resurgent
hope for
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freedom and justice, let our prayers be with men and women everywhere
who seek peace, human dignity, and the same rights we treasure here in
America.
The Congress, by Public Law 100-307, as amended, has called on the
President to issue each year a proclamation designating the first
Thursday in May as a ``National Day of Prayer.''
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim May 5, 2011, as a National Day of Prayer. I
invite all citizens of our Nation, as their own faith or conscience
directs them, to join me in giving thanks for the many blessings we
enjoy, and I ask all people of faith to join me in asking God for
guidance, mercy, and protection for our Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of
April, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8668 of May 3, 2011
50th Anniversary of the Freedom Rides
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Fifty years ago, America was struggling to implement the ideals of
justice and equality set forth in our founding. The Freedom Rides,
organized in the spring of 1961, were an interracial, nonviolent effort
to protest the practice of segregation. Setting out from Washington,
D.C., on May 4, 1961, the Freedom Riders sought to actualize the
decision in Boynton v. Virginia, which held that interstate passengers
had a right to be served without discrimination, and to challenge the
enforcement of local segregation laws and practices.
The Freedom Rides, organized by the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE),
the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and other devoted
advocates, built upon the boycotts and sit-ins that were defying Jim
Crow segregation across the South. The Freedom Riders themselves were
black and white, often students and young people, and committed to the
cause of nonviolent resistance. Along the way, buses were attacked and
men and women were intimidated, arrested, and brutally beaten. The
publicity generated by the courageous Freedom Riders as they faced
continued violence and complicit local police drew the attention of the
Kennedy Administration and Americans across our country.
Through their defiant journeys, the Freedom Riders sent a resounding
message to the rest of our Nation that desegregation was a moral
imperative. The Freedom Riders also motivated and mobilized the next
generation of civil rights leaders. The unflinching bravery and
unyielding commitment of the Freedom Riders inspired many of those
involved to become lifelong activists, organizers, and leaders in the
civil rights movement.
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Today, we remember the Freedom Riders for the sacrifices they made in
pursuit of the rights we now enjoy. They showed that people working
together across backgrounds and boundaries could hold America
accountable to our highest ideals and bend the arc of history towards
justice. They showed that young people have the power to generate a
movement for equality and steer the course of our Nation. Because of
their efforts, and the work of those who marched and stood against
injustice, we live in a country where all Americans have the right to
dream and choose their own destiny.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2011 as the 50th
Anniversary of the Freedom Rides. I call upon all Americans to
participate in ceremonies and activities that honor the Freedom Riders
and all those who struggled for equal rights during the civil rights
movement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of May,
in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of
the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8669 of May 5, 2011
Military Spouse Appreciation Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Military spouses serve as steady and supportive partners to the heroes
in uniform who protect and defend our great Nation every day. Across
America and around the world, military spouses serve our country in
their own special way, helping families and friends through the stress
of a deployment, caring for our wounded warriors, and supporting each
other when a loved one has made the ultimate sacrifice.
Our service members and their families seldom ask for support or
recognition. They carry out their duties to family and country with the
quiet courage and strength that has always exemplified the American
spirit. On Military Spouse Appreciation Day, we have an opportunity to
not only honor the husbands and wives of our service members, but also
thank them by actively expressing our gratitude in both word and deed.
When a member of our Armed Forces is deployed, an entire family is
called to serve. The readiness of our troops depends on the readiness of
our military families, as millions of parents, children, and loved ones
sacrifice as well. This means supporting our military spouses is also a
national security imperative. Earlier this year, my Administration
released the report on military families, Strengthening our Military
Families: Meeting America's Commitment, which marshaled resources from
across our Government to identify new opportunities to support these
patriots.
First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden are working tirelessly to
enlist all sectors of American life to address the unique challenges of
military
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families. Their national initiative, ``Joining Forces,'' mobilizes
Americans to give our service members and their families the
opportunities and support they have earned. Americans can find service
projects, send messages of thanks to military families, and learn more
about this initiative by visiting: www.JoiningForces.gov.
On Military Spouse Appreciation Day, let us join together to show our
service members we are taking care of their families back home as they
serve our Nation across the globe. As neighbors, teachers, parents, and
fellow citizens, we can reach out to military husbands and wives in our
communities. We can show our appreciation in countless ways, from
offering to help with household maintenance and childcare to encouraging
the community involvement and career development of military spouses.
It is through our actions that we show our commitment to our service
members and their spouses. By embracing military families, we
demonstrate our partnership in the defense of our freedom and the
security of the United States.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 6, 2011, as
Military Spouse Appreciation Day. I call upon the people of the United
States to honor military spouses with appropriate ceremonies and
activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of May,
in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of
the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8670 of May 6, 2011
National Women's Health Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Women are a foundation of our families, and their health affects the
well-being of our communities and our country. They often make health
care decisions for their families as well as themselves. However,
American women have not always had access to the health care they need,
or the freedom to make the best health choices for their loved ones. As
a Nation, we must ensure our mothers, daughters, friends, and colleagues
receive fair treatment and access to resources they need to live
healthy, happy lives. During National Women's Health Week, we reaffirm
our commitment to making women's health a priority.
In the past, insurance companies have effectively considered being a
woman a ``pre-existing condition,'' and the specific medical needs of
women meant higher fees and less coverage. Before the Affordable Care
Act became law last year, insurance companies could deny coverage to
women due to previous events such as having had cancer or having been
pregnant. In 2014, it will be illegal for insurance companies to
discriminate against
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anyone with a pre-existing condition, or charge women higher premiums
than they charge men.
The Affordable Care Act gives women greater freedom and control over
their health care. Thanks to this landmark legislation, women joining
new health plans have the ability to choose their own doctor from any
primary care provider, OB-GYN, or pediatrician in their health plan's
network without a referral. The new insurance exchanges created by this
law ensure coverage of preventive care and basic health services,
including maternity care, which is often not provided in health plans in
the individual insurance market.
National Women's Health Week is also an opportunity for women of all
ages, ethnicities, and economic circumstances to take simple, everyday
steps to embrace healthier lifestyles. This week, we encourage women to
schedule their annual checkups and talk to their health care provider
about important health screenings, many of which will be free of charge
because of the Affordable Care Act. All American women and their loved
ones can visit www.WomensHealth.gov and www.GirlsHealth.gov for more
information and resources on living longer and healthier lives. During
National Women's Health Week, I encourage women, and all Americans, to
make their own health a priority and support each other in these
efforts.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 8 through May 14,
2011, as National Women's Health Week. I encourage all Americans to
celebrate the progress we have made in protecting women's health and to
promote awareness, prevention, and educational activities that improve
the health of all women.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of May,
in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of
the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8671 of May 6, 2011
Mother's Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
As our society has changed, so have the challenges facing women raising
families. Many American women are raising children at home while caring
for an elderly parent, holding down two jobs, serving as the sole parent
in a family, or defending our country overseas as a service member. Our
Nation's mothers not only look after our needs and teach us to be
compassionate and responsible, but also manage households, build
careers, and improve our neighborhoods and communities. While the roles
and responsibilities of mothers have evolved, their guidance and care
remains as strong and constant as ever.
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On Mother's Day, we celebrate the extraordinary importance of mothers in
our lives. The bond of love and dedication a mother shares with her
children and family is without bounds or conditions. Whether an adoptive
mom or grandmother, mother or partner, the women who raise us show us
that no hurdle is too high, and no dream is beyond our reach. As sons
and daughters, we show our gratitude for the women in our lives who care
for us, shape our values, and set us on the path to a limitless future.
Throughout our history, mothers have made remarkable sacrifices for the
well-being of their loved ones. Nearly a century ago, Anna Jarvis, who
had suffered the loss of her beloved mother, campaigned with many other
Americans to make Mother's Day a recognized holiday and pay respect to
all women raising children. Today, we continue to celebrate the
influence, love, and nurturing our mothers provide in our lives and in
our national life.
To support the parents who are raising tomorrow's leaders, my
Administration is committed to doing all we can to create jobs and
economic opportunities for families across America. We are striving to
help mothers in the workplace by enforcing equal pay laws and addressing
workplace flexibility as families balance the demands of work, child and
elder care, and education. My budget strengthens the Child and Dependent
Care Tax Credit to help families afford the cost of quality childcare.
The tax-cut package we passed last December extended expansions of the
Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit, providing a tax cut for
15.7 million families with about 29.1 million children. The Affordable
Care Act gives women more access to health care and better resources to
protect the health of their families by requiring new insurance plans to
cover wellness benefits for children, ending the exclusion of pre-
existing conditions by insurance companies, and extending parents'
health coverage for young adults up to age 26. First Lady Michelle
Obama's ``Let's Move!'' initiative is also providing mothers with
helpful tools to support their children's healthy growth.
Mothers are the rocks of our families and a foundation in our
communities. In gratitude for their generous love, patient counsel, and
lifelong support, let us pay respect to the women who carry out the hard
work of motherhood with skill and grace, and let us remember those
mothers who, though no longer with us, inspire us still.
The Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 8, 1914, (38 Stat.
770), has designated the second Sunday in May each year as ``Mother's
Day'' and requested the President to call for its appropriate
observance.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim May 8, 2011, as Mother's Day. I urge all
Americans to express their love, respect, and gratitude to mothers
everywhere, and I call upon all citizens to observe this day with
appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of May,
in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of
the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
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Proclamation 8672 of May 9, 2011
National Building Safety Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Building safety is a critical component of our homeland security, our
personal and public safety, the protection of property, and our economic
well-being. While disasters have had devastating and heartbreaking
effects in our country and around the world, modern building safety
standards and fire prevention codes help us withstand, mitigate, and
rapidly recover from hurricanes, winter storms, tornadoes, earthquakes,
and floods.
It is our collective responsibility as a Nation--nonprofit organizations
and the public and private sectors--to implement effective standards and
codes that sustain safe and resilient structures. We need innovation and
partnerships at all levels of society to develop transformative
breakthroughs in building materials and construction techniques that
strengthen the integrity of our homes, workplaces, and commercial
facilities.
Building safety and fire prevention officials, architects, engineers,
design professionals, builders, and others in the construction industry
work every day to ensure the sound construction of buildings and the
safety of our citizens. Their efforts to construct or retrofit buildings
that utilize state-of-the-art safety, energy efficiency, and fire
prevention standards are important to our national resilience and our
ability to compete in the 21st-century economy.
As a resilient Nation, we must continue to do everything in our power to
enhance our ability to withstand and rapidly recover from natural and
manmade disasters, disruptions, and emergencies.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2011 as National
Building Safety Month. I encourage citizens, government agencies,
private businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other interested groups
to join in activities that will increase awareness of building safety,
and I further urge Americans to learn more about how they can contribute
to building safety at home and in their communities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of May,
in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of
the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
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Proclamation 8673 of May 12, 2011
Small Business Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Our country started as an idea, and it took hard-working, dedicated, and
visionary patriots to make it a reality. Successful businesses start
much the same way--as ideas realized by entrepreneurs who dream of a
better world and work until they see it through. From the family
businesses that anchor Main Street to the high-tech startups that keep
America on the cutting edge, small businesses are the backbone of our
economy and the cornerstones of America's promise.
Throughout our economic recovery, persevering small businesses have
helped put our country back on track. Countless new and saved jobs have
come from small businesses who took advantage of tax relief, access to
capital, and other tools in the Recovery Act, the Small Business Jobs
Act, and other initiatives launched by my Administration to put
Americans back to work. To ensure the stability of our recovery, we must
continue to provide new opportunities for small business owners and the
next generation of entrepreneurs, who will help us out-innovate our
global competitors to win the future.
To support high-growth businesses, my Administration has launched
Startup America, an initiative that will strengthen access to capital
and mentoring while reducing barriers to growth for small businesses.
Entrepreneurship is essential to the strength and resilience of our
economy and our way of life. Startup America will give entrepreneurs the
tools they need to build their business into the next great American
company. To encourage innovation, we released the Strategy for American
Innovation, a report outlining my Administration's plan to harness
ingenuity. This means investing in the building blocks of innovation,
like education and infrastructure, while promoting market-based growth
through tax credits and effective intellectual property laws.
The National Export Initiative is working to open markets to American
businesses and support small exporters, who increase American
competitiveness abroad and create good jobs here at home. We continue to
create opportunities for businesses in underserved communities through
new lending initiatives, expanded access to counseling, and technical
assistance. We are also working to provide small businesses more
opportunities to compete for Federal contracts. This gives Federal
agencies access to some of our country's best products and services
while helping these businesses grow and employ community members.
Through these and other initiatives, we are supporting the entrepreneurs
and small businesses that provide work for half of American workers and
create two out of every three new private sector jobs.
Small businesses embody the promise of America: that if you have a good
idea and are willing to work hard enough, you can succeed in our
country. This week, we honor and celebrate the individuals whose
inspiration and efforts keep America strong.
[[Page 59]]
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 15 through May 21,
2011, as Small Business Week. I call upon all Americans to recognize the
contributions of small businesses to the competitiveness of the American
economy with appropriate programs and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of May,
in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of
the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8674 of May 13, 2011
Emergency Medical Services Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Each day, Americans rely on emergency medical service (EMS) systems to
help them in their hour of greatest need. In communities across our
Nation, we take comfort in knowing that well-trained, caring men and
women are only a phone call away from treating injuries sustained in a
car crash, responding to a cardiac emergency, or helping a child with
asthma breathe easier. When accidents and illnesses strike unexpectedly,
EMS personnel are the first on the scene, and their timely actions often
make the difference between life and death.
Emergency medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics, and first responders
serve on the front lines of our health care and public health system.
Working with them are many others whose dedication makes the EMS system
function, including emergency dispatchers, physicians, nurses, and
researchers, as well as colleagues in the fire service and law
enforcement. Our Nation's EMS system represents the American spirit at
its best, with many ambulances in the United States partially or fully
staffed by volunteers. They devote countless hours to keeping their
communities, including often underserved rural areas, safe.
My Administration is committed to supporting the brave men and women who
help keep America secure and resilient. This year, I signed the James
Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act into law, ensuring that rescue
and recovery workers, and others suffering from health consequences
related to the World Trade Center disaster, have access to the medical
monitoring and treatment they need and deserve. As a Nation, we must
never forget the selfless courage demonstrated by the EMTs, paramedics,
and first responders who risked their lives to save others.
During EMS Week, we recognize the importance of ensuring our Nation's
children have full access to high-quality EMS care. Reauthorized in the
Affordable Care Act, the Federal EMS for Children program works with
public and private sector partners across the United States to make
certain that all children--regardless of where they live, attend school,
or travel--receive appropriate EMS care.
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EMS agencies are an integral part of our Nation's health security
strategy, and they help to build community resilience by strengthening
all aspects of the emergency response system. Whether responding by car,
ambulance, helicopter, boat, or plane, this diverse group of dedicated
Americans provides crucial pre-hospital medical care to fellow citizens
when they need it most. This week, we take time to recognize the
inspiring contributions of our Nation's EMS practitioners and honor
their dedication to serving their country and fellow citizens.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 15 through May 21,
2011, as Emergency Medical Services Week. I encourage all Americans to
observe this occasion by sharing their support with their local EMS
providers and taking steps to improve their personal safety and
preparedness.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of
May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8675 of May 13, 2011
National Defense Transportation Day and National Transportation Week,
2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
America has long depended on a robust and reliable transportation
network to support our drive towards lasting security and prosperity.
Our highways, railroads, ports, and airways allow us to move around our
country quickly and efficiently. Effective transportation systems have
helped our economy grow, our first responders save lives, and our Armed
Forces mobilize.
The freedom of movement created by America's transportation
infrastructure facilitates our Nation's economic vitality. Our ability
to travel safely enables us to trade with our neighbors and visit our
friends and family. It provides Americans from every corner of our
country access to the first-rate products and services that define our
economy, increasing the productivity of our people and our land. Our
transportation system also permits our military to move personnel and
supplies at a moment's notice. The ability to deploy rapidly empowers
our men and women in uniform to respond to crises or natural disasters
at home and abroad with urgency.
Maintaining the transportation networks that earlier generations
bequeathed to us is a challenge, and we must do more than preserve the
status quo. We need to develop a 21st-century transportation network--
one that is safer, more energy-efficient, more environmentally
sustainable, and offers more transportation choices to our citizens than
the one we inherited.
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As we celebrate the legacy of our Nation's transportation arteries, we
recognize the world is now more connected and more competitive than ever
before. New companies around the world look for the fastest and most
reliable ways to move people and goods. To attract new businesses to our
shores, we must rebuild crumbling roads and bridges and continue to
invest in the modernization of our infrastructure. We must repair our
highways, reengineer our railroads into high-speed rail networks, and
ready ourselves for the next revolutionary breakthroughs in
transportation technology. We must provide increased transportation
options that cut commuting time, ease traffic congestion, reduce oil
consumption, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and expand access to job
opportunities and housing that American families can afford. Together,
we can continue the work started by the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act to maintain a world-class logistics network, create new
jobs, and win the future for our children.
In recognition of the importance of our Nation's transportation
infrastructure, and of the men and women who build, maintain, and
utilize it, the Congress has requested, by joint resolution approved May
16, 1957, as amended (36 U.S.C. 120), that the President designate the
third Friday in May of each year as ``National Defense Transportation
Day,'' and, by joint resolution approved May 14, 1962, as amended (36
U.S.C. 133), that the week during which that Friday falls be designated
as ``National Transportation Week.''
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim Friday, May 20, 2011, as National Defense
Transportation Day and May 15 through May 21, 2011, as National
Transportation Week. I call upon all Americans to recognize the
importance of our Nation's transportation infrastructure and to
acknowledge the contributions of those who build, operate, and maintain
it.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of
May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8676 of May 13, 2011
Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Our Nation's public safety officers are heroes who risk their lives to
keep our families and communities safe. Each of these brave men and
women goes to work not knowing what dangers might lie ahead, making
tremendous sacrifices to uphold justice and protect the innocent. This
week, we extend our gratitude for their service to our country. We also
remember those killed in the line of duty, and we mourn their loss and
honor the loved ones they left behind.
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Our law enforcement personnel are dedicated to the communities they
serve, working tirelessly to transform neighborhoods across our country.
Despite facing budget constraints and daily threats, public safety
officers embrace innovative approaches to improving our Nation and
upholding the rule of law.
Public safety officers put their lives on the line to protect ours,
sometimes making the ultimate sacrifice. One death is too many, and
every death is an unfathomable loss to the officer's family, colleagues,
and community. In the past year, we have seen a tragic wave of police
officer fatalities, and have mourned the loss of too many public safety
officers. This year also marks 10 years since the tragedy of September
11. We will always remember the selfless courage shown by police
officers, fire fighters, and first responders in New York City,
Pennsylvania, and at the Pentagon who rushed into unknown dangers to
save the lives of others. Their service--and the service of all who have
worn the badge--will never be forgotten.
While we can never adequately thank our law enforcement officers for
their service, we can use every tool at our disposal to protect them on
the job. My Administration is committed to stopping senseless tragedies
and keeping our police safe. We will continue to provide funding for
resources to keep cops on the street and to collaborate with law
enforcement agencies and organizations to develop strategies that reduce
injuries and deaths in the line of duty. We have also launched the new
Preventing Violence Against Law Enforcement and Ensuring Officer
Resilience and Survivability (VALOR) initiative, designed to reduce and
prevent law enforcement officer injuries and line-of-duty deaths.
We know that bullet-resistant vests and body armor can save lives. After
consulting with members of the law enforcement community, we instituted
a new mandatory wear policy as part of our Bulletproof Vest Partnership
program beginning this year. We will also continue to seek more
efficient ways to share information and invest in evidence-based, smart-
on-crime approaches to fighting crime. Moreover, if tragedy does strike,
we will provide support to the families of law enforcement officers.
As we commemorate Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week, we honor
the discipline and distinction our peace officers have shown in
conditions we can only imagine. They are continually called upon to
remain vigilant and take courageous action. As a country, we promise to
stand beside our public safety community and do our part to help keep
America safe and secure.
By a joint resolution approved October 1, 1962, as amended (76 Stat.
676), and by Public Law 103-322, as amended (36 U.S.C. 136-137), the
President has been authorized and requested to designate May 15 of each
year as ``Peace Officers Memorial Day'' and the week in which it falls
as ``Police Week.''
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim May 15, 2011, as Peace Officers Memorial Day
and May 15 through May 21, 2011, as Police Week. I call upon all
Americans to observe these events with appropriate ceremonies and
activities. I also call on Governors of the United States and the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, officials of the other territories subject
to the jurisdiction of the United States, and appropriate officials of
all units of government, to direct that the flag be flown at half-staff
on Peace Officers Memorial Day.
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I further encourage all Americans to display the flag at half-staff
from their homes and businesses on that day.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of
May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8677 of May 13, 2011
World Trade Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
American businesses embody the ingenuity and entrepreneurship that has
defined our Nation since its founding, and they consistently reinvent
themselves to adapt to changing times. As we recover from a historic
economic recession, enterprising commercial leaders continue to look
beyond our borders to supply the world with innovative and
technologically advanced products and services. Millions of jobs in the
United States are tied to exports, and our world continues to grow more
interdependent.
World Trade Week is a time to highlight the vital connection between the
global economy and the prosperity of our own country. Our 21st-century
economy requires American businesses and workers to compete in an
international marketplace. To ensure our success, we must advance a
robust, forward-looking trade agenda that emphasizes exports and
domestic job growth.
Last year, my Administration launched the National Export Initiative, an
effort to marshal the full resources of the Federal Government behind
America's businesses, large and small, and help them sell their goods,
services, and ideas to the world. Though the United States remains a
leading exporter, this Initiative is redoubling our efforts to ensure
American companies have free and fair access in trade, and it is
building on our successes in export-driven growth. Through this effort,
we can help even more American companies grow, compete, and thrive in
global markets and help reach our goal of doubling exports in 5 years by
2015. In turn, those companies will be able to hire more American
workers to produce the goods and services they sell to customers around
the world.
By out-innovating, out-educating, and out-building the rest of the
world, we can keep Americans working and export more of the high-quality
products and services for which our workers and companies are admired.
With a commitment to winning the future, we can continue to lead the
world in attracting the jobs, businesses, and industries of tomorrow.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 15 through May 21,
2011, as World Trade Week. I encourage all Americans to observe this
week with events, trade shows, and educational programs that celebrate
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and inform Americans about the benefits of trade to our Nation and the
global economy.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of
May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8678 of May 18, 2011
National Maritime Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
In times of peace or war, the civilians serving in the United States
Merchant Marine have helped keep our Nation safe and prosperous. We
depend on these men and women serving on our ships and tugs, in our
ports and shipyards, close to home or far at sea, to connect businesses,
service members, and citizens around the world. On National Maritime
Day, we honor their invaluable contributions to America's economic
strength and security.
On May 22, 1819, the SS Savannah completed the first successful voyage
by a steam powered ship across the Atlantic, shepherding in a new age of
maritime travel and transport. By the 20th century, the United States
maritime trade was booming, fostering exchanges across the world and
aiding our military at war. During World War II, Merchant Marines were
critical in providing necessary supplies and services to troops abroad,
while suffering an extraordinarily high death rate. Hundreds of merchant
ships fell to enemy action, and nearly one in thirty mariners did not
return home.
United States flag vessels and those who operate them continue to be an
integral part of our military operations overseas. They support
operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as humanitarian aid missions
and disaster relief efforts. Without the steadfast commitment of our
mariners, our Nation would not be as prepared to deal with unforeseen
events, conflicts, or crises. Their bravery and valor make our waterways
safer and more efficient every day.
Today, our maritime industry is a valuable source of skilled employment
for American workers, contributing billions of dollars to our economy.
It is also a critical part of our transportation system. Last year, my
Administration implemented ``America's Marine Highway Program,'' an
effort that enables American businesses to participate in improving the
safety and environmental sustainability of our waterways. Our mariners'
continued work is helping American industry remain competitive in the
global economy, pushing us toward a more prosperous and free 21st
century.
The Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 20, 1933, has
designated May 22 of each year as ``National Maritime Day,'' and has
authorized and requested the President to issue annually a proclamation
calling for its appropriate observance.
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NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim May 22, 2011, as National Maritime Day. I
call upon the people of the United States to mark this observance and to
display the flag of the United States at their homes and in their
communities. I also request that all ships sailing under the American
flag dress ship on that day.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of
May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8679 of May 20, 2011
National Hurricane Preparedness Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
National Hurricane Preparedness Week highlights the importance of
planning ahead to protect our families and secure our communities and
homes in advance of the upcoming hurricane season.
Hurricanes are powerful storms that can create severe flooding,
dangerous storm surges, high winds, and tornadoes. The effects of these
storms can be devastating to entire communities and can have long-
lasting consequences, including loss of life and property. In addition
to threatening coastal areas, hurricanes significantly impact inland
locations. Our Nation has seen devastating hurricanes and storms, and we
must not let our guard down as we prepare for this year's hurricane
season. With tens of millions of Americans living in coastal
communities, preparation can enhance our ability to respond to and
recover from any natural disaster we might face.
Our Nation's weather forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration's National Hurricane Center continue to improve the
accuracy of their hurricane forecasts. However, we cannot prevent a
hurricane from making landfall, and awareness of the threat is not
enough--we must translate this knowledge into action, and work together
to develop prepared and resilient communities. My Administration
recognizes that we must move from a government-centric approach to
disaster management to a community-oriented approach that includes all
levels of government, the private sector, volunteers, community and
faith-based organizations, and the public. A whole community effort is
needed to effectively prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover
from, and mitigate against any disaster.
During National Hurricane Preparedness Week, we emphasize the need for
individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and families to prepare emergency
plans, create emergency supply kits, and learn evacuation routes. More
information on hurricane hazards and details on how to secure buildings
and belongings is available at www.Hurricanes.gov/Prepare and
www.Ready.gov.
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America has seen the heartbreak a hurricane can leave behind. By working
together, government, private and nonprofit organizations, emergency
responders, and private citizens can help save lives and reduce the
damage caused by these storms.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 22 through May 28,
2011, as National Hurricane Preparedness Week. I call upon government
agencies, private organizations, schools, media, and residents in the
coastal areas of our Nation to share information about hurricane
preparedness and response to help save lives and protect communities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of
May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8680 of May 20, 2011
National Safe Boating Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
As Americans anticipate the warm weather of the summer months, we look
to our Nation's abundant outdoors and waterways for relaxation and
recreation. America's lakes, rivers, and oceans are enjoyable, but can
sometimes pose dangers to watergoers. National Safe Boating Week is an
opportunity to highlight the importance of safety precautions and
sensible behavior when spending time on the water.
Safe boating is responsible boating. Individuals can prepare for
excursions by taking boating safety courses and filing float plans with
family members, relatives, or friends. To prevent accidents and drowning
while on the water, boaters should remain aware of weather conditions,
perform vessel safety checks, and ensure each passenger wears a life
jacket and all required safety equipment is on board. Safe boating is
also sober boating. Alcohol use is a leading factor in fatal boating
accidents, so limiting alcohol use while on or operating a boat can save
lives.
Each year for National Safe Boating Week, the United States Coast Guard
partners with boating organizations to raise awareness on the importance
of taking proper precautions while boating. By embracing responsible
boating practices, Americans can avoid preventable injuries and enjoy
the majesty of our Nation's waterways.
In recognition of the importance of safe boating practices, the
Congress, by joint resolution approved June 4, 1958 (36 U.S.C. 131), as
amended, has authorized and requested the President to proclaim annually
the 7-day period prior to Memorial Day weekend as ``National Safe
Boating Week.''
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim May 21 through May 27, 2011, as National
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Safe Boating Week. I encourage all Americans who participate in boating
activities to observe this occasion by learning more about safe boating
practices and taking advantage of boating education.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of
May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8681 of May 20, 2011
Armed Forces Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
The Armed Forces of the United States of America embody the highest
ideals of our Nation. Serving at home and in posts around the world, our
service members represent America as ambassadors of our principles. They
display the honor, duty, and discipline of the finest fighting force the
world has ever known. These brave men and women are willing to sacrifice
their lives for the security of our Nation and the freedoms of their
fellow citizens. We are humbled by their continued resolve to respond to
the call of duty and defend America and its people.
From our earliest days as a fledgling republic, the United States has
relied on the unwavering courage and patriotism of our men and women in
uniform to sustain us through wars, emergencies, and challenges at home
and abroad. While conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other areas demand
an ever-changing set of capabilities and competencies, our service
members continue to protect our Nation with professionalism and
distinction.
As a grateful Nation, we are indebted to the members of our Armed Forces
for their service, and we support them in each mission they are tasked
to accomplish. I have no greater privilege as President of the United
States than serving as Commander in Chief, and my Administration is
dedicated to providing the men and women of our Armed Forces with the
resources and support they require and deserve. We are also committed to
providing the same superior support to our veterans when they return
home. This is the sacred trust our Nation must hold with her warriors.
It is not just our troops who are called to serve and sacrifice, but
also their families, who give our service members the love and support
they need to carry on the fight. We will continue to improve and enhance
our support for the families and survivors our troops leave behind.
These heroes are dedicated to defending the country we love, and we must
stand firmly beside them and help care for their spouses and children.
On Armed Forces Day, let us salute the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen,
Marines, and Coast Guardsmen who perform their duties with impeccable
courage, commitment, and character, and recognize our moral obligation
to serve them and their families as well as they have served us.
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NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United
States, continuing the precedent of my predecessors in office, do hereby
proclaim the third Saturday of May as Armed Forces Day.
I direct the Secretary of Defense on behalf of the Army, Navy, Air
Force, and Marine Corps, and the Secretary of Homeland Security on
behalf of the Coast Guard, to plan for appropriate observances, with the
Secretary of Defense responsible for encouraging the participation and
cooperation of civil authorities and private citizens.
I invite the Governors of the States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
and other areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, to
provide for the observance of Armed Forces Day in an appropriate manner
to increase public understanding and appreciation of our Armed Forces. I
also invite veterans, civic leaders, and other organizations to join in
the observance of Armed Forces Day.
Finally, I call upon all Americans to display the flag of the United
States at their homes on Armed Forces Day, and I urge citizens to learn
more about military service by attending and participating in the local
observances of the day. I also encourage Americans to volunteer at
organizations that provide support to our troops.
Proclamation 8522 of May 14, 2010, is hereby superseded.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of
May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8682 of May 23, 2011
To Modify the Rules of Origin for the United States-Singapore Free Trade
Agreement, and for Other Purposes
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
1. On May 6, 2003, the President entered into the United States-
Singapore Free Trade Agreement (USSFTA). The USSFTA was approved by the
Congress in section 101(a) of the United States-Singapore Free Trade
Agreement Implementation Act (the ``USSFTA Act'') (Public Law 108-78,
117 Stat. 948) (19 U.S.C. 3805 note).
2. Presidential Proclamation 7747 of December 30, 2003, implemented the
USSFTA with respect to the United States and, pursuant to the USSFTA
Act, incorporated in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
(HTS) the tariff modifications and rules of origin necessary or
appropriate to carry out the USSFTA.
3. Section 202 of the USSFTA Act provides rules for determining whether
goods imported into the United States originate in the territory of a
USSFTA Party and thus are eligible for the tariff and other treatment
contemplated under the USSFTA. Section 202(o) authorizes the President
to
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proclaim, as part of the HTS, the rules of origin set out in the USSFTA
and to proclaim modifications to previously proclaimed rules of origin,
subject to the consultation and layover requirements of section 103(a)
of the USSFTA Act.
4. The United States and Singapore have agreed to modify the USSFTA
rules of origin by adding certain rules of origin. I have determined
that modification of the USSFTA rules of origin set forth in
Proclamation 7747 is therefore necessary.
5. On July 24, 2010, in accordance with section 103(a) of the USSFTA
Act, the United States Trade Representative submitted a report to the
Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Finance of the Senate that set forth the proposed
modifications to the USSFTA rules of origin. The consultation and
layover period specified in section 103(a) expired on November 22, 2010.
6. Presidential Proclamation 8097 of December 29, 2006, modified the HTS
pursuant to section 1206 of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of
1988 (19 U.S.C. 3006) to conform the HTS to amendments to the
International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and
Coding System.
7. Presidential Proclamation 8214 of December 27, 2007, modified the
HTS, including adjustments to rules of origin under the USSFTA to ensure
that the tariff and certain other treatment accorded originating goods
of Singapore under tariff categories modified in Proclamation 8097
continued, and to carry out the duty reductions proclaimed in
Proclamation 7747. A rule of origin was inadvertently omitted from
general note 25 of the HTS. I have determined that a technical
correction to general note 25 to the HTS is necessary to provide for the
intended tariff and certain other treatment accorded under the USSFTA to
originating goods of Singapore.
8. On April 12, 2006, the United States entered into the United States-
Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (USPTPA), and on June 24 and June 25,
2007, the Parties to the USPTPA signed a protocol amending the USPTPA.
The Congress approved the USPTPA as amended in section 101(a) of the
United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act (the
``USPTPA Act'') (Public Law 110-138, 121 Stat. 1455) (19 U.S.C. 3805
note).
9. Section 201 of the USPTPA Act authorizes the President to proclaim
such modifications or continuation of any duty, such continuation of
duty-free or excise treatment, or such additional duties, as the
President determines to be necessary or appropriate to carry out or
apply Articles 2.3, 2.5, 2.6, 3.3.13 and Annex 2.3 of the USPTPA.
10. U.S. General Note 5 to Annex 2.3 of the USPTPA provides that
originating goods of Peru shall not be subject to any duty provided for
in heading 9901 of the HTS, provided that certain conditions specified
in that note are met.
11. Pursuant to section 201 of the USPTPA Act, I have determined that
modifications to the HTS are necessary to carry out U.S. General Note 5
to Annex 2.3 of the USPTPA.
12. Presidential Proclamation 6641 of December 15, 1993, implemented the
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with respect to the United
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States and, pursuant to the North American Free Trade Agreement
Implementation Act (the ``NAFTA Act'') (Public Law 103-182, 107 Stat.
2057), incorporated in the HTS the schedule of duty reductions and rules
of origin necessary or appropriate to carry out the NAFTA.
13. Section 202 of the NAFTA Act (19 U.S.C. 3332) provides rules for
determining whether goods imported into the United States originate in a
NAFTA Party and thus are eligible for the tariff and other treatment
contemplated under the NAFTA.
14. Presidential Proclamation 8405 of August 31, 2009, modified the HTS,
including adjustments to rules of origin under the NAFTA, to ensure that
the tariff and certain other treatment accorded originating goods of
Canada and Mexico under tariff categories modified in Proclamation 8097
continued. Two technical errors were made in the modifications to
general note 12 to the HTS. I have determined that technical corrections
to general note 12 to the HTS are necessary to provide for the intended
tariff and certain other treatment accorded under the NAFTA to
originating goods.
15. Presidential Proclamation 8536 of June 12, 2010, made technical
corrections to certain rules of origin under the NAFTA. Two additional
errors in general note 12 were not corrected in that proclamation. I
have determined that further technical corrections to general note 12
are necessary to provide the tariff and certain other treatment accorded
under the NAFTA to originating goods.
16. Section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2483),
authorizes the President to embody in the HTS the substance of the
relevant provisions of that Act, and of other Acts, affecting import
treatment, and actions thereunder, including the removal, modification,
continuance, or imposition of any rate of duty or other import
restriction.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States of America, including section 202 of the
USSFTA Act, section 201 of the USPTPA Act, and section 604 of the Trade
Act of 1974, do proclaim that:
(1) In order to modify the rules of origin under the USSFTA, general
note 25 to the HTS is modified as provided in Annex I to this
proclamation.
(2) The modifications made by section A of Annex I to this proclamation
shall be effective with respect to goods of Singapore that are entered,
or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after May 24, 2011.
(3) The modification made by section B of Annex I to this proclamation
shall be effective with respect to goods of Singapore that are entered,
or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after February 7,
2008.
(4) In order to implement certain provisions of Annex 2.3 of the USPTPA,
the HTS is modified as provided in Annex II to this proclamation.
(5) The modifications made by Annex II to this proclamation shall be
effective with respect to originating goods of Peru entered, or
withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after January 1, 2011.
(6) In order to make technical corrections necessary to provide the
intended rules of origin under the NAFTA, the HTS is modified as set
forth in Annex III to this proclamation.
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(7) The modifications to the HTS set forth in Annex III to this
proclamation shall be effective with respect to articles entered, or
withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after October 2, 2009.
(8) Any provisions of previous proclamations and Executive Orders that
are inconsistent with the actions taken in this proclamation are
superseded to the extent of such inconsistency.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-third day of
May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
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Proclamation 8683 of May 27, 2011
Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
For over two centuries, brave men and women have laid down their lives
in defense of our great Nation. These heroes have made the ultimate
sacrifice so we may uphold the ideals we all cherish. On this Memorial
Day, we honor the generations of Americans who have fought and died to
defend our freedom.
Today, all who wear the uniform of the United States carry with them the
proud legacies of those who have made our Nation great, from the
patriots who fought at Lexington and Concord to the troops who stormed
the beaches at Normandy. Ordinary men and women of extraordinary courage
have, since our earliest days, answered the call of duty with valor and
unwavering devotion. From Gettysburg to Kandahar, America's sons and
daughters have served with honor and distinction, securing our liberties
and laying a foundation for lasting peace.
On this solemn day in which Americans unite in remembrance of our
country's fallen, we also pray for our military personnel and their
families, our veterans, and all who have lost loved ones. As a grateful
Nation, we forever carry the selfless sacrifice of our fallen heroes in
our hearts, and we share the task of caring for those they left behind.
In his second Inaugural Address, in the midst of the Civil War,
President Lincoln called on our embattled Nation ``to care for him who
shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan, to do
all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among
ourselves, and with all nations.'' On this Memorial Day, and every day,
we bear a heavy burden of responsibility to uphold the founding
principles so many died defending. I call on all Americans to come
together to honor the men and women who gave their lives so that we may
live free, and to strive for a just and lasting peace in our world.
In honor of our fallen service members, the Congress, by a joint
resolution approved May 11, 1950, as amended (36 U.S.C. 116), has
requested the President issue a proclamation calling on the people of
the United States to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for
permanent peace and designating a period on that day when the people of
the United States might unite in prayer. The Congress, by Public Law
106-579, has also designated 3:00 p.m. local time on that day as a time
for all Americans to observe, in their own way, the National Moment of
Remembrance.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim Memorial Day, May 30, 2011, as a day of
prayer for permanent peace, and I designate the hour beginning in each
locality at 11:00 a.m. of that day as a time to unite in prayer. I also
ask all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance
beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day.
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I request the Governors of the United States and the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, and the appropriate officials of all units of government,
to direct that the flag be flown at half-staff until noon on this
Memorial Day on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the
United States and in all areas under its jurisdiction and control. I
also request the people of the United States to display the flag at
half-staff from their homes for the customary forenoon period.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day
of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8684 of May 31, 2011
African-American Music Appreciation Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
The music of our Nation has always spoken to the condition of our people
and reflected the diversity of our Union. African-American musicians,
composers, singers, and songwriters have made enormous contributions to
our culture by capturing the hardships and aspirations of a community
and reminding us of our shared values. During African-American Music
Appreciation Month, we honor the rich musical traditions of African-
American musicians and their gifts to our country and our world.
From the cadenced hums of spirituals to the melodies of rhythm and
blues, African-American music has been used to communicate, to
challenge, to praise, and to uplift in times of both despair and
triumph. The rhythmic chords embedded in spirituals have long expressed
a deep faith in the power of prayer, and brought hope to slaves toiling
in fields. The soulfulness of jazz and storytelling in the blues
inspired a cultural renaissance, while the potent words of gospel gave
strength to a generation that rose above the din of hatred to move our
country toward justice and equality for all.
Today, African-American musicians continue to create new musical genres
and transform the scope of traditional musical formats. The artistic
depth of soul, rock and roll, and hip-hop not only bring together people
across our Nation, but also energize and shape the creativity of artists
around the world. The contributions of African-American composers and
musicians to symphony, opera, choral music, and musical theater continue
to reach new audiences and encourage listeners to celebrate fresh
interpretations of these and other genres. In cherished songs passed
down through generations and innovative musical fusions crafted today,
African-American music continues to transcend time, place, and
circumstance to provide a source of pride and inspiration for all who
hear its harmonies. This month, we celebrate the legacy of African-
American music and its enduring power to bring life to the narrative of
our Nation.
[[Page 77]]
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2011 as African-
American Music Appreciation Month. I call upon public officials,
educators, and all the people of the United States to observe this month
with appropriate activities and programs that raise awareness and foster
appreciation of music which is composed, arranged, or performed by
African Americans.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of
May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8685 of May 31, 2011
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
The story of America's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT)
community is the story of our fathers and sons, our mothers and
daughters, and our friends and neighbors who continue the task of making
our country a more perfect Union. It is a story about the struggle to
realize the great American promise that all people can live with dignity
and fairness under the law. Each June, we commemorate the courageous
individuals who have fought to achieve this promise for LGBT Americans,
and we rededicate ourselves to the pursuit of equal rights for all,
regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Since taking office, my Administration has made significant progress
towards achieving equality for LGBT Americans. Last December, I was
proud to sign the repeal of the discriminatory ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell''
policy. With this repeal, gay and lesbian Americans will be able to
serve openly in our Armed Forces for the first time in our Nation's
history. Our national security will be strengthened and the heroic
contributions these Americans make to our military, and have made
throughout our history, will be fully recognized.
My Administration has also taken steps to eliminate discrimination
against LGBT Americans in Federal housing programs and to give LGBT
Americans the right to visit their loved ones in the hospital. We have
made clear through executive branch nondiscrimination policies that
discrimination on the basis of gender identity in the Federal workplace
will not be tolerated. I have continued to nominate and appoint highly
qualified, openly LGBT individuals to executive branch and judicial
positions. Because we recognize that LGBT rights are human rights, my
Administration stands with advocates of equality around the world in
leading the fight against pernicious laws targeting LGBT persons and
malicious attempts to exclude LGBT organizations from full participation
in the international system. We led a global campaign to ensure ``sexual
orientation'' was included in the
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United Nations resolution on extrajudicial execution--the only United
Nations resolution that specifically mentions LGBT people--to send the
unequivocal message that no matter where it occurs, state-sanctioned
killing of gays and lesbians is indefensible. No one should be harmed
because of who they are or who they love, and my Administration has
mobilized unprecedented public commitments from countries around the
world to join in the fight against hate and homophobia.
At home, we are working to address and eliminate violence against LGBT
individuals through our enforcement and implementation of the Matthew
Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. We are also
working to reduce the threat of bullying against young people, including
LGBT youth. My Administration is actively engaged with educators and
community leaders across America to reduce violence and discrimination
in schools. To help dispel the myth that bullying is a harmless or
inevitable part of growing up, the First Lady and I hosted the first
White House Conference on Bullying Prevention in March. Many senior
Administration officials have also joined me in reaching out to LGBT
youth who have been bullied by recording ``It Gets Better'' video
messages to assure them they are not alone.
This month also marks the 30th anniversary of the emergence of the HIV/
AIDS epidemic, which has had a profound impact on the LGBT community.
Though we have made strides in combating this devastating disease, more
work remains to be done, and I am committed to expanding access to HIV/
AIDS prevention and care. Last year, I announced the first comprehensive
National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States. This strategy focuses
on combinations of evidence-based approaches to decrease new HIV
infections in high risk communities, improve care for people living with
HIV/AIDS, and reduce health disparities. My Administration also
increased domestic HIV/AIDS funding to support the Ryan White HIV/AIDS
Program and HIV prevention, and to invest in HIV/AIDS-related research.
However, government cannot take on this disease alone. This landmark
anniversary is an opportunity for the LGBT community and allies to
recommit to raising awareness about HIV/AIDS and continuing the fight
against this deadly pandemic.
Every generation of Americans has brought our Nation closer to
fulfilling its promise of equality. While progress has taken time, our
achievements in advancing the rights of LGBT Americans remind us that
history is on our side, and that the American people will never stop
striving toward liberty and justice for all.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2011 as Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of
the United States to eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists, and to
celebrate the great diversity of the American people.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of
May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
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Proclamation 8686 of May 31, 2011
National Caribbean-American Heritage Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
The fabric of our Nation has been woven together and enriched by the
diversity of our people. Our legacy as a Nation of immigrants is part of
what makes America strong, and during National Caribbean-American
Heritage Month, we celebrate the rich history and vibrant culture
Caribbean Americans have brought to our shores.
Immigrants from Caribbean countries have come to America for centuries.
Some came through the bondage of slavery. Others willfully left behind
the world they knew in search of a better life. Regardless of the
circumstances of their arrival, they had faith their descendants would
have a chance to realize their greatest potential.
Caribbean Americans have prospered in every sector of our society and
enhanced our national character while maintaining the multiethnic and
multicultural traditions of their homelands. They are doctors and
lawyers, public servants and scientists, and athletes and service
members. Their successes inspire individuals in the United States and
abroad, and we take pride in the contributions Caribbean Americans
continue to make to the narrative of our Nation's progress. Their
achievements are borne of hard work and ambition, and my Administration
is committed to creating pathways to prosperity that ensure future
generations of Caribbean Americans, along with all Americans, are able
to pursue and realize the American dream.
This month, we also recognize the important friendship between the
United States and the countries of the Caribbean as we expand our
partnership to promote economic development, democratic governance,
citizen security, and improved health and education in the region.
Additionally, as Haiti continues to recover from last year's devastating
earthquake, we remain committed to standing beside the people of Haiti
as they rebuild their proud nation, and to working with others in the
region to bring lasting prosperity and stability to the country.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2011 as National
Caribbean-American Heritage Month. I urge all Americans to commemorate
this time when we celebrate the history and culture of Caribbean
Americans.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of
May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
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Proclamation 8687 of May 31, 2011
Great Outdoors Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
For generations, America's great outdoors have ignited our imaginations,
bolstered our economy, and fueled our national spirit of adventure and
independence. The United States holds a stunning array of natural
beauty--from sweeping rangelands and tranquil beaches, to forests
stretching over rolling hills and rivers raging through stone-faced
cliffs. During Great Outdoors Month, we rededicate ourselves to
experiencing and protecting these unique landscapes and treasured sites.
As America's frontier diminished and our cities expanded, a few bold
leaders and individuals had the foresight to protect our most precious
natural and historic places. Today, we all share the responsibility to
uphold their legacy of conservation, whether by protecting an iconic
vast public land, or by creating a community garden or an urban park.
Last year, I was proud to launch the America's Great Outdoors
Initiative, a project that empowers Americans to help build a new
approach to conservation and outdoor recreation. My Administration
hosted dozens of regional listening sessions to collect ideas from
people from across our country with a stake in the health of our
environment and natural places. Our conversations with businesspeople,
ranchers, hunters, fishermen, tribal leaders, students, and community
groups led to a report unveiled in February, America's Great Outdoors: A
Promise to Future Generations, which lays the foundation for smarter,
more community-driven action to protect our invaluable natural heritage.
Our plan will restore and increase recreational access to public lands
and waterways; bolster rural landscapes, including working farms and
ranches; develop the next generation of urban parks and community green
spaces; and create a new Conservation Service Corps so that young people
can experience and restore the great outdoors. To implement these
recommendations, my Administration is dedicated to building strong
working relationships with State, local, and tribal governments, as well
as community, private, and non-profit partners across America. The First
Lady's ``Let's Move!'' initiative encourages youth to enjoy what our
outdoors have to offer. These programs and partnerships will improve our
quality of life and our health, rejuvenate local and regional economies,
spur job creation, protect wildlife and historic places, and ensure our
natural legacy endures for generations to come. All Americans can read
the report and learn more at www.AmericasGreatOutdoors.gov.
As we commit to protecting our country's outdoor spaces, we also
celebrate all they have to offer. Our public lands and other open areas
provide myriad opportunities for families and friends to explore, play,
and grow together--from hiking and wildlife watching to canoeing,
hunting, and fishing, and playing in a neighborhood park. These
activities can help our kids stay healthy, active, and energized, while
reconnecting with their natural heritage. This month, let each of us
resolve to protect our great outdoors; discover their wonders; and share
them with our friends, our neighbors, and our children.
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NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2011 as Great
Outdoors Month. I urge all Americans to explore the great outdoors and
to uphold our Nation's legacy of conserving our lands for future
generations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of
May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8688 of June 2, 2011
National Oceans Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
During National Oceans Month, we celebrate the value of our oceans to
American life and recognize the critical role they continue to play in
our economic progress, national security, and natural heritage.
Waterborne commerce, sustainable commercial fisheries, recreational
fishing, boating, tourism, and energy production are all able to
contribute to job growth and strengthen our economy because of the
bounty of our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes.
Last year, I signed an Executive Order directing my Administration to
implement our Nation's first comprehensive National Policy for the
Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts, and the Great Lakes. This policy
makes more effective use of Federal resources by addressing the most
critical issues facing our oceans. It establishes a new approach to
bringing together Federal, State, local, and tribal governments and all
of the ocean's users--from recreational and commercial fishermen,
boaters, and industry, to environmental groups, scientists, and the
public--to better plan for, manage, and sustain the myriad human uses
that healthy oceans, coasts, and the Great Lakes support.
One year after the devastating BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the
Gulf of Mexico, we remain committed to the full environmental and
economic recovery of the region. My Administration is assessing and
mitigating the damage that was caused by this tragedy, and restoring and
strengthening the Gulf Coast and its communities. These efforts remind
us of the responsibility we all share for our oceans and coasts, and the
strong connection between the health of our natural resources and that
of our communities and economy. While we embrace our oceans as crucial
catalysts for trade, bountiful sources of food, and frontiers for
renewable energy, we must also recommit to ensuring their safety and
sustainability, and to being vigilant guardians of our coastal
communities.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2011 as National
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Oceans Month. I call upon Americans to take action to protect, conserve,
and restore our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this second day of June,
in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of
the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8689 of June 10, 2011
Flag Day and National Flag Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
On June 14, 1777, the Second Constitutional Congress adopted a flag with
thirteen stripes and thirteen stars to represent our Nation, one star
for each of our founding colonies. The stars were set upon a blue field,
in the words of the Congress's resolution, ``representing a new
constellation'' in the night sky. What was then a fledgling democracy
has flourished and expanded, as we constantly strive toward a more
perfect Union.
Through the successes and struggles we have faced, the American flag has
been ever present. It has flown on our ships and military bases around
the world as we continue to defend liberty and democracy abroad. It has
been raised in yards and on porches across America on days of
celebration, and as a sign of our shared heritage. And it is lowered on
days of remembrance to honor fallen service members and public servants;
or when tragedy strikes and we join together in mourning. Our flag is
the mark of one country, one people, uniting under one banner.
When the American flag soars, so too does our Nation and the ideals it
stands for. We remain committed to defending the liberties and freedoms
it represents, and we give special thanks to the members of the Armed
Forces who wear our flag proudly. On Flag Day, and during National Flag
Week, we celebrate the powerful beacon of hope that our flag has become
for us all, and for people around the world.
To commemorate the adoption of our flag, the Congress, by joint
resolution approved August 3, 1949, as amended (63 Stat. 492),
designated June 14 of each year as ``Flag Day'' and requested that the
President issue an annual proclamation calling for its observance and
for the display of the flag of the United States on all Federal
Government buildings. The Congress also requested, by joint resolution
approved June 9, 1966, as amended (80 Stat. 194), that the President
annually issue a proclamation designating the week in which June 14
occurs as ``National Flag Week'' and call upon citizens of the United
States to display the flag during that week.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim June 14, 2011, as Flag Day and the week
beginning June 12, 2011, as National Flag Week. I direct the appropriate
officials to display the flag on all Federal Government buildings during
that week, and I urge all Americans to observe Flag Day and National
Flag Week by displaying the flag. I also call upon the people of the
United
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States to observe with pride and all due ceremony those days from Flag
Day through Independence Day, also set aside by the Congress (89 Stat.
211), as a time to honor America, to celebrate our heritage in public
gatherings and activities, and to publicly recite the Pledge of
Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of June,
in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of
the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8690 of June 17, 2011
Father's Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Parenthood is the ultimate gift and an incredible responsibility. Every
day, fathers across our country give everything they have to build a
better future for their family, asking nothing in return but their
children's love and success. On Father's Day, we honor the men in our
lives who have helped shape us for the good, and we recommit to
supporting fatherhood in our families, in our communities, and across
our Nation.
Fathers, along with our mothers, are our first teachers, coaches, and
advisors. They help us grow into adults, consoling us in times of need
and celebrating with us in times of triumph. Strong male role models
come in all forms, but they have one thing in common: they show up and
give it their best. A father figure may be a biological father, or he
may be a surrogate father who raises, mentors, or cares for another's
child. Every family is different, but what matters is the unconditional
support, guidance, and love fathers and mentors give us throughout life.
Today, too many children in our country grow up without such support and
guidance. A father's absence is felt by children, families, and
communities in countless ways, leaving a hole that can have lasting
effects. Their absence is also felt by mothers, who work overtime and
double shifts, put food on the table, and care for children alone while
trying to make ends meet. And it is felt in our communities, when boys
grow up without male leaders to inspire them.
My Administration has made supporting fathers and their communities a
priority. Last year on Father's Day, I announced the President's
Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative, a nationwide effort to support
organizations that foster responsible fatherhood and help re-engage
fathers in the lives of their children. We have bolstered community and
faith-based programs that provide valuable support networks for fathers.
We are also promoting work-life balances that benefit families, and
partnering with businesses across America to create opportunities for
fathers and their children to spend time together. And military leaders
are joining in our efforts to help families keep in touch when a dad is
deployed overseas, so the fathers who serve to protect all our children
can stay connected to their own.
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On Father's Day, we celebrate the men who make a difference in the life
of a child, and we pay tribute to all the fathers who have been our
guiding lights. In the days ahead, we recommit ourselves to making
fatherhood, and the support men need to be fathers, a priority in our
Nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, in accordance with a joint resolution of the Congress approved
April 24, 1972, as amended (36 U.S.C. 109), do hereby proclaim June 19,
2011, as Father's Day. I direct the appropriate officials of the
Government to display the flag of the United States on all Government
buildings on this day, and I call upon all citizens to observe this day
with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of
June, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8691 of July 1, 2011
40th Anniversary of the 26th Amendment
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Forty years ago, the 26th Amendment to the United States Constitution
took effect, lowering the universal voting age in America from 21 years
to 18 years. Millions of young Americans were extended the right to
vote, empowering more young people than ever before to help shape our
country. On this anniversary, we remember the commitment of all those
who fought for the right to vote and celebrate the contributions of
young adults to our Nation.
The right to vote has been secured by generations of leaders over our
history, from the women's groups of the early 20th century to the civil
rights activists of the 1960s. For young people, the movement to lower
America's voting age took years of hard work and tough advocacy to make
the dream a reality. Yet, once proposed in Congress in 1971, the 26th
Amendment was ratified in the shortest time span of any Constitutional
Amendment in American history.
In the midst of the Vietnam War, our Nation bestowed upon our young
people the ability to change the status quo and entrusted them with a
new voice in government. Today, young adults across America continue to
exercise this enormous responsibility of citizenship. Countless young
people are involved in the political process, dedicated to ensuring
their voices are heard.
Ideas from young Americans are important to my Administration, and they
will help shape the future of our Nation. We are committed to supporting
and developing young leaders from all beliefs and backgrounds, and from
urban and rural communities alike. This year, I launched ``100 Youth
Roundtables,'' an initiative to facilitate substantive dialogue between
my Administration and young Americans. We hosted a Young Entrepreneur
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Summit to listen to budding entrepreneurs and better assess their needs.
And this summer, we are beginning a ``How to Make Change'' series for
young Americans from all walks of life who are seeking change in their
communities and our world.
Young adults have been a driving force for change in the last century,
bringing new ideas and high hopes to our national dialogue. Today, we
remember the efforts of those who fought for their seat at the table,
and we encourage coming generations to claim their place in our
democracy.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim July 1, 2011, as the
40th Anniversary of the 26th Amendment. I call upon all Americans to
participate in ceremonies and activities that honor young Americans, and
those who have fought for freedom and justice in our country.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of July,
in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of
the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8692 of July 15, 2011
Captive Nations Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
There are times in the course of history when the actions of ordinary
people yearning for freedom ignite the desires of people everywhere.
Such brave actions led to the birth of our Nation, the fall of the
Soviet Union, and countless other achievements that have shaped our
world. During Captive Nations Week, we remember the men and women
throughout the world still suffering under oppressive regimes, and we
underscore our commitment to advancing freedom's cause.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first Captive Nations Week
Proclamation in 1959 amidst an escalating Cold War, affirming America's
support for the individual liberties of those living under Communist
oppression. Our world has transformed dramatically since President
Eisenhower first proclaimed Captive Nations Week. The burst of freedom
following the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet
Union led to the emergence of new democracies that are now steadfast
allies of the United States and key contributors to the expansion of
human rights worldwide.
With each generation, people have breathed new life into democratic
ideals, striving for personal freedom, political and economic reform,
and justice. The United States stands firmly behind all those who seek
to exercise their basic human rights. We will continue to oppose the use
of violence and repression and support the universal rights of freedom
of religion, expression, and peaceful assembly; equality for men and
women under the rule of law; and the right of people to choose their
leaders.
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This week, we rededicate ourselves to promoting democratic values,
economic development, and respect for human dignity, and we express our
solidarity with freedom-seeking people everywhere whose future reflects
our greatest hope for peace.
The Congress, by joint resolution approved July 17, 1959 (73 Stat. 212),
has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation
designating the third week of July of each year as ``Captive Nations
Week.''
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim July 17 through July 23, 2011, as Captive
Nations Week. I call upon the people of the United States to reaffirm
our deep commitment to all those working for human rights and dignity
around the world.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of
July, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
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
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
In light of the firm commitment of the United States to the preservation
of international peace and security and our obligations under the United
Nations Charter to carry out the decisions of the United Nations
Security Council imposed under Chapter VII, I have determined that it is
in the interests of the United States to suspend the entry into the
United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of aliens who are subject
to United Nations Security Council travel bans as of the date of this
proclamation. I have further determined that the interests of the United
States are served by suspending the entry into the United States, as
immigrants or nonimmigrants, of aliens whose property and interests in
property have been blocked by an Executive Order issued in whole or in
part pursuant to the President's authority under the International
Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, by the authority vested in me as
President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, including section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act
of 1952, as amended (8 U.S.C. 1182(f)), and section 301 of title 3,
United States Code hereby find that the unrestricted immigrant and
nonimmigrant entry into the United States of persons described in
section 1 of this proclamation would be detrimental to the interests of
the United States. I therefore hereby proclaim that:
[[Page 87]]
Section 1. The entry into the United States, as immigrants or
nonimmigrants, of the following persons is hereby suspended:
(a) Any alien who meets one or more of the specific criteria for the
imposition of a travel ban provided for in a United Nations Security
Council resolution referenced in Annex A to this proclamation.
(b) Any alien who meets one or more of the specific criteria
contained in an Executive Order referenced in Annex B to this
proclamation.
Sec. 2. Persons covered by section 1 of this proclamation shall be
identified by the Secretary of State or the Secretary's designee, in his
or her sole discretion, pursuant to such standards and procedures as the
Secretary may establish.
Sec. 3. The Secretary of State shall have responsibility for
implementing this proclamation pursuant to such procedures as the
Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and
Secretary of Homeland Security, may establish.
Sec. 4. Section 1 of this proclamation shall not apply with respect to
any person otherwise covered by section 1 where entry of the person into
the United States would not be contrary to the interests of the United
States, as determined by the Secretary of State. In exercising the
functions and authorities in the previous sentence, the Secretary of
State shall consult the Secretary of Homeland Security on matters
related to admissibility or inadmissibility within the authority of the
Secretary of Homeland Security.
Sec. 5. Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to require
actions that would be inconsistent with the United States obligations
under applicable international agreements.
Sec. 6. This proclamation 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. This proclamation is effective immediately and shall remain in
effect until such time as the Secretary of State determines that it is
no longer necessary and should be terminated, either in whole or in
part. Any such termination shall become effective upon publication in
the Federal Register.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fourth day
of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
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Proclamation 8694 of July 25, 2011
Anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Generations of Americans with disabilities have improved our country in
countless ways. Refusing to accept the world as it was, they have torn
down the barriers that prohibited them from fully realizing the American
dream. Their tireless efforts led to the enactment of the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA), one of the most comprehensive pieces of civil
rights legislation in our Nation's history. On this day, we celebrate
the 21st anniversary of the ADA and the progress we have made, and we
reaffirm our commitment to ensure equal opportunity for all Americans.
Each day, people living with disabilities make immeasurable
contributions to the diversity and vitality of our communities. Nearly
one in five Americans lives with a disability. They are our family
members and friends, neighbors and colleagues, and business and civic
leaders. Since the passing of the ADA, persons with disabilities are
leading fuller lives in neighborhoods that are more accessible and have
greater access to new technologies. In our classrooms, young people with
disabilities now enjoy the same educational opportunities as their peers
and are gaining the tools necessary to reach their greatest potential.
Despite these advancements, there is more work to be done, and my
Administration remains committed to ending all forms of discrimination
and upholding the rights of Americans with disabilities. The Department
of Justice continues to strengthen enforcement of the ADA by ensuring
that persons with disabilities have access to community-based services
that allow them to lead independent lives in the communities of their
choosing. Under provisions of the Affordable Care Act, insurers will no
longer be able to engage in the discriminatory practice of denying
coverage based on pre-existing conditions, and Americans with
disabilities will have greater control over their health care choices.
And last year, I signed an Executive Order establishing the Federal
Government as a model employer for individuals with disabilities,
placing a special focus on recruitment and retention of public servants
with disabilities across Federal agencies.
Through the ADA, America was the first country in the world to
comprehensively declare equality for citizens with disabilities. To
continue promoting these principles, we have joined in signing the
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. At its core, this
Convention promotes equality. It seeks to ensure that persons with
disabilities enjoy the same rights and opportunities as all people, and
are able to lead their lives as do other individuals.
Eventual ratification of this Convention would represent another
important step in our forty-plus years of protecting disability rights.
It would offer us a platform to encourage other countries to join and
implement the Convention. Broad implementation would mean greater
protections and benefits abroad for millions of Americans with
disabilities, including our veterans, who travel, conduct business,
study, reside, or retire overseas. In encouraging other countries to
join and implement the Convention, we also could
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help level the playing field to the benefit of American companies, who
already meet high standards under United States domestic law. Improved
disabilities standards abroad would also afford American businesses
increased opportunities to export innovative products and technologies,
stimulating job creation at home.
Equal access, equal opportunity, and the freedom to make of our lives
what we will are principles upon which our Nation was founded, and they
continue to guide our efforts to perfect our Union. Together, we can
ensure our country is not deprived of the full talents and contributions
of the approximately 54 million Americans living with disabilities, and
we will move forward with the work of providing pathways to opportunity
to all of our people.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Tuesday, July 26,
2011, the Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. I
encourage Americans across our Nation to celebrate the 21st anniversary
of this civil rights law and the many contributions of individuals with
disabilities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fifth day of
July, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8695 of July 26, 2011
National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
On June 25, 1950, the Korean peninsula erupted in conflict, becoming the
front line of an intensifying Cold War. For 3 years, our Armed Forces
fought to help keep Korea free, suffering bitter reversals and winning
stunning victories before the Military Armistice Agreement at Panmunjom
secured the border near the 38th parallel. Together, American service
members and allied forces were part of a generation that, in the words
inscribed at their memorial in Washington, defended ``a country they
never knew and a people they never met.'' Today, we express our unending
gratitude to all who fought and died in pursuit of freedom and democracy
for the Korean peninsula.
Our veterans' courage and sacrifice have enabled the Republic of Korea
to flourish as a strong and prosperous nation for over half a century.
In the decades following the Armistice, the American and South Korean
people have maintained a warm friendship, and our alliance is stronger
than ever. We remember our common values and shared suffering during the
Korean War, and we continue to work together towards advancing the cause
of freedom and stability in East Asia and around the world.
Today, we honor the tens of thousands of service members who gave their
last full measure of devotion to protect the people of the Republic of
Korea.
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We also pay tribute to the generations of Americans who have guarded
the border since hostilities concluded. It is our sacred duty as a
grateful Nation to care for all those who have served, and to provide
for our veterans and their families.
We will never forget that America owes its liberty, security, and
prosperity to the heroic acts of our service members. We must also
remember that their selfless sacrifices have had a profound impact on
the promotion of freedom across the globe. On National Korean War
Veterans Armistice Day, we recommit to supporting our venerable warriors
and their families, and we pay our deepest respects to those who laid
down their lives.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim July 27, 2011, as
National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day. I call upon all Americans to
observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities that honor
our distinguished Korean War Veterans.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-sixth day of
July, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8696 of July 27, 2011
World Hepatitis Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Across our Nation, millions of Americans are living with viral
hepatitis. As many as three-fourths of Americans living with the disease
are unaware of their status and are not receiving care and treatment for
their condition. Raising awareness about hepatitis is crucial to
effectively fight stigmas, stem the tide of new infections, and ensure
treatment reaches those who need it. On World Hepatitis Day, we join
with people across our country and around the globe in promoting
strategies that will help save lives and prevent the spread of viral
hepatitis.
Viral hepatitis is inflammation of the liver, and can cause a lifetime
of health issues for people who contract it. Hepatitis B and C viruses
are the cause of a growing number of new liver cancer cases and liver
transplants. In the United States, hepatitis is a leading infectious
cause of death, claiming the lives of thousands of Americans each year.
While we have come far, work still needs to be done to prevent and treat
this disease.
Viral hepatitis touches Americans of all backgrounds, but certain groups
are at greater risk than others. Past recipients of donated blood,
infants born to mothers infected with viral hepatitis, and persons with
sexually transmitted diseases or behaviors such as injection-drug use
have risks for viral hepatitis. Baby boomers and African Americans have
higher rates than others of contracting hepatitis C. Half of all
Americans living with hepatitis B today are of Asian American and
Pacific Islander descent, and one-third
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of people living with HIV also have either hepatitis B or hepatitis C.
Worldwide, one in twelve people is living with viral hepatitis.
We must make sure that this ``silent epidemic'' does not go unnoticed by
health professionals or by communities across our country. Under the
Affordable Care Act, services including hepatitis immunizations for
adults and hepatitis screenings for pregnant women are fully covered by
all new insurance plans. My Administration has also released a
comprehensive Action Plan for the Prevention, Care and Treatment of
Viral Hepatitis. The plan brings together expertise and tools across
government to coordinate our fight against this deadly disease. Our goal
is to reduce the number of new infections, increase status awareness
among people with hepatitis, and eliminate the transmission of hepatitis
B from mothers to their children.
The first step toward achieving these goals is raising public awareness
of this life-threatening disease. We must work to reduce the stigma
surrounding hepatitis, and to ensure that testing, information,
counseling, and treatment are available to all who need it. The hard
work and dedication of health-care professionals, researchers, and
advocates will help bring us closer to this goal. On this day, we renew
our support for those living with hepatitis, and for their families,
friends, and communities who are working to create a brighter, healthier
future.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim July 28, 2011, as
World Hepatitis Day. I encourage citizens, Government agencies,
nonprofit organizations, and communities across the Nation to join in
activities that will increase awareness about hepatitis and what we can
do to prevent it.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day
of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8697 of August 4, 2011
Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Persons Who
Participate in Serious Human Rights and Humanitarian Law Violations and
Other Abuses
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
The United States enduring commitment to respect for human rights and
humanitarian law requires that its Government be able to ensure that the
United States does not become a safe haven for serious violators of
human rights and humanitarian law and those who engage in other related
abuses. Universal respect for human rights and humanitarian law and the
prevention of atrocities internationally promotes U.S. values and
fundamental U.S. interests in helping secure peace, deter aggression,
promote the rule of law, combat crime and corruption, strengthen
democracies, and prevent
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humanitarian crises around the globe. I therefore have determined that
it is in the interests of the United States to take action to restrict
the international travel and to suspend the entry into the United
States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of certain persons who have
engaged in the acts outlined in section 1 of this proclamation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, by the authority vested in me as
President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, including section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act
of 1952, as amended (8 U.S.C. 1182(f)), and section 301 of title 3,
United States Code, hereby find that the unrestricted immigrant and
nonimmigrant entry into the United States of persons described in
section 1 of this proclamation would be detrimental to the interests of
the United States. I therefore hereby proclaim that:
Section 1. The entry into the United States, as immigrants or
nonimmigrants, of the following persons is hereby suspended:
(a) Any alien who planned, ordered, assisted, aided and abetted,
committed or otherwise participated in, including through command
responsibility, widespread or systematic violence against any civilian
population based in whole or in part on race; color; descent; sex;
disability; membership in an indigenous group; language; religion;
political opinion; national origin; ethnicity; membership in a
particular social group; birth; or sexual orientation or gender
identity, or who attempted or conspired to do so.
(b) Any alien who planned, ordered, assisted, aided and abetted,
committed or otherwise participated in, including through command
responsibility, war crimes, crimes against humanity or other serious
violations of human rights, or who attempted or conspired to do so.
Sec. 2. Section 1 of this proclamation shall not apply with respect to
any person otherwise covered by section 1 where the entry of such person
would not harm the foreign relations interests of the United States.
Sec. 3. The Secretary of State, or the Secretary's designee, in his or
her sole discretion, shall identify persons covered by section 1 of this
proclamation, pursuant to such standards and procedures as the Secretary
may establish.
Sec. 4. The Secretary of State shall have responsibility for
implementing this proclamation pursuant to such procedures as the
Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, may
establish.
Sec. 5. For any person whose entry is otherwise suspended under this
proclamation entry will be denied, unless the Secretary of State
determines that the particular entry of such person would be in the
interests of the United States. In exercising such authority, the
Secretary of State shall consult the Secretary of Homeland Security on
matters related to admissibility or inadmissibility within the authority
of the Secretary of Homeland Security.
Sec. 6. Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to derogate from
United States Government obligations under applicable international
agreements, or to suspend entry based solely on an alien's ideology,
opinions, or beliefs, or based solely on expression that would be
considered protected under U.S. interpretations of international
agreements to which the United States is a party. Nothing in this
proclamation shall be construed to limit the authority of the United
States to admit or to suspend entry of
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particular individuals into the United States under the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) or under any other provision of
U.S. law.
Sec. 7. This proclamation 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. 8. This proclamation is effective immediately and shall remain in
effect until such time as the Secretary of State determines that it is
no longer necessary and should be terminated, either in whole or in
part. Any such termination shall become effective upon publication in
the Federal Register.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of
August, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8698 of August 5, 2011
National Health Center Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Across our Nation, over 19 million Americans look to community health
centers for medical checkups, education, advice, and critical services
that keep them healthy. Throughout National Health Center Week, we
recommit to supporting this vital resource for underserved communities,
and we recognize the critical role community health centers play in our
health-care system.
Every day, men, women, and children find help at community health
centers. These centers lead the way in providing high-quality services
at an affordable cost, while lifting up the quality of life for their
patients. We see the results among Medicaid beneficiaries--those
receiving care from a health center are less likely to be unnecessarily
hospitalized or visit an emergency room. We also see the effects in
rural areas with community health centers, where hospitals see fewer
uninsured emergency room visits. These health centers are easy to
access--Americans can find a health center near them by using the ``Find
a Health Center'' tool at www.HRSA.gov.
My Administration continues to support these centers. Between the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Affordable Care Act, new
funding has been committed to support technology and infrastructure
updates to existing centers, as well as the construction of new ones.
These laws also provided for important new initiatives that will benefit
all Americans. The Affordable Care Act provided for the Health Centers
Advanced Primary Care Practice demonstration project, which will use
community health centers to test the impact of team-based treatment
approaches on the care of elderly patients.
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Across our vast and diverse land, Americans have always made it their
duty to serve their neighbors in need. It is the common interest and
purpose of building a stronger, healthier Nation that drives the work of
community health centers and fuels our efforts to improve our health-
care system. During National Health Center Week, we celebrate the
contributions of community health centers, and we rededicate ourselves
to advancing the well-being of all our people.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim the week of August 7
through August 13, 2011, as National Health Center Week. I encourage all
Americans to celebrate this week by visiting their local community
health center, meeting local health center providers, and exploring the
programs they offer to help keep their families healthy.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of
August, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8699 of August 25, 2011
Women's Equality Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution tore down the last
formal barrier to women's enfranchisement in our Nation and empowered
America's women to have their voices heard in the halls of power. This
Amendment became law only after decades of work by committed
trailblazers who fought to extend the right to vote to women across
America. For the women who fought for this right, voting was not the end
of the journey for equality, but the beginning of a new era in the
advancement of our Union. These brave and tenacious women challenged our
Nation to live up to its founding principles, and their legacy inspires
us to reach ever higher in our pursuit of liberty and equality for all.
Before the Amendment took effect, women had been serving our Nation in
the public realm since its earliest days. Even before they gained the
right to vote, America's women were leaders of movements, academics, and
reformers, and had even served in the Congress. Legions of brave women
wrote and lectured for change. They let their feet speak when their
voices alone were not enough, protesting and marching for their
fundamental right to vote in the face of heckling, jail, and abuse.
Their efforts led to enormous progress--millions upon millions of women
have since used the power of the ballot to help shape our country.
Today, our Nation's daughters reap the benefits of these courageous
pioneers while paving the way for generations of women to come. But work
still remains. My Administration is committed to advancing equality for
all of our people. This year, the Council of Women and Girls released
``Women
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in America: Indicators of Social and Economic Well-Being,'' the most
comprehensive report in 50 years on the status of women in our country,
shedding light on issues women face in employment, crime, health, and
family life. We are working to ensure that women-owned businesses can
compete in the marketplace, that women are not discriminated against in
healthcare, and that we redouble our efforts to bring an end to sexual
assault on college campuses.
On the 91st anniversary of this landmark in civil rights, we continue to
uphold the foundational American principles that we are all equal, and
that each of us deserves a chance to pursue our dreams. We honor the
heroes who have given of themselves to advance the causes of justice,
opportunity, and prosperity. As we celebrate the legacy of those who
made enormous strides in the last century and before, we renew our
commitment to hold true to the dreams for which they fought, and we look
forward to a bright future for our Nation's daughters.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim August 26, 2011, as
Women's Equality Day. I call upon the people of the United States to
celebrate the achievements of women and recommit ourselves to the goal
of gender equality in this country.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fifth day
of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8700 of August 31, 2011
National Preparedness Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Whenever our Nation has been challenged, the American people have
responded with faith, courage, and strength. This year, natural
disasters have tested our response ability across all levels of
government. Our thoughts and prayers are with those whose lives have
been impacted by recent storms, and we will continue to stand with them
in their time of need. This September also marks the 10th anniversary of
the tragic events of September 11, 2001, which united our country both
in our shared grief and in our determination to prevent future
generations from experiencing similar devastation. Our Nation has
weathered many hardships, but we have always pulled together as one
Nation to help our neighbors prepare for, respond to, and recover from
these extraordinary challenges.
In April of this year, a devastating series of tornadoes challenged our
resilience and tested our resolve. In the weeks that followed, people
from all walks of life throughout the Midwest and the South joined
together to help affected towns recover and rebuild. In Joplin,
Missouri, pickup trucks became ambulances, doors served as stretchers,
and a university transformed
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itself into a hospital. Local businesses contributed by using trucks to
ship donations, or by rushing food to those in need. Disability
community leaders worked side-by-side with emergency managers to ensure
that survivors with disabilities were fully included in relief and
recovery efforts. These stories reveal what we can accomplish through
readiness and collaboration, and underscore that in America, no problem
is too hard and no challenge is too great.
Preparedness is a shared responsibility, and my Administration is
dedicated to implementing a ``whole community'' approach to disaster
response. This requires collaboration at all levels of government, and
with America's private and nonprofit sectors. Individuals also play a
vital role in securing our country. The National Preparedness Month
Coalition gives everyone the chance to join together and share
information across the United States. Americans can also support
volunteer programs through www.Serve.gov, or find tools to prepare for
any emergency by visiting the Federal Emergency Management Agency's
Ready Campaign website at www.Ready.gov or www.Listo.gov.
In the last few days, we have been tested once again by Hurricane Irene.
While affected communities in many States rebuild, we remember that
preparedness is essential. Although we cannot always know when and where
a disaster will hit, we can ensure we are ready to respond. Together, we
can equip our families and communities to be resilient through times of
hardship and to respond to adversity in the same way America always
has--by picking ourselves up and continuing the task of keeping our
country strong and safe.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 2011 as
National Preparedness Month. I encourage all Americans to recognize the
importance of preparedness and observe this month by working together to
enhance our national security, resilience, and readiness.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of
August, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8701 of August 31, 2011
National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Recovering from addiction to alcohol and other drugs takes strength,
faith, and commitment. Men and women in recovery showcase the power each
of us holds to transform ourselves, our families, and our communities.
As people share their stories and celebrate the transformative power of
recovery, they also help dispel myths and stigmas surrounding substance
abuse and offer hope for lifestyles free from alcohol and other drugs.
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This month and throughout the year, we must promote recovery and support
the growth of healthy, resilient individuals and families in the United
States. Today, alcohol and other drugs threaten the future of millions
of Americans. Abuse of prescription medication has reached epidemic
levels, drunk and drugged driving pose significant threats to public
safety, and individuals in recovery continue to confront barriers to
full participation in our society. My Administration is committed to
reducing substance abuse, and this year we released our 2011 National
Drug Control Strategy, which supports successful, long-term recoveries
through research, education, increased access to treatment, and
community-based recovery support.
As a Nation, we must strive to promote second chances and recognize each
individual's ability to overcome adversity. We laud and support the
millions of Americans in recovery from substance abuse, their loved
ones, and the communities that help them sustain recovery, while
encouraging those in need to seek help. As we celebrate National Alcohol
and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, we pay tribute to the transforming
power of recovery, which will continue to heal individuals and
communities across our country.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority invested in me by the Constitution
and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 2011 as
National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. I call upon the
people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate
programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of
August, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8702 of August 31, 2011
National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Since the 1970s, the rate of childhood obesity in our country has
tripled, and today a third of American children are overweight or obese.
This dramatic rise threatens to have far-reaching, long-term effects on
our children's health, livelihoods, and futures. Without major changes,
a third of children born in the year 2000 will develop Type 2 diabetes
during their lifetimes, and many others will face obesity-related
problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and asthma. As
a Nation, our greatest responsibility is to ensure the well-being of our
children. By taking action to address the issue of childhood obesity, we
can help America's next generation reach their full potential.
Together, we can stop this epidemic in its tracks. Over the last year
and a half, the First Lady's Let's Move! initiative has brought together
Federal agencies and some of the biggest corporations and nonprofits
from across
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our country, working to meet our national goal of solving the problem of
childhood obesity within a generation. Let's Move! aims to help ensure
we can make healthy choices about the foods we eat and how much exercise
we get, while building the habits necessary to tackle one of the most
urgent health issues we face in this country. I invite all Americans to
visit LetsMove.gov to learn more about this initiative and how to help
children eat healthy and stay active.
Everyone has a role to play in preventing and reversing the tide of
childhood obesity. This year, we announced groundbreaking partnerships
with grocery stores and other retailers to increase access to healthy
food in underserved areas. These stores have pledged to increase their
fruit and vegetable offerings and to open new locations in communities
where nutritious food is limited or unavailable. Childhood obesity cuts
across all cultural and demographic lines, so Let's Move! has started
initiatives to reach every cross-section of America, from urban and
rural areas to schools, health clinics, and child care homes and
centers. These programs touch everyone, from faith-based communities to
Indian Country, empowering kids and their families to discover the fun
in healthy eating and exercise.
Schools also have an important role in ensuring our children live full
and active lives. Last December, I signed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids
Act into law, enacting comprehensive change that will allow more
children to eat healthier school lunches. One of the cornerstones of
Let's Move! is the HealthierUS School Challenge. This year, America met
the goal of doubling the number of schools meeting the Challenge's
requirements for expanding nutrition and physical activity
opportunities. These 1,250 schools have shown that together, we can go
above and beyond to give our kids the healthy future they deserve.
We are coordinating across the Federal Government to make our goal a
reality. This year, the Federal Government released updated Dietary
Guidelines for Americans, providing a science-based roadmap for
individuals to make healthy choices, and emphasizing the importance of
good nutrition and an active lifestyle. We adapted the food pyramid to a
new design--MyPlate--to encourage balanced meals. And our Healthy People
2020 initiative incorporates childhood obesity prevention in its goals
for increasing the health of all Americans.
Across our country, parents are working hard every day to make sure
their kids are healthy, and my Administration is committed to supporting
families in their efforts. During National Childhood Obesity Awareness
Month, we recognize the outstanding work our businesses, communities,
and families are doing to help us meet our responsibilities to our
children. I urge all Americans to help us meet our goal of solving the
problem of childhood obesity within a generation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 2011 as
National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. I encourage all Americans to
take action by learning about and engaging in activities that promote
healthy eating and greater physical activity by all our Nation's
children.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of
August, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8703 of September 1, 2011
National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Ovarian cancer continues to have one of the highest mortality rates of
any cancer, and it is a leading cause of cancer deaths among women in
the United States. This month, we remember the mothers, sisters, and
daughters we have lost to ovarian cancer, and we extend our support to
those living with this disease. We also reaffirm our commitment to
raising awareness about ovarian cancer, and to advancing our screening
and treatment capabilities for the thousands of American women who will
be diagnosed this year.
Ovarian cancer touches women of all backgrounds and ages. Because of a
lack of early symptoms and effective screening tests, ovarian cancer is
often not detected in time for successful interventions. It is crucial
that women know how to recognize the warning signs of gynecological
cancers and can detect the disease as early as possible. I encourage all
women to learn about risk factors, including family history, and to
discuss possible symptoms, including abdominal pain, with their doctor.
Now, because of the Affordable Care Act, a wide range of preventive
screenings are available to women without any copayments, deductibles,
or coinsurance.
My Administration is committed to supporting the women, families, and
professionals working to end this disease. The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and Human Services
have started a campaign to educate women on cancers affecting
reproductive organs. The National Cancer Institute is researching new
ways to detect ovarian cancer, publishing a comprehensive study of the
most aggressive types of ovarian cancer, and conducting clinical trials
for new combinations of therapy. And this year, agencies across the
Federal Government, from the National Institutes of Health to the
Department of Defense, have committed to supporting ovarian cancer
prevention and treatment research.
So many lives have been touched by ovarian cancer--from the women who
fight this disease, to the families who join their loved ones in
fighting their battle. In the memory of all the brave women who have
lost their lives to ovarian cancer, and in support of generations of
women to come, let us recommit to reaching a safer, healthier future for
all our citizens.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 2011 as
National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. I call upon citizens,
government agencies, organizations, health-care providers, and research
institutions to
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raise ovarian cancer awareness and continue helping Americans live
longer, healthier lives. And I urge women across the country to talk to
their health-care providers and learn more about this disease.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of
September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8704 of September 1, 2011
National Wilderness Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
The mystery and wonder of wilderness is deeply rooted in our national
character. For many of the first Americans--American Indians and Alaska
Natives--the wilderness provided a source of sustenance and a foundation
for their ways of life. Later, as explorers and the pioneers of a young
country moved west, they found adventure and new beginnings in the
landscapes of our Nation.
As we continue our country's proud journey and explore new opportunities
in the 21st century, the importance of maintaining our wilderness has
only grown. Protecting our wilderness areas and their riches--clean
water, stretches of undisturbed land, thriving wildlife, and healthy
ecosystems--is critical to the health of our environment and our
communities. Today, wilderness areas serve as places for us to roam,
hunt, fish, and find solitude. They are also strong engines of local
economies, providing tourism and recreation revenue for communities.
To help preserve our natural surroundings, I established the America's
Great Outdoors Initiative to advance a conservation agenda for the 21st
century, with ideas stemming directly from the American people. We are
working with State, local, and tribal communities to support community-
driven initiatives that embody the values and character of our
wilderness heritage and other landscapes. And in recognition of the
importance of our wilderness, my Administration has expanded protected
wilderness areas by 2 million acres.
From our earliest days, America's identity has been tied to the powerful
waterfalls, soaring peaks, and vast plains of its land. As a people, we
are defined by its diversity and empowered by its richness. This month,
we honor this land that we love, and commit to ensuring our wilderness
remains a place where all can experience the spirit that has shaped
America. During National Wilderness Month, let each of us embrace our
Nation's legacy of protecting and preserving our vast wilderness for
generations to come.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
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the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 2011 as
National Wilderness Month. I invite all Americans to visit and enjoy our
wilderness areas, to learn about their vast history, and to aid in the
protection of our precious national treasures.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of
September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8705 of September 1, 2011
National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Across America, thousands of courageous children fight pediatric cancer
each year, facing life-threatening battles that would challenge men and
women of any age. They are cared for by loving families, friends, and
communities who band together to support children in times of great
need. From raising money for research and hospital stays to offering
compassionate assistance to families who have lost loved ones, Americans
are working every day to combat childhood cancer.
Today, research advances have made pediatric cancer more treatable than
ever before. The five-year survival rate for young patients has risen to
80 percent in the past half century, but serious challenges remain.
Children who survive cancer frequently struggle with significant
complications later in life and researchers are working to develop
treatments specifically for pediatric cancer. We still know too little
about the causes in young people, and cancer remains the leading cause
of death by disease for children in America under the age of 15.
As we work to better understand and combat these destructive diseases,
my Administration is working to lift some of the burden on families
affected by them. Because of the Affordable Care Act, insurance
companies can no longer deny insurance to children because of pre-
existing conditions, meaning that children who are currently suffering
from or have survived cancer must be covered. Insurance companies are
also banned from rejecting insurance for children participating in
clinical studies, in which the vast majority of children with cancer
take part. And the Affordable Care Act prohibits insurance companies
from imposing lifetime dollar limits on health benefits--freeing cancer
patients and their families from worry of long-term treatment
affordability. Meanwhile, the National Cancer Institute continues to
conduct and fund research on the causes of these diseases, linking
research on genetics and adult cancers to more effective treatments for
children.
Too many children and their families have faced the harmful effects of
cancer. In memory of the young lives taken from us far too soon, and in
honor of the families who stood beside them, we continue to support
researchers,
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doctors, and advocates working to improve treatments, find cures, and
reach a tomorrow where all our children can lead full and healthy lives.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 2011 as
National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. I also encourage all
Americans to join me in reaffirming our commitment to fighting childhood
cancer.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of
September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8706 of September 1, 2011
National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths
among men in the United States. The weight of this illness is felt not
only by the men living with and fighting prostate cancer, but also by
their families, friends, and communities who rally to care for their
loved ones. As we observe National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, we
renew our commitment to reducing the impact of prostate cancer on our
country by raising awareness and supporting research that will lead to
better ways to detect and treat this disease.
Although the exact causes of prostate cancer are not yet known, studies
show certain factors--including age, race, and family history--may
increase the likelihood of developing the disease. African Americans, in
particular, are at a higher risk than men of other backgrounds. I
encourage all men, especially those who are at an increased risk, to
talk to their doctors about ways they can reduce their chances of
developing prostate cancer.
My Administration will continue to promote prostate cancer research and
treatment and raise awareness of this illness. The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention support critical research projects and education
activities that bring a public health perspective to the issues of early
detection and treatment. The Department of Defense and the National
Cancer Institute continue to support research, investigate new cancer
detection methods, and develop innovative imaging methods and other
diagnostic techniques. The Affordable Care Act also expands coverage and
gives Americans greater freedom and control over their health-care
choices. Reforms in the law ban insurance companies from dropping
individuals when they get sick or imposing lifetime dollar limits on
health benefits. These changes free cancer patients to focus on getting
better instead of worrying about whether they will be able to afford
their treatment.
During National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, we reaffirm our support
for prostate cancer patients and survivors, and commend health-care
providers, advocates, and researchers for their dedication and
perseverance.
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Our combined efforts to increase awareness of prostate cancer and
bolster research will help save lives, and our commitment to our
fathers, brothers, and sons will contribute to a brighter tomorrow for
future generations.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 2011 as
National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. I encourage all citizens,
government agencies, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, and
other groups to join in activities that will increase awareness and
prevention of prostate cancer.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of
September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8707 of September 2, 2011
Labor Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Every day, hard-working men and women across America prove that, even in
difficult times, our country is still home to the most creative,
dynamic, and talented workers in the world. Generations of working
people have built this country--from our highways and skylines, to the
goods and services driving us in the 21st century. On Labor Day and
throughout the year, we celebrate our Nation's workers, and we commit to
supporting their efforts in moving our economy forward.
The right to organize and collectively bargain is a fundamental American
value. Since its beginnings in our country, organized labor has raised
our living standards and built our middle class. It is the reason we
have a minimum wage, weekends away from work to rest and spend time with
family, and basic protections in our workplaces. Many Americans today
are given opportunities because their parents and grandparents fought
for these basic rights and values. The principles upheld by the
honorable laborers of generations past and their unions continue to fuel
the growth of our economy and a strong middle class.
This year has seen a vigorous fight to protect these rights and values,
and on this Labor Day, we reaffirm that collective bargaining is a
cornerstone of the American dream. From public employees--including
teachers, firefighters, police, and others who perform public services--
to workers in private industries, these men and women hold the power of
our Nation in their hands.
In the last several years, we have pulled our country back from the
brink, through a series of tough economic decisions. While we have come
far, great challenges still face us. Many Americans are still
struggling, and many are unemployed. My Administration is working
tirelessly each day to promote policies that get Americans back to work.
We will always strive
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to keep our fundamental promise that, in America, anyone who works hard
and acts responsibly can provide a better future for their children.
When we come together, there is no limit to what the American workforce
can do.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 5, 2011, as
Labor Day. I call upon all public officials and people of the United
States to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and
activities that acknowledge the tremendous contributions of working
Americans and their families.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this second day of
September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8708 of September 9, 2011
National Days of Prayer and Remembrance, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Ten years ago, a bright September day was darkened by the worst
terrorist attack on America in our Nation's history. On this tenth
anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, we lift in
prayer and remembrance the men, women, and children who died in New York
City, in Pennsylvania, and at the Pentagon, and we honor the countless
heroes who responded to senseless violence with courage and compassion.
We continue to stand with their families and loved ones, while striving
to ensure the legacy of those we lost is a safer, stronger, and more
resilient Nation.
Since that day, a generation has come of age bearing the burden of war.
The 9/11 Generation of service members and their families has stepped up
to defend our security at home and abroad. They volunteer, knowing they
might be sent into harm's way, and they uphold the virtues of
selflessness and sacrifice that have always been at the center of our
Nation's strength. We pay humble tribute to all those who serve in our
Armed Forces, and to the thousands of brave Americans who have given
their last full measure of devotion during this difficult decade of war.
First responders, law enforcement officials, service members,
diplomats--the range of Americans who have dedicated themselves to
building a safer world is awe-inspiring. We have put unprecedented
pressure on those who attacked us 10 years ago and put al-Qa'ida on the
path to defeat. Around the globe, we have joined with allies and
partners to support peace, security, prosperity, and universal rights.
At home, communities have come together to make us a stronger country,
united by our diversity, our character, and our enduring principles.
Today, our Nation still faces great challenges, but this last decade has
proven once more that, as a people, we emerge from our trials stronger
than
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before. During these days of prayer and remembrance, a grateful Nation
gives thanks to all those who have given of themselves to make us safer.
And in memory of the fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, brothers
and sisters, and friends and loved ones taken from us 10 years ago, let
us join again in common cause to build a more hopeful world.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Friday, September 9
through Sunday, September 11, 2011, as National Days of Prayer and
Remembrance. I ask that the people of the United States honor and
remember the victims of September 11, 2001, and their loved ones through
prayer, contemplation, memorial services, the visiting of memorials, the
ringing of bells, evening candlelight remembrance vigils, and other
appropriate ceremonies and activities. I invite people around the world
to participate in this commemoration.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of
September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8709 of September 9, 2011
National Grandparents Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
The support of loved ones provides the earliest and often most powerful
influence on our lives. Grandparents hold a special place in our
families, serving as elders, caregivers, and sources of lasting
inspiration. On National Grandparents Day, we honor the loving presence
of these mentors who have contributed immeasurably to the strength of
our families and our Nation.
As a country, we understand our welfare is determined by that of all
Americans, and it is our responsibility to provide for our grandparents
as they have for us. We must keep Social Security strong and viable,
while preserving it for future generations. We must strengthen Medicare
by making common-sense changes that encourage high-quality care and
address wasteful spending. After a lifetime of contributions to our
Nation and its economy, seniors have earned this support.
Today, our grandparents continue to serve their communities in many
ways. Their spirit of service and warm guidance instill in each of us
the values of community and compassion and inspire all of us to reach
for ever greater heights.
The greatest generation built America into a global force for
prosperity, opportunity, and freedom. They taught us that with hard
work, sacrifice, and a determined spirit, anything is possible. Today,
we honor their contributions to our Nation and its proud story.
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NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 11, 2011, as
National Grandparents Day. I call upon all Americans to take the time to
honor their own grandparents and those in their community.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of
September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8710 of September 9, 2011
Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the
American people demonstrated that in times of hardship, the values that
define us do not simply endure--they are stronger than ever. As a
Nation, we responded to unthinkable tragedy with an outpouring of
service and goodwill. On that dark day, first responders rushed into a
burning Pentagon and climbed the stairs of smoking towers on the verge
of collapse, while citizens risked their own health and safety to
prevent further heartbreak and destruction. As Americans, we came
together to help our country recover and rebuild.
Today, we pay tribute to the selfless heroes and innocent victims of
September 11, 2001, and we reaffirm the spirit of patriotism, service,
and unity that we felt in the days and months that followed. By
volunteering our time and unique skills, we can enrich communities
across our country, and together, we can strengthen our Nation to meet
the challenges of the 21st century.
In the days to come, I ask all Americans to join together in serving
their communities and neighborhoods in honor of the victims of the
September 11 attacks. Today and throughout the year, scores of Americans
answer the call to make service a way of life--from helping the homeless
to teaching underserved students to bringing relief to disaster zones. I
encourage all Americans to visit Serve.gov, or Servir.gov for Spanish
speakers, to learn more about service opportunities across our country.
As we join in serving causes greater than ourselves and honoring those
we lost, we are reminded of the ways that the victims of 9/11 live on--
in the people they loved, the lives they touched, and the courageous
acts they inspired. On Patriot Day and National Day of Service and
Remembrance, we pledge to carry on their legacy of courage and
compassion, and to move forward together as one people.
By a joint resolution approved December 18, 2001 (Public Law 107-89),
the Congress has designated September 11 of each year as ``Patriot
Day,'' and
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by Public Law 111-13, approved April 21, 2009, the Congress has
requested the observance of September 11 as an annually recognized
``National Day of Service and Remembrance.''
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim September 11, 2011, as Patriot Day and
National Day of Service and Remembrance. I call upon all departments,
agencies, and instrumentalities of the United States to display the flag
of the United States at half-staff on Patriot Day and National Day of
Service and Remembrance in honor of the individuals who lost their lives
on September 11, 2001. I invite the Governors of the United States and
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and interested organizations and
individuals to join in this observance. I call upon the people of the
United States to participate in community service in honor of those our
Nation lost, to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and
activities, including remembrance services, and to observe a moment of
silence beginning at 8:46 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time to honor the
innocent victims who perished as a result of the terrorist attacks of
September 11, 2001.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of
September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8711 of September 12, 2011
National Health Information Technology Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Technological advances have always driven America's economy forward and
improved the lives of our people, from the industrial innovations of the
nineteenth century to today's cutting-edge science. Progress in our
Nation's health care system is no different, and hinges on the work of
hospitals, private practices, and information specialists as they
modernize our health information systems. During National Health
Information Technology Week, we highlight the critical importance of
secure and efficient information systems to improving the delivery of
health care in the United States.
Health information technology connects doctors and patients to more
complete and accurate health records. Tools like electronic health
records and electronic prescriptions help patients and providers make
safer, smarter decisions about health care. This technology is critical
to improving patient care, enabling coordination between providers and
patients, reducing the risk of dangerous drug interactions, and helping
patients access prevention and disease management services. It is
currently being used with great success to coordinate and improve care
for members of our Armed Forces, as well as our Nation's veterans.
Better technology can also cut costs for providers by reducing paperwork
and duplicative tests.
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Ensuring the security of health information records is a top priority
for my Administration. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act,
passed in 2009, promotes the use of Health IT while significantly
strengthening Federal laws protecting patient privacy. Entities
violating privacy laws are now subject to increased penalties. The
Recovery Act also provides landmark financial incentives to eligible
professionals and hospitals that adopt and meaningfully use electronic
health records while protecting the privacy and security of health
information.
Everyone can play a role in improving our health care system. An
important part of this vision is recognizing the pivotal role patients
play in maintaining and improving their own health. Patients can work
with their doctors to access information about their care. And those who
design and implement Health IT systems can enable software that puts
patients and their families at the center of their own care, empowering
and engaging them in reaching their health goals.
America is home to the world's best universities and technical schools,
and the most creative scientists and entrepreneurs. As we challenge
ourselves to push forward into a new century of health technology, we
will continue to foster and promote the innovative spirit that has made
our country what it is today.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 11 through
September 17, 2011, as National Health Information Technology Week. I
urge all Americans to learn more about the benefits of Health IT by
visiting HealthIT.gov, take action to increase adoption and meaningful
use of Health IT, and utilize the information Health IT provides to
improve the quality, safety, and cost effectiveness of health care in
the United States.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of
September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8712 of September 15, 2011
National Hispanic Heritage Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
From those who trace their roots to America's earliest days to those who
recently came to the United States carrying nothing but hope for a
better life, Hispanics have always been integral to our national story.
As an American family more than 300 million strong, we constitute one
people, sharing sacrifice and prosperity because we know we rise and
fall together. America is a richer and more vibrant country because of
the contributions of Hispanics, and during National Hispanic Heritage
Month, we celebrate the immeasurable impact they have made on our
Nation.
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Hispanics have had a profound and positive influence on our country
through their strong commitment to family, faith, hard work, and
service. They have enhanced and shaped our national character with
centuries-old traditions that reflect the multiethnic and multicultural
customs of their community. They are doctors and lawyers, activists and
educators, entrepreneurs and public servants, and brave service members
who defend our way of life at home and abroad.
My Administration is dedicated to ensuring America remains a land of
opportunity for all. Our economic strength depends on the success of
Hispanic families across our country, and I am determined to put workers
of all backgrounds back on the job to rebuild and modernize America,
while helping small businesses grow and creating pathways to employment.
We are also engaging the Hispanic community in public service, improving
educational opportunities, and expanding access to affordable, quality
health care. And we remain committed to fixing our broken immigration
system so it can meet America's 21st century economic and security
needs.
The future of America is inextricably linked to the future of our
Hispanic community. Our country thrives on the diversity and ingenuity
of all our people, and our ability to out-innovate, out-educate, and
out-build the rest of the world will depend greatly on the success of
Hispanics. This month, as we honor their struggles and successes, let us
recommit to ensuring our Nation remains a place big enough and bold
enough to accommodate the dreams and prosperity of all our people.
To honor the achievements of Hispanics in America, the Congress by
Public Law 100-402, as amended, has authorized and requested the
President to issue annually a proclamation designating September 15
through October 15 as ``National Hispanic Heritage Month.''
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim September 15 through October 15, 2011, as
National Hispanic Heritage Month. I call upon public officials,
educators, librarians, and all the people of the United States to
observe this month with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs
under this year's theme, ``Renewing the American Dream.''
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of
September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8713 of September 15, 2011
National POW/MIA Recognition Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
In every conflict in which our Nation has been involved, selfless
American service members have sacrificed their lives for the sake of our
country and its principles. Too many have never come home, or have
endured unthinkable hardship as prisoners of war. On this day, we echo
the creed inscribed
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on the black and white banners that fly in honor of America's Prisoners
of War and Missing in Action, and we renew our promise to our heroes,
that ``You Are Not Forgotten.''
We will never give up the search for those who are held as prisoners of
war or have gone missing under our country's flag. We honor their
sacrifice, and we must care for their families and pursue the fullest
possible accounting for all missing members of our Armed Forces.
Together, we must serve our Nation's patriots as well as they have
served us--by supporting them when they come home, and by carrying on
the legacy of those who do not. This is a promise we keep for our
fallen, for our veterans past and present, and for all those whose loved
ones have not returned from the battlefield.
On September 16, 2011, the stark black and white banner symbolizing
America's Missing in Action and Prisoners of War will be flown over the
White House, the United States Capitol, the Departments of State,
Defense, and Veterans Affairs, the Selective Service System
Headquarters, the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Veterans
Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, United States post offices,
national cemeteries, and other locations across our country. We raise
this flag as a solemn reminder of our obligation to always remember the
sacrifices made to defend our Nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 16, 2011, as
National POW/MIA Recognition Day, and I urge all Americans to observe
this day of honor and remembrance with appropriate ceremonies and
activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of
September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8714 of September 16, 2011
Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, Constitution Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
In the summer of 1787, delegates from the States gathered in
Philadelphia to build a new framework for our young republic. Our
Constitution's Framers represented diverse backgrounds, and on key
issues, they were divided. Yet despite their differences, they
courageously joined together in common purpose to create ``a more
perfect Union.'' After 4 months of fierce debate and hard-fought
compromise, the delegates signed the Constitution of the United States.
For more than two centuries, the Constitution has presided as the
supreme law of the land, keeping our leaders true to America's highest
ideals and
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guaranteeing the fundamental rights that make our country a beacon of
hope to all peoples seeking freedom and justice. Together with the Bill
of Rights, our Constitution is the backbone of our government and the
basis of our liberties. Even while retaining its structure, our founding
document has grown with our Nation's conscience, amended over the years
to extend America's promise to citizens of every race, gender, and
creed.
Americans are defined not by bloodlines or allegiance to any one leader
or faith, but by our shared ideals of liberty, equality, and justice
under the law. We are a Nation of immigrants, built and sustained by
people who have brought their talents, drive, and entrepreneurial spirit
to our shores. Generations of newcomers have journeyed to this land
because they believed in what our country stands for.
Every year, thousands of candidates for citizenship commemorate
Constitution Day and Citizenship Day by becoming American citizens.
These men and women have respected our laws and learned our history, and
some have served in our military. Today, we invite them to join us in
writing the next great chapter of the American story.
In signing the Constitution, the Framers provided a model of American
leadership for generations to come. Through controversy and division,
they built a lasting structure of government that began with the words,
``We the People.'' This week, as we celebrate our Founders' timeless
vision, we resolve to stay true to their spirit of patriotism and unity.
In remembrance of the signing of the Constitution and in recognition of
the Americans who strive to uphold the duties and responsibilities of
citizenship, the Congress, by joint resolution of February 29, 1952 (36
U.S.C. 106), designated September 17 as ``Constitution Day and
Citizenship Day,'' and by joint resolution of August 2, 1956 (36 U.S.C.
108), requested that the President proclaim the week beginning September
17 and ending September 23 of each year as ``Constitution Week.''
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim September 17, 2011, as Constitution Day and
Citizenship Day, and September 17 through September 23, 2011, as
Constitution Week. I encourage Federal, State, and local officials, as
well as leaders of civic, social, and educational organizations, to
conduct ceremonies and programs that bring together community members to
reflect on the importance of active citizenship, recognize the enduring
strength of our Constitution, and reaffirm our commitment to the rights
and obligations of citizenship in this great Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of
September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
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Proclamation 8715 of September 16, 2011
National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Since September 11, 2001, the 9/11 Generation has borne the burden of
war with courage and valor, continuing the legacy of the brave men and
women who served before them. More than five million volunteers have
worn our country's uniform over the past 10 years, and thousands have
given their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. Making up nearly half of our
military power, the National Guard and Reserve are vital to our
operations at home and abroad.
During America's struggle for independence, ordinary individuals in
small towns across the colonies banded together to confront an empire.
Today, their spirit lives on in the Guard and Reserve. The members of
our National Guard and Reserve demonstrate the dignity and selflessness
that are at the core of the American spirit. These patriots serve not
only in combat, but also when disaster strikes at home, offering a
strong hand to victims of floods, tornadoes, and fires across America.
The employers who provide jobs to our Guard and Reserve members when
they are home are also vital to our success. Many of these businesses go
above and beyond, offering tremendous support to service members and
their families during deployments. We are deeply grateful for their
work, and this week, we celebrate not only our service members,
veterans, and military families, but also their devoted employers.
The extraordinary service of our Guard and Reserve members would not be
possible without the unwavering support and care provided by their
families and civilian employers. To help connect our service members,
veterans, and their families to the opportunities they deserve, the
First Lady and Dr. Jill Biden announced Joining Forces, a comprehensive
national initiative to support and honor these patriots. As part of this
initiative, we issued a challenge to private sector employers to hire or
train 100,000 unemployed veterans or their spouses. We have also
proposed tax credits for businesses that hire our returning heroes--they
fought for our country, and the last thing they should have to do is
fight for a job when they come home.
This week, we remember our obligations to each other, and we pay tribute
to the employers of our Guardsmen and Reservists whose support and
flexibility is vital to the strength of our military. The United States
is at its strongest when we live up to our sacred duty to honor and care
for our service members when they come home. The support of employers
across our country reflects the best of the American spirit--the
understanding that we are bound together to serve and protect our
Nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 18 through
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September 24, 2011, as National Employer Support of the Guard and
Reserve Week. I call upon all Americans to join me in expressing our
heartfelt thanks to the members of the National Guard and Reserve and
their civilian employers. I also call on State and local officials,
private organizations, and all military commanders, to observe this week
with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of
September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8716 of September 16, 2011
National Farm Safety and Health Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
The food, fiber, and fuel generated by our agricultural sector are vital
to America's 21st-century economy. Farmers represent the best of the
American dream--passing on proud traditions of hard work and commitment
to their children. This week, we celebrate farmers' contributions to the
fabric of our Nation as they cultivate the products that sustain us,
serve as stewards of our environment, and stand as the backbone of
communities across our country.
The self-discipline and determination of farm communities have allowed
them to persevere through drought, storms, and hard times, always
emerging strong and vibrant. Each day, our farmers, ranchers, and
agricultural workers face multiple dangers. They work with heavy
machinery, livestock, and toxic materials, and in potentially dangerous
environments like grain elevators and processing facilities. Physically
demanding and all-encompassing, farm work requires the resourcefulness
and grit that has been essential to our Nation's success. This week, we
pay tribute to the tremendous work ethic of America's farmers, and
encourage safe farm practices for all.
Supporting farmers, ranchers, and growers is critical to creating and
sustaining a thriving economy. My Administration has worked to create
new markets for these products, and to provide assistance to farms,
supporting jobs across our country. We continue to work to make capital
more accessible and help aspiring young farmers buy land. Farms are
critical to achieving our goal of doubling our exports, and American
agricultural exports are now worth over $100 billion a year. They are
also the source of biofuels that will help lead us to energy
independence. My Administration is working to speed the development of
next-generation biofuels, and their production will benefit farmers,
rural communities, and Americans across our country.
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As the fall harvest begins, I encourage farm and ranch families to
embrace safe farming practices and to participate in farm safety and
health programs. Communities and neighbors can support local farmers by
understanding the risks involved with farm work and the role everyone
can play in preventing and responding to accidents. We are grateful for
the fruits of every farmer's labor, and we honor their tireless
dedication to the well-being of their families and our Nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 18 through
September 24, 2011, as National Farm Safety and Health Week. I call upon
the agencies, organizations, businesses, and extension services that
serve America's agricultural workers to strengthen their commitment to
promoting farm safety and health programs. I also urge Americans to
honor our agricultural heritage and express appreciation to our farmers,
ranchers, and farm-workers for their remarkable contributions to our
Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of
September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8717 of September 16, 2011
National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
More than 150 years ago, courageous men and women took great risks and
made extraordinary sacrifices to establish our country's first African-
American colleges and universities. These institutions remain at the
forefront of providing educational opportunities to young people across
our country today. During National Historically Black Colleges and
Universities Week, we pay homage to the daring leaders who laid the
foundation for these institutions, and we reaffirm our commitment to
ensuring Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) remain
pathways to realizing the American dream.
Founded by visionaries, HBCUs have given generations of students a sense
of their heritage, their history, and their place in the American
narrative. They have produced many of our Nation's leaders in business,
government, academia, and the military. Today, we recognize them as the
crucibles of learning, where a young legal student discovered the sense
of purpose that led him to the Supreme Court, a young broadcaster with a
unique name gained the foundation to build an empire, and a young
preacher grew into a king who shared his dream with the world.
HBCUs continue a proud tradition as vibrant centers of intellectual
inquiry and engines of scientific discovery and innovation. New waves of
students, faculty, and alumni are building on their rich legacies and
helping America
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achieve our goal of once again leading the world in having the highest
proportion of college graduates by 2020. This week, as we celebrate the
vast contributions HBCUs have made to our Nation, we are reminded of
their role in fulfilling a great American truth--that equal access to a
quality education can open doors for all our people. By continuing to
strengthen HBCUs, we ensure they remain beacons of hope for future
generations of Americans who will move our country closer to the ideals
of our founding.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 18 through
September 24, 2011, as National Historically Black Colleges and
Universities Week. I call upon educators, public officials, professional
organizations, corporations, and all the people of the United States to
observe this week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities
that acknowledge the numerous contributions these institutions and their
alumni have made to our country.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of
September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8718 of September 21, 2011
National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
To win the future and restore our position as the global leader in
education, we must ensure all young Americans, regardless of background,
have the opportunity to realize their full potential. As our Nation's
largest minority group, Hispanics represent more than 11 million
students in America's public elementary and secondary schools. During
National Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) Week, we renew our
commitment to strengthening and expanding opportunities in higher
education for our next generation of Hispanic leaders.
The hundreds of HSIs across our country are helping Hispanic students
gain access to a quality higher education. These institutions play an
essential role in equipping students with the skills necessary to thrive
in the 21st century. Graduates of HSIs are leaders in science,
technology, engineering, and math--fields that are crucial to America's
competitiveness in an increasingly global economy. As hubs of research
and innovation, they are integral to helping us achieve our goal of
having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020.
Last year, I renewed and enhanced the White House Initiative on
Educational Excellence for Hispanics to improve educational outcomes for
Hispanic students from pre-school through higher education and adult
education. We are working to expand access to pre-kindergarten programs
and reduce high school drop-out rates for Hispanic students, while
recruiting
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more Hispanic teachers and school leaders. Building on this foundation,
we are committed to strengthening the capacity of HSIs and other higher
education institutions serving Hispanic students to provide the best
education possible.
This week, as we celebrate the immeasurable contributions HSIs have made
to our Nation, we are reminded that in this new century, America will
only be as strong as the opportunities we provide to all our people. Our
future is inextricably tied to the future of the Hispanic community, and
by working to strengthen HSIs, we will secure a brighter tomorrow for
our children, helping them reach for the dream that has come to define
our Nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 18 through
September 24, 2011, as National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week. I
call on public officials, educators, and all the people of the United
States to observe this week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and
activities that acknowledge the tremendous contributions these
institutions and their graduates have made to our country.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first day of
September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8719 of September 22, 2011
National Public Lands Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
At the dawn of the 20th century, President Theodore Roosevelt embarked
on a tour of the American West that forever changed our Nation's
relationship with the outdoors. His visits to Yellowstone, Yosemite, the
Grand Canyon, and other natural wonders instilled in him a commitment to
conservation, and they motivated him to designate millions of acres of
protected land. Today, our public lands system is a model of
conservation and an important resource for clean energy, grazing, and
recreation--vital economic engines in both rural and urban communities.
On National Public Lands Day, we take time to appreciate our parks,
national forests, wildlife refuges, and other public spaces, and we
recommit to protecting and restoring them for future generations. This
year, thousands of dedicated volunteers will continue a proud American
tradition by conserving and restoring our public lands with local
projects across our Nation. Americans will restore hiking trails, remove
invasive plant species, clean lakes, and pick up litter in city parks.
Through their service, families and children will find opportunities for
outdoor activity on the millions of acres of national forests, parks,
and trails.
To maintain our environmental heritage and build a responsive
conservation and recreation agenda, my Administration launched the
America's
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Great Outdoors Initiative last year. We met with thousands of Americans
in listening sessions across our country, and compiled the results of
this national conversation in the report, America's Great Outdoors: A
Promise to Future Generations. To act on these findings, we are
undertaking projects in collaboration with State, local, and tribal
governments to responsibly steward the lands that belong to all
Americans. First Lady Michelle Obama also joined in support of getting
Americans outside when the Let's Move! initiative, in coordination with
the Department of the Interior, launched Let's Move Outside! to help
families exercise in the great outdoors.
Countless Americans have experienced the same awe and wonder that
President Roosevelt felt on his westward journey. By joining in this
legacy of conservation, Americans young and old protect not only our
lands, but also the promise that future generations will be able to
carry forward the spirit of adventure that lies at the heart of our
Nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 24, 2011, as
National Public Lands Day. I encourage all Americans to participate in a
day of public service for our lands.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-second day
of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8720 of September 23, 2011
National Hunting and Fishing Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
On vast plains and through dense forests, along rocky riverbanks and
atop tranquil lakes, Americans of every age and background cherish their
connection to the great outdoors. As we mark National Hunting and
Fishing Day, we are reminded of the uniquely American idea that each of
us has an equal share in the land around us and an equal responsibility
to protect it.
America's hunters and anglers directly experience the endless beauty and
reward of our Nation's bounty. We have long depended on this land to
sustain us, from our Native American ancestors and the settlers on the
Eastern Seaboard to the sportsmen and women of today. Fishing and
hunting are traditions that span untold lengths of time, enabling
important bonds to the land and between generations to form. Sportsmen
also develop unique connections to the land they enjoy, and hunters and
fishermen were some of our first conservationists. These relationships
are preserved and passed on with pride, along with a deep and abiding
respect for nature.
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Today, we continue the essential work of conserving and sustaining our
precious environment. Our landscapes are not only a source of pleasure,
but a valuable resource for our local economies and the livelihood of
many across America. Last year, after an unprecedented public engagement
effort, with input from across our country, my Administration launched
the America's Great Outdoors Initiative. Through this initiative, we are
working to meet the unique challenges of environmental stewardship in
the 21st century and create community-based solutions for conservation.
As part of the America's Great Outdoors Initiative, we recently
established the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation to
assist with promoting outdoor recreational activities for American
families on public lands. By coordinating with State, local, and tribal
governments, and other stakeholders, the Council aims to connect our
families, and especially our youth, to the rugged beauty of the natural
wonders our Nation's hunters and anglers know so well.
Protecting the conservation legacy of our past is the responsibility of
all Americans. Working together, we can preserve the wonder of nature
while building a future where all Americans are able to enjoy and share
in her bounty.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 24, 2011, as
National Hunting and Fishing Day. I call upon all Americans to observe
this day with appropriate programs and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-third day of
September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8721 of September 23, 2011
Minority Enterprise Development Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Our Nation is guided by the simple promise that no matter our origins,
we can provide a better life for our children. We have long believed in
a fair America, where, with hard work and determination, anyone can
succeed. Our story has been written by generations who have put their
shoulders to the wheel of history to move our country forward.
Today, this legacy continues. Our strength comes from individuals from
all walks of life, and of every race and creed. Minority-owned
businesses are engines of job creation and backbones of communities
across America--from Main Street to Wall Street, and from country
markets to Silicon Valley. They are on the cutting edge of development,
and are strong competitors at home and abroad. Small businesses,
including minority-owned enterprises, are where most new jobs begin. To
recover from this economic
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crisis and improve our competitiveness, we must help these job creators
hire, grow, and revitalize our economy.
My Administration is working to make this growth a reality. Our Start-up
America initiative connects established private sector mentors to
entrepreneurs, helping accelerate innovation through coordination. Last
year, I signed the Small Business Jobs Act, providing billions of
dollars in lending support and tax cuts for small businesses. The
Federal Government is also the Nation's largest purchaser of goods and
services, and every Federal agency is taking aggressive steps to improve
contracting with small businesses, including minority-owned firms.
Even in challenging times, American entrepreneurs consistently respond
to adversity with brighter ideas, more ambitious innovations, and
smarter technology than the world has ever seen. These businesses create
jobs and support our communities. As a Nation, we must continue to
remove barriers to these opportunities, and ensure they remain open to
all Americans.
The task of making America more competitive is a job for everyone. To
build an economy that lasts, we must all work to create the well-paying
jobs that will sustain us. During Minority Enterprise Development Week,
we honor minority enterprises as vital to our economic success, and
recommit to ensuring minority business owners have the information,
tools, and resources they need to help America win the future.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 25, 2011,
through October 1, 2011, as Minority Enterprise Development Week. I call
upon all Americans to celebrate this week with appropriate programs,
ceremonies, and activities to recognize the many contributions of our
Nation's diverse enterprises.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-third day of
September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8722 of September 23, 2011
Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Since our Nation's earliest days, the men and women of our Armed Forces
have demonstrated the courage and heroism that have come to define
America. Across shores, in deserts, and on city streets around the
world, extraordinary Americans have given their last full measure of
devotion defending the freedoms we cherish. Their ultimate sacrifice is
one we can never fully repay, and the enormity of the grief their
families carry we can never fully know.
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Gold Star mothers and families know the immeasurable cost of fighting
for the ideals we believe in, and they know the pride that comes with
exemplary service to America. On this day, and every day, we offer them
our deep gratitude and respect, and we are inspired by their strength
and determination. Through heartbreaking loss, our Gold Star families
continue to support one another, serve their communities, and bring
comfort to the men and women of our Armed Forces and their families.
Our fallen heroes answered their country's call to duty, sacrificing all
they had and all they would ever know. Their families exemplify that
same mark of selflessness and patriotism that has sustained our country
and will sustain us through trials to come. We honor their sacrifice,
and stand with our service members, military families, and Gold Star
families as they have stood for us. Today, we reaffirm our promise to
care for those left behind, to uphold the ideals for which the fallen
gave their lives, and to carry with us their legacy as we work toward a
better future.
The Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 115 of June 23, 1936 (49 Stat.
1985 as amended), has designated the last Sunday in September as ``Gold
Star Mother's Day.''
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 25, 2011, as
Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day. I call upon all Government
officials to display the flag of the United States over Government
buildings on this special day. I also encourage the American people to
display the flag and hold appropriate ceremonies as a public expression
of our Nation's sympathy and respect for our Gold Star Mothers and
Families.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-third day of
September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8723 of October 3, 2011
National Arts and Humanities Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Norman Rockwell's magazine covers are classic and recognizable
portrayals of American life. A longtime advocate of tolerance, Rockwell
was criticized by some for a painting now hanging steps from the Oval
Office--The Problem We All Live With. Inspired by the story of Ruby
Bridges, this painting depicts a young girl being escorted to her newly-
integrated school by United States Marshals. Today, the portrait remains
a symbol of our Nation's struggle for racial equality.
Like Rockwell's painting, art in all its forms often challenges us to
consider new perspectives and to rethink how we see the world. This
image still
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moves us with its simple poignancy, capturing a moment in American
history that changed us forever. This is the power of the arts and
humanities--they speak to our condition and affirm our desire for
something more and something better. Great works of literature, theater,
dance, fine art, and music reach us through a universal language that
unites us regardless of background, gender, race, or creed.
Millions of Americans earn a living in the arts and humanities, and the
non-profit and for-profit arts industries are important parts of both
our cultural heritage and our economy. The First Lady and I have been
proud to honor this work by displaying American art at the White House
and by hosting music, dance, poetry, and film performances and
screenings. The President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities,
along with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment
for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services
continues to recognize the skill and creativity of American artists,
historians, and philosophers while helping educate and inspire our
children through the power of the arts and humanities.
We must recognize the contributions of the arts and humanities not only
by supporting the artists of today, but also by giving opportunities to
the creative thinkers of tomorrow. Educators across our country are
opening young minds, fostering innovation, and developing imaginations
through arts education. Through their work, they are empowering our
Nation's students with the ability to meet the challenges of a global
marketplace. It is a well-rounded education for our children that will
fuel our efforts to lead in a new economy where critical and creative
thinking will be the keys to success.
Today, the arts and humanities continue to break social and political
barriers. Throughout our history, American hopes and aspirations have
been captured in the arts, from the songs of enslaved Americans yearning
for freedom to the films that grace our screens today. This month, we
celebrate the enlightenment and insight we have gained from the arts and
humanities, and we recommit to supporting expression that challenges our
assumptions, sparks our curiosity, and continues to drive us toward a
more perfect union.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2011 as
National Arts and Humanities Month. I call upon the people of the United
States to join together in observing this month with appropriate
ceremonies, activities, and programs to celebrate the arts and the
humanities in America.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
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Proclamation 8724 of October 3, 2011
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
This month, pink ribbons will be displayed around our country, adorning
jackets and public spaces alike. A sign of solidarity, these ribbons
remind us of our commitment to preventing and treating breast cancer,
and to supporting those courageously battling this disease. Countless
Americans will participate in events to raise awareness alongside
survivors and their families, working together to support research that
will save lives.
We have come far in recent decades in the prevention, early detection,
and treatment of breast cancer. Still, this year, hundreds of thousands
of women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and too many will be
lost. African-American women bear a particularly large burden,
experiencing higher death rates from breast cancer than other racial or
ethnic groups in the United States. Too many men also develop and fall
victim to this cancer.
It is important to understand the risks and precautions associated with
breast cancer. Some risk factors, like obesity, are avoidable. Other
factors, like family history, are not avoidable, but knowledge of them
can help inform medical decisions. Taking protective steps like getting
regular check-ups, maintaining a healthy body weight and balanced diet,
and exercising may help lower the chances of developing breast cancer. I
encourage all Americans to talk to their doctors about breast cancer,
and to visit www.Cancer.gov to learn more about symptoms, diagnosis, and
treatment.
Screening and early detection are essential to fighting this disease,
yet only about two-thirds of American women over 40 have had a mammogram
in the last 2 years. But now, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, all
Americans joining new health-care plans can receive recommended
preventive services, including annual mammograms for women over 40, with
no out-of-pocket costs. This new benefit would also ensure that women in
new insurance plans who are at high risk for breast cancer are covered
when they speak with their clinicians about ways to prevent or delay the
development of cancer. The Affordable Care Act also established a
committee tasked with advancing awareness and prevention of breast
cancer among young women.
This month, we join together in honoring the women and men lost to
breast cancer. In their memory, we recommit to supporting the hard-
working researchers, health-care providers, advocates, and organizations
dedicated to treating and curing this devastating disease. We embrace
our mothers, daughters, sisters, and loved ones currently battling
breast cancer, along with their friends and families, and we resolve to
one day defeat it.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2011 as
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I encourage citizens, government
agencies, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, and all other
interested groups to join in activities that will increase awareness of
what Americans can do to prevent and control breast cancer.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8725 of October 3, 2011
National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Americans, along with people around the world, depend on the Internet
and digital tools for all aspects of our lives--from mobile devices to
online commerce and social networking. This fundamental reliance is why
our digital infrastructure is a strategic national asset, and why its
security is our shared responsibility. This month, we recognize the role
we all play in ensuring our information and communications
infrastructure is interoperable, secure, reliable, and open to all.
Early in my Administration, we began updating our Nation's cybersecurity
programs and policies. We developed a comprehensive plan that ensures a
coordinated national response to major disruptive cyber events. This
May, we also proposed to the Congress a plan to strengthen protection of
our power grids, water systems, and other critical infrastructure. And
because we have seen the benefits and risks of cyber- and information-
related technologies play out across the world, this year we laid out
the first comprehensive international vision for the future of the
Internet. It sets an agenda for partnering with other nations and better
defines how we can ensure the secure, free flow of information and
promote universal rights, privacy, and prosperity.
Every American has a stake in securing our networks and personal
information, and we are working across the public and private sectors to
ensure coordinated and planned responses to cyber incidents, as we do
with natural disasters. The vast majority of our critical information
infrastructure is owned and operated by businesses and enterprises
across America. To help protect them, my Administration is collaborating
with the private sector on best security practices, while continuing to
provide the resources necessary for innovation--including expanded
broadband access and smarter electric grids.
Cybersecurity is a necessity for both businesses and consumers, and that
is why we released the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in
Cyberspace. This plan improves security for consumers conducting e-
commerce by helping prevent fraud and identity theft and by making it
easier for businesses to operate online. We are also working with
community-based organizations and public- and private-sector partners to
empower digital citizens to make safe choices online through our ``Stop.
Think. Connect.'' campaign.
The same American ingenuity that put a man on the moon also created the
Internet, launching an information revolution. We must now harness that
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spirit of innovation to develop the next generation of accessible,
secure technologies to build a safer, more prosperous future for all
Americans.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2011 as
National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. I call upon the people of the
United States to recognize the importance of cybersecurity and to
observe this month with activities, events, and trainings that will
enhance our national security and resilience.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8726 of October 3, 2011
National Disability Employment Awareness Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Utilizing the talents of all Americans is essential for our Nation to
out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world. During
National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we recognize the skills
that people with disabilities bring to our workforce, and we rededicate
ourselves to improving employment opportunities in both the public and
private sectors for those living with disabilities.
More than 20 years after the signing of the Americans with Disabilities
Act, individuals with disabilities, including injured veterans, are
making immeasurable contributions to workplaces across our country.
Unfortunately, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities
remains too high--nearly double the rate of people without
disabilities--and reversing this trend is crucial.
In both the public and private sectors, we can increase employment
opportunities for Americans with disabilities. My Administration is
promoting competitive, integrated employment for persons with
disabilities and the elderly through the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services. Last year, we also recommitted to making the Federal
Government a model employer for people living with disabilities.
Agencies are working harder than ever to promote equal hiring practices
and increase retention, while also expanding internships, fellowships,
and training opportunities.
We know education is the foundation on which all children can build
bright and successful futures, and no child should be limited in his or
her desire to learn. In September, we announced the final regulations
under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part C, to
improve services and outcomes for infants and toddlers with disabilities
and their families during the critical years before kindergarten. The
educational environments we
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are creating for children with disabilities will ensure they are better
prepared to succeed in the classroom and later in the workplace, helping
position our Nation to lead in the 21st century.
Work accessibility is just as vital to success as ensuring educational
and hiring opportunities. Public transportation is a service that should
be available to all Americans, and rules instated this year by the
Department of Transportation require new rail construction or
renovations to ensure accessibility to persons with disabilities. We are
also improving our compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
to make Federal agencies' electronic and information technology more
accessible to individuals with disabilities. This will ensure all
applicants have equal opportunity to apply for jobs, and it will allow
Federal employees to better use technology at work.
To win the future, we must harness the power of our Nation's richest
resource--our people. Americans with disabilities, like all Americans,
are entitled to not only full participation in our society, but also
full opportunity in our society. Their talents and contributions are
vital to the strength of our Nation's workforce and our future
prosperity. Together, we can ensure persons living with disabilities
have equal access to employment, and to inclusive, supportive
workplaces.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2011 as
National Disability Employment Awareness Month. I urge all Americans to
embrace the talents and skills that individuals with disabilities bring
to our workplaces and communities and to promote the right to equal
employment opportunity for all people.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8727 of October 3, 2011
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we recognize the significant
achievements we have made in reducing domestic violence in America, and
we recommit ourselves to the important work still before us. Despite
tremendous progress, an average of three women in America die as a
result of domestic violence each day. One in four women and one in
thirteen men will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. These
statistics are even more sobering when we consider that domestic
violence often goes unreported.
The ramifications of domestic violence are staggering. Young women are
among the most vulnerable, suffering the highest rates of intimate
partner
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violence. Exposure to domestic violence puts our young men and women in
danger of long-term physical, psychological, and emotional harm.
Children who experience domestic violence are at a higher risk for
failure in school, emotional disorders, and substance abuse, and are
more likely to perpetuate the cycle of violence themselves later in
life.
My Administration is working not only to curb domestic violence, but to
bring it to an end. Last year, we announced an unprecedented coordinated
strategy across Federal agencies to prevent and stop violence against
women. We are empowering survivors to break the cycle of abuse with
programs to help them become financially independent. We have prevented
victims of domestic violence from being evicted or denied assisted
housing after abuse. And we are promoting tools for better enforcement
of protective orders, while helping survivors gain access to legal
representation.
In addition, as part of the Affordable Care Act, the Department of
Health and Human Services announced historic new guidelines that will
ensure women receive preventive health services without additional cost,
including domestic violence screening and counseling. The Affordable
Care Act also ensures that insurance companies can no longer classify
domestic violence as a pre-existing condition.
Last December, I reauthorized the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment
Act, giving communities life-saving tools to help identify and treat
child abuse or neglect. It also supports shelters, service programs, and
the National Domestic Violence Hotline, linking tens of thousands of
victims every month to the resources needed to reach safety. I encourage
victims, their loved ones, and concerned citizens to use this hotline
for more information at 1-800-799-SAFE or visit www.TheHotline.org.
This is not just a job for government; it is a job for all of us. Vice
President Joe Biden's ``1is2many'' initiative reminds us that everyone
has a part to play in ending violence against youth. By engaging men and
women, mothers and fathers, and schools and universities in the fight,
we can teach our children about healthy relationships. We are asking
everyone to play an active role in preventing and ending domestic
violence, by stepping up to stop violence when they see it. During
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we recommit to making sure
that no one suffers alone, and to assisting those who need help in
reaching a safer tomorrow.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2011 as
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I call on all Americans to
speak out against domestic violence and support local efforts to assist
victims of these crimes in finding the help and healing they need.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
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Proclamation 8728 of October 3, 2011
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
By providing strong support systems for our loved ones, and by talking
with our children about the dangers of alcohol and other drugs, we can
increase their chances of living long, healthy, and productive lives.
During National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, we celebrate those
dedicated to prevention efforts, and we renew our commitment to the
well-being of all Americans.
The damage done by drugs is felt far beyond the millions of Americans
with diagnosable substance abuse or dependence problems--countless
families and communities also live with the pain and heartbreak it
causes. Relationships are destroyed, crime and violence blight
communities, and dreams are shattered. Substance abuse touches every
sector of our society, straining our health care and criminal justice
systems.
For all these reasons, my Administration has made prevention a central
component of our National Drug Control Strategy, and we have developed
the first-ever National Prevention Strategy. These strategies, inspired
by the thousands of drug-free coalitions across our country, recognize
the power of community-based prevention organizations, and suggest that
prevention activities are most effective when informed by science,
driven by State and local partnerships, and tuned to the specific needs
of a community.
By investing in evidence-based prevention, we can also decrease
emergency room visits and lower rates of chronic disease, easing the
burden on America's health care system. We can improve student
achievement and workforce readiness. Most importantly, we must continue
to support the efforts of parents and guardians, our children's first
teachers and role models, whose positive influence is the most effective
deterrent to alcohol and other drug use and the strongest influence for
making health choices.
Through national collaboration, community programs, and the help of
engaged youth, parents, guardians, educators, law enforcement officers,
clergy, and others, we can build a stronger, healthier America. This
month and throughout the year, let us teach our Nation's young people to
tackle life's challenges with resilience, hope, and determination.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2011 as
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month. I call upon all Americans to
engage in appropriate programs and activities to promote comprehensive
substance abuse prevention efforts within their communities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
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Proclamation 8729 of October 3, 2011
Child Health Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
One of the greatest responsibilities we have as a Nation is to ensure
the health and well-being of our children. Today, we rededicate
ourselves to providing our children with the quality health care,
healthy food, clean environments, and safe schools and communities they
deserve.
We have taken important steps that speak to who we are as a Nation that
cares for its families and children. Young adults are the least likely
to have health insurance, but now, thanks to the Affordable Care Act,
young adults can stay on their parents' insurance plan until they turn
26. As a result, approximately one million more have insurance coverage
than 1 year ago. In addition, it is now illegal for health insurance
companies to limit or deny coverage to children based on pre-existing
conditions.
Getting children off to a healthy start at home and at school is vital
to their success. This year, through the First Lady's Let's Move!
Initiative, Americans have shown their overwhelming commitment to
children's health--over 1,250 schools met our HealthierUS School
Challenge, thousands of child care providers are adopting healthier
practices, and 1.7 million Americans achieved the Presidential Active
Lifestyle Award. I also signed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, making
significant improvements to our school lunches, and we released a
redesigned food pyramid--MyPlate--to encourage better eating.
Making sure kids grow up in safe environments is just as important to
ensuring their well-being. In March, we hosted the White House
Conference on Bullying Prevention because no child should feel unsafe or
be afraid to be who they are at school or in their community. To keep
children safe from hazards, we have taken great strides to provide for
cleaner air and drinking water, and to reduce children's exposure to
lead dust. To make school buildings safer, the American Jobs Act I have
proposed would provide for investments that would put Americans back to
work while making important repairs to schools, like removing asbestos
and updating technology.
On Child Health Day, we recognize the fundamental importance of caring
for the health of our next generation, and we recommit to helping our
children, their families, and our communities fulfill the dream of
healthy, happy, and secure futures.
The Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 18, 1928, as amended
(36 U.S.C. 105), has called for the designation of the first Monday in
October as Child Health Day and has requested the President to issue a
proclamation in observance of this day.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim Monday, October 3, 2011, as Child Health
Day. I call upon families, child health professionals, faith-based and
community organizations, and all levels of government to help ensure
that America's children stay safe and healthy.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8730 of October 6, 2011
National Energy Action Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Throughout our history, America's energy resources have laid the
foundation for our Nation's economic security and prosperity, powering
our factories, lighting our classrooms, and warming our homes. Today, we
stand at a critical juncture. As global demand for energy grows, the
United States must take bold action to create a more secure energy
future and build a competitive 21st-century clean energy economy.
Over the past two and a half years, my Administration has taken
unprecedented action to ensure America leads in the development and
deployment of clean energy. To that end, we have made the largest
investments in clean energy in our Nation's history, which are giving
rise to cutting-edge technologies, creating new American jobs and
industries, and putting us on track to doubling renewable energy
capacity in the United States by the end of next year. At the same time,
we have expanded safe and responsible development of our domestic energy
resources.
To help save consumers money at the pump and on their energy bills, my
Administration has set historic new fuel economy standards for cars and
trucks and taken steps to increase the efficiency of our homes and
buildings. We have established common-sense and cost-effective standards
to reduce harmful pollution, protecting our environment and the public
health. And we are leading by example, requiring the Federal Government
to increase energy efficiency, reduce waste, and use its scale and
resources to advance a clean energy economy.
Taken together, these steps are helping unlock American innovation,
create hundreds of thousands of jobs, and increase our Nation's
competitiveness in the global economy. But these steps must mark the
beginning of our efforts, not the end. Today, the stakes are high and
the global competition to lead in clean energy is more intense than ever
before. The United States cannot afford to fall behind on what will be
one of the keys to our success in the future.
Across our Nation, millions of Americans are already doing their part.
Farmers are pushing the envelope to develop advanced and renewable
fuels, young people are taking action to make their schools and
communities more sustainable, and our best scientists, engineers, and
entrepreneurs are working together to move new ideas and technologies
from the lab to the marketplace. If America can do what it does best--
tap into the talents, skills, and creativity of our people to meet the
challenges of our
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time--we will not just lead the clean energy economy, we will lead the
21st-century global economy.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2011 as
National Energy Action Month. I call upon the citizens of the United
States to recognize this month by making cleaner energy choices that
will help build a stronger Nation, a more robust economy, and a
healthier environment for our children.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8731 of October 6, 2011
German-American Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
As a Nation of immigrants, America has been shaped and strengthened by
the millions who have come to our shores seeking a better future. German
men and women were among the first to have made the perilous journey
across the Atlantic to seize the promise of the American dream. The same
spirit that guided intrepid settlers to help establish Jamestown,
Virginia, and found Germantown, Pennsylvania, is reflected in the
indelible contributions to our common culture that we celebrate today.
Today, nearly one quarter of all Americans trace their ancestry to
Germany, and many familiar American traditions--from Christmas trees to
kindergarten--have German origins. German descendants have fundamentally
and positively shaped the course of American history. From the wheels of
labor and the fields of sport, to the halls of power and throughout our
society, generations of German Americans have helped make America what
it is today.
The bonds of friendship and trust between the United States and Germany
continue to enrich both our nations. Our partnership is more important
than ever, and it remains indispensable to global security and
prosperity. As we observe German-American Day, we celebrate how far we
have come together and remember the lasting legacy that past pioneers
have bestowed onto us.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 6, 2011, as
German-American Day. I encourage all Americans to learn more about the
history of German Americans and to commemorate the many contributions
they have made to our Nation.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8732 of October 7, 2011
Fire Prevention Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Fires, whether caused by people or nature, can have devastating effects.
Hundreds of thousands of fires happen in and around American homes every
year, killing or injuring thousands of people and causing untold damage
to families and communities. This week, we honor the selfless first
responders who put themselves on the line to safeguard us all from fire,
and we reaffirm the need for Americans to practice fire safety
throughout the year.
This year's Fire Prevention Week theme, ``Protect Your Family from
Fire,'' encourages all Americans to promote fire prevention awareness
both inside and outside the home. Everyone can take significant steps to
mitigate the risk of fire, from installing and maintaining smoke alarms
on every level of their home to practicing safe cooking behaviors.
Families can help protect themselves by designing and practicing an
escape plan that includes an outside meeting place with multiple exit
paths out of each room. And, with the help of local safety officials,
families can work together to protect their neighborhood with a
Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
In 2011, Federal firefighting grants have been provided to 16 States to
assist with wildfires that have caused destruction to families, farms,
and businesses. Those living with the threat of wildfire can safeguard
their houses by mowing dry grasses to two inches or less, and by
clearing brush, leaves, green grass, and lumber from around their homes.
By taking precautionary steps, and by discussing and practicing
evacuation plans with our families, we can empower ourselves and our
communities with the tools to prevent fires, and to save lives,
property, and livestock when fires do occur.
This week, our Nation honors the dedicated firefighters and other first
responders who do the hard, dangerous work of keeping our communities
safe from fire. Many have laid down their lives to save our friends and
neighbors, and their selfless sacrifice defines the nature of courage.
As we pay tribute to their memories, let us resolve to maintain our
vigilance and take proactive steps to stop fire emergencies before they
begin.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 9 through
October 15, 2011, as Fire Prevention Week. On Sunday, October 16, 2011,
in accordance with Public Law 107-51, the flag of the United States will
be flown at half-staff on all Federal office buildings in honor of the
National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service. I call on all Americans
to participate
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in this observance with appropriate programs and activities and by
renewing their efforts to prevent fires and their tragic consequences.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8733 of October 7, 2011
National School Lunch Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Children are America's greatest treasure, and ensuring their health is
one of our most important duties as parents, families, and community
members. Our children's continued ability to learn in the classroom,
grow up healthy, and reach their full potential will depend on what we
do now to secure their future. The National School Lunch Program has
been a central part of our Nation's commitment to healthy children since
its inception in 1946, improving the nutrition of generations of
children with affordable, nutritious meals at school. It now serves tens
of millions of children every day.
Despite our successes, too many American children go without proper
nutrition. One-third of children in our country are overweight or obese,
and without a major change, one-third of children born in the year 2000
will develop Type 2 diabetes during their lifetime. Schools are central
to improving child health, as children who eat both school breakfast and
lunch may consume more than half their daily calories at school.
The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 has brought historic reform to
school meal programs. The law takes new steps to address childhood
obesity by setting nutritional standards for foods sold in schools,
updating requirements for school wellness policies, and providing more
nutritional information to parents. It also works to eliminate hunger
during the school day by increasing the number of eligible children
enrolled in school meal programs and removing barriers to school meals
for children most in need.
First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative has worked with
schools nationwide to create healthy opportunities for children. This
year, we exceeded our goal of doubling the number of schools that meet
the HealthierUS School Challenge. We have also engaged child care
providers in adopting healthier practices, and this year 1.7 million
Americans achieved the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award.
To advance our goals even further, Let's Move! has collaborated with
individuals and organizations across our Nation to bring over 800 salad
bars to schools, providing thousands of children with greater access to
fruits and vegetables. School nutrition professionals, chefs, students,
parents, and communities have also used their talents to develop
nutritious foods for schools through the Recipes for Healthy Kids
competition and the Chefs Move to Schools initiative.
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Good nutrition at school is an investment in our children's futures.
During National School Lunch Week, we thank the food program
administrators, educators, parents, and communities who provide for our
Nation's sons and daughters, and we recommit to ensuring all our
children have the healthy food they need to grow and succeed.
The Congress, by joint resolution of October 9, 1962 (Public Law 87-
780), as amended, has designated the week beginning on the second Sunday
in October each year as ``National School Lunch Week,'' and has
requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this
week.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim the week of October 9 through October 15,
2011, as National School Lunch Week. I call upon all Americans to join
the dedicated individuals who administer the National School Lunch
Program in appropriate activities that support the health and well-being
of our Nation's children.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8734 of October 7, 2011
Leif Erikson Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
The first Europeans known to set foot on North America took to the ocean
more than a millennium ago, facing fierce waters and an uncertain
course. Led by Leif Erikson--son of Iceland and grandson of Norway--
these intrepid Scandinavians sailed fearlessly into the unknown, driven
by the promise of adventure and dreams of new discoveries. When they
landed in modern day Canada, they founded the settlement of Vinland and
established a legacy of exploration and exchange that is fundamental to
our courageous spirit.
Evoking the bravery and determination that characterized Erikson and his
crew of pioneers, a group of Norwegians completed their own journey on
October 9, 1825. Crammed into an undersized sloop named Restauration,
these brave travelers sought new opportunities and embraced the same
commitment to exploration that had driven their predecessors centuries
earlier. On Leif Erikson Day, we commemorate these historic voyages and
celebrate the many ways Nordic-American culture has enriched our Nation.
The triumphs of Erikson and those who followed inspire us to continue
reaching for new horizons. Whether developing new technologies, pushing
the boundaries of medicine, or driving ever further into the vastness of
space, we do so confidently, knowing that icons like Leif Erikson were
able to overcome incredible odds and drive the world forward. Today, let
us celebrate his life and legacy with the bold pursuit of America's next
great innovation.
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To honor Leif Erikson and celebrate our Nordic-American heritage, the
Congress, by joint resolution (Public Law 88-566) approved on September
2, 1964, has authorized the President to proclaim October 9 of each year
as ``Leif Erikson Day.''
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim October 9, 2011, as Leif Erikson Day. I call
upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies,
activities, and programs to honor our rich Nordic-American heritage.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8735 of October 7, 2011
Columbus Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
On October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus and his crewmembers sighted
land after an ambitious voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. The ideals
that guided them to this land--courage, determination, and a thirst for
discovery--have inspired countless Americans and led to some of our
Nation's proudest accomplishments. Today, we renew our commitment to
fostering the same spirit of innovation and exploration that will help
future generations reach new horizons.
Ten weeks before his arrival in the Americas, Columbus and his
crewmembers set sail from Spain in search of a westward route to Asia.
Though their journey was daring, it did not yield the trade route they
sought. Instead, it illuminated a continent then unknown to Europe, and
established an unbreakable bond between two distant lands.
These explorers, and countless others that followed them, encountered
indigenous peoples that had lived in the Western hemisphere for tens of
thousands of years. On this day, we also remember the tragic hardships
these communities endured. We honor their countless and ongoing
contributions to our Nation, and we recommit to strengthening the tribal
communities that continue to enrich the fabric of American life.
Columbus returned to the Americas three more times after his first
historic voyage, and his journey has been followed by millions of
immigrants, including our Nation's earliest settlers and Founders. Born
in Genoa, Italy, Christopher Columbus was the first in a proud tradition
of Italians to cross the Atlantic to our shores. Today, we recognize
their indelible influence on our country and celebrate the remarkable
ways Italian-Americans have shaped the American experience.
The excitement Christopher Columbus and his crewmembers experienced that
October morning is felt every day by today's pioneers: entrepreneurs
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and inventors, researchers and engineers. On the anniversary of
Christopher Columbus's voyage, we celebrate the pursuit of discovery as
an essential element of the American character. Embracing this heritage
and inspiring young people to set their own sails, our Nation will reach
the shores of an ever brighter tomorrow.
In commemoration of Christopher Columbus's historic voyage 519 years
ago, the Congress, by joint resolution of April 30, 1934, and modified
in 1968 (36 U.S.C. 107), as amended, has requested the President
proclaim the second Monday of October of each year as ``Columbus Day.''
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim October 10, 2011, as Columbus Day. I call
upon the people of the United States to observe this day with
appropriate ceremonies and activities. I also direct that the flag of
the United States be displayed on all public buildings on the appointed
day in honor of our diverse history and all who have contributed to
shaping this Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8736 of October 11, 2011
General Pulaski Memorial Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Today, America pays tribute to Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski, a
proud Polish patriot who embraced our country's highest ideals. He
fought for freedom on two continents, earned the title, ``Father of the
American Cavalry,'' and guided his unit through some of the toughest
tests of the Revolutionary War, ultimately laying down his life for our
nascent country. On General Pulaski Memorial Day, we honor his memory
and celebrate the many contributions Polish Americans have made to
America's culture and history.
As a young soldier, General Pulaski rose to defend his homeland against
foreign occupation. He fought valiantly for Poland's sovereignty but was
eventually forced into exile, and it was in Paris that he met Benjamin
Franklin. Franklin told him of America's aspirations, and Pulaski
journeyed across the Atlantic to join our struggle for freedom,
equality, and justice. Arriving in America in 1777, he served beside
General George Washington, who appreciated his military experience. He
later formed an independent corps of cavalry known as the Pulaski
Legion, which battled bravely from the New Jersey coast to the siege of
Savannah, where he was mortally wounded.
Pulaski's unit was a diverse collection of soldiers, composed of
Americans, Germans, Frenchmen, Irishmen, and Poles. Their differences
were many,
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but they were united by a basic longing for human liberty. This same
longing--which moved Pulaski to make the ultimate sacrifice--has come to
define America and reflect our lasting ties to the people of Poland.
Today, as we commemorate Casimir Pulaski's extraordinary life, we
recognize that his spirit lives on in all those who are driven to pursue
a freer, more just world.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 11, 2011, as
General Pulaski Memorial Day. I encourage all Americans to commemorate
this occasion with appropriate programs and activities paying tribute to
Casimir Pulaski and honoring all those who defend the freedom of our
Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eleventh day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8737 of October 14, 2011
National Character Counts Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
In times of adversity and triumph alike, the American people have been
guided by the strength of our character. With resilience and compassion,
we have provided for our neighbors, lifted their spirits, and embraced
our shared humanity. During National Character Counts Week, we celebrate
our country's core values and commit to passing them on to the next
generation.
By setting a positive example for our children, we can inspire in them
the virtues that define our Nation: personal integrity, bold ingenuity,
and a drive to serve others. America's role models--from parents and
teachers to community leaders and coaches--play an integral role in
shaping character. They foster patriotism, promote civic pride, and
teach young people to live by the Golden Rule by treating others the way
they want to be treated. Together, all Americans must cultivate moral
fortitude, preach tolerance, and demonstrate the value of respect for
those different from ourselves.
Tragic events in our Nation remind us why it is imperative that we
create a climate of acceptance and compassion in our schools and
communities. Our country has mourned as we have heard heartbreaking
stories of promising young men and women subjected to harassment and
bullying, driving some out of school, and others to ultimately take
their own lives. No family should have to endure such a loss, and no
child should feel that alone. Let us honor their memories by striving to
make our neighborhoods and schools safe and affirming places for every
child to learn, grow, and dream.
Our Nation's character is engrained in our past, central to our present,
and key to our future. All of us share a responsibility to preserve and
uphold the values that have kept our country strong, prosperous, and
free. This
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week, we resolve to stay true to the American spirit and live according
to our highest ideals.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 16 through
October 22, 2011, as National Character Counts Week. I call upon public
officials, educators, parents, students, and all Americans to observe
this week with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8738 of October 14, 2011
National Forest Products Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
America's forests have long played an integral role in shaping and
developing our Nation. They help us access clean water and air, drive
discovery as natural laboratories, and make our communities more
beautiful and vibrant places to live. From renewable energy and biofuels
to green building materials, forests also provide a wide variety of
products that make up an important part of our economy. During National
Forest Products Week, we celebrate the value of our woodlands and
recommit to careful stewardship and preservation of these national
treasures.
Through the America's Great Outdoors Initiative, my Administration
continues to advance a 21st century conservation agenda and ensure we
use our precious natural resources sustainably. Meeting the test of
environmental stewardship often means finding the best ideas at the
grassroots level, and this initiative is guided by the insights of
Americans from across our country. From hunters and fishers to tribal
leaders and young people, we all have a stake in safeguarding the
woodlands we cherish. As we build the foundation for a smarter, more
community-driven environmental strategy, we embrace the uniquely
American idea that each of us has an equal share in the land around us
and an equal responsibility to protect it.
This year, we also join the global community in commemorating the
International Year of Forests. By bolstering our commitment to the
responsible management and conservation of forests around the world, we
sow the seeds of a greener future for our children and grandchildren.
To recognize the importance of products from our forests, the Congress,
by Public Law 86-753 (36 U.S.C. 123), as amended, has designated the
week beginning on the third Sunday in October of each year as ``National
Forest Products Week'' and has authorized and requested the President to
issue a proclamation in observance of this week.
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NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim October 16 through October 22, 2011, as
National Forest Products Week. I call on the people of the United States
to join me in recognizing the dedicated individuals who are responsible
for the stewardship of our forests and for the preservation, management,
and use of these precious natural resources for the benefit of the
American people.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8739 of October 14, 2011
Blind Americans Equality Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Generations of blind and visually impaired Americans have dedicated
their passion and skills to enhancing our national life--leading as
public servants, penning works of literature, lending their voice to
music, and inspiring as champions of sport. On Blind Americans Equality
Day, we celebrate the achievements of blind and visually impaired
Americans and reaffirm our commitment to advancing their complete social
and economic integration.
My Administration is dedicated to ensuring Americans with disabilities
have every opportunity to reach their full potential. Last year, I
signed the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility
Act to set new standards that enable people living with disabilities to
access broadband, digital, and mobile innovations. To help level the
playing field for employment, we are working to improve the Federal
Government's compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Making electronic and information technology 508 compliant will give
applicants with disabilities a fair chance and allow employees with
disabilities to use necessary tools while on the job. By taking these
steps, my Administration reaffirms its pledge to openness by making sure
that people with disabilities can better access all the information the
Federal Government has placed online.
This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the passage of the
Randolph-Sheppard Act. For decades, the legislation has provided
openings for blind Americans to work as vendors on Federal property,
creating meaningful entrepreneurial opportunities and enabling them to
contribute to our economy. These jobs have enriched the lives of those
participating in the Randolph-Sheppard program and enhanced public
understanding of blindness for those who have interacted with the
program's vendors.
Though we have made progress in the march to equality for the blind and
those with low vision, there is still more work to be done. In addition
to
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improving access to technology and employment opportunities, this
January, I signed the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act. This landmark
legislation requires electric and hybrid car manufacturers to add sounds
to alert all pedestrians to the presence of these unusually quiet
vehicles. These provisions will help increase the safety and
independence of blind and visually impaired Americans.
By joint resolution approved on October 6, 1964 (Public Law 88-628, as
amended), the Congress designated October 15 of each year as ``White
Cane Safety Day'' to recognize the contributions of Americans who are
blind or have low vision. Today, let us recommit to forging ahead with
the work of perfecting our Union and ensuring we remain a Nation where
all our people, including those living with disabilities, have every
opportunity to achieve their dreams.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim October 15, 2011, as Blind Americans
Equality Day. I call upon public officials, business and community
leaders, educators, librarians, and Americans across the country to
observe this day with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8740 of October 24, 2011
United Nations Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
In 1945, 51 nations in a world shaken by war signed the Charter of the
United Nations. Determined to move beyond an era of violence and
uncertainty, these pioneers aimed to prevent conflict by addressing its
causes. Today, the United Nations provides a forum to seek lasting peace
by mediating international disputes, advancing human rights, and
fostering global cooperation. On United Nations Day, we join our 192
fellow member states in celebrating the founding ideals of the Charter,
and we recommit to the global pursuit of peace, justice, and human
dignity.
Built out of the ashes of war and genocide, the United Nations emerged
as a vehicle for human progress. Recognizing the power and virtue of
working in concert, the founders of this institution set out to mend the
wounds caused by World War II, embrace peace over chaos, and lay the
foundation for global cooperation on shared goals. Now, as the fates of
nations become ever more intertwined, the leadership, staff, and member
states of the United Nations continue to play an essential role in
addressing global issues--from public health and economic development to
climate change, transnational terrorism, and nuclear proliferation.
Extraordinary events have reminded the world that the collective action
of ordinary citizens can lead the march toward liberty and justice. At a
time
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of dramatic political transformation, the United Nations can embrace
democratic movements and stand beside those who reject tyranny and
oppression and look to the promise of freedom and prosperity. Together,
we will help realize the aspirations of peoples long denied the
opportunity to achieve their dreams.
The men and women who created the United Nations understood that peace
is not simply the absence of war. The global community must continue not
only to promote stability, but also defend the right of all peoples to
live free and the right of all nations to chart their own course. The
United States, working in and with the United Nations, will never accept
a flawed status quo, but will pursue with vigor the world as we know it
can be.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 24, 2011, as
United Nations Day. I urge the Governors of the 50 States, and the
officials of all other areas under the flag of the United States, to
observe United Nations Day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fourth day
of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8741 of October 25, 2011
To Take Certain Actions Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
1. Section 506A(a)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (the ``1974
Act'') (19 U.S.C. 2466a(a)(1)), as added by section 111(a) of the
African Growth and Opportunity Act (title I of Public Law 106-200)
(AGOA), authorizes the President to designate a country listed in
section 107 of the AGOA (19 U.S.C. 3706) as a ``beneficiary sub-Saharan
African country'' if the President determines that the country meets the
eligibility requirements set forth in section 104 of the AGOA (19 U.S.C.
3703), as well as the eligibility criteria set forth in section 502 of
the 1974 Act (19 U.S.C. 2462).
2. Section 104 of the AGOA authorizes the President to designate a
country listed in section 107 of the AGOA as an ``eligible sub-Saharan
African country'' if the President determines that the country meets
certain eligibility requirements.
3. Section 112(c) of the AGOA, as added in section 6002 of the Africa
Investment Incentive Act of 2006 (Division D, title VI of Public Law
109-432) (19 U.S.C. 3721(c)), provides special rules for certain apparel
articles imported from ``lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan
African countries.''
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4. Pursuant to section 104 of the AGOA and section 506A(a)(1) of the
1974 Act, I have determined that the Republic of C[ocirc]te d'Ivoire
(C[ocirc]te d'Ivoire), the Republic of Guinea (Guinea), and the Republic
of Niger (Niger) meet the eligibility requirements set forth or
referenced therein, and I have decided to designate C[ocirc]te d'Ivoire,
Guinea, and Niger as eligible sub-Saharan African countries and as
beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries.
5. C[ocirc]te d'Ivoire, Guinea, and Niger each satisfy the criterion for
treatment as a ``lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African
country'' under section 112(c) of the AGOA.
6. Section 604 of the 1974 Act (19 U.S.C. 2483), as amended, authorizes
the President to embody in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United
States (HTS) the substance of relevant provisions of that Act, or other
acts affecting import treatment, and actions taken thereunder.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States of America, including but not limited to
section 104 of the AGOA (19 U.S.C. 3703), and title V and section 604 of
the 1974 Act (19 U.S.C. 2461-67, 2483), do hereby proclaim that:
(1) C[ocirc]te d'Ivoire, Guinea, and Niger are designated as
eligible sub-Saharan African countries and as beneficiary sub-Saharan
African countries.
(2) In order to reflect this designation in the HTS, general note
16(a) to the HTS is modified by inserting in alphabetical sequence in
the list of beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries ``Republic of
C[ocirc]te d'Ivoire'', ``Republic of Guinea'', and ``Republic of
Niger''.
(3) For purposes of section 112(c) of the AGOA, C[ocirc]te d'Ivoire,
Guinea, and Niger are lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African
countries.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fifth day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8742 of October 31, 2011
To Modify the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
1. Section 1205(a) of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988
(the ``1988 Act'') (19 U.S.C. 3005(a)) directs the United States
International Trade Commission (the ``Commission'') to keep the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) under continuous
review and periodically to recommend to the President such modifications
to the HTS as the Commission considers necessary or appropriate to
accomplish the purposes
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set forth in that subsection. Among those purposes are to promote the
uniform application of the International Convention on the Harmonized
Commodity Description and Coding System (the ``Convention'') and to
alleviate unnecessary administrative burdens.
2. The Commission conducted an investigation pursuant to section 1205 of
the 1988 Act (Investigation No. 1205-8) in response to a request from
the Department of the Treasury regarding certain footwear featuring
outer soles of rubber or plastic to which a layer of textile material
has been added. The request stated that changes to the HTS would promote
the uniform application of the Convention as well as alleviate
unnecessary administrative burdens.
3. On August 9, 2010, the Commission issued a report in Investigation
No. 1205-8, recommending certain changes to the HTS. The report and
layover requirements of section 1206(b) of the 1988 Act (19 U.S.C.
3006(b)) were satisfied as of March 30, 2011.
4. On November 8, 2010, the United States Trade Representative (the
``USTR'') requested that the Commission make further recommendations
consistent with section 1205(d) of the 1988 Act concerning particular
provisions of the HTS that the Commission had recommended in its August
report be replaced by new tariff lines. The USTR also asked the
Commission to consider whether, in response to requests made by
interested parties in the course of the original investigation,
additional tariff lines should be inserted in the HTS.
5. On February 18, 2011, the Commission issued an addendum to its
report, recommending additional modifications to the HTS. The report and
layover requirements of section 1206(b) were satisfied as of June 30,
2011.
6. Section 1206(a) of the 1988 Act (19 U.S.C. 3006(a)) authorizes the
President to proclaim modifications to the HTS based on recommendations
made by the Commission pursuant to section 1205 of the 1988 Act, if he
determines that the modifications are in conformity with United States
obligations under the Convention and do not run counter to the national
economic interest of the United States. I have determined that the
modifications to the HTS set forth in Annex I to this proclamation are
in conformity with United States obligations under the Convention and do
not run counter to the national economic interest of the United States.
7. On June 6, 2003, the United States and Chile entered into the United
States-Chile Free Trade Agreement (USCFTA). The Congress approved the
USCFTA in section 101(a) of the United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement
Implementation Act (the ``USCFTA Act'') (19 U.S.C. 3805 note).
Presidential Proclamation 7746 of December 30, 2003, implemented the
USCFTA with respect to the United States, and incorporated in the HTS
the tariff modifications and rules of origin necessary or appropriate to
carry out the USCFTA.
8. Section 202 of the USCFTA Act provides rules for determining whether
goods imported into the United States originate in the territory of a
USCFTA Party and thus are eligible for the tariff and other treatment
contemplated under the USCFTA. Section 202(o)(2)(A) authorizes the
President to proclaim, subject to the consultation and layover
requirements of section 103(a) of the USCFTA Act, modifications to such
previously proclaimed rules of origin.
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9. The United States and Chile have agreed to modify certain rules of
origin and to add certain other rules of origin in the USCFTA. I have
determined that further modification of the USCFTA rules of origin set
forth in Proclamation 7746, and subsequently modified, is therefore
necessary.
10. The consultation and layover requirements of section 103(a) of the
USCFTA Act were satisfied as of July 10, 2010.
11. On April 15, 1994, the United States entered into trade agreements
resulting from the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations (the
``Uruguay Round Agreements''). In section 101(a) of the Uruguay Round
Agreements Act (the ``URAA'') (19 U.S.C. 3511(a)), the Congress approved
the Uruguay Round Agreements listed in section 101(d) of that Act,
including the Agreement on Agriculture in section 101(d)(2). To
implement section 4.2 of the Agreement on Agriculture, section 401(b)(2)
of the URAA amended section 103B of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7
U.S.C. 1444-2) by converting the special import quotas on cotton
provided for under section 103B to tariff-rate quotas.
12. Proclamation 6301 of June 7, 1991, and Proclamation 6948 of October
29, 1996, modified U.S. note 6 to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the
HTS and created tariff lines in the HTS for reporting entries under a
special import quota for upland cotton. Note 6 sets out the conditions
under which a special import quota for upland cotton takes effect.
13. Section 1207(a)(2)(B) of the Food Conservation and Energy Act of
2008 (7 U.S.C. 8737(a)(2)(B)) changed the conditions under which a
special import quota for upland cotton takes effect. U.S. note 6 to
subchapter III of chapter 99 needs to be modified to reflect those
changes.
14. Section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (the ``Trade Act'')
(19 U.S.C. 2483), authorizes the President to embody in the HTS the
substance of the relevant provisions of that Act, and of other Acts,
affecting import treatment, and actions thereunder, including the
removal, modification, continuance, or imposition of any rate of duty or
other import restriction.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States of America, including but not limited to
section 1206 of the 1988 Act, section 202 of the USCFTA Act, and section
604 of the Trade Act, do proclaim that:
(1) In order to modify the HTS to promote the uniform application of
the Convention and to alleviate unnecessary administrative burdens, the
HTS is modified as set forth in Annex I to this proclamation.
(2) The modifications to the HTS set forth in Annex I to this
proclamation shall be effective with respect to goods that are entered,
or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the later of
September 1, 2011, or the thirtieth day after publication of this
proclamation in the Federal Register.
(3) In order to modify the rules of origin under the USCFTA, general
note 26 to the HTS is modified as provided in Annex II to this
proclamation.
(4) The modifications made by Annex II to this proclamation shall be
effective with respect to goods of Chile under the terms of general note
26
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to the HTS that are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for
consumption, on or after November 1, 2011.
(5) In order to reflect the modified requirements under which a
special import quota for upland cotton takes effect, the HTS is modified
as set forth in Annex III to this proclamation.
(6) The modifications made by Annex III to this proclamation, shall
be effective with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse
for consumption, on or after June 18, 2008.
(7) Any provisions of previous proclamations and Executive Orders
that are inconsistent with the actions taken in this proclamation are
superseded to the extent of such inconsistency.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
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Proclamation 8743 of November 1, 2011
Military Family Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
With every step we take on American soil, we tread on ground made safer
for us through the invaluable sacrifices of our service members and
their families. During Military Family Month, we celebrate the
exceptional service, strength, and sacrifice of our military families,
whose commitment to our Nation goes above and beyond the call of duty.
Just as our troops embody the courage and character that make America's
military the finest in the world, their family members embody the
resilience and generosity that make our communities strong. They serve
with heroism in their homes and neighborhoods while they are without the
comfort of having loved ones nearby. Day after day, week after week,
spouses resolutely accomplish the work of two parents, sons and
daughters diligently keep up with homework and activities, and parents
and grandparents patiently wait for news of their child and grandchild's
safe return. To these families, and to those whose service members never
come home, we bear a debt that can never be fully repaid.
As Americans, we are at our best when we honor and uphold our
obligations to one another and to those who have given so much to our
country. Earlier this year, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden
challenged all Americans to serve those who sacrifice in our name with
the Joining Forces initiative. Joining Forces strives to enlist support
for our men and women in uniform and our veterans not only when they are
away at war, but at every stage of their lives. My Administration is
dedicated to doing more for our military families by enhancing learning
opportunities for our military children, championing our military
spouses as they advance their careers and education, and providing
better mental health counseling to heal the wounds left in war's wake.
Our service members swore an oath to protect and defend, and with each
step we take on this land we cherish, we remember our steadfast promise
to protect the well-being of the family members they hold dear. Every
act of kindness we can offer helps cultivate a culture of support for
our military families, and I encourage each American to make a
difference in the lives of these patriots.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2011 as
Military Family Month. I call on all Americans to honor military
families through private actions and public service for the tremendous
contributions they make in the support of our service members and our
Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of
November, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
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Proclamation 8744 of November 1, 2011
National Adoption Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
As a Nation, one of our highest responsibilities is to ensure the health
and well-being of our children. With generous hearts and open minds, we
strive to make sure all children grow up knowing they have a family that
shares with them the warmth, security, and unconditional love that will
help them succeed. And yet, more than 100,000 children in America await
this most basic support, and still more children abroad live without
families. During National Adoption Month, we celebrate the acts of
compassion and love that unite children with adoptive families, and we
rededicate ourselves to the essential task of providing all children
with the comfort and safety of a permanent home.
The decision to adopt a child has brought profound joy and meaning into
the lives of Americans across our country. Parents are moved to adopt
for reasons as unique and varied as the children they embrace, but they
are unified by the remarkable grace of their acts. Adoptive families
come in all forms. With so many children waiting for loving homes, it is
important to ensure that all qualified caregivers are given the
opportunity to serve as adoptive parents, regardless of race, religion,
sexual orientation, or marital status.
My Administration remains steadfast in our support of adoptive families
and children in need of homes. Earlier this year, I signed the Child and
Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act, which reauthorizes child
welfare programs and makes new provisions to help reduce the amount of
time young children are without permanent families. I also signed the
Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act to provide balanced, nutritious meals to
all children in the foster care system. Last year, during National
Adoption Month, I signed the International Adoption Simplification Act,
which removed unnecessary regulations and barriers to international
adoption. These efforts come in addition to the Adoption Tax Credit,
which was extended and expanded as part of the Affordable Care Act to
make adoption more accessible to American families. Through these key
pieces of legislation, my Administration is moving forward with our
commitment to stand with youth in foster care and find new ways to
encourage adoption.
Adoption has become a part of many Americans' lives and has contributed
to the character of our Nation. As parents and as family members, it is
our task to do all we can to give our children the very best. In caring
for our youth and putting them before ourselves, we make a lasting
investment not only in their future, but also in the prosperity and
strength of our Nation in the years to come. This month and throughout
the year, let us recommit to ensuring every child is given the
sustaining love of family, the assurance of a permanent home, and the
supportive upbringing they deserve.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2011 as
National Adoption Month. I encourage all Americans to observe this month
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by answering the call to find homes for every child in America in need
of a permanent and caring family, and to support the families who care
for them.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of
November, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8745 of November 1, 2011
National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
For millions of Americans, the heartbreak of watching a loved one
struggle with Alzheimer's disease is a pain they know all too well.
Alzheimer's disease burdens an increasing number of our Nation's elders
and their families, and it is essential that we confront the challenge
it poses to our public health. During National Alzheimer's Disease
Awareness Month, we stand united in our commitment to improve care for
Alzheimer's patients, identify new therapies for the disease, and
support all those whose lives have been touched by this tragic ailment.
As we confront the challenges of supporting an aging population, my
Administration is dedicated to advancing research that brings us closer
to understanding and treating Alzheimer's disease. In January, I signed
the National Alzheimer's Project Act, which calls for an aggressive and
coordinated national strategy to enable earlier diagnosis of the
disease, improve strategies for long-term care, and accelerate the
search for a cure by promoting collaboration among researchers. The Act
also establishes an Advisory Council on Alzheimer's Research, Care, and
Services, which brings together some of our Nation's foremost experts on
Alzheimer's disease to ensure our efforts do the most good for patients
and their families.
My Administration, in collaboration with a variety of private and public
partners, is making headway in the fight to eliminate Alzheimer's
disease. Research funded by the National Institutes of Health has
identified genetic markers that may indicate increased risk of
developing Alzheimer's, and researchers across our Nation and around the
world continue to shed new light on the disease. These discoveries bring
us closer than ever to lifting the immense physical, emotional, and
financial burdens that Alzheimer's disease imposes upon aging Americans
and their families.
This month, we remember the Americans we have lost to Alzheimer's
disease, and we stand with the individuals and families who have felt
the pain and sorrow brought in its wake. In light of their hardship, let
us make every effort to support the families, caregivers, medical
professionals, and researchers who improve the lives of those affected
by this disease. We join them in looking toward a future free of
Alzheimer's disease, and we recommit to making that vision a reality.
[[Page 169]]
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2011 as
National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month. I call upon the people of
the United States to learn more about Alzheimer's disease and to offer
their support to the individuals living with this disease and to their
caregivers.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of
November, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8746 of November 1, 2011
National Diabetes Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Though we have made substantial progress in combating diabetes, the
number of Americans burdened by this disease continues to grow at a
rapid pace. During National Diabetes Month, we commemorate the work of
caregivers, researchers, medical professionals, and advocates who lead
the fight against diabetes, and we recommit to educating ourselves and
our communities about how we can manage, treat, and prevent this
disease.
Diabetes can have a devastating impact on the health and well-being of
those it affects, and it remains an urgent threat to our public health.
In addition to immediate health issues, people with diabetes are more
likely to suffer from complications such as heart attacks, strokes, high
blood pressure, or kidney failure. Most often diagnosed in young people,
Type 1 diabetes inhibits the body's ability to produce insulin and can
be managed with insulin injections, diet, and exercise. Research
suggests that, unlike Type 1 diabetes, it is possible to prevent or
delay Type 2 diabetes. Yet, Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90 percent of
diabetes cases in the United States, and it continues to grow more
prevalent in adults and children alike. It is essential that all
Americans take steps to assess and reduce their risk of developing Type
2 diabetes by adopting a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and
consulting a medical professional about their individual needs and risk
factors.
My Administration remains committed to advancing diabetes education,
research, prevention, and treatment. The National Diabetes Education
Program--a partnership between the National Institutes of Health, the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and more than 200 public and
private organizations--works to improve outcomes for people living with
diabetes, encourage early diagnosis, and prevent or delay the onset of
Type 2 diabetes. In addition, the National Diabetes Prevention Program
serves as part of a coordinated national strategy to reduce the
prevalence of Type 2 diabetes by encouraging healthy eating habits and
offering group support for adults who are striving to lose weight and
get physically active. The Affordable Care Act ensures that all
Americans joining a new health plan can receive recommended preventive
services, like diabetes screenings, with no out-of-
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pocket costs. And, by 2014, Americans will not be denied insurance
coverage because they have diabetes or other pre-existing conditions.
The increase in Type 2 diabetes among our Nation's children is linked to
the rise of childhood obesity. To end the epidemic of childhood obesity
within a generation, First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative
is inspiring children to be physically active and empowering parents and
caregivers to make healthy choices for their families. By encouraging
our sons and daughters to develop healthy habits today, we help ensure
they have a brighter, healthier tomorrow.
During National Diabetes Month, we remember those we have lost to
diabetes, and we stand with the millions of Americans who have been
touched by its consequences. As a Nation, it is our task to reduce the
incidence of this illness and offer care and support to those it
affects. This month and throughout the year, let us continue to pursue a
diabetes-free future for our children, our families, and all Americans.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2011 as
National Diabetes Month. I call upon all Americans, school systems,
government agencies, nonprofit organizations, health care providers,
research institutions, and other interested groups to join in activities
that raise diabetes awareness and help prevent, treat, and manage the
disease.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of
November, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8747 of November 1, 2011
National Entrepreneurship Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
From inventing the traffic light to developing the artificial heart, our
Nation's doers, makers, and entrepreneurs have proven time and again
that, in America, it takes only a single good idea and the courage to
pursue it to change history. In fulfilling this simple promise, these
visionaries play a critical role in sparking new industries, expanding
our economy, and generating new job growth across our country. This
month, we celebrate the remarkable and everyday successes of our
entrepreneurs and innovators, and we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring
that our economy remains the engine and the envy of the world.
Earlier this year, my Administration launched the Startup America
initiative, which accelerates the success of our entrepreneurs by
unlocking access to capital, cutting red tape, and expanding mentorship
and educational opportunities. The initiative works to improve the
climate for all high-growth companies, and includes specific provisions
to bring expertise and services to entrepreneurial scientists, students,
immigrants, and veterans.
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Startup America also coordinates action across the Federal Government to
bolster private investment in early-stage companies, helping ensure that
our best ideas have a chance to get off the ground and into the
marketplace. By making it faster and easier for entrepreneurs to turn
new ideas into new businesses and new jobs, we are building an
innovation economy that will propel our Nation into the future.
To fast-track our startups and enable them to bring products to market
more quickly, I signed the America Invents Act in September of this
year. This essential legislation will help entrepreneurs and inventors
secure a patent three times faster than they can today, drastically
cutting the time it takes to roll out novel technologies and products.
The Act will also improve the quality of our patents and do more to give
entrepreneurs the protection and confidence they need to attract
investment, grow their businesses, and hire more workers. We stand at a
moment when our Nation's economy must become more dynamic and flexible
than ever before, and these reforms will help us meet this challenge.
My Administration is also working to create new opportunities for
collaboration within the private sector. Run by and for entrepreneurs,
the independent Startup America Partnership has assembled an extensive
network of mentors, advisors, investors, and established corporations to
share strategic assets with our country's next great innovators. This
movement harnesses the agility, intelligence, and ingenuity that has
powered our success for generations and uses it to fuel our growth in
rapidly evolving, global markets.
The task of making America competitive throughout the 21st century is a
job for all of us. By cultivating innovation on our college and
university campuses, we can inspire the next generation of
entrepreneurial leaders. With the help of experienced entrepreneurs and
companies, and through events like Global Entrepreneurship Week, which
begins on November 14, we can ensure our startups have access to the
resources, connections, and partnerships that will promote their
success. To encourage great ideas in all parts of our country, our
lending institutions, foundations, and investors can finance vibrant
entrepreneurial ecosystems that extend to our rural and underserved
communities. By pooling our talents and investing in the creativity and
imagination of our people, we can move forward with the spirit of hope
and ambition that has defined our past and will drive our Nation in the
years to come.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2011 as
National Entrepreneurship Month. I call upon all Americans to
commemorate this month with appropriate programs and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of
November, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
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Proclamation 8748 of November 1, 2011
National Family Caregivers Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Across our country, millions of family members, neighbors, and friends
provide care and support for their loved ones during times of need. With
profound compassion and selflessness, these caregivers sustain American
men, women, and children at their most vulnerable moments, and through
their devoted acts, they exemplify the best of the American spirit.
During National Family Caregivers Month, we pay tribute to the
individuals throughout America who ensure the health and well-being of
their relatives and loved ones.
Many of our Nation's family caregivers assist seniors and people with
disabilities to help improve their quality of life. Their efforts help
deliver short-term comfort and security, facilitate social engagement,
and help individuals stay in their homes and communities as long as
possible. This heroic work is often done while caregivers balance other
commitments to their families, jobs, and communities. As these
remarkable individuals put their own lives on hold to tend to their
family members, it is our responsibility to ensure they do not have to
do it alone.
To ease the emotional and financial burdens that can accompany
caregiving, my Administration has striven to support family caregivers
for the crucial role they perform. Vice President Joe Biden's Middle
Class Task Force has focused on the importance or investing in respite
care, counseling, and training for individuals who serve aging
Americans. These initiatives would give family caregivers a leg up as
they continue to support their aging loved ones.
One of our Nation's greatest responsibilities is to ensure our veterans,
their families, and their caregivers receive lasting and comprehensive
support. Last year, I signed the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health
Services Act, which helps fulfill this obligation by extending
additional assistance to family members who care for severely wounded
veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. Our military caregivers exemplify
the heroism found not only on the fields of battle, but also in the
hearts of those who tend to our wounded warriors when they come home.
As we observe National Family Caregivers Month, we honor the tireless
compassion of Americans who heal, comfort, and support our injured, our
elders, and people with disabilities. This month and throughout the
year, let the quiet perseverance of our family caregivers remind us of
the decency and kindness to which we can all aspire.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2011 as
National Family Caregivers Month. I encourage all Americans to pay
tribute to those who provide for the health and well-being of their
family members, friends, and neighbors.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of
November, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8749 of November 1, 2011
National Native American Heritage Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
From the Aleutian Islands to the Florida Everglades, American Indians
and Alaska Natives have contributed immensely to our country's heritage.
During National Native American Heritage Month, we commemorate their
enduring achievements and reaffirm the vital role American Indians and
Alaska Natives play in enriching the character of our Nation.
Native Americans stand among America's most distinguished authors,
artists, scientists, and political leaders, and in their
accomplishments, they have profoundly strengthened the legacy we will
leave our children. So, too, have American Indians and Alaska Natives
bravely fought to protect this legacy as members of our Armed Forces. As
service members, they have shown exceptional valor and heroism on
battlefields from the American Revolution to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Native Americans have demonstrated time and again their commitment to
advancing our common goals, and we honor their resolve in the face of
years of marginalization and broken promises. My Administration
recognizes the painful chapters in our shared history, and we are fully
committed to moving forward with American Indians and Alaska Natives to
build a better future together.
To strengthen our economy and win the future for our children, my
Administration is addressing problems that have burdened Native American
communities for too long. We are working to bolster economic
development, expand access to affordable health care, broaden post-
secondary educational opportunities, and ensure public safety and tribal
justice. In June, I signed an Executive Order establishing the White
House Rural Council, to strengthen Federal engagement with tribal
governments and promote economic prosperity in Indian Country and across
rural America. This comes in conjunction with several settlements that
will put more land into the hands of tribes and deliver long-awaited
trust reform to Indian Country.
To bring jobs and sustainable growth to tribal nations, my
Administration is connecting tribal economies to the broader economy
through transportation infrastructure and high-speed Internet, as well
as by focusing on clean energy development on tribal lands. First Lady
Michelle Obama's recently launched Let's Move! in Indian Country
initiative will also redouble efforts to encourage healthy living for
American Indians and Alaska Natives. These actions reflect my
Administration's ongoing commitment to progress for Native Americans,
which was reaffirmed last year when we announced our support for the
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Through
a comprehensive strategy where the Federal
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Government and tribal nations move forward as equal partners, we can
bring real and lasting change to Indian Country.
This month, we celebrate the rich heritage and myriad contributions of
American Indians and Alaska Natives, and we rededicate ourselves to
supporting tribal sovereignty, tribal self-determination, and prosperity
for all Native Americans. We will seek to strengthen our nation-to-
nation relationship by ensuring tribal nations have a voice in shaping
national policies impacting tribal communities. We will continue this
dialogue at the White House Tribal Nations Conference held in
Washington, D.C. next month. As we confront the challenges currently
facing our tribal communities and work to ensure American Indians and
Alaska Natives have meaningful opportunities to pursue their dreams, we
are forging a brighter future for the First Americans and all Americans.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2011 as
National Native American Heritage Month. I call upon all Americans to
commemorate this month with appropriate programs and activities, and to
celebrate November 25, 2011, as Native American Heritage Day.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of
November, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8750 of November 1, 2011
Establishment of the Fort Monroe National Monument
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Known first as ``The Gibraltar of the Chesapeake'' and later as
``Freedom's Fortress,'' Fort Monroe on Old Point Comfort in Virginia has
a storied history in the defense of our Nation and the struggle for
freedom.
Fort Monroe, designed by Simon Bernard and built of stone and brick
between 1819 and 1834 in part by enslaved labor, is the largest of the
Third System of fortifications in the United States. It has been a
bastion of defense of the Chesapeake Bay, a stronghold of the Union Army
surrounded by the Confederacy, a place of freedom for the enslaved, and
the imprisonment site of Chief Blackhawk and the President of the
Confederacy, Jefferson Davis. It served as the U.S. Army's Coastal
Defense Artillery School during the 19th and 20th centuries, and most
recently, as headquarters of the U.S. Army's Training and Doctrine
Command.
Old Point Comfort in present day Hampton, Virginia, was originally named
``Pointe Comfort'' by Captain John Smith in 1607 when the first English
colonists came to America. It was here that the settlers of Jamestown
established Fort Algernon in 1609. After Fort Algernon's destruction by
fire in 1612, successive English fortifications were built, testifying
to the location's
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continuing strategic value. The first enslaved Africans in England's
colonies in America were brought to this peninsula on a ship flying the
Dutch flag in 1619, beginning a long ignoble period of slavery in the
colonies and, later, this Nation. Two hundred and forty-two years later,
Fort Monroe became a place of refuge for those later generations
escaping enslavement.
During the Civil War, Fort Monroe stood as a foremost Union outpost in
the midst of the Confederacy and remained under Union Army control
during the entire conflict. The Fort was the site of General Benjamin
Butler's ``Contraband Decision'' in 1861, which provided a pathway to
freedom for thousands of enslaved people during the Civil War and served
as a forerunner of President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation
of 1863. Thus, Old Point Comfort marks both the beginning and end of
slavery in our Nation. The Fort played critical roles as the springboard
for General George B. McClellan's Peninsula Campaign in 1862 and as a
crucial supply base for the siege of Petersburg by Union forces under
General Ulysses S. Grant in 1864 and 1865. After the surrender of the
Confederacy, Confederate President Jefferson Davis was transferred to
Fort Monroe and remained imprisoned there for 2 years.
Fort Monroe is the third oldest United States Army post in continuous
active service. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960
and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It
provides an excellent opportunity for the public to observe and
understand Chesapeake Bay and Civil War history. At the northern end of
the North Beach area lies the only undeveloped shoreline remaining on
Old Point Comfort, providing modern-day visitors a sense of what earlier
people saw when they arrived in the New World. The North Beach area also
includes coastal defensive batteries, including Batteries DeRussy and
Church, which were used from the 19th Century to World War II.
WHEREAS section 2 of the Act of June 8, 1906 (34 Stat. 225, 16 U.S.C.
431) (the ``Antiquities Act''), authorizes the President, in his
discretion, to declare by public proclamation historic landmarks,
historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or
scientific interest that are situated upon the lands owned or controlled
by the Government of the United States to be national monuments, and to
reserve as a part thereof parcels of land, the limits of which in all
cases shall be confined to the smallest area compatible with the proper
care and management of the objects to be protected;
WHEREAS the 2005 Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission
recommended that Fort Monroe cease to be used as an Army installation,
and pursuant to the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990
(Public Law 101-510), Fort Monroe closed on September 15, 2011;
WHEREAS the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Members of
Congress, the Fort Monroe Authority, the City of Hampton, Virginia, and
other surrounding counties and cities have expressed support for
establishing a unit of the National Park System at Fort Monroe;
WHEREAS it is in the public interest to preserve Fort Monroe, portions
of Old Point Comfort, and certain lands and buildings necessary for the
care and management of the Fort and Point as the Fort Monroe National
Monument;
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NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by the authority vested in me by section 2 of the Antiquities
Act, hereby proclaim that all lands and interests in lands owned or
controlled by the Government of the United States within the boundaries
described on the accompanying map, which is attached to and forms a part
of this proclamation, are hereby set apart and reserved as the Fort
Monroe National Monument (monument) for the purpose of protecting the
objects identified above. The reserved Federal lands and interests in
lands encompass approximately 325.21 acres, together with appurtenant
easements for all necessary purposes, which is the smallest area
compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be
protected.
All Federal lands and interests in lands within the boundaries of this
monument are hereby appropriated and withdrawn from all forms of entry,
location, selection, sale, leasing, or other disposition under the
public land laws, including withdrawal from location, entry, and patent
under the mining laws, and from disposition under all laws relating to
mineral and geothermal leasing. Lands and interests in lands within the
monument's boundaries not owned or controlled by the United States shall
be reserved as part of the monument upon acquisition of ownership or
control by the United States.
The lands and interests in lands within the monument's boundaries,
except for the Old Point Comfort Lighthouse, are currently managed by
the Secretary of the Army. The Secretaries of the Army and the Interior
shall enter into a memorandum of agreement that identifies and assigns
the responsibilities of each agency related to such lands and interests
in lands, the implementing actions required of each agency, the
processes for transferring administrative jurisdiction over such lands
and interests in lands to the Secretary of the Interior, and the
processes for resolving interagency disputes. After issuance of this
proclamation, the Secretary of the Army, in consultation with the
Secretary of the Interior, acting through the National Park Service,
will continue to manage the lands and interests in lands within the
monument boundaries, to the extent they remain in the ownership or
control of the Government of the United States, until the transfer to
the Secretary of the Interior is completed in accordance with the
memorandum of agreement. The Secretary of the Interior shall then manage
the monument through the National Park Service, pursuant to applicable
legal authorities, consistent with the purposes and provisions of this
proclamation, and in accordance with the memorandum of agreement.
The Old Point Comfort Lighthouse shall continue to be managed by the
Secretary of Homeland Security. Not later than 1 year after the date of
this proclamation, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of
Homeland Security shall enter into an interagency agreement that, to the
extent requested by the United States Coast Guard, provides for
appropriate National Park Service interpretation of the Old Point
Comfort Lighthouse for the public and for technical or financial
assistance by the National Park Service for building treatment and other
preservation activities. Nothing in this proclamation shall limit or
interfere with the authority of the Secretary of Homeland Security to
use the Old Point Comfort Lighthouse for navigational or national
security purposes.
For the purpose of preserving, restoring, and enhancing the public
visitation and appreciation of the monument, the Secretary of the
Interior shall
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prepare a management plan for the monument within 3 years of the date of
this proclamation. The management plan will ensure that the monument
fulfill the following purposes for the benefit of present and future
generations: (1) to preserve historic, natural, and recreational
resources; (2) to provide land- and water-based recreational
opportunities; and (3) to communicate the historical significance of the
monument as described above. The management plan shall, among other
provisions, set forth the desired relationship of the monument to other
related resources, programs, and organizations in the Hampton area and
other locations, provide for maximum public involvement in its
development, and identify steps to be taken to provide interpretive
opportunities for the entirety of the Fort Monroe National Historic
Landmark and related sites in Hampton, Virginia. In developing the
management plan, the Secretary of the Interior shall consider the Fort
Monroe Reuse Plan, the Fort Monroe Programmatic Agreement dated April
27, 2009 (and any amendments to the agreement), and the Commonwealth of
Virginia Fort Monroe Authority Act. Further, to the extent authorized by
law, the Secretary of the Interior shall promulgate any additional
regulations needed for the proper care and management of the monument.
The establishment of this monument is subject to valid existing rights.
To the extent that the Commonwealth of Virginia holds any reversionary
rights in any Federal lands or interests in lands within the boundaries
of this monument, those rights are preserved and may operate or be
exercised in due course without affecting the existence or designated
boundaries of the monument. The Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia
and the Fort Monroe Authority, which would have responsibility for such
lands and interests in lands upon their reversion, have agreed in
principle to then relinquish to the United States ownership or control
of those lands and interests in lands, as stated in the Governor's
letter agreement of September 9, 2011. The Secretary of the Interior
shall accept the relinquishment of such lands and interests in lands on
behalf of the Government of the United States, at which point such lands
and interests in lands, reserved pursuant to this proclamation, shall be
managed by the Secretary of the Interior, through the National Park
Service, pursuant to applicable legal authorities, consistent with the
purposes and provisions of this proclamation, and in accordance with the
memorandum of agreement.
Nothing in this proclamation shall affect the responsibilities of the
Department of the Army under applicable environmental laws, including
the remediation of hazardous substances or munitions and explosives of
concern within the monument boundaries; nor affect the Department of the
Army's statutory authority to control public access or statutory
responsibility to make other measures for environmental remediation,
monitoring, security, safety or emergency preparedness purposes; nor
affect any Department of the Army activities on lands not included
within the monument.
Nothing in this proclamation shall be deemed to revoke any existing
withdrawal, reservation, or appropriation; however, the monument shall
be the dominant reservation.
Warning is hereby given to all unauthorized persons not to appropriate,
injure, destroy, or remove any feature of this monument and not to
locate or settle upon any of the lands thereof.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of
November in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR07NO11.022
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Proclamation 8751 of November 3, 2011
Veterans Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Today, our Nation comes together to honor our veterans and commemorate
the legacy of profound service and sacrifice they have upheld in pursuit
of a more perfect Union. Through their steadfast defense of America's
ideals, our service members have ensured our country still stands
strong, our founding principles still shine, and nations around the
world know the blessings of freedom. As we offer our sincere
appreciation and respect to our veterans, to their families, to those
who are still in harm's way, and to those we have laid to rest, let us
rededicate ourselves to serving them as well as they have served the
United States of America.
Our men and women in uniform are bearers of a proud military tradition
that has been dutifully passed forward--from generation to generation--
for more than two centuries. In times of war and peace alike, our
veterans have served with courage and distinction in the face of
tremendous adversity, demonstrating an unfaltering commitment to America
and our people. Many have made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve the
country they loved. The selflessness of our service members is
unmatched, and they remind us that there are few things more
fundamentally American than doing our utmost to make a difference in the
lives of others.
Just as our veterans stood watch on freedom's frontier, so have they
safeguarded the prosperity of our Nation in our neighborhoods, our
businesses, and our homes. As teachers and engineers, doctors and
parents, these patriots have made contributions to civilian life that
serve as a testament to their dedication to the welfare of our country.
We owe them a debt of honor, and it is our moral obligation to ensure
they receive our support for as long as they live as proud veterans of
the United States Armed Forces. This year, as our troops in Iraq
complete their mission, we will honor them and all who serve by working
tirelessly to give them the care, the benefits, and the opportunities
they have earned.
On Veterans Day, we pay tribute to our veterans, to the fallen, and to
their families. To honor their contributions to our Nation, let us
strive with renewed determination to keep the promises we have made to
all who have answered our country's call. As we fulfill our obligations
to them, we keep faith with the patriots who have risked their lives to
preserve our Union, and with the ideals of service and sacrifice upon
which our Republic was founded.
With respect for and in recognition of the contributions our service
members have made to the cause of peace and freedom around the world,
the Congress has provided (5 U.S.C. 6103(a)) that November 11 of each
year shall be set aside as a legal public holiday to honor our Nation's
veterans.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim November 11, 2011, as Veterans Day. I
encourage all Americans to recognize the valor and sacrifice of our
veterans through appropriate public ceremonies and private prayers. I
call upon Federal, State, and local officials to display the flag of the
United States
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and to participate in patriotic activities in their communities. I call
on all Americans, including civic and fraternal organizations, places of
worship, schools, and communities to support this day with commemorative
expressions and programs.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of
November, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8752 of November 8, 2011
World Freedom Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
On November 9, 1989, the German people broke through a barrier that
divided their nation, demonstrating no wall is strong enough to hold
back the rising tide of human liberty. There could be no clearer rebuke
of tyranny, nor a stronger affirmation of freedom. On World Freedom Day,
we commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall, celebrate the resilience of
the human spirit, and stand with all those who live in the darkness of
oppression and believe in the hope of a brighter day.
This pivotal moment in the global march toward liberty heralded a new
era in Europe and around the world. Today, we once again find ourselves
at a crossroads of history as a wave of democratic movements sweeps away
oppressive dictatorships in the Middle East and North Africa.
Just as the United States supported the aspirations of those who emerged
from behind the Iron Curtain, we continue to stand with all who seek
their universal rights and reach for a future that offers dignity,
justice, equality, personal freedom, and greater economic opportunity.
Recent developments in the Middle East and North Africa remind us that
the pursuit of liberty endures. As people around the world embrace the
cause of human freedom, they take steps toward a more stable and
prosperous future.
Today, we pay tribute to the brave individuals who, despite all risks,
tear down barriers that obstruct democracy and justice for all. Let us
keep in our thoughts those who still live under totalitarian regimes,
and let us honor their courage to hold fast to the promise of a better
future. On World Freedom Day, we renew our commitment to all who
believe--even in the face of cynicism, doubt, and oppression--that walls
truly can come down.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 9, 2011, as
World Freedom Day. I call upon the people of the United States to
observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities, reaffirming
our dedication to freedom and democracy.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of
November, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8753 of November 14, 2011
American Education Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Ensuring our future leaders and innovators receive a complete and
competitive education is fundamental to our Nation's economic prosperity
and our role as a thriving democracy. During American Education Week, we
acknowledge the central role education plays in our society and resolve
to make rigorous and lasting investments in our education system so the
American dream remains within reach of each of our children.
From small towns to our largest cities, schools serve as laboratories
where students test new ideas and kindle new academic interests. In the
classroom, young people cultivate scholarship, discover talents they
never knew they had, and build the skills they need to pursue careers of
their choosing. And with every step they take toward their future, our
students are guided by men and women who work tirelessly to help them
realize their full potential. Teachers, administrators, and other
education professionals are unfaltering in their dedication to giving
children the education they deserve, and it is essential we do our part
to help them succeed. To secure a bright future for our students and our
Nation, we must support educators by strengthening our schools, creating
better opportunities for professional development, and recruiting top
college graduates to be our next generation of devoted teachers.
The task of preparing our children for a lifetime of scholarship and
achievement rests not only in the classroom, but also in our homes and
neighborhoods. Parents, community leaders, and mentors play a vital role
in cultivating a love of learning and instilling in our children the
self-confidence, creativity, and discipline that serve as a foundation
for success. Together, our families, schools, and communities carry a
profound responsibility to do right by our children. This week and
throughout the year, let us strive to fulfill that promise.
By working toward thoughtful education reform and making every classroom
a place of high expectations and high performance, we can take steps to
ensure our future generations are prepared to uphold our founding
promise of opportunity, and to make great discoveries and develop
groundbreaking ideas here in America. During American Education Week, we
renew our promise to give our children the chance to achieve their
dreams and to write the next proud chapter in the American story.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 13 through
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November 19, 2011, as American Education Week. I call upon all Americans
to observe this week by supporting their local schools through
appropriate activities, events, and programs designed to help create
opportunities for every school and student in America.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of
November, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8754 of November 15, 2011
America Recycles Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
As Americans, we have a responsibility to ensure future generations
benefit from an abundance of natural resources and a healthy planet. To
meet this obligation, we must take steps to consume carefully, recycle a
wide variety of products and materials, and reuse whenever possible. On
America Recycles Day, we celebrate the commitment of individuals across
our country to live sustainably, and we rededicate ourselves to
thoughtful resource management at home and in the workplace.
For decades, American families have advanced the common good of our
Nation by recycling regularly and promoting conservation. During the
First and Second World Wars, families participated in scrap drives,
gathering cloth, paper, and metals for reuse in manufacturing that
helped fuel our military and our economic growth. Since then, we have
bolstered recycling programs through individual action, community
engagement, and national initiatives, and we have broadened our efforts
to include a vast array of pioneering industrial processes that will
drive our clean economy and create green jobs. These advances cut waste,
preserve our natural bounty, and spur the robust and sustainable
economic growth that will carry us through this century and into the
next.
To meet the economic and environmental challenges that confront our
country today, we must update and expand existing recycling programs and
dedicate ourselves to devising new strategies to accommodate emerging
technologies. Our Nation generates over two million tons of used
electronics annually, and without following proper recycling and
management practices, the disposal of our old computers, monitors, and
cell phones can release toxic materials into our environment, endanger
human health, and prevent the recovery and reuse of valuable resources.
For the well-being of our people and our planet, we must consider the
full lifecycle impacts of our products and strive to manage our
resources in a sustainable way.
To ensure America remains a global leader in developing new, sustainable
electronics technologies, my Administration launched the National
Strategy for Electronics Stewardship earlier this year. The strategy
establishes a framework for responsible electronics design, purchasing,
management, and recycling that will accelerate our burgeoning
electronics recycling market
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and create jobs for the future here at home. To lead by example, my
Administration is committed to efficient use, reuse, and proper disposal
of electronics within the Federal Government, and we are collaborating
with certified recycling centers to handle and dispose of used
electronics safely and effectively. We are also forging new partnerships
with the private sector that will advance electronics recycling across
our country. Through collaboration and shared responsibility, we are
protecting public health, preserving environmental quality, and laying
the foundation for a 21st-century economy.
America Recycles Day offers us an opportunity to reflect on the
remarkable strides we have made in the pursuit of sustainability, and to
challenge ourselves to do even more. As we rise to meet this challenge,
we fulfill a promise to our children that they will inherit a world more
beautiful and prosperous than the one we received.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 15, 2011, as
America Recycles Day. I call upon the people of the United States to
observe this day with appropriate programs and activities, and I
encourage all Americans to continue their recycling efforts throughout
the year.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of
November, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8755 of November 16, 2011
Thanksgiving Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
One of our Nation's oldest and most cherished traditions, Thanksgiving
Day brings us closer to our loved ones and invites us to reflect on the
blessings that enrich our lives. The observance recalls the celebration
of an autumn harvest centuries ago, when the Wampanoag tribe joined the
Pilgrims at Plymouth Colony to share in the fruits of a bountiful
season. The feast honored the Wampanoag for generously extending their
knowledge of local game and agriculture to the Pilgrims, and today we
renew our gratitude to all American Indians and Alaska Natives. We take
this time to remember the ways that the First Americans have enriched
our Nation's heritage, from their generosity centuries ago to the
everyday contributions they make to all facets of American life. As we
come together with friends, family, and neighbors to celebrate, let us
set aside our daily concerns and give thanks for the providence bestowed
upon us.
Though our traditions have evolved, the spirit of grace and humility at
the heart of Thanksgiving has persisted through every chapter of our
story. When President George Washington proclaimed our country's first
Thanksgiving, he praised a generous and knowing God for shepherding our
young
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Republic through its uncertain beginnings. Decades later, President
Abraham Lincoln looked to the divine to protect those who had known the
worst of civil war, and to restore the Nation ``to the full enjoyment of
peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.''
In times of adversity and times of plenty, we have lifted our hearts by
giving humble thanks for the blessings we have received and for those
who bring meaning to our lives. Today, let us offer gratitude to our men
and women in uniform for their many sacrifices, and keep in our thoughts
the families who save an empty seat at the table for a loved one
stationed in harm's way. And as members of our American family make do
with less, let us rededicate ourselves to our friends and fellow
citizens in need of a helping hand.
As we gather in our communities and in our homes, around the table or
near the hearth, we give thanks to each other and to God for the many
kindnesses and comforts that grace our lives. Let us pause to recount
the simple gifts that sustain us, and resolve to pay them forward in the
year to come.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 24,
2011, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage the people of the
United States to come together--whether in our homes, places of worship,
community centers, or any place of fellowship for friends and
neighbors--to give thanks for all we have received in the past year, to
express appreciation to those whose lives enrich our own, and to share
our bounty with others.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of
November, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8756 of November 18, 2011
National Family Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
For generations, American families have empowered our sons and daughters
with boundless love, giving them the courage to pursue their dreams.
This week, we celebrate the threads of compassion and unity that tie our
families together, enrich our communities, and strengthen the fabric of
our Nation.
My Administration remains steadfast in our commitment to families across
America. To ensure our children get a strong start, we are bolstering
early learning programs and promoting education reform that will do more
to bring every student the best our schools have to offer. By investing
in Pell Grants and community colleges, we are working to make higher
education affordable for more families and build a workforce of tomorrow
that will
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excel in the global economy. And by taking executive action to lighten
financial burdens on many middle class families, we are making it more
affordable to pay back student loans and easier for homeowners to
refinance their mortgages. As our families work hard to meet their
obligations, these actions will give them the help they need to thrive
in the years to come.
During National Family Week, let us also reflect on the contributions
and sacrifices of our service members and their loved ones. Our troops
and military families serve with valor at home and overseas, and as a
Nation we have a moral obligation to serve these patriots as well as
they have served us. To better fulfill this promise, First Lady Michelle
Obama and Dr. Jill Biden launched Joining Forces earlier this year, an
initiative that challenges all Americans to make a difference in the
lives of our veterans and military families.
As we gather with our loved ones this holiday season, let us pause to
give thanks to all those who share in the trials and triumphs of our
lives. Our families illuminate our days and bring meaning to our years,
and their love has the power to see us through our greatest challenges.
This week and throughout the year, let us strive to give back to our
friends, families, communities, and neighbors, and to work together in
pursuit of our highest ambitions.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 20 through
November 26, 2011, as National Family Week. I invite all States,
communities, and individuals to join in observing this week with
appropriate ceremonies and activities to honor our Nation's families.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of
November, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8757 of November 18, 2011
National Farm-City Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
With tenacity, resilience, and humility, our farmers and ranchers have
helped drive our Nation's growth for generations. Season after season,
their careful stewardship and dedication brings an abundance of
wholesome food, plentiful fiber, a stronger economy, and new
opportunities to secure our clean energy future. During National Farm-
City Week, we celebrate the essential contributions of farmers and
ranchers to our country's well-being and recommit to a prosperous and
sustainable future for American agriculture.
As our urban centers continue to grow, we look to our fields and ranches
to supply our markets and families with fresh, healthy food. To help our
farming communities meet the challenges of the 21st century, I
established
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the White House Rural Council earlier this year. By partnering with
leaders in rural America, we have worked to cultivate local and regional
food systems, empower young and beginning farmers, and support rural
businesses. Together, we stand with our rural communities and reaffirm
our commitment to their continued success.
To make a lasting investment in our Nation's energy future, my
Administration is taking action to promote renewable energy production
across rural America. As part of a comprehensive strategy to build our
clean energy economy, we are working to produce more renewable, domestic
biofuels and to help bring solar panel arrays and wind turbines to rural
businesses. By finding new ways to harness homegrown fuels in small
towns and on family farms, we can create new jobs, improve our energy
security, and unlock additional sources of income for farmers.
This week, we honor the individuals, families, and communities who
provide us the staple foods that sustain our Nation. As we gather with
family and friends this Thanksgiving, let us pay tribute to the men and
women whose hard work brought the bounty we find before us from farm to
fork.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 18 through
November 24, 2011, as National Farm-City Week. I call upon all Americans
to reflect on the vital contributions of those who dedicate their lives
to promoting our Nation's agricultural abundance and environmental
stewardship.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of
November, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8758 of November 18, 2011
National Child's Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
As a Nation, we carry a fundamental responsibility to unlock the
potential within every child. To prepare our children for the 21st
century, we must continue to make investments in their health,
development, and learning that will be lasting cornerstones of their
success. Today, we celebrate our sons and daughters, and we recommit to
giving them the future they deserve.
My Administration is committed to providing our children with the care
and support that will give them a strong, healthy start. To help ensure
all children have access to nutritious meals and encourage healthy
choices early in life, I signed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act last
year. We also launched MyPlate, a new food icon that can guide children
and adults alike on healthy portions as they choose their next meal.
These efforts go hand-in-hand with First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's
Move! initiative,
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which is dedicated to solving the problem of childhood obesity within a
generation. This year, over 1,250 schools took action to meet rigorous
nutrition standards and expand opportunities for physical activity as
part of our HealthierUS School Challenge, and 1.7 million Americans
achieved the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award. By empowering children
and their caregivers with the tools they need to eat well and lead
active lifestyles, we take steps to instill healthy habits that will
last into adulthood.
To build a more prosperous future for our children, we must equip them
with a world-class education. My Administration is advancing educational
opportunities for students of all ages, from early learning programs
that start our children down the right path, to Pell Grants that open
higher education to more Americans. In communities across our Nation,
parents, teachers, principals, and school boards are coming together to
develop stronger educational standards that will reward progress and
accelerate student achievements. As we work to ensure every classroom is
a safe, supportive place where students can cultivate a love of
learning, we advance our goal of putting an outstanding education within
reach for every child.
On National Child's Day, we remember that the promise of a brighter
tomorrow is fulfilled by what we do for our children today. As
Americans, all of us share in the responsibility to do our utmost to
give our children the love, safety, and protection that will nourish
their development as healthy and productive individuals. Let us kindle
in them the hunger for knowledge, the courage to follow their dreams,
and the spirit to pursue possibility wherever it may lead.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 20, 2011, as
National Child's Day. I call upon all citizens to observe this day with
appropriate activities, programs, and ceremonies, and to rededicate
ourselves to creating the bright future we want for our Nation's
children.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of
November, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8759 of November 21, 2011
50th Anniversary of the United States Agency for International
Development
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
This year, the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID) commemorates 50 years of progress dedicated to saving lives,
building partnerships, and promoting peace and prosperity for the
developing world and the American people.
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Since President John F. Kennedy founded USAID in 1961, the men and women
of USAID have worked on the front lines of poverty and conflict to
support communities and countries as they build a better future. By
promoting sustainable growth in the developing world, we spur new
markets abroad and energize our economy here at home. By encouraging
good governance, we empower transparency, accountability, and strong
institutions that are responsive to citizens' needs. By driving
innovations in agriculture, education, and global health, we strengthen
global stability and advance our national security. And by delivering
aid in the wake of natural disasters and humanitarian crises, we express
the generosity and goodwill that unite us as a people.
The impact of these efforts is remarkable. In the past five decades,
USAID has helped developing countries across the globe transform into
stable and prosperous nations, vibrant trading partners, and foreign
assistance donors themselves. These countries stand as beacons of hope
for people striving toward democracy, free economies, and respect for
human rights. The critical work of USAID enables these transitions
forward, helping prevent and end conflict around the world.
Even after these successes, we know there is more to do. To advance
America's interests and promote global development, USAID has instituted
a series of ambitious reforms that will bring new partnerships, a
greater emphasis on innovation, and a relentless focus on real results.
These actions will help ensure we invest every development dollar in the
most effective, efficient, and transparent way possible. And they will
ensure that those with the greatest needs in this world are extended a
helping hand from the American people.
On this anniversary, we honor the men and women of USAID whose
dedication to public service has improved millions of lives around the
world, and we honor the vision of those whose spirit of innovation has
opened new frontiers in the global fight against hunger, poverty, and
disease. As USAID continues to shape a brighter future for generations
to come, its mission will remain of vital importance to our Nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim the 50th Anniversary
of the United States Agency for International Development. I call upon
all Americans to observe this anniversary with appropriate programs,
ceremonies, and activities that honor USAID and its workers, past and
present, for their enduring commitment to a safer, more peaceful world.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first day of
November, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
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Proclamation 8760 of November 30, 2011
Critical Infrastructure Protection Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
From irrigation to the Internet, our Nation's critical infrastructure
supports an incredible array of services and industries that are
essential to our continued success and prosperity. Critical
infrastructure includes all systems and assets, both physical and
virtual, that make vital contributions to our security, economic
stability, public health, or safety. This month, we affirm the
fundamental importance of our critical infrastructure and recommit to
preparing for, responding to, and recovering from hazardous events and
emergencies efficiently and effectively.
My Administration is resolute in our dedication to a safe, secure future
for our Nation. Natural disasters, pandemic diseases, and acts of
terrorism can pose serious risks to our critical infrastructure, and it
is imperative we are prepared in the event of an emergency. To reduce
risks and improve our national preparedness, we are fortifying our
partnerships with State, local, territorial, and tribal governments to
close gaps in our protection programs and promote collaboration at all
levels of government. We are also engaging a wide variety of private
stakeholders, including critical infrastructure owners and operators, to
expand and reinforce critical infrastructure protection. And, with the
If You See Something, Say Something campaign, we are empowering
individuals and communities across America to help improve public
safety. All of us have a role to play in strengthening our national
security, and together, we are taking steps to foster a culture of
resilience.
As we navigate new and uncertain challenges in the digital age, we must
also address the growing threat cyber attacks present to our
transportation networks, electricity grid, financial systems, and other
assets and infrastructure. Cybersecurity remains a priority for my
Administration, and we are committed to protecting our critical
infrastructure by taking decisive action against cyber threats. To
ensure the safety of our most vital operations, we are working to give
public and private organizations the ability to obtain cybersecurity
assistance quickly and effectively. These efforts will bolster our
ability to withstand any attack, whether virtual or physical.
During Critical Infrastructure Protection Month, we reflect on our
responsibility to protect the vital systems and assets that sustain our
country and our people. Strengthening our national security and
resilience is a task for all of us, and by promoting awareness and
partnering with one another, we can make essential progress toward safe,
secure, and prosperous horizons for every American.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim December 2011 as
Critical Infrastructure Protection Month. I call upon the people of the
United States to recognize the importance of protecting our Nation's
critical resources and to observe this month with appropriate events and
training to enhance our national security and resilience.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of
November, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8761 of November 30, 2011
National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Though we have made progress in the fight to reduce drunk driving, our
Nation continues to suffer an unacceptable loss of life from traffic
accidents that involve drugs, alcohol, and distracted driving. To bring
an end to these heartbreaking outcomes, we must take action by promoting
rigorous enforcement measures and effective substance abuse prevention
programs. During National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, we recommit
to preventing tragedy before it strikes by ensuring our family members
and friends stay safe, sober, and drug-free on the road.
As we strive to reduce the damage drug use inflicts upon our
communities, we must address the serious and growing threat drunk,
drugged, and distracted driving poses to all Americans. Alcohol and
drugs, both illicit and prescribed, can impair judgment, reaction time,
motor skills, and memory, eroding a person's ability to drive safely and
responsibly. Distracted driving, including the use of electronic
equipment behind the wheel, can also put lives at risk. To confront
these issues, my Administration is working to decrease the incidence of
drugged driving by 10 percent over the next 5 years as part of our 2011
National Drug Control Strategy. We are collaborating with State and
local governments to bolster enforcement efforts, implement more
effective legislation, and support successful, evidence-based prevention
programs. These ongoing initiatives are supplemented by our Drive Sober
or Get Pulled Over campaign, which aims to deter impaired driving during
the holiday season.
While enforcement and legislation are critical elements of our strategy,
we know that the parents, educators, and community leaders who work with
young people every day are our Nation's best advocates for responsible
decisionmaking. Research suggests that younger drivers are particularly
susceptible to the hazards of drugged driving. To help our families and
communities build awareness about impaired driving, my Administration
released a toolkit that includes information about drugged driving,
discussion guides, and tip sheets for preventing driving under the
influence of alcohol and drugs. These materials are available with a
variety of other resources at: www.TheAntiDrug.com.
All of us have the power to effect change and work to end drunk,
drugged, and distracted driving in America. In our homes and
communities, we can engage our youth and discuss the consequences of
drug and alcohol abuse. In our clinics and hospitals, health care
providers can redouble their efforts to recognize patients with
substance abuse problems and offer medical intervention. And in
governing bodies across our country, State and local
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officials can explore new legal actions that will hold drugged drivers
accountable and encourage them to seek treatment. As we come together
with our loved ones this holiday season, let us renew our commitment to
drive safely, act responsibly, and live drug-free.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim December 2011 as
National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. I urge all Americans to make
responsible decisions and take appropriate measures to prevent impaired
driving.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of
November, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8762 of November 30, 2011
World AIDS Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
On World AIDS Day, 30 years after the first cases of HIV/AIDS were
reported, we stand with the individuals and communities affected by HIV
and recommit to progress toward an AIDS-free generation.
My Administration is taking action to turn the corner on the HIV/AIDS
pandemic by investing in research that promises new and proven methods
to prevent infection and better therapies for people living with HIV. In
the past year, the National Institutes of Health has reported important
progress. We now know that treatment of HIV not only improves clinical
outcomes, but can also dramatically reduce the risk of transmission.
Studies on the use of antiretroviral medications to prevent infection of
HIV-negative individuals show promising results. And research is ongoing
to devise new prevention methods that may one day offer innovative ways
to prevent the spread of HIV, like microbicides that can curb the risk
of infection in women. By pursuing the next breakthrough treatment in
the fight against HIV, continuing research to develop a vaccine, and
incorporating new scientific tools into our programs, we are taking
important steps toward an AIDS-free generation.
To combat the HIV epidemic in the United States, we are implementing the
first comprehensive National HIV/AIDS Strategy in our country's history,
which calls for strong, coordinated policy initiatives, enhanced HIV/
AIDS education, collaboration across the Federal Government, and robust
engagement with individuals, communities, and businesses across America.
As part of these efforts, we are embracing the best science available to
prevent new HIV infections, and we are testing new approaches to
integrating housing, prevention, care, and substance abuse and mental
health services related to HIV/AIDS. We are implementing the Affordable
Care Act, which mandates new consumer protections and new options for
purchasing health
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insurance for all Americans by 2014, including those with HIV. We are
also striving to secure employment opportunities for people living with
HIV by working to end discrimination based on HIV status.
To address the global HIV pandemic, we are working with nations around
the world to advance comprehensive prevention efforts and provide
lifesaving medicine to millions of people living with HIV. We are
integrating cutting-edge science into the President's Emergency Plan for
AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) that will do even more to prevent new HIV
infections, including more effective drug regimens to prevent mother-to-
child HIV transmission and low-cost approaches like voluntary medical
male circumcision. When combined with other proven approaches, such as
condoms, HIV testing and counseling, and programs to support behavior
change, these advances can dramatically reduce HIV incidence and save
lives. As we move forward, we will maintain our commitment to rigorously
measuring the impact of these approaches, revising them appropriately,
and incorporating new ideas and technologies as they become available.
Recognizing that a coordinated strategy is essential to our success, we
are partnering with a wide variety of stakeholders to promote HIV/AIDS
awareness, prevention, and treatment. Here at home, States, tribes,
territories, and local governments are vital partners in implementing
the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, and we are joined by a host of public
and private supporters and collaborators in PEPFAR. Partnerships with
corporations, foundations, faith-based institutions, academic
institutions, and other organizations are critically important to the
fight against HIV, and we will work to strengthen these ties in the
years ahead.
At this pivotal time in the worldwide response to HIV, the United States
is preparing to welcome the global community to Washington, D.C., for
the 19th International AIDS Conference in July 2012. We look forward to
working with and learning from people living with HIV, clinicians,
researchers, practitioners, and advocates from across the globe. On this
World AIDS Day, let us reflect on the people we have lost and those we
hold dear who are living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. And as we pay
tribute to the past and current heroes in the struggle against this
disease, let us recommit to bringing an end to this tragic pandemic and
pursuing an AIDS-free generation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States do hereby proclaim December 1, 2011, as
World AIDS Day. I urge the Governors of the States and the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, officials of the other territories subject to the
jurisdiction of the United States, and the American people to join me in
appropriate activities to remember those who have lost their lives to
AIDS and to provide support and comfort to those living with this
disease.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of
November, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
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Proclamation 8763 of December 2, 2011
International Day of Persons With Disabilities, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we recommit to
ensuring people living with disabilities enjoy full equality and
unhindered participation in all facets of our national life. We
recognize the myriad contributions that persons with disabilities make
at home and abroad, and we remember that disability rights are universal
rights to be recognized and promoted around the world.
For decades, America has been a global leader in advancing the rights of
people with disabilities. From the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990 to the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility
Act, which I signed last year, we have striven to bring the American
dream and comprehensive opportunities in education, health care, and
employment within reach for every individual. These actions--made
possible only through the tireless and ongoing efforts of the disability
community--affirm our commitment to an equitable and just society where
every American can play a part in securing a prosperous future for our
Nation.
To fulfill this promise not only in America, but around the world, my
Administration is putting disability rights at the heart of our Nation's
foreign policy. With leadership from the Department of State and the
United States Agency for International Development, we are collaborating
across governments and in close consultation with the global disability
community to expand access to education, health care, HIV/AIDS
prevention and treatment, and other development programs. In 2009, we
signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which
seeks to ensure persons with disabilities enjoy the same rights and
opportunities as all people. If ratified, the Convention would provide a
platform to encourage other countries to join and implement the
Convention, laying a foundation for enhanced benefits and greater
protections for the millions of Americans with disabilities who spend
time abroad.
We know from the historic struggle for disability rights in the United
States that disability inclusion is an ongoing effort, and many
challenges remain in securing fundamental human rights for all persons
with disabilities around the world. On International Day of Persons with
Disabilities, we press forward, renewing our dedication to embrace
diversity, end discrimination, remove barriers, and uphold the rights,
dignity, and equal opportunity of all people.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim December 3, 2011, as
International Day of Persons with Disabilities. I call on all Americans
to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and
programs.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this second day of
December, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8764 of December 6, 2011
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
On a serene Sunday morning 70 years ago, the skies above Pearl Harbor
were darkened by the bombs of Japanese forces in a surprise attack that
tested the resilience of our Armed Forces and the will of our Nation. As
explosions sounded and battleships burned, brave service members fought
back fiercely with everything they could find. Unbeknownst to these
selfless individuals, the sacrifices endured on that infamous day would
galvanize America and come to symbolize the mettle of a generation.
In the wake of the bombing of our harbor and the crippling of our
Pacific Fleet, there were those who declared the United States had been
reduced to a third-class power. But rather than break the spirit of our
Nation, the attack brought Americans together and fortified our resolve.
Patriots across our country answered the call to defend our way of life
at home and abroad. They crossed oceans and stormed beaches, freeing
millions from the grip of tyranny and proving that our military is the
greatest force for liberty and security the world has ever known. On the
home front, dedicated civilians supported the war effort by repairing
wrecked battleships, working in factories, and joining civilian defense
organizations to help with salvage programs and plant Victory gardens.
At this time of great strife, we reminded the world there is no
challenge we cannot meet; there is no challenge we cannot overcome.
On National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, we honor the more than 3,500
Americans killed or wounded during that deadly attack and pay tribute to
the heroes whose courage ensured our Nation would recover from this
vicious blow. Their tenacity helped define the Greatest Generation and
their valor fortified all who served during World War II. As a Nation,
we look to December 7, 1941, to draw strength from the example set by
these patriots and to honor all who have sacrificed for our freedoms.
The Congress, by Public Law 103-308, as amended, has designated December
7 of each year as ``National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.''
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim December 7, 2011, as National Pearl Harbor
Remembrance Day. I encourage all Americans to observe this solemn day of
remembrance and to honor our military, past and present, with
appropriate ceremonies and activities. I urge all Federal agencies and
interested organizations, groups, and individuals to fly the flag of the
United States at half-staff this December 7 in honor of those American
patriots who died as a result of their service at Pearl Harbor.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of
December, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8765 of December 8, 2011
Human Rights Day and Human Rights Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
With the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on
December 10, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly affirmed the
eternal truths that all people have the right to liberty, equality, and
justice under the law. On Human Rights Day and during Human Rights Week,
we celebrate our fundamental freedoms and renew our commitment to
upholding and advancing human dignity.
The human race reflects a myriad of vibrant cultures and unique
identities, yet we are united by the innate liberties that are our
common birthright. The rights to assemble peacefully, to speak and
worship as we please, and to determine our own destinies know no
borders. All people should live free from the threat of extrajudicial
killing, torture, oppression, and discrimination, regardless of gender,
race, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, or physical or mental
disability.
Dictators seek to constrain these liberties through repressive laws and
blunt force, but hope cannot be imprisoned and aspirations cannot be
killed. We are reminded of this when demonstrators brave bullets and
batons to sound the call for reform, when young women dare to go to
school despite prohibitions, and when same-sex couples refuse to be told
whom to love. The past year saw extraordinary change in the Middle East
and North Africa as square by square, town by town, country by country,
people rose up to demand their human rights. Around the world, we
witnessed significant progress in consolidating democracy and expanding
freedoms, often facilitated by critical assistance from the
international community.
In the 63 years since the global community came together in support of
human dignity and adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, our
futures have grown increasingly interconnected. We have a stake not only
in the stability of nations, but also in the welfare of individuals. On
this anniversary, we recognize human rights as universal, and we stand
with all those who reach for the dream of a free, just, and equal world.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim December 10, 2011, as
Human Rights Day and the week beginning December 10, 2011, as Human
Rights Week. I call upon the people of the United States to mark these
observances with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of
December, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8766 of December 8, 2011
Bill of Rights Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
On December 15, 1791, the United States adopted the Bill of Rights,
enshrining in our Constitution the protection of our inalienable
freedoms, from the right to speak our minds and worship as we please to
the guarantee of equal justice under the law. For 220 years, these
fundamental liberties have shaped our national character and stirred the
souls of all who dream of a freer, more just world. As we mark this
milestone, we renew our commitment to preserving our universal rights
and perfecting our Union.
Introduced in the First Congress in 1789, the Bill of Rights was born
out of compromise. The promise of enumerated rights enabled the
ratification of the Constitution without fear that a more centralized
government would encroach on American freedoms. In adopting the first
ten Amendments, our Founders put forth an ideal that continues to define
our Nation--that we can have both liberty and security, that we need not
sacrifice the rights of man for the rule of law.
Throughout our country's history, generations have risen to uphold the
principles outlined in our Bill of Rights and advance equality for all
Americans. The liberties we enjoy today are possible only because of
these brave patriots, from the service members who have defended our
freedom to the citizens who have braved billy clubs and fire hoses in
the hope of extending America's promise across lines of color and creed.
On Bill of Rights Day, we celebrate this proud legacy and resolve to
pass to our children an America worthy of our Founders' vision.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim December 15, 2011, as
Bill of Rights Day. I call upon the people of the United States to mark
this observance with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of
December, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
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Proclamation 8767 of December 15, 2011
Wright Brothers Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
On a blustery December morning in 1903, two brothers from Dayton, Ohio,
successfully piloted the world's first powered flying machine and
ascended from the steady currents of North Carolina's Outer Banks into
the heights of our collective memory. During the 12 seconds their
aircraft remained aloft in Kitty Hawk's gusty headwinds, Wilbur and
Orville Wright sparked a transportation revolution and fulfilled a dream
shared across cultures since time immemorial. Today, we commemorate
their extraordinary feat and celebrate the spirit of American innovation
that propels our Nation toward bold new horizons.
Fashioned from wood and cloth and powered by a four-cylinder engine they
designed themselves, the Wright brothers' Flyer I was the culmination of
years of painstaking research and unyielding perseverance. They financed
countless experiments with earnings from their bicycle shop, gathering
data on wing shape using a home-built wind tunnel and developing the
basic controls for pitch, roll, and yaw that, to this day, guide our
jetliners to every corner of the world and our spacecraft to the
farthest reaches of the Solar System. The technical obstacles they
overcame were tremendous, and Orville and Wilbur Wright's pioneering
vision stands as a testament to the will and determination that fuels
innovators, inventors, scientists, and entrepreneurs across our
country--from home workbenches to national laboratories.
As we pursue progress and prosperity in the 21st century, we remember
the key to our success has always been our unparalleled ability to think
up new ideas, create new industries, and lead the way in discovery and
innovation--just as it was for the Wright brothers over a century ago.
To reaffirm our role as the engine that drives science and technology
around the world, we must empower our Nation's youth with a competitive
education and the tools to make tomorrow's breakthrough discoveries.
On December 17, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright helped inspire a century
of progress and groundbreaking ideas when they guided a small wooden
aircraft above the sands of Kitty Hawk and onto the ocean breeze. Even
after this monumental achievement, the brothers continued to push the
boundaries of flight and possibility, rapidly advancing the field of
aeronautics and our burgeoning aviation industry. They inspired other
early aviators, including Calbraith Perry Rodgers, who flew a Wright
airplane to complete the first transcontinental flight 100 years ago,
and Harriet Quimby, who became our Nation's first female licensed pilot
and a groundbreaking aviator. So, too, must we press onward, exploring
new frontiers of science, technology, and imagination in pursuit of a
brighter future for generations to come. The Wright brothers stand among
America's most celebrated innovators, and today, we recognize all those
who look toward the heavens and envision what might be.
The Congress, by a joint resolution approved December 17, 1963, as
amended (77 Stat. 402; 36 U.S.C. 143), has designated December 17 of
each year
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as ``Wright Brothers Day'' and has authorized and requested the
President to issue annually a proclamation inviting the people of the
United States to observe that day with appropriate ceremonies and
activities.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim December 17, 2011, as Wright Brothers Day.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of
December, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8768 of December 28, 2011
National Mentoring Month, 2012
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Every day, mentors help young Americans face the challenges of growing
into adulthood. By setting a positive example and sharing their time,
knowledge, and experience, mentors play an essential role in preparing
our Nation's youth for a bright future. During National Mentoring Month,
we celebrate the contributions of all those who cultivate a supportive
environment for the next generation, and we recommit to expanding
mentorship opportunities across our country.
At school and at home, in the library and on the field, mentors lift our
youth toward their goals and ambitions. As a teacher, a relative, or a
trusted friend, a mentor's steady and dependable support can inspire a
child to strive for success and instill in them the confidence to
achieve their full potential. Mentorship strengthens our American
family, and by teaching enduring values like diligence and self-
discipline, we make a powerful and lasting investment in our youth, our
communities, and our Nation.
Across the Federal Government, we are working to ensure more young
people have the opportunity to connect with a mentor. Last January, we
partnered with businesses across America to launch the Corporate
Mentoring Challenge, which calls on corporations to begin or expand
mentoring programs that pair children with positive role models, foster
leadership skills, and put them on the path to success in school and
beyond. As part of our steadfast commitment to support our service
members and their loved ones, we are funding new mentorship
opportunities for children from military families. And we are continuing
to engage faith and community groups to help recruit mentors who can
guide our youth in education, employment, and engaged citizenship. For
information and resources about mentoring opportunities, I encourage all
Americans to visit: www.Serve.gov/Mentor.
By lending a hand and serving as a mentor, countless individuals have
empowered young Americans with the confidence, inspiration, and tools to
lead rich and fulfilling lives. This month, I encourage adults to make
an investment in our Nation's future by helping a child discover the
best in themselves.
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NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 2012 as
National Mentoring Month. I call upon public officials, business and
community leaders, educators, and Americans across the country to
observe this month with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and
programs.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day
of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8769 of December 28, 2011
National Stalking Awareness Month, 2012
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
In our schools and in our neighborhoods, at home and in workplaces
across our Nation, stalking endangers the physical and emotional well-
being of millions of American men and women every year. Too often,
stalking goes unreported and unaddressed, and we must take action
against this unacceptable abuse. This month, we stand with all those who
have been affected by stalking and strengthen our resolve to prevent
this crime before it occurs.
Stalkers inspire fear through intimidation, explicit or implied threats,
and nonconsensual communication--often by telephone, text message, or
email--that can cause severe emotional and physical distress. Many
victims suffer anxiety attacks, feelings of anger or helplessness, and
depression. Fearing for their safety, some are forced to relocate or
change jobs to protect themselves. And, tragically, stalking can be a
precursor to more violent offenses, including sexual assault and
homicide. The consequences of this crime are real, and they take a
profound and ongoing toll on men, women, teens, and children across our
country.
Despite the dangerous reality of stalking, public awareness and legal
responses to this crime remain limited. New data show that one in six
women and one in 19 men have experienced stalking that caused them to be
very fearful or feel that they or someone close to them were in
immediate physical danger. Among men and women alike, victims are most
commonly stalked by current or former intimate partners, and young
adults are at the highest risk for stalking victimization. Though
stalking can occur in any community, shame, fear of retribution, or
concerns that they will not be supported lead many victims to forego
reporting the crime to the police. As we strive to reverse this trend,
we must do more to promote public awareness and support for survivors of
stalking.
My Administration is working to advance protection and services for
stalking victims, empower survivors to break the cycle of abuse, and
bring an end to violence against women and men. With unprecedented
coordination
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between Federal agencies, we are promoting new tools to decrease the
incidence of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and
stalking, and we are taking action to ensure perpetrators are held
accountable. To reinforce these efforts, advocates, law enforcement
officials, and others who work with victims must continue to improve
their capacity to respond with swift and comprehensive action. From
raising awareness to pursuing criminal justice, all of us have a role to
play in stopping this senseless and harmful behavior.
This month, let us come together to prevent abuse, violence, and
harassment in all their forms and renew our commitment to bring care and
support to those in need.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 2012 as
National Stalking Awareness Month. I call on all Americans to learn to
recognize the signs of stalking, acknowledge stalking as a serious
crime, and urge those impacted not to be afraid to speak out or ask for
help. Let us also resolve to support victims and survivors, and to
create communities that are secure and supportive for all Americans.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day
of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8770 of December 29, 2011
To Modify Duty-Free Treatment Under the Generalized System of
Preferences and for Other Purposes
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
1. Pursuant to section 503(b)(1)(G) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended
(the ``1974 Act'') (19 U.S.C. 2463(b)(1)(G)), articles that the
President determines to be import-sensitive in the context of the
Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) are not eligible to receive
benefits under the GSP.
2. Pursuant to section 503(b)(1)(G) of the 1974 Act, and after receiving
advice from the United States International Trade Commission (the
``Commission''), I have determined that certain articles are import-
sensitive in the context of the GSP.
3. On April 22, 1985, the United States and Israel entered into the
Agreement on the Establishment of a Free Trade Area between the
Government of the United States of America and the Government of Israel
(USIFTA), which the Congress approved in the United States-Israel Free
Trade Area Implementation Act of 1985 (the ``USIFTA Act'') (19 U.S.C.
2112 note).
4. Section 4(b) of the USIFTA Act provides that, whenever the President
determines that it is necessary to maintain the general level of
reciprocal
[[Page 202]]
and mutually advantageous concessions with respect to Israel provided
for by the USIFTA, the President may proclaim such withdrawal,
suspension, modification, or continuance of any duty, or such
continuance of existing duty-free or excise treatment, or such
additional duties as the President determines to be required or
appropriate to carry out the USIFTA.
5. In order to maintain the general level of reciprocal and mutually
advantageous concessions with respect to agricultural trade with Israel,
on July 27, 2004, the United States entered into an agreement with
Israel concerning certain aspects of trade in agricultural products
during the period January 1, 2004, through December 31, 2008 (the ``2004
Agreement'').
6. In Proclamation 7826 of October 4, 2004, consistent with the 2004
Agreement, the President determined, pursuant to section 4(b) of the
USIFTA Act, that it was necessary in order to maintain the general level
of reciprocal and mutually advantageous concessions with respect to
Israel provided for by the USIFTA, to provide duty-free access into the
United States through December 31, 2008, for specified quantities of
certain agricultural products of Israel.
7. In 2008, 2009, and 2010, the United States and Israel entered into
agreements to extend the period that the 2004 Agreement was in force for
1-year periods to allow additional time for the two governments to
conclude an agreement to replace the 2004 Agreement.
8. To carry out the extension agreements, the President in Proclamation
8334 of December 31, 2008; Proclamation 8467 of December 23, 2009; and
Proclamation 8618 of December 21, 2010, modified the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule (HTS) of the United States to provide duty-free access into the
United States for specified quantities of certain agricultural products
of Israel, each time for an additional 1-year period.
9. On December 6, 2011, the United States entered into an agreement with
Israel to extend the period that the 2004 Agreement is in force through
December 31, 2012, to allow for further negotiations on an agreement to
replace the 2004 Agreement.
10. Pursuant to section 4(b) of the USIFTA Act, I have determined that
it is necessary, in order to maintain the general level of reciprocal
and mutually advantageous concessions with respect to Israel provided
for by the USIFTA, to provide duty-free access into the United States
through the close of December 31, 2012, for specified quantities of
certain agricultural products of Israel.
11. In Proclamation 8742 of October 31, 2011, I modified the HTS to
promote the uniform application of the International Convention on the
Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System and to alleviate
unnecessary administrative burdens. Those modifications became effective
on December 3, 2011. Certain conforming changes to the HTS were
inadvertently omitted from Annex I to that proclamation. I have
determined that certain technical corrections to the HTS are necessary
to provide the tariff treatment intended to certain products that were
subject to the modifications made in Proclamation 8742.
12. Section 604 of the 1974 Act (19 U.S.C. 2483) authorizes the
President to embody in the HTS the substance of the relevant provisions
of that Act,
[[Page 203]]
and of other Acts affecting import treatment, and actions thereunder,
including the removal, modification, continuance, or imposition of any
rate of duty or other import restriction.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States of America, including but not limited to
title V and section 604 of the 1974 Act, and section 4 of the USIFTA
Act, do proclaim that:
(1) In order to provide that one or more articles should no longer be
treated as eligible articles for purposes of the GSP, the Rates of Duty
1-Special subcolumn for the corresponding HTS subheading is modified as
set forth in Annex I to this proclamation.
(2) The modification to the HTS set forth in Annex I to this
proclamation shall be effective with respect to goods entered, or
withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after January 1, 2012.
(3) In order to implement U.S. tariff commitments under the 2004
Agreement through December 31, 2012, the HTS is modified as provided in
Annex II to this proclamation.
(4)(a) The modifications to the HTS set forth in Annex II to this
proclamation shall be effective with respect to eligible agricultural
products of Israel that are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for
consumption, on or after January 1, 2012.
(b) The provisions of subchapter VIII of chapter 99 of the HTS, as
modified by Annex II to this proclamation, shall continue in effect
through December 31, 2012.
(5) In order to make the technical corrections necessary to provide the
tariff treatment intended to certain footwear products, the HTS is
modified as set forth in Annex III to this proclamation.
(6) The modifications to the HTS set forth in Annex III to this
proclamation shall be effective with respect to goods that are entered,
or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after December 3,
2011.
(7) Any provisions of previous proclamations and Executive Orders that
are inconsistent with the actions taken in this proclamation are
superseded to the extent of such inconsistency.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day
of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
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Proclamation 8771 of December 29, 2011
To Modify the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States and for
Other Purposes
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
1. Section 1205(a) of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988
(the ``1988 Act'') (19 U.S.C. 3005(a)) directs the United States
International Trade Commission (the ``Commission'') to keep the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) under continuous
review and periodically to recommend to the President such modifications
to the HTS as the Commission considers necessary or appropriate to
accomplish the purposes set forth in that subsection. The Commission has
recommended modifications to the HTS pursuant to sections 1205(c) and
(d) of the 1988 Act (19 U.S.C. 3005(c) and (d)) to conform the HTS to
amendments made to the International Convention on the Harmonized
Commodity Description and Coding System (the ``Convention'').
2. Section 1206(a) of the 1988 Act (19 U.S.C. 3006(a)) authorizes the
President to proclaim modifications to the HTS based on the
recommendations of the Commission under section 1205 of the 1988 Act, if
he determines that the modifications are in conformity with United
States obligations under the Convention and do not run counter to the
national economic interest of the United States. I have determined that
the modifications to the HTS proclaimed in this proclamation pursuant to
section 1206(a) of the 1988 Act are in conformity with United States
obligations under the Convention and do not run counter to the national
economic interest of the United States.
3. Presidential Proclamation 6763 of December 23, 1994, implemented with
respect to the United States, the trade agreements resulting from the
Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations, including Schedule XX-
United States of America, annexed to the Marrakesh Protocol to the
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (Schedule XX), that were
entered into pursuant to sections 1102(a) and (e) of the 1988 Act (19
U.S.C. 2902(a) and (e)), and approved in section 101(a) of the Uruguay
Round Agreements Act (URAA) (19 U.S.C. 3511(a)).
4. Pursuant to the authority provided in section 111 of the URAA (19
U.S.C. 3521) and sections 1102(a) and (e) of the 1988 Act, Proclamation
6763 included the staged reductions in rates of duty that the President
determined to be necessary or appropriate to carry out the terms of
Schedule XX. In order to ensure the continuation of such rates of duty
for imported goods under tariff categories that are being modified to
reflect the amendments to the Convention, I have determined that
additional modifications to the HTS are necessary or appropriate to
carry out the duty reductions previously proclaimed, including certain
technical or conforming changes within the tariff schedule.
5. Presidential Proclamation 7747 of December 30, 2003, implemented the
United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (USSFTA) with respect to
the United States and, pursuant to section 201 of the United States-
Singapore Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (the ``USSFTA Act'')
(19
[[Page 208]]
U.S.C. 3805 note), the staged reductions in rates of duty that the
President determined to be necessary or appropriate to carry out or
apply articles 2.2, 2.5, 2.6, and 2.12 of the USSFTA and the schedule of
reductions with respect to the Republic of Singapore set forth in Annex
2B of the USSFTA. In order to ensure the continuation of such staged
reductions in rates of duty for originating goods under tariff
categories that are being modified to reflect the amendments to the
Convention, I have determined that additional modifications to the HTS
are necessary or appropriate to carry out the duty reductions previously
proclaimed.
6. Presidential Proclamation 7746 of December 30, 2003, implemented the
United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement (USCFTA) with respect to the
United States and, pursuant to section 201 of the United States-Chile
Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (the ``CFTA Act'') (19 U.S.C.
3805 note), the staged reductions in rates of duty that the President
determined to be necessary or appropriate to carry out or apply articles
3.3 (including the schedule of United States duty reductions with
respect to originating goods set forth in Annex 3.3 to the USCFTA), 3.7,
3.9, and 3.20(8), (9), (10), and (11) of the USCFTA. In order to ensure
the continuation of such staged reductions in rates of duty for
originating goods under tariff categories that are being modified to
reflect the amendments to the Convention, I have determined that
additional modifications to the HTS are necessary or appropriate to
carry out the duty reductions previously proclaimed.
7. Presidential Proclamation 7857 of December 20, 2004, implemented the
United States-Australia Free Trade Agreement (USAFTA) with respect to
the United States and, pursuant to section 201 of the United States-
Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (the ``USAFTA Act'')
(19 U.S.C. 3805 note), the staged reductions in rates of duty that the
President determined to be necessary or appropriate to carry out or
apply articles 2.3, 2.5, and 2.6 of the USAFTA and the schedule of
reductions with respect to Australia set forth in Annex 2B of the
USAFTA. In order to ensure the continuation of such staged reductions in
rates of duty for originating goods under tariff categories that are
being modified to reflect the amendments to the Convention, I have
determined that additional modifications to the HTS are necessary or
appropriate to carry out the duty reductions previously proclaimed.
8. Presidential Proclamation 7971 of December 22, 2005, implemented the
United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (USMFTA) with respect to the
United States and, pursuant to section 201 of the United States-Morocco
Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (the ``USMFTA Act'') (19 U.S.C.
3805 note), the staged reductions in rates of duty that the President
determined to be necessary or appropriate to carry out or apply articles
2.3, 2.5, 2.6, 4.1, 4.3.9, 4.3.10, 4.3.11, 4.3.13, 4.3.14, and 4.3.15 of
the USMFTA and the schedule of reductions with respect to Morocco set
forth in Annex IV of the USMFTA. In order to ensure the continuation of
such staged reductions in rates of duty for originating goods under
tariff categories that are being modified to reflect the amendments to
the Convention, I have determined that additional modifications to the
HTS are necessary or appropriate to carry out the duty reductions
previously proclaimed.
9. Presidential Proclamations 7987 of February 28, 2006, 7991 of March
24, 2006, 7996 of March 31, 2006, 8034 of June 30, 2006, 8111 of
February 28, 2007, 8331 of December 23, 2008, and 8536 of June 12, 2010,
implemented
[[Page 209]]
the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade
Agreement (the ``CAFTA-DR Agreement'') with respect to the United States
and, pursuant to section 201 of the Dominican Republic-Central America-
United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (the ``CAFTA-DR
Act'') (19 U.S.C. 4031), the staged reductions in rates of duty that the
President determined to be necessary or appropriate to carry out or
apply articles 3.3, 3.5, 3.6, 3.21, 3.26, 3.27, and 3.28, and Annexes
3.3 (including the schedule of the United States duty reductions with
respect to originating goods), 3.27, and 3.28 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement.
In order to ensure the continuation of such staged reductions in rates
of duty for originating goods under tariff categories that are being
modified to reflect the amendments to the Convention, I have determined
that additional modifications to the HTS are necessary or appropriate to
carry out the duty reductions previously proclaimed.
10. Presidential Proclamation 8039 of July 27, 2006, implemented the
United States-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (USBFTA) with respect to the
United States and, pursuant to section 201 of the United States-Bahrain
Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (the ``USBFTA Act'') (19 U.S.C.
3805 note), the staged reductions in rates of duty that the President
determined to be necessary or appropriate to carry out or apply articles
2.3, 2.5, 2.6, 3.2.8, and 3.2.9, and the schedule of reductions with
respect to Bahrain set forth in Annex 2-B of the USBFTA. In order to
ensure the continuation of such staged reductions in rates of duty for
originating goods under tariff categories that are being modified to
reflect the amendments to the Convention, I have determined that
additional modifications to the HTS are necessary or appropriate to
carry out the duty reductions previously proclaimed.
11. Presidential Proclamation 8332 of December 29, 2008, implemented the
United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement (USOFTA) with respect to the
United States and, pursuant to section 201 of the United States-Oman
Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (the ``USOFTA Act'') (19 U.S.C.
3805 note), the staged reductions in duty that the President determined
to be necessary or appropriate to carry out or apply articles 2.3, 2.5,
2.6, 3.2.8, and 3.2.9, and the schedule of duty reductions with respect
to Oman set forth in Annex 2-B of the USOFTA. In order to ensure the
continuation of such staged reductions in rates of duty for originating
goods under tariff categories that are being modified to reflect the
amendments to the Convention, I have determined that additional
modifications to the HTS are necessary or appropriate to carry out the
duty reductions previously proclaimed.
12. Presidential Proclamation 8341 of January 16, 2009, implemented the
United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (USPTPA) with respect to
the United States and, pursuant to section 201 of the United States-Peru
Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act (the ``USPTPA Act'') (19
U.S.C. 3805 note), the staged reductions in duty that the President
determined to be necessary or appropriate to carry out or apply articles
2.3, 2.5, 2.6, 3.3.13, and Annex 2.3 of the USPTPA. In order to ensure
the continuation of such staged reductions in rates of duty for
originating goods under tariff categories that are being modified to
reflect the amendments to the Convention, I have determined that
additional modifications to the HTS are necessary or appropriate to
carry out the duty reductions previously proclaimed.
[[Page 210]]
13. Section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (the ``Trade Act'')
(19 U.S.C. 2483), authorizes the President to embody in the HTS the
substance of the provisions of that Act, or other acts affecting import
treatment, and actions taken thereunder, including the removal,
modification, continuance, or imposition of any rate of duty or other
import restriction. Section 1206(c) of the 1988 Act (19 U.S.C. 3006(c))
provides that any modifications proclaimed by the President under
section 1206(a) of that Act may not take effect before the thirtieth day
after the date on which the text of the proclamation is published in the
Federal Register.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, including but not limited to sections
1102 and 1206 of the 1988 Act, section 111 of the URAA, section 201 of
the USSFTA Act, section 201 of the CFTA Act, section 201 of the USAFTA
Act, section 201 of the USMFTA Act, section 201 of the CAFTA-DR Act,
section 201 of the USBFTA Act, section 201 of the USOFTA Act, section
201 of the USPTPA Act, section 604 of the Trade Act, and section 301 of
title 3, United States Code, do proclaim that:
(1) In order to modify the HTS to conform it to the Convention or any
amendment thereto recommended for adoption, to promote the uniform
application of the Convention, to establish additional subordinate
tariff categories, and to make technical and conforming changes to
existing provisions, the HTS is modified as set forth in Annex I of
Publication 4276 of the United States International Trade Commission,
entitled, ``Modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States Under Section 1206 of the Omnibus Trade and
Competitiveness Act of 1988,'' which is incorporated by reference into
this proclamation.
(2) In order to provide for the continuation of previously proclaimed
staged duty reductions in the Rates of Duty 1 Special subcolumn for
originating goods of Singapore under the USSFTA that are classifiable in
the provisions modified by Annex I of Publication 4276 and entered, or
withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the dates
specified in subsections F1 and F2 of Annex II of Publication 4276,
(a) the rate of duty in the HTS set forth in the Rates of Duty 1
Special subcolumn for each of the HTS subheadings enumerated in
subsection F1 of Annex II shall be deleted and the rate of duty provided
in such subsection followed by the symbol (``SG'') inserted in lieu
thereof; and
(b) the Rates of Duty 1 Special subcolumn for each of the
subheadings enumerated in subsection F2 shall be modified as set forth
in that subsection of Annex II.
(3) In order to provide for the continuation of previously proclaimed
staged duty reductions in the Rates of Duty 1 Special subcolumn for
originating goods of Chile under the USCFTA that are classifiable in the
provisions modified by Annex I of Publication 4276 and entered, or
withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after each of the dates
specified in subsections C1 and C2 of Annex II of Publication 4276,
(a) the rate of duty in the HTS set forth in the Rates of Duty 1
Special subcolumn for each of the HTS subheadings enumerated in
subsection C1 of Annex II shall be deleted and the rate of duty provided
in such subsection followed by the symbol (``CL'') inserted in lieu
thereof; and
[[Page 211]]
(b) the Rates of Duty 1 Special subcolumn for each of the
subheadings enumerated in subsection C2 shall be modified as set forth
in that subsection of Annex II.
(4) In order to provide for the continuation of previously proclaimed
staged duty reductions in the Rates of Duty 1 Special subcolumn for
originating goods of Australia under the USAFTA that are classifiable in
the provisions modified by Annex I of Publication 4276 and entered, or
withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after each of the dates
specified in subsections A1 through A4 of Annex II of Publication 4276,
(a) the rate of duty in the HTS set forth in the Rates of Duty 1
Special subcolumn for each of the HTS subheadings enumerated in section
A1 of Annex II shall be deleted and the rate of duty provided in such
subsection followed by the symbol (``AU'') inserted in lieu thereof;
(b) the Rates of Duty 1 Special subcolumn for each of the
subheadings enumerated in subsections A2 shall be modified as set forth
in that subsection of Annex II;
(c) the Rates of Duty 1 Special subcolumn for the subheading
enumerated in subsection A3 shall be modified as set forth in that
subsection of Annex II; and
(d) the Rates of Duty 1 Special subcolumn for each of the
subheadings enumerated in subsection A4 shall be modified as set forth
in that subsection of Annex II.
(5) In order to provide for the continuation of previously proclaimed
staged duty reductions in the Rates of Duty 1 Special subcolumn for
originating goods of Morocco under the USMFTA that are classifiable in
the provisions modified by Annex I of Publication 4276 and entered, or
withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after each of the dates
specified in sections G1 through G4 of Annex II of Publication 4276,
(a) the rate of duty in the HTS set forth in the Rates of Duty 1
Special subcolumn for each of the HTS subheadings enumerated in
subsection section G1 of Annex II shall be deleted and the rate of duty
provided in such section followed by the symbol (``MA'') inserted in
lieu thereof;
(b) the Rates of Duty 1 Special subcolumn for each of the
subheadings enumerated in subsection G2 shall be modified as set forth
in that subsection of Annex II;
(c) the Rates of Duty 1 Special subcolumn for each of the
subheadings enumerated in subsection G3 shall be modified as set forth
in that subsection of Annex II; and
(d) the Rates of Duty 1 Special subcolumn for the subheadings
enumerated in subsection G4 shall be modified as set forth in that
subsection of Annex II.
(6) In order to provide for the continuation of previously proclaimed
staged duty reductions in the Rates of Duty 1 Special subcolumn for
originating goods under general note 29 to the HTS that are classifiable
in the provisions modified by Annex I of Publication 4276 and entered,
or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after each of the
dates specified in sections D and I of Annex II of Publication 4276,
(a) the rate of duty in the HTS set forth in the Rates of Duty 1
Special subcolumn for each of the HTS subheadings enumerated in section
D of
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Annex II shall be deleted and the rate of duty provided in such section
followed by the symbol (``P'') inserted in lieu thereof; and
(b) the Rates of Duty 1 Special subcolumn for each of the
subheadings enumerated in section I shall be modified as set forth in
that section of Annex II.
(7) In order to provide for the continuation of previously proclaimed
staged duty reductions in the Rates of Duty 1 Special subcolumn for
originating goods of Bahrain under the USBFTA that are classifiable in
the provisions modified by Annex I of Publication 4276 and entered, or
withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after each of the dates
specified in subsections B1 and B2 of Annex II of Publication 4276,
(a) the rate of duty in the HTS set forth in the Rates of Duty 1
Special subcolumn for each of the HTS subheadings enumerated in section
B1 of Annex II shall be deleted and the rate of duty provided in such
section followed by the symbol (``BH'') inserted in lieu thereof; and
(b) the Rates of Duty 1 Special subcolumn for each of the
subheadings enumerated in subsection B2 shall be modified as set forth
in that subsection of Annex II.
(8) In order to provide for the continuation of previously proclaimed
staged duty reductions in the Rates of Duty 1 Special subcolumn for
originating goods of Oman under the USOFTA that are classifiable in the
provisions modified by Annex I of Publication 4276 and entered, or
withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after each of the dates
specified in subsections E1 and E2 of Annex II of Publication 4276,
(a) the rate of duty in the HTS set forth in the Rates of Duty 1
Special subcolumn for each of the HTS subheadings enumerated in
subsection E1 of Annex II shall be deleted and the rate of duty provided
in such section followed by the symbol (``OM'') inserted in lieu
thereof; and
(b) the Rates of Duty 1 Special subcolumn for each of the
subheadings enumerated in subsection E2 shall be modified as set forth
in that subsection of Annex II.
(9) In order to provide for the continuation of previously proclaimed
staged duty reductions in the Rates of Duty 1 Special subcolumn for
originating goods of Peru under the USPTPA that are classifiable in the
provisions modified by Annex I of Publication 4276 and entered, or
withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after each of the dates
specified in section H of Annex II of Publication 4276, the rate of duty
in the HTS set forth in the Rates of Duty 1 Special subcolumn for each
of the HTS subheadings enumerated in section H of Annex II shall be
deleted and the rate of duty provided in such section followed by the
symbol (``PE'') inserted in lieu thereof.
(10) The United States Trade Representative is authorized to fulfill my
obligations under section 103 of the USSFTA, section 103 of the USCFTA,
section 104 of the USAFTA, section 104 of the USMFTA, section 104 of the
USBFTA, and section 104 of the USOFTA to obtain advice from the
appropriate advisory committees and the Commission on the proposed
implementation of an action by presidential proclamation; to submit a
report on such proposed action to the appropriate congressional
committees; and to consult with those congressional committees regarding
the proposed action.
[[Page 213]]
(11) Any provisions of previous proclamations and Executive Orders that
are inconsistent with the actions taken in this proclamation are
superseded to the extent of such inconsistency.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day
of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
Proclamation 8772 of December 30, 2011
National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, 2012
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Nearly a century and a half ago, President Abraham Lincoln issued the
Emancipation Proclamation--a document that reaffirmed the noble goals of
equality and freedom for all that lie at the heart of what it means to
live in America. In the years since, we have tirelessly pursued the
realization and protection of these essential principles. Yet, despite
our successes, thousands of individuals living in the United States and
still more abroad suffer in silence under the intolerable yoke of modern
slavery. During National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month,
we stand with all those who are held in compelled service; we recognize
the people, organizations, and government entities that are working to
combat human trafficking; and we recommit to bringing an end to this
inexcusable human rights abuse.
Human trafficking endangers the lives of millions of people around the
world, and it is a crime that knows no borders. Trafficking networks
operate both domestically and transnationally, and although abuses
disproportionally affect women and girls, the victims of this ongoing
global tragedy are men, women, and children of all ages. Around the
world, we are monitoring the progress of governments in combating
trafficking while supporting programs aimed at its eradication. From
forced labor and debt bondage to forced commercial sexual exploitation
and involuntary domestic servitude, human trafficking leaves no country
untouched. With this knowledge, we rededicate ourselves to forging
robust international partnerships that strengthen global anti-
trafficking efforts, and to confronting traffickers here at home.
My Administration continues to implement our comprehensive strategy to
combat human trafficking in America. By coordinating our response across
Federal agencies, we are working to protect victims of human trafficking
with effective services and support, prosecute traffickers through
consistent enforcement, and prevent human rights abuses by furthering
public awareness and addressing the root causes of modern slavery. The
steadfast defense of human rights is an essential part of our national
identity, and as
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long as individuals suffer the violence of slavery and human
trafficking, we must continue the fight.
With the start of each year, we commemorate the anniversaries of the
Emancipation Proclamation, which became effective on January 1, 1863,
and the 13th Amendment to abolish slavery, which was signed by President
Abraham Lincoln and submitted to the States for ratification on February
1, 1865. These documents stand as testaments to the gains we have made
in pursuit of freedom and justice for all, and they remind us of the
work that remains to be done. This month, I urge all Americans to
educate themselves about all forms of modern slavery and the signs and
consequences of human trafficking. Together, and in cooperation with our
partners around the world, we can work to end this terrible injustice
and protect the rights to life and liberty entrusted to us by our
forebears and owed to our children.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 2012 as
National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, culminating in
the annual celebration of National Freedom Day on February 1. I call
upon the people of the United States to recognize the vital role we can
play in ending modern slavery and to observe this month with appropriate
programs and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of
December, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
[[Page 215]]
________________________________________________________________________
EXECUTIVE ORDERS
________________________________________________________________________
Executive Order 13563 of January 18, 2011
Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, and in order to improve regulation
and regulatory review, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. General Principles of Regulation. (a) Our regulatory system
must protect public health, welfare, safety, and our environment while
promoting economic growth, innovation, competitiveness, and job
creation. It must be based on the best available science. It must allow
for public participation and an open exchange of ideas. It must promote
predictability and reduce uncertainty. It must identify and use the
best, most innovative, and least burdensome tools for achieving
regulatory ends. It must take into account benefits and costs, both
quantitative and qualitative. It must ensure that regulations are
accessible, consistent, written in plain language, and easy to
understand. It must measure, and seek to improve, the actual results of
regulatory requirements.
(b) This order is supplemental to and reaffirms the principles,
structures, and definitions governing contemporary regulatory review
that were established in Executive Order 12866 of September 30, 1993. As
stated in that Executive Order and to the extent permitted by law, each
agency must, among other things: (1) propose or adopt a regulation only
upon a reasoned determination that its benefits justify its costs
(recognizing that some benefits and costs are difficult to quantify);
(2) tailor its regulations to impose the least burden on society,
consistent with obtaining regulatory objectives, taking into account,
among other things, and to the extent practicable, the costs of
cumulative regulations; (3) select, in choosing among alternative
regulatory approaches, those approaches that maximize net benefits
(including potential economic, environmental, public health and safety,
and other advantages; distributive impacts; and equity); (4) to the
extent feasible, specify performance objectives, rather than specifying
the behavior or manner of compliance that regulated entities must adopt;
and (5) identify and assess available alternatives to direct regulation,
including providing economic incentives to encourage the desired
behavior, such as user fees or marketable permits, or providing
information upon which choices can be made by the public.
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(c) In applying these principles, each agency is directed to use the
best available techniques to quantify anticipated present and future
benefits and costs as accurately as possible. Where appropriate and
permitted by law, each agency may consider (and discuss qualitatively)
values that are difficult or impossible to quantify, including equity,
human dignity, fairness, and distributive impacts.
Sec. 2. Public Participation. (a) Regulations shall be adopted through a
process that involves public participation. To that end, regulations
shall be based, to the extent feasible and consistent with law, on the
open exchange of information and perspectives among State, local, and
tribal officials, experts in relevant disciplines, affected stakeholders
in the private sector, and the public as a whole.
(b) To promote that open exchange, each agency, consistent with
Executive Order 12866 and other applicable legal requirements, shall
endeavor to provide the public with an opportunity to participate in the
regulatory process. To the extent feasible and permitted by law, each
agency shall afford the public a meaningful opportunity to comment
through the Internet on any proposed regulation, with a comment period
that should generally be at least 60 days. To the extent feasible and
permitted by law, each agency shall also provide, for both proposed and
final rules, timely online access to the rulemaking docket on
regulations.gov, including relevant scientific and technical findings,
in an open format that can be easily searched and downloaded. For
proposed rules, such access shall include, to the extent feasible and
permitted by law, an opportunity for public comment on all pertinent
parts of the rulemaking docket, including relevant scientific and
technical findings.
(c) Before issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking, each agency,
where feasible and appropriate, shall seek the views of those who are
likely to be affected, including those who are likely to benefit from
and those who are potentially subject to such rulemaking.
Sec. 3. Integration and Innovation. Some sectors and industries face a
significant number of regulatory requirements, some of which may be
redundant, inconsistent, or overlapping. Greater coordination across
agencies could reduce these requirements, thus reducing costs and
simplifying and harmonizing rules. In developing regulatory actions and
identifying appropriate approaches, each agency shall attempt to promote
such coordination, simplification, and harmonization. Each agency shall
also seek to identify, as appropriate, means to achieve regulatory goals
that are designed to promote innovation.
Sec. 4. Flexible Approaches. Where relevant, feasible, and consistent
with regulatory objectives, and to the extent permitted by law, each
agency shall identify and consider regulatory approaches that reduce
burdens and maintain flexibility and freedom of choice for the public.
These approaches include warnings, appropriate default rules, and
disclosure requirements as well as provision of information to the
public in a form that is clear and intelligible.
Sec. 5. Science. Consistent with the President's Memorandum for the
Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies, ``Scientific Integrity''
(March 9, 2009), and its implementing guidance, each agency shall ensure
the objectivity of any scientific and technological information and
processes used to support the agency's regulatory actions.
[[Page 217]]
Sec. 6. Retrospective Analyses of Existing Rules. (a) To facilitate the
periodic review of existing significant regulations, agencies shall
consider how best to promote retrospective analysis of rules that may be
outmoded, ineffective, insufficient, or excessively burdensome, and to
modify, streamline, expand, or repeal them in accordance with what has
been learned. Such retrospective analyses, including supporting data,
should be released online whenever possible.
(b) Within 120 days of the date of this order, each agency shall
develop and submit to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs a
preliminary plan, consistent with law and its resources and regulatory
priorities, under which the agency will periodically review its existing
significant regulations to determine whether any such regulations should
be modified, streamlined, expanded, or repealed so as to make the
agency's regulatory program more effective or less burdensome in
achieving the regulatory objectives.
Sec. 7. General Provisions. (a) For purposes of this order, ``agency''
shall have the meaning set forth in section 3(b) of Executive Order
12866.
(b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise
affect:
(i) authority granted by law to a department or agency, or the head
thereof; or
(ii) 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.
Barack Obama
The White House,
January 18, 2011.
Executive Order 13564 of January 31, 2011
Establishment of the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, and in order to continue to
strengthen the Nation's economy and ensure the competitiveness of the
United States and to create jobs, opportunity, and prosperity for the
American people by ensuring the availability of non-partisan advice to
the President from participants in and experts on the economy, it is
hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. There is hereby established within the Department of the
Treasury the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness (PCJC). The
PCJC shall consist of members appointed by the President from among
distinguished citizens outside the Federal Government and shall include
citizens
[[Page 218]]
chosen to serve as representatives of the various sectors of the economy
to offer the diverse perspectives of the private sector, employers, and
workers on how the Federal Government can best foster growth,
competitiveness, innovation, and job creation. The members may also
include citizens selected based on their expertise and experience to
offer independent advice. The President shall designate a Chair from
among the members. A Co-Chair of the President's Council of Advisors on
Science and Technology who is not serving in the Federal Government and
the Chair and Vice Chair of the President's Export Council shall serve
as ex-officio members. The Treasury may provide the PCJC with a staff,
as necessary.
Sec. 2. The functions of the PCJC are advisory only. The PCJC shall meet
regularly and shall:
(a) solicit ideas from across the country about how to bolster the
economy and the prosperity of the American people that can inform the
decisionmaking of the President, and with respect to matters deemed
appropriate by the President, provide information and recommendations to
any executive department or agency (agency) with responsibilities
related to the economy, growth, innovation, American competitiveness, or
job creation;
(b) report directly to the President on the design, implementation,
and evaluation of policies to promote the growth of the American
economy, enhance the skills and education of Americans, maintain a
stable and sound financial and banking system, create stable jobs for
American workers, and improve the long-term prosperity and
competitiveness of the American people; and
(c) provide analysis and information with respect to the operation,
regulation, and healthy functioning of the economy and other factors
that may contribute to the sustainable growth and competitiveness of
American industry and the American labor force. As deemed appropriate by
the President, this analysis and information shall be provided to the
Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the
National Economic Council, or any agency with responsibilities related
to the economy, growth, innovation, American competitiveness, or job
creation.
Sec. 3. Administration of the PCJC. (a) All agencies and all offices
within the Executive Office of the President shall cooperate with the
PCJC and provide such information and assistance to the PCJC as the
Chair of the PCJC may request, to the extent permitted by law.
(b) The Department of the Treasury shall provide funding and
administrative support for the PCJC to the extent permitted by law and
within existing appropriations.
(c) Members of the PCJC shall serve without compensation but may
receive transportation expenses, including per diem in lieu of
subsistence, as authorized by law for persons serving intermittently in
the Government (5 U.S.C. 5701-5707), consistent with the availability of
funds.
Sec. 4. Termination. The PCJC shall terminate 2 years after the date of
this order unless extended by the President.
Sec. 5. Revocation of Executive Order 13501. Executive Order 13501 of
February 6, 2009 (Establishing the President's Economic Recovery
Advisory Board), is hereby revoked.
Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) Insofar as the Federal Advisory
Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.) (the ``Act''), may apply to
the PCJC, any
[[Page 219]]
functions of the President under the Act, except for those in section 6
of the Act, shall be performed by the Secretary of the Treasury in
accordance with the guidelines that have been issued by the
Administrator of General Services.
(b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise
affect:
(i) authority granted by law to a department or agency, or the head
thereof; or
(ii) 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.
Barack Obama
The White House,
January 31, 2011.
Executive Order 13565 of February 8, 2011
Establishment of the Intellectual Property Enforcement Advisory
Committees
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, including title III of the
Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of
2008 (Public Law 110-403)(15 U.S.C. 8111-8116) (the ``PRO IP Act''), and
in order to strengthen the efforts of the Federal Government to
encourage innovation through the effective and efficient enforcement of
laws protecting copyrights, patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and
other forms of intellectual property, both in the United States and
abroad, including matters relating to combating infringement, and
thereby support efforts to reinvigorate the Nation's global
competitiveness, accelerate export growth, promote job creation, and
reduce threats posed to national security and to public health and
safety, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Senior Intellectual Property Enforcement Advisory Committee.
(a) Establishment of Committee. There is established an interagency
Senior Intellectual Property Enforcement Advisory Committee (Senior
Advisory Committee), which shall be chaired by the Intellectual Property
Enforcement Coordinator (Coordinator), Executive Office of the
President.
(b) Membership. The Senior Advisory Committee shall be composed of
the Coordinator, who shall chair it, and the heads of, or the deputies
to the heads of:
(i) the Department of State;
(ii) the Department of the Treasury;
[[Page 220]]
(iii) the Department of Justice;
(iv) the Department of Agriculture;
(v) the Department of Commerce;
(vi) the Department of Health and Human Services;
(vii) the Department of Homeland Security;
(viii) the Office of Management and Budget; and
(ix) the Office of the United States Trade Representative.
A member of the Senior Advisory Committee may, in consultation with the
Coordinator, designate a senior-level official from the member's
department or agency who holds a position for which Senate confirmation
is required to perform the Senior Advisory Committee functions of the
member.
(c) Mission and Functions. Consistent with the authorities assigned
to the Coordinator, and other applicable law, the Senior Advisory
Committee shall advise the Coordinator and facilitate the formation and
implementation of each Joint Strategic Plan required every 3 years under
title III of the PRO IP Act (15 U.S.C. 8113), consistent with this
order.
(d) Administration. The Coordinator shall coordinate and support the
work of the Senior Advisory Committee in fulfilling its functions under
this order. The Coordinator shall convene the first meeting of the
Senior Advisory Committee within 90 days of the date of this order and
shall thereafter convene such meetings as appropriate.
Sec. 2. Intellectual Property Enforcement Advisory Committee.
(a) Establishment of Committee. There is established an interagency
Intellectual Property Enforcement Advisory Committee (Enforcement
Advisory Committee), which shall be chaired by the Coordinator. The
Enforcement Advisory Committee shall serve as the committee established
by section 301(b)(3) of the PRO IP Act (15 U.S.C. 8111(b)(3)).
(b) Membership. The Enforcement Advisory Committee shall be composed
of the Coordinator, who shall chair it, and representatives from the
following departments and agencies, or units of departments and
agencies, who hold a position for which Senate confirmation is required,
who are involved in intellectual property enforcement, and who are, or
are designated by, the respective heads of those departments and
agencies:
(i) the Office of Management and Budget;
(ii) relevant units within the Department of Justice, including the
Criminal Division, the Civil Division, and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation;
(iii) the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the International
Trade Administration, and other relevant units of the Department of
Commerce;
(iv) the Office of the United States Trade Representative;
(v) the Department of State, the Bureau of Economic, Energy, and Business
Affairs, the United States Agency for International Development and the
Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs;
(vi) the Department of Homeland Security, United States Customs and Border
Protection, and United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement;
[[Page 221]]
(vii) the Food and Drug Administration of the Department of Health and
Human Services;
(viii) the Department of Agriculture;
(ix) the Department of the Treasury; and
(x) such other executive branch departments, agencies, or offices as the
President determines to be substantially involved in the efforts of the
Federal Government to combat counterfeiting and infringement.
Pursuant to the PRO IP Act (15 U.S.C. 8111), the Coordinator shall also
invite the Register of Copyrights, or a senior representative of the
United States Copyright Office designated by the Register of Copyrights,
to serve as a member of the Enforcement Advisory Committee.
(c) Mission and Functions.
(i) Consistent with the authorities assigned to the Coordinator and the
Enforcement Advisory Committee, and other applicable law, the Enforcement
Advisory Committee shall develop each Joint Strategic Plan as provided for
in title III of the PRO IP Act. In the development and implementation of
the Joint Strategic Plan, the heads of the departments and agencies
identified in section 2(b) of this order shall share with the Coordinator
and the other members of the Enforcement Advisory Committee relevant
department or agency information, to the extent permitted by law, including
requirements relating to confidentiality and privacy, and to the extent
that such sharing of information is consistent with law enforcement
protocols for handling such information. Such information shall include:
(A) plans for addressing the Joint Strategic Plan;
(B) statistical information on the enforcement activities taken by that
department or agency against counterfeiting or infringement; and
(C) recommendations to enhance cooperation among Federal, State, and
local authorities responsible for intellectual property enforcement.
(ii) The Coordinator may establish subgroups, consisting exclusively of
Enforcement Advisory Committee members or their designees, who must be
officials from the designating member's department or agency, to support
the functions of the Enforcement Advisory Committee. The subgroups shall be
chaired by the Coordinator, or the Coordinator's designee with expertise
and experience in intellectual property enforcement matters, and may
include:
(A) an Enforcement Subcommittee; and
(B) other subcommittees as the Coordinator deems appropriate, including
subcommittees addressing particular enforcement issues, efforts, training,
and information sharing among departments and agencies.
(d) Administration. The Coordinator shall coordinate and support the
work of the Enforcement Advisory Committee in fulfilling its functions
under this order and under section 301(b)(3)(B) of the PRO IP Act (15
U.S.C. 8111(b)(3)(B)). The Coordinator shall convene meetings of the
Enforcement Advisory Committee as appropriate.
Sec. 3. General Provisions.
(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise
affect the:
[[Page 222]]
(i) authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the
head thereof, or the status of that department or agency within the Federal
Government; or
(ii) 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. Consistent with
section 301(b)(2) of the PRO IP Act (15 U.S.C. 8111(b)(2)), the
Coordinator may not control or direct any Federal law enforcement agency
in the exercise of its investigative or prosecutorial authority.
(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.
Barack Obama
The White House,
February 8, 2011.
Executive Order 13566 of February 25, 2011
Blocking Property and Prohibiting Certain Transactions Related to Libya
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.) (NEA), and section 301
of title 3, United States Code,
I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, find that
Colonel Muammar Qadhafi, his government, and close associates have taken
extreme measures against the people of Libya, including by using weapons
of war, mercenaries, and wanton violence against unarmed civilians. I
further find that there is a serious risk that Libyan state assets will
be misappropriated by Qadhafi, members of his government, members of his
family, or his close associates if those assets are not protected. The
foregoing circumstances, the prolonged attacks, and the increased
numbers of Libyans seeking refuge in other countries from the attacks,
have caused a deterioration in the security of Libya and pose a serious
risk to its stability, thereby constituting an unusual and extraordinary
threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States,
and I hereby declare a national emergency to deal with that threat.
I hereby order:
Section 1. 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, including any overseas branch, of the following persons are
blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or
otherwise dealt in:
[[Page 223]]
(a) the persons listed in the Annex to this order; and
(b) any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in
consultation with the Secretary of State:
(i) to be a senior official of the Government of Libya;
(ii) to be a child of Colonel Muammar Qadhafi;
(iii) to be responsible for or complicit in, or responsible for ordering,
controlling, or otherwise directing, or to have participated in, the
commission of human rights abuses related to political repression in Libya;
(iv) to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial,
material, logistical, or technical support for, or goods or services in
support of the activities described in subsection (b)(iii) of this section
or any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant
to this order;
(v) to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for
or on behalf of, any person whose property and interests in property are
blocked pursuant to this order; or
(vi) to be a spouse or dependent child of any person whose property and
interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order.
Sec. 2. 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, including any overseas branch, of the Government of Libya, its
agencies, instrumentalities, and controlled entities, and the Central
Bank of Libya, are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported,
withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in.
Sec. 3. 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 this order,
there need be no prior notice of a listing or determination made
pursuant to section 1 of this order.
Sec. 4. I hereby determine that, to the extent section 203(b)(2) of
IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(2)) may apply, the making of donations of the
type of articles specified in such section by, to, or for the benefit of
any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant
to sections 1 and 2 of this order would seriously impair my ability to
deal with the national emergency declared in this order, and I hereby
prohibit such donations as provided by sections 1 and 2 of this order.
Sec. 5. The prohibitions in sections 1 and 2 of this order include but
are not limited to:
(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 this order; and
(b) the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or
services from any such person.
[[Page 224]]
Sec. 6. The prohibitions in sections 1 and 2 of this order 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 prior to the effective date of this order.
Sec. 7. (a) Any transaction by a United States person or within the
United States 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. 8. Nothing in this order shall prohibit transactions for the
conduct of the official business of the Federal Government by employees,
grantees, or contractors thereof.
Sec. 9. For the purposes of this order:
(a) the term ``person'' means an individual or entity;
(b) the term ``entity'' means a partnership, association, trust,
joint venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization; and
(c) the term ``United States person'' means any United States
citizen or national, 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. 10. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the
Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to take such actions, including
the promulgation of rules and regulations, and to employ all powers
granted to the President by IEEPA as may be necessary to carry out the
purposes of this order. The Secretary of the Treasury may redelegate any
of these functions to other officers and agencies of the United States
Government consistent with applicable law. All agencies of the United
States Government are hereby directed to take all appropriate measures
within their authority to carry out the provisions of this order.
Sec. 11. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the
Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to determine that circumstances
no longer warrant the blocking of the property and interests in property
of a person listed in the Annex to this order, and to take necessary
action to give effect to that determination.
Sec. 12. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the
Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to submit the recurring and
final reports to the Congress on the national emergency declared in this
order, consistent with section 401(c) of the NEA (50 U.S.C. 1641(c)) and
section 204(c) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1703(c)).
Sec. 13. 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.
[[Page 225]]
Sec. 14. This order is effective at 8:00 p.m. eastern standard time on
February 25, 2011.
Barack Obama
The White House,
February 25, 2011.
[[Page 226]]
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[[Page 227]]
Executive Order 13567 of March 7, 2011
Periodic Review of Individuals Detained at Guantanamo Bay Naval Station
Pursuant to the Authorization for Use of Military Force
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, including the Authorization for
Use of Military Force of September 2001 (AUMF), Public Law 107-40, and
in order to ensure that military detention of individuals now held at
the U.S. Naval Station, Guant[aacute]namo Bay, Cuba (Guant[aacute]namo),
who were subject to the interagency review under section 4 of Executive
Order 13492 of January 22, 2009, continues to be carefully evaluated and
justified, consistent with the national security and foreign policy
interests of the United States and the interests of justice, I hereby
order as follows:
Section 1. Scope and Purpose. (a) The periodic review described in
section 3 of this order applies only to those detainees held at
Guant[aacute]namo on the date of this order, whom the interagency review
established by Executive Order 13492 has (i) designated for continued
law of war detention; or (ii) referred for prosecution, except for those
detainees against whom charges are pending or a judgment of conviction
has been entered.
(b) This order is intended solely to establish, as a discretionary
matter, a process to review on a periodic basis the executive branch's
continued, discretionary exercise of existing detention authority in
individual cases. It does not create any additional or separate source
of detention authority, and it does not affect the scope of detention
authority under existing law. Detainees at Guant[aacute]namo have the
constitutional privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, and nothing in
this order is intended to affect the jurisdiction of Federal courts to
determine the legality of their detention.
(c) In the event detainees covered by this order are transferred
from Guant[aacute]namo to another U.S. detention facility where they
remain in law of war detention, this order shall continue to apply to
them.
Sec. 2. Standard for Continued Detention. Continued law of war detention
is warranted for a detainee subject to the periodic review in section 3
of this order if it is necessary to protect against a significant threat
to the security of the United States.
Sec. 3. Periodic Review. The Secretary of Defense shall coordinate a
process of periodic review of continued law of war detention for each
detainee described in section 1(a) of this order. In consultation with
the Attorney General, the Secretary of Defense shall issue implementing
guidelines governing the process, consistent with the following
requirements:
(a) Initial Review. For each detainee, an initial review shall
commence as soon as possible but no later than 1 year from the date of
this order. The initial review will consist of a hearing before a
Periodic Review Board (PRB). The review and hearing shall follow a
process that includes the following requirements:
(1) Each detainee shall be provided, in writing and in a language the
detainee understands, with advance notice of the PRB review and an
unclassified summary of the factors and information the PRB will consider
[[Page 228]]
in evaluating whether the detainee meets the standard set forth in section
2 of this order. The written summary shall be sufficiently comprehensive to
provide adequate notice to the detainee of the reasons for continued
detention.
(2) The detainee shall be assisted in proceedings before the PRB by a
Government-provided personal representative (representative) who possesses
the security clearances necessary for access to the information described
in subsection (a)(4) of this section. The representative shall advocate on
behalf of the detainee before the PRB and shall be responsible for
challenging the Government's information and introducing information on
behalf of the detainee. In addition to the representative, the detainee may
be assisted in proceedings before the PRB by private counsel, at no expense
to the Government.
(3) The detainee shall be permitted to (i) present to the PRB a written or
oral statement; (ii) introduce relevant information, including written
declarations; (iii) answer any questions posed by the PRB; and (iv) call
witnesses who are reasonably available and willing to provide information
that is relevant and material to the standard set forth in section 2 of
this order.
(4) The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with other relevant
Government agencies, shall compile and provide to the PRB all information
in the detainee disposition recommendations produced by the Task Force
established under Executive Order 13492 that is relevant to the
determination whether the standard in section 2 of this order has been met
and on which the Government seeks to rely for that determination. In
addition, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with other relevant
Government agencies, shall compile any additional information relevant to
that determination, and on which the Government seeks to rely for that
determination, that has become available since the conclusion of the
Executive Order 13492 review. All mitigating information relevant to that
determination must be provided to the PRB.
(5) The information provided in subsection (a)(4) of this section shall be
provided to the detainee's representative. In exceptional circumstances
where it is necessary to protect national security, including intelligence
sources and methods, the PRB may determine that the representative must
receive a sufficient substitute or summary, rather than the underlying
information. If the detainee is represented by private counsel, the
information provided in subsection (a)(4) of this section shall be provided
to such counsel unless the Government determines that the need to protect
national security, including intelligence sources and methods, or law
enforcement or privilege concerns, requires the Government to provide
counsel with a sufficient substitute or summary of the information. A
sufficient substitute or summary must provide a meaningful opportunity to
assist the detainee during the review process.
(6) The PRB shall conduct a hearing to consider the information described
in subsection (a)(4) of this section, and other relevant information
provided by the detainee or the detainee's representative or counsel, to
determine whether the standard in section 2 of this order is met. The PRB
shall consider the reliability of any information provided to it in making
its determination.
[[Page 229]]
(7) The PRB shall make a prompt determination, by consensus and in writing,
as to whether the detainee's continued detention is warranted under the
standard in section 2 of this order. If the PRB determines that the
standard is not met, the PRB shall also recommend any conditions that
relate to the detainee's transfer. The PRB shall provide a written summary
of any final determination in unclassified form to the detainee, in a
language the detainee understands, within 30 days of the determination when
practicable.
(8) The Secretary of Defense shall establish a secretariat to administer
the PRB review and hearing process. The Director of National Intelligence
shall assist in preparing the unclassified notice and the substitutes or
summaries described above. Other executive departments and agencies shall
assist in the process of providing the PRB with information required for
the review processes detailed in this order.
(b) Subsequent Full Review. The continued detention of each detainee
shall be subject to subsequent full reviews and hearings by the PRB on a
triennial basis. Each subsequent review shall employ the procedures set
forth in section 3(a) of this order.
(c) File Reviews. The continued detention of each detainee shall
also be subject to a file review every 6 months in the intervening years
between full reviews. This file review will be conducted by the PRB and
shall consist of a review of any relevant new information related to the
detainee compiled by the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with
other relevant agencies, since the last review and, as appropriate,
information considered during any prior PRB review. The detainee shall
be permitted to make a written submission in connection with each file
review. If, during the file review, a significant question is raised as
to whether the detainee's continued detention is warranted under the
standard in section 2 of this order, the PRB will promptly convene a
full review pursuant to the standards in section 3(a) of this order.
(d) Review of PRB Determinations. The Review Committee (Committee),
as defined in section 9(d) of this order, shall conduct a review if (i)
a member of the Committee seeks review of a PRB determination within 30
days of that determination; or (ii) consensus within the PRB cannot be
reached.
Sec. 4. Effect of Determination to Transfer. (a) If a final
determination is made that a detainee does not meet the standard in
section 2 of this order, the Secretaries of State and Defense shall be
responsible for ensuring that vigorous efforts are undertaken to
identify a suitable transfer location for any such detainee, outside of
the United States, consistent with the national security and foreign
policy interests of the United States and the commitment set forth in
section 2242(a) of the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of
1998 (Public Law 105-277).
(b) The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of
Defense, shall be responsible for obtaining appropriate security and
humane treatment assurances regarding any detainee to be transferred to
another country, and for determining, after consultation with members of
the Committee, that it is appropriate to proceed with the transfer.
(c) The Secretary of State shall evaluate humane treatment
assurances in all cases, consistent with the recommendations of the
Special Task Force on Interrogation and Transfer Policies established by
Executive Order 13491 of January 22, 2009.
[[Page 230]]
Sec. 5. Annual Committee Review. (a) The Committee shall conduct an
annual review of sufficiency and efficacy of transfer efforts,
including:
(1) the status of transfer efforts for any detainee who has been subject to
the periodic review under section 3 of this order, whose continued
detention has been determined not to be warranted, and who has not been
transferred more than 6 months after the date of such determination;
(2) the status of transfer efforts for any detainee whose petition for a
writ of habeas corpus has been granted by a U.S. Federal court with no
pending appeal and who has not been transferred;
(3) the status of transfer efforts for any detainee who has been designated
for transfer or conditional detention by the Executive Order 13492 review
and who has not been transferred; and
(4) the security and other conditions in the countries to which detainees
might be transferred, including a review of any suspension of transfers to
a particular country, in order to determine whether further steps to
facilitate transfers are appropriate or to provide a recommendation to the
President regarding whether continuation of any such suspension is
warranted.
(b) After completion of the initial reviews under section 3(a) of
this order, and at least once every 4 years thereafter, the Committee
shall review whether a continued law of war detention policy remains
consistent with the interests of the United States, including national
security interests.
Sec. 6. Continuing Obligation of the Departments of Justice and Defense
to Assess Feasibility of Prosecution. As to each detainee whom the
interagency review established by Executive Order 13492 has designated
for continued law of war detention, the Attorney General and the
Secretary of Defense shall continue to assess whether prosecution of the
detainee is feasible and in the national security interests of the
United States, and shall refer detainees for prosecution, as
appropriate.
Sec. 7. Obligation of Other Departments and Agencies to Assist the
Secretary of Defense. All departments, agencies, entities, and officers
of the United States, to the maximum extent permitted by law, shall
provide the Secretary of Defense such assistance as may be requested to
implement this order.
Sec. 8. Legality of Detention. The process established under this order
does not address the legality of any detainee's law of war detention.
If, at any time during the periodic review process established in this
order, material information calls into question the legality of
detention, the matter will be referred immediately to the Secretary of
Defense and the Attorney General for appropriate action.
Sec. 9. Definitions. (a) ``Law of War Detention'' means: detention
authorized by the Congress under the AUMF, as informed by the laws of
war.
(b) ``Periodic Review Board'' means: a board composed of senior
officials tasked with fulfilling the functions described in section 3 of
this order, one appointed by each of the following departments and
offices: the Departments of State, Defense, Justice, and Homeland
Security, as well as the Offices of the Director of National
Intelligence and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
[[Page 231]]
(c) ``Conditional Detention'' means: the status of those detainees
designated by the Executive Order 13492 review as eligible for transfer
if one of the following conditions is satisfied: (1) the security
situation improves in Yemen; (2) an appropriate rehabilitation program
becomes available; or (3) an appropriate third-country resettlement
option becomes available.
(d) ``Review Committee'' means: a committee composed of the
Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Attorney General, the
Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of National Intelligence,
and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Sec. 10. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall prejudice
the authority of the Secretary of Defense or any other official to
determine the disposition of any detainee not covered by this order.
(b) This order shall be implemented subject to the availability of
necessary appropriations and consistent with applicable law including:
the Convention Against Torture; Common Article 3 of the Geneva
Conventions; the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005; and other laws relating
to the transfer, treatment, and interrogation of individuals detained in
an armed conflict.
(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.
(d) Nothing in this order, and no determination made under this
order, shall be construed as grounds for release of detainees covered by
this order into the United States.
Barack Obama
The White House,
March 7, 2011.
Executive Order 13568 of March 8, 2011
Extending Provisions of the International Organizations Immunities Act
to the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina and
the International Civilian Office in Kosovo
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, including section 1 of the
International Organizations Immunities Act (59 Stat. 669, 22 U.S.C.
288), and the Extending Immunities to the Office of the High
Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the International Civilian
Office in Kosovo Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-177, 124 Stat. 1260), it is
hereby ordered that all privileges, exemptions, and immunities provided
by the International Organizations Act be extended to the Office of the
High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina and to its officers and
employees, and to the International Civilian Office in Kosovo and to its
officers and employees. In the event either the Office of the High
Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina or
[[Page 232]]
the International Civilian Office in Kosovo is dissolved, the
privileges, exemptions, and immunities of that organization under the
International Organizations and Immunities Act, as well as those of its
officers and employees, shall continue to subsist.
This extension is not intended to abridge in any respect privileges,
exemptions, or immunities that the Office of the High Representative in
Bosnia and Herzegovina or the International Civilian Office in Kosovo,
or the officers and employees thereof, otherwise may have acquired or
may acquire by law.
Barack Obama
The White House,
March 8, 2011.
Executive Order 13569 of April 5, 2011
Amendments to Executive Orders 12824, 12835, 12859, and 13532,
Reestablishment Pursuant to Executive Order 13498, and Revocation of
Executive Order 13507
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Executive Order 12824, of December 7, 1992 (``Establishing
the Transportation Distinguished Service Medal''), as amended, is hereby
further amended by striking ``a member of the Coast Guard'' in section 1
and inserting in lieu thereof ``any member of the Armed Forces of the
United States''.
Sec. 2. Executive Order 12835 of January 25, 1993 (``Establishment of
the National Economic Council''), as amended, is hereby further amended
by striking ``(o) Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate
Change;'' in section 2 and inserting in lieu thereof ``(o) Chair of the
Council on Environmental Quality;''.
Sec. 3. Executive Order 12859 of August 16, 1993 (``Establishment of the
Domestic Policy Council''), as amended, is hereby further amended by
striking ``(v) Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate
Change;'' in section 2 and inserting in lieu thereof ``(v) Chair of the
Council on Environmental Quality;''.
Sec. 4. Executive Order 13532 of February 26, 2010 (``Promoting
Excellence, Innovation, and Sustainability at Historically Black
Colleges and Universities''), is hereby amended by striking ``34 C.F.R.
602.8'' in section 4(a) and inserting in lieu thereof ``34 C.F.R.
608.2''.
Sec. 5. The President's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood
Partnerships, as set forth under the provisions of Executive Order 13498
of February 5, 2009, is hereby reestablished and shall terminate 2 years
from the date of this order unless extended by the President.
Sec. 6. Executive Order 13507 of April 8, 2009 (``Establishment of the
White House Office of Health Reform''), is hereby revoked.
[[Page 233]]
Sec. 7. 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.
Barack Obama
The White House,
April 5, 2011.
Executive Order 13570 of April 18, 2011
Prohibiting Certain Transactions With Respect to North Korea
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 5 of the
United Nations Participation Act of 1945 (22 U.S.C. 287c) (UNPA), and
section 301 of title 3, United States Code, and in view of United
Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1718 of October 14, 2006,
and UNSCR 1874 of June 12, 2009,
I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, in order to
take additional steps to address the national emergency declared in
Executive Order 13466 of June 26, 2008, and expanded in Executive Order
13551 of August 30, 2010, that will ensure implementation of the import
restrictions contained in UNSCRs 1718 and 1874 and complement the import
restrictions provided for in the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751
et seq.), hereby order:
Section 1. Except to the extent provided in statutes or in licenses,
regulations, orders, or directives that may be issued pursuant to this
order, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or
permit granted prior to the date of this order, the importation into the
United States, directly or indirectly, of any goods, services, or
technology from North Korea is prohibited.
Sec. 2. (a) Any transaction by a United States person or within the
United States 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. 3. The provisions of Executive Orders 13466 and 13551 remain in
effect, and this order does not affect any action taken pursuant to
those orders.
Sec. 4. For the purposes of this order:
(a) the term ``person'' means an individual or entity;
(b) the term ``entity'' means a partnership, association, trust,
joint venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization;
[[Page 234]]
(c) 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;
(d) the term ``North Korea'' includes the territory of the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Government of North Korea;
and
(e) the term ``Government of North Korea'' means the Government of
the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, its agencies,
instrumentalities, and controlled entities.
Sec. 5. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the
Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to take such actions, including
the promulgation of rules and regulations, and to employ all powers
granted to the President by IEEPA and the UNPA as may be necessary to
carry out the purposes of this order. The Secretary of the Treasury may
redelegate any of these functions to other officers and agencies of the
United States Government consistent with applicable law. All agencies of
the United States Government are hereby directed to take all appropriate
measures within their authority to carry out the provisions of this
order.
Sec. 6. 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. This order is effective at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on
April 19, 2011.
Barack Obama
The White House,
April 18, 2011.
Executive Order 13571 of April 27, 2011
Streamlining Service Delivery and Improving Customer Service
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, and in order to improve the
quality of service to the public by the Federal Government, it is hereby
ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. The public deserves competent, efficient, and
responsive service from the Federal Government. Executive departments
and agencies (agencies) must continuously evaluate their performance in
meeting this standard and work to improve it. To this end, Executive
Order 12862 (Setting Customer Service Standards), issued on September
11, 1993, requires agencies that provide significant services directly
to the public to identify and survey their customers, establish service
standards and track performance against those standards, and benchmark
customer service performance against the best in business. This effort
to ``put people first'' was an important step. It was reinforced by a
Presidential Memorandum for the Heads
[[Page 235]]
of Executive Departments and Agencies issued on March 22, 1995
(Improving Customer Service), and a further Presidential Memorandum
issued on March 3, 1998 (Conducting ``Conversations with America'' to
Further Improve Customer Service).
However, with advances in technology and service delivery systems in
other sectors, the public's expectations of the Government have
continued to rise. The Government must keep pace with and even exceed
those expectations. Government must also address the need to improve its
services, not only to individuals, but also to private and Governmental
entities to which the agency directly provides significant services.
Government managers must learn from what is working in the private
sector and apply these best practices to deliver services better,
faster, and at lower cost. Such best practices include increasingly
popular lower-cost, self-service options accessed by the Internet or
mobile phone and improved processes that deliver services faster and
more responsively, reducing the overall need for customer inquiries and
complaints. The Federal Government has a responsibility to streamline
and make more efficient its service delivery to better serve the public.
Sec. 2. Agency Customer Service Plans and Activities. Within 180 days of
the date of this order, each agency shall develop, in consultation with
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), a Customer Service Plan
(plan) to address how the agency will provide services in a manner that
seeks to streamline service delivery and improve the experience of its
customers. As used in this order, the term ``customer'' refers to any
individual or to any entity, including a business, tribal, State or
local government, or other agency, to which the agency directly provides
significant services. The plan shall set forth the agency's approach,
intended benefits, and an implementation timeline for the following
actions:
(a) establishing one major initiative (signature initiative) that
will use technology to improve the customer experience;
(b) establishing mechanisms to solicit customer feedback on
Government services and using such feedback regularly to make service
improvements;
(c) setting clear customer service standards and expectations,
including, where appropriate, performance goals for customer service
required by the GPRA (Government Performance and Results) Modernization
Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-352);
(d) improving the customer experience by adopting proven customer
service best practices and coordinating across service channels (such as
online, phone, in-person, and mail services);
(e) streamlining agency processes to reduce costs and accelerate
delivery, while reducing the need for customer calls and inquiries; and
(f) identifying ways to use innovative technologies to accomplish
the customer service activities above, thereby lowering costs,
decreasing service delivery times, and improving the customer
experience.
Sec. 3. Publication of Agency Customer Service Plans. Each agency shall
publish its plan on its Open Government web page.
Sec. 4. Assistance in Implementation. In consultation with the heads of
executive departments and agencies, the Chief Performance Officer, who
also serves as the Deputy Director for Management of the OMB, shall
develop
[[Page 236]]
guidance for implementing the activities outlined in this order. Such
guidance shall include, among other things, the nature and scope of
services to which the order's requirements will apply. The Office of
Management and Budget, the General Services Administration, and the
Office of Science and Technology Policy shall assist and support
agencies in developing customer service standards and plans, online
posting of customer service metrics and best practices, expediting
review for customer feedback mechanisms under the Paperwork Reduction
Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), improving the design and management of
agency websites providing services or information to the public in
compliance with section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794d),
and using innovative technologies to improve customer service at lower
costs.
Sec. 5. Independent Agencies. Independent agencies are requested to
adhere to this order.
Sec. 6. Privileged Information. Nothing in this order shall compel or
authorize the disclosure of privileged information, law enforcement
information, information affecting national security, or information the
disclosure of which is prohibited by law.
Sec. 7. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed
to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the
head thereof; or
(ii) functions of the Director of the OMB 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.
Barack Obama
The White House,
April 27, 2011.
Executive Order 13572 of April 29, 2011
Blocking Property of Certain Persons With Respect to Human Rights Abuses
in Syria
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.), and section 301 of
title 3, United States Code,
I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, hereby
expand the scope of the national emergency declared in Executive Order
[[Page 237]]
13338 of May 11, 2004, and relied upon for additional steps taken in
Executive Order 13399 of April 25, 2006, and in Executive Order 13460 of
February 13, 2008, finding that the Government of Syria's human rights
abuses, including those related to the repression of the people of
Syria, manifested most recently by the use of violence and torture
against, and arbitrary arrests and detentions of, peaceful protestors by
police, security forces, and other entities that have engaged in human
rights abuses, constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the
national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States, and
I hereby order:
Section 1. 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, including any overseas branch, of the following persons are
blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or
otherwise dealt in:
(a) the persons listed in the Annex to this order; and
(b) any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in
consultation with the Secretary of State:
(i) to be responsible for or complicit in, or responsible for ordering,
controlling, or otherwise directing, or to have participated in, the
commission of human rights abuses in Syria, including those related to
repression;
(ii) to be a senior official of an entity whose property and interests in
property are blocked pursuant to this order;
(iii) to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial,
material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of,
the activities described in subsection (b)(i) of this section or any person
whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to Executive
Order 13338, Executive Order 13460, or this order; or
(iv) 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 Executive Order 13460 or this
order.
Sec. 2. I hereby determine that the making of donations of the type 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 section 1 of this order would seriously
impair my ability to deal with the national emergency declared in
Executive Order 13338 and expanded in this order, and I hereby prohibit
such donations as provided by section 1 of this order.
Sec. 3. The prohibitions in section 1 of this order include but are not
limited to:
(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 this order; and
(b) the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or
services from any such person.
Sec. 4. The prohibitions in section 1 of this order apply except to the
extent provided by statutes, or in regulations, orders, directives, or
licenses
[[Page 238]]
that may be issued pursuant to this order, and notwithstanding any
contract entered into or any license or permit granted prior to the
effective date of this order.
Sec. 5. (a) Any transaction by a United States person or within the
United States 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. 6. For the purposes of this order:
(a) the term ``person'' means an individual or entity;
(b) the term ``entity'' means a partnership, association, trust,
joint venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization;
(c) 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; and
(d) the term ``Government of Syria'' means the Government of the
Syrian Arab Republic, its agencies, instrumentalities, and controlled
entities.
Sec. 7. 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 13338 and expanded in this order, there need be no prior notice of
a listing or determination made pursuant to section 1 of this order.
Sec. 8. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the
Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to take such actions, including
the promulgation of rules and regulations, and to employ all powers
granted to the President by IEEPA as may be necessary to carry out the
purposes of this order. The Secretary of the Treasury may redelegate any
of these functions to other officers and agencies of the United States
Government consistent with applicable law. All agencies of the United
States Government are hereby directed to take all appropriate measures
within their authority to carry out the provisions of this order.
Sec. 9. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the
Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to determine that circumstances
no longer warrant the blocking of the property and interests in property
of a person listed in the Annex to this order, and to take necessary
action to give effect to that determination.
Sec. 10. 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.
[[Page 239]]
Sec. 11. This order is effective at 1:00 p.m. eastern daylight time on
April 29, 2011.
Barack Obama
The White House,
April 29, 2011.
[[Page 240]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TO03MY11.036
[[Page 241]]
Executive Order 13573 of May 18, 2011
Blocking Property of Senior Officials of the Government of Syria
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.), and section 301 of
title 3, United States Code,
I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, in order to
take additional steps with respect to the Government of Syria's
continuing escalation of violence against the people of Syria--including
through attacks on protestors, arrests and harassment of protestors and
political activists, and repression of democratic change, overseen and
executed by numerous elements of the Syrian government--and with respect
to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13338 of May 11,
2004, relied upon for additional steps taken in Executive Order 13399 of
April 25, 2006, and in Executive Order 13460 of February 13, 2008, and
expanded in scope in Executive Order 13572 of April 29, 2011, hereby
order:
Section 1. 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, including any overseas branch, of the following persons are
blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or
otherwise dealt in:
(a) the persons listed in the Annex to this order; and
(b) any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in
consultation with the Secretary of State:
(i) to be a senior official of the Government of Syria;
(ii) to be an agency or instrumentality of the Government of Syria, or
owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Government of Syria or
by an official or officials of the Government of Syria;
(iii) 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 order; or
(iv) 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 order.
Sec. 2. I hereby determine that the making of donations of the type 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 section 1 of this order would seriously
impair my ability to deal with the national emergency declared in
Executive Order 13338 and expanded in scope in Executive Order 13572,
and I hereby prohibit such donations as provided by section 1 of this
order.
Sec. 3. The prohibitions in section 1 of this order include but are not
limited to:
[[Page 242]]
(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 this order; and
(b) the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or
services from any such person.
Sec. 4. The prohibitions in section 1 of this order 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 prior to the
effective date of this order.
Sec. 5. (a) Any transaction by a United States person or within the
United States 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. 6. For the purposes of this order:
(a) the term ``person'' means an individual or entity;
(b) the term ``entity'' means a partnership, association, trust,
joint venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization;
(c) 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; and
(d) the term ``Government of Syria'' means the Government of the
Syrian Arab Republic, its agencies, instrumentalities, and controlled
entities.
Sec. 7. 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 13338 and expanded in scope in Executive Order 13572, there need
be no prior notice of a listing or determination made pursuant to
section 1 of this order.
Sec. 8. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the
Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to take such actions, including
the promulgation of rules and regulations, and to employ all powers
granted to the President by IEEPA as may be necessary to carry out the
purposes of this order. The Secretary of the Treasury may redelegate any
of these functions to other officers and agencies of the United States
Government consistent with applicable law. All agencies of the United
States Government are hereby directed to take all appropriate measures
within their authority to carry out the provisions of this order.
Sec. 9. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the
Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to determine that circumstances
no longer warrant the blocking of the property and interests in property
of a person listed in the Annex to this order, and to take necessary
action to give effect to that determination.
[[Page 243]]
Sec. 10. 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. 11. This order is effective at 1:00 p.m. eastern daylight time on
May 18, 2011.
Barack Obama
The White House,
May 18, 2011.
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Executive Order 13574 of May 23, 2011
Authorizing the Implementation of Certain Sanctions Set Forth in the
Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, as Amended
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.), the Iran Sanctions
Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-172) (50 U.S.C. 1701 note) (ISA), as amended
by, inter alia, the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and
Divestment Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-195), and section 301 of title 3,
United States Code, and in order to take additional steps with respect
to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 12957 of March 15,
1995,
I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, hereby
order:
Section 1. (a) When the President, or the Secretary of State pursuant to
authority delegated by the President and in accordance with the terms of
such delegation, which includes consultation with the Secretary of the
Treasury, has determined that sanctions shall be imposed on a person
pursuant to section 5 of ISA and has selected the sanctions set forth in
section 6 of ISA to impose on that person, the Secretary of the
Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall take the
following actions with respect to the sanctions imposed and maintained
by the President or by the Secretary of State pursuant to and in
accordance with the terms of such delegation:
(i) with respect to section 6(a)(3) of ISA, prohibit any United States
financial institution from making loans or providing credits to the ISA-
sanctioned person consistent with section 6(a)(3) of ISA;
(ii) with respect to section 6(a)(6) of ISA, prohibit any transactions in
foreign exchange that are subject to the jurisdiction of the United States
and in which the ISA-sanctioned person has any interest;
(iii) with respect to section 6(a)(7) of ISA, prohibit any transfers of
credit or payments between financial institutions or by, through, or to any
financial institution, to the extent that such transfers or payments are
subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and involve any interest
of the ISA-sanctioned person;
(iv) with respect to section 6(a)(8) of ISA, block all property and
interests in property that are in the United States, that come within the
United States, or that are or come within the possession or control of any
United States person, including any overseas branch, of the ISA-sanctioned
person, and provide that such property and interests in property may not be
transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in; or
(v) with respect to section 6(a)(9) of ISA, restrict or prohibit imports of
goods, technology, or services, directly or indirectly, into the United
States from the ISA-sanctioned person.
[[Page 246]]
(b) I hereby determine that, to the extent section 203(b)(2) of
IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(2)) may apply, the making of donations of the
types of articles specified in such section by, to, or for the benefit
of any ISA-sanctioned person whose property and interests in property
are blocked pursuant to subsection (a)(iv) of this section 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 subsection (a)(iv) of this section.
(c) The prohibitions in subsection (a)(iv) of this section include
but are not limited to:
(i) the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or
services by, to, or for the benefit of any ISA-sanctioned person whose
property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order; and
(ii) the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or
services from any such ISA-sanctioned person.
(d) The prohibitions in subsection (a) 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 prior to the date of this order.
Sec. 2. (a) Any transaction by a United States person or within the
United States 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. 3. For the purposes of this order:
(a) the term ``person'' means an individual or entity;
(b) the term ``entity'' means a partnership, association, trust,
joint venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization;
(c) 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;
(d) the term ``financial institution'' includes (i) a depository
institution (as defined in section 3(c)(1) of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act) (12 U.S.C. 1813(c)(1)), including a branch or agency of a
foreign bank (as defined in section 1(b)(7) of the International Banking
Act of 1978) (12 U.S.C. 3101(7)); (ii) a credit union; (iii) a
securities firm, including a broker or dealer; (iv) an insurance
company, including an agency or underwriter; and (v) any other company
that provides financial services;
(e) the term ``United States financial institution'' means a
financial institution (including its foreign branches) organized under
the laws of the United States or of any jurisdiction within the United
States; and
(f) the term ``ISA-sanctioned person'' means a person that the
President, or the Secretary of State pursuant to authority delegated by
the President and in accordance with the terms of such delegation,
including consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, has
determined is a person on
[[Page 247]]
whom sanctions shall be imposed pursuant to section 5 of ISA and on whom
the President or the Secretary of State has imposed any of the sanctions
in section 6 of ISA.
Sec. 4. 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 section 1(a)(iv) of 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 an action
taken pursuant to section 1(a)(iv) of this order.
Sec. 5. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the
Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to take such actions, including
the promulgation of rules and regulations, and to employ all powers
granted to the President by IEEPA and sections 6(a)(6), 6(a)(7),
6(a)(8), and 6(a)(9) of ISA, and to employ all powers granted to the
United States Government by section 6(a)(3) of ISA as may be necessary
to carry out the purposes of this order. The Secretary of the Treasury
may redelegate any of these functions to other officers and agencies of
the United States Government consistent with applicable law. All
agencies of the United States Government are hereby directed to take all
appropriate measures within their authority to carry out the provisions
of this order.
Sec. 6. 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. 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.
Barack Obama
The White House,
May 23, 2011.
Executive Order 13575 of June 9, 2011
Establishment of the White House Rural Council
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America and in order to enhance Federal
engagement with rural communities, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. Sixteen percent of the American population lives in
rural counties. Strong, sustainable rural communities are essential to
winning the future and ensuring American competitiveness in the years
ahead. These communities supply our food, fiber, and energy, safeguard
our natural resources, and are essential in the development of science
and innovation. Though rural communities face numerous challenges, they
also present enormous economic potential. The Federal Government has an
important
[[Page 248]]
role to play in order to expand access to the capital necessary for
economic growth, promote innovation, improve access to health care and
education, and expand outdoor recreational activities on public lands.
To enhance the Federal Government's efforts to address the needs of
rural America, this order establishes a council to better coordinate
Federal programs and maximize the impact of Federal investment to
promote economic prosperity and quality of life in our rural
communities.
Sec. 2. Establishment. There is established a White House Rural Council
(Council).
Sec. 3. Membership. (a) The Secretary of Agriculture shall serve as the
Chair of the Council, which shall also include the heads of the
following executive branch departments, agencies, and offices:
(1) the Department of the Treasury;
(2) the Department of Defense;
(3) the Department of Justice;
(4) the Department of the Interior;
(5) the Department of Commerce;
(6) the Department of Labor;
(7) the Department of Health and Human Services;
(8) the Department of Housing and Urban Development;
(9) the Department of Transportation;
(10) the Department of Energy;
(11) the Department of Education;
(12) the Department of Veterans Affairs;
(13) the Department of Homeland Security;
(14) the Environmental Protection Agency;
(15) the Federal Communications Commission;
(16) the Office of Management and Budget;
(17) the Office of Science and Technology Policy;
(18) the Office of National Drug Control Policy;
(19) the Council of Economic Advisers;
(20) the Domestic Policy Council;
(21) the National Economic Council;
(22) the Small Business Administration;
(23) the Council on Environmental Quality;
(24) the White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental
Affairs;
(25) the White House Office of Cabinet Affairs; and such other executive
branch departments, agencies, and offices as the President or the Secretary
of Agriculture may, from time to time, designate.
[[Page 249]]
(b) A member of the Council may designate, to perform the Council
functions of the member, a senior-level official who is part of the
member's department, agency, or office, and who is a full-time officer
or employee of the Federal Government.
(c) The Department of Agriculture shall provide funding and
administrative support for the Council to the extent permitted by law
and within existing appropriations.
(d) The Council shall coordinate its policy development through the
Domestic Policy Council and the National Economic Council.
Sec. 4. Mission and Function of the Council. The Council shall work
across executive departments, agencies, and offices to coordinate
development of policy recommendations to promote economic prosperity and
quality of life in rural America, and shall coordinate my
Administration's engagement with rural communities. The Council shall:
(a) make recommendations to the President, through the Director of
the Domestic Policy Council and the Director of the National Economic
Council, on streamlining and leveraging Federal investments in rural
areas, where appropriate, to increase the impact of Federal dollars and
create economic opportunities to improve the quality of life in rural
America;
(b) coordinate and increase the effectiveness of Federal engagement
with rural stakeholders, including agricultural organizations, small
businesses, education and training institutions, health-care providers,
telecommunications services providers, research and land grant
institutions, law enforcement, State, local, and tribal governments, and
nongovernmental organizations regarding the needs of rural America;
(c) coordinate Federal efforts directed toward the growth and
development of geographic regions that encompass both urban and rural
areas; and
(d) identify and facilitate rural economic opportunities associated
with energy development, outdoor recreation, and other conservation
related activities.
Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) The heads of executive departments and
agencies shall assist and provide information to the Council, consistent
with applicable law, as may be necessary to carry out the functions of
the Council. Each executive department and agency shall bear its own
expense for participating in the Council.
(b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise
affect:
(i) authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the
head thereof; or
(ii) 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
[[Page 250]]
against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its
officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
Barack Obama
The White House,
June 9, 2011.
Executive Order 13576 of June 13, 2011
Delivering an Efficient, Effective, and Accountable Government
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, and in order to cut waste,
streamline Government operations, and reinforce the performance and
management reform gains my Administration has achieved, it is hereby
ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. My Administration is committed to ensuring that the
Federal Government serves the American people with the utmost
effectiveness and efficiency. Over the last 2 years, we have made good
progress and have saved taxpayer dollars by cutting waste and increasing
the efficiency of Government operations by curbing uncontrolled growth
in contract spending, terminating poorly performing information
technology projects, deploying state of the art fraud detection tools to
crack down on waste, focusing agency leaders on achieving ambitious
improvements in high priority areas, and opening Government up to the
public to increase accountability and accelerate innovation.
The American people must be able to trust that their Government is doing
everything in its power to stop wasteful practices and earn a high
return on every tax dollar that is spent. To strengthen that trust and
deliver a smarter and leaner Government, my Administration will
reinforce the performance and management reform gains achieved thus far;
systematically identify additional reforms necessary to eliminate
wasteful, duplicative, or otherwise inefficient programs; and publicize
these reforms so that they may serve as a model across the Federal
Government.
The implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
(Public Law 111-5) (Recovery Act) has seen unprecedented transparency.
The Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board (RATB) has developed
innovative technologies and approaches for preventing and identifying
fraud and abuse that have the potential to improve performance across
all of Government spending.
Sec. 2. Accountable Government Initiative. (a) On September 14, 2010, in
a Memorandum to the Senior Executive Service, my Administration
introduced goals for the Accountable Government Initiative (Initiative).
The mission of the Initiative is to monitor and promote agency progress
in making Government work better, faster, and more efficiently. To hold
executive
[[Page 251]]
departments and agencies (agencies) accountable for obtaining results
consistent with this mission, the Vice President shall convene periodic
meetings in which Cabinet members and the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) report to him on improvements implemented
under their direction.
(b) The Federal Chief Performance Officer (CPO), who also serves as
the Deputy Director for Management of OMB and the Chair of the
President's Management Council (PMC), shall work with the PMC to support
agencies' performance and management reform and cost-cutting efforts.
The CPO will lead OMB and the PMC in identifying practices that should
be adopted across agencies and in facilitating reforms that require
cross-agency coordination and cooperation. The CPO shall work with
agencies to ensure that each area identified as critical to performance
improvement has robust performance metrics in place, and that these
metrics are frequently analyzed and reviewed by agency leadership.
Agencies shall update these metrics quarterly, as appropriate, on the
website performance.gov.
(c) In accordance with the GPRA Modernization Act of 2010 (31 U.S.C.
1115 et seq.), each agency's Chief Operating Officer (COO) shall be
designated as the Senior Accountable Official responsible for leading
performance and management reform efforts, and for reducing wasteful or
ineffective programs, policies, and procedures. In discharging this
responsibility, this official shall be accountable for conducting
frequent data-driven reviews of agency progress toward goals in the
areas that OMB identifies as being critical to performance improvement
across agencies or that the agency head identifies as top near-term
priorities. These goals may include reforming information technology,
reducing improper payments, leveraging the Federal Government's
purchasing scale, reducing high-risk contracting practices, improving
the management of Federal real estate, enhancing customer service, and
achieving agency and Federal Government priority goals identified
pursuant to the GPRA Modernization Act of 2010.
(d) The Director of OMB shall provide guidance to agencies as part
of the Fiscal Year 2013 budget process for identifying areas of program
overlap and duplication within and across agencies, and for proposing
consolidations and reductions to address those inefficiencies.
(e) The Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) at all agencies shall be
responsible for achieving agency cost savings. This will include each
agency's share of the $2.1 billion in administrative cost savings
identified in my Fiscal Year 2012 Budget, and for achieving those
savings as quickly as possible. The CFOs are encouraged to realize these
cost savings by targeting wasteful practices and by reducing, and
identifying alternatives to, discretionary travel, the use of
consultants, and other administrative expenses. The Federal CFO Council
shall provide a monthly report on these efforts to the PMC, with
relevant findings and progress reported on performance.gov.
Sec. 3. Government Accountability and Transparency Board. (a) There is
hereby established a Government Accountability and Transparency Board
(Board) to provide strategic direction for enhancing the transparency of
Federal spending and advance efforts to detect and remediate fraud,
waste, and abuse in Federal programs. The Board shall be composed of 11
members designated by the President from among agency Inspectors
General, agency Chief Financial Officers or Deputy Secretaries, a senior
official of
[[Page 252]]
OMB, and such other members as the President shall designate. The
President shall designate a Chair from among the members. Building on
the lessons learned from the successful implementation of the Recovery
Act, the Board shall work with the RATB to apply the approaches
developed by the RATB across Government spending.
(b) Not later than 6 months after the date of this order, the Board
shall submit a report to the President that identifies implementation
guidelines for integrating systems that support the collection and
display of Government spending data, ensuring the reliability of those
data, and broadening the deployment of fraud detection technologies,
including those proven successful during the implementation of the
Recovery Act.
(c) The Director of OMB, in consultation with the Board, shall be
responsible for assisting executive agencies in achieving objectives in
the guidelines identified in subsection (b) above.
(d) The Chair of the Board, in consultation with the Director of
OMB, shall provide monthly updates to the Vice President on the progress
obtained under this order.
Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed
to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) authority granted by law to a department or agency, or the head
thereof; or
(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
related 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.
Barack Obama
The White House,
June 13, 2011.
Executive Order 13577 of June 15, 2011
Establishment of the SelectUSA Initiative
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, and in order to support private-
sector job creation and enhance economic growth by encouraging and
supporting business investment in the United States, it is hereby
ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. Business investment in the United States by both
domestic and foreign firms, whether in the form of new equipment or
facilities or the expansion of existing facilities, is a major engine of
economic growth and job creation. In an era of global capital mobility,
the United States faces increasing competition for retaining and
attracting industries of the
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future and the jobs they create. My Administration is committed to
enhancing the efforts of the United States to win the growing global
competition for business investment by leveraging our advantages as the
premier business location in the world.
As a place to do business, the United States offers a hardworking,
diverse, and educated workforce, strong protection of intellectual
property rights, a predictable and transparent legal system, relatively
low taxes, highly developed infrastructure, and access to the world's
most lucrative consumer market. We welcome both domestic and foreign
businesses to invest across the broad spectrum of the U.S. market.
The Federal Government lacks the centralized investment promotion
infrastructure and resources to attract business investment that is
often found in other industrialized countries. Currently, States and
cities are competing against foreign governments to attract business
investment. Our Nation needs to retain business investment and pursue
and win new investment in the United States by better marketing our
strengths, providing clear, complete, and consistent information, and
removing unnecessary obstacles to investment.
Sec. 2. SelectUSA Initiative. (a) Establishment. There is established
the SelectUSA Initiative (Initiative), a Government-wide initiative to
attract and retain investment in the American economy. The Initiative is
to be housed in the Department of Commerce. The mission of this
Initiative shall be to facilitate business investment in the United
States in order to create jobs, spur economic growth, and promote
American competitiveness. The Initiative will provide enhanced
coordination of Federal activities in order to increase the impact of
Federal resources that support both domestic and foreign investment in
the United States. In providing assistance, the Initiative shall work to
maximize impact on business investment, job creation, and economic
growth. The Initiative shall work on behalf of the entire Nation and
shall exercise strict neutrality with regard to specific locations
within the United States.
(b) Functions.
(i) The Initiative shall coordinate outreach and engagement by the Federal
Government to promote the United States as the premier location to operate
a business.
(ii) The Initiative shall serve as an ombudsman that facilitates the
resolution of issues involving Federal programs or activities related to
pending investments.
(iii) The Initiative shall provide information to domestic and foreign
firms on: the investment climate in the United States; Federal programs and
incentives available to investors; and State and local economic development
organizations.
(iv) The Initiative shall report quarterly to the President through the
National Economic Council, the Domestic Policy Council, and the National
Security Staff, describing its outreach activities, requests for
information received, and efforts to resolve issues.
(c) Administration. The Department of Commerce shall provide funding
and administrative support for the Initiative through resources and
staff assigned to work on the Initiative, to the extent permitted by law
and within
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existing appropriations. The Secretary of Commerce shall designate a
senior staff member as the Executive Director to lead the Initiative.
The Executive Director shall coordinate activities both within the
Department of Commerce and with other executive departments and agencies
that have activities relating to business investment decisions.
(d) Federal Interagency Investment Working Group.
(i) There is established the Federal Interagency Investment Working Group
(Working Group), which will be convened and chaired by the Initiative's
Executive Director, in coordination with the Director of the National
Economic Council.
(ii) The Working Group shall consist of senior officials from the
Departments of State, the Treasury, Defense, Justice, the Interior,
Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services,
Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Energy, Education, and
Homeland Security, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Small Business
Administration, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Office of
the United States Trade Representative, the Domestic Policy Council, the
National Economic Council, the National Security Staff, the Office of
Management and Budget, and the Council of Economic Advisers, as well as
such additional executive departments, agencies, and offices as the
Secretary of Commerce may designate. Senior officials shall be designated
by and report to the Deputy Secretary or official at the equivalent level
of their respective offices, departments, and agencies.
(iii) The Working Group shall coordinate activities to promote business
investment and respond to specific issues that affect business investment
decisions.
(iv) The Department of Commerce shall provide funding and administrative
support for the Working Group to the extent permitted by law and within
existing appropriations.
(e) Department and Agency Participation. All executive departments
and agencies that have activities relating to business investment
decisions shall cooperate with the Initiative, as requested by the
Initiative's Executive Director, to support its objectives.
Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed
to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the
head thereof, or the status of that department or agency within the Federal
Government; or
(ii) 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
[[Page 255]]
against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its
officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
Barack Obama
The White House,
June 15, 2011.
Executive Order 13578 of July 6, 2011
Coordinating Policies on Automotive Communities and Workers
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. Over the last decade, the United States has
experienced a decline in employment in the automotive industry and among
part suppliers. This decline accelerated dramatically from 2008 to 2009,
with more than 400,000 jobs being lost in the industry. Now, 2 years
later, the American automotive industry is beginning to recover. The
automotive industry has, over the past 2 years, experienced its
strongest period of job growth since the late 1990s. Exports have
expanded, and the domestic automakers in 2010 gained market share for
the first time since 1995. The automotive supply chain, which employs
three times as many workers as the automakers, has also shown renewed
strength. However, we still have a long way to go.
Over the past 2 years my Administration has undertaken coordinated
efforts on behalf of automotive communities, including targeted
technical and financial assistance. For example, the Department of Labor
set aside funds for green jobs and job training for high-growth sectors
of the economy specifically targeted to communities affected by the
automotive downturn, and the Department of Commerce provided funds
specifically for automotive communities to develop plans for economic
recovery. Stabilizing the automotive industry will also require the use
of expanded strategies by automotive communities that include land-use
redevelopment, small business support, and worker training.
The purpose of this order is to continue the coordinated Federal
response to factors affecting automotive communities and workers and to
ensure that Federal programs and policies address these concerns.
Sec. 2. Assignment of Responsibilities to the Secretary of Labor.
(a) The Secretary of Labor shall:
(i) work to coordinate the development of policies and programs among
executive departments and agencies with the goal of coordinating a Federal
response to factors that have a distinct impact on automotive communities
and workers, including through the coordination of economic adjustment
assistance activities;
(ii) advise the President, in coordination with the Director of the
National Economic Council, on the potential effects of pending legislation;
[[Page 256]]
(iii) provide recommendations to the President, in coordination with the
Director of the National Economic Council, on executive branch policy
proposals affecting automotive communities and changes to Federal policies
and programs intended to address issues of special importance to automotive
communities and workers; and
(iv) conduct outreach to representatives of nonprofit organizations,
businesses, labor organizations, State and local government agencies,
elected officials, and other interested persons that will assist in
bringing to the President's attention concerns, ideas, and policy options
for expanding and improving efforts to revitalize automotive communities.
(b) The Secretary of Labor shall perform the functions assigned by
this order in coordination with the Director of the National Economic
Council. The Secretary of Labor may delegate these responsibilities to
the Executive Director of the Department of Labor Office of Recovery for
Auto Communities and Workers.
Sec. 3. Revocation. Executive Order 13509 of June 23, 2009, is hereby
revoked.
Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) The heads of executive departments and
agencies shall assist and provide information to the Secretary of Labor
or the Secretary's designee, consistent with applicable law, as may be
necessary to carry out the responsibilities assigned by this order.
(b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise
affect:
(i) authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the
head thereof; or
(ii) 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.
Barack Obama
The White House,
July 6, 2011.
Executive Order 13579 of July 11, 2011
Regulation and Independent Regulatory Agencies
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, and in order to improve regulation
and regulatory review, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. (a) Wise regulatory decisions depend on public
participation and on careful analysis of the likely consequences of
regulation. Such decisions are informed and improved by allowing
interested members of the public to have a meaningful opportunity to
participate in rulemaking.
[[Page 257]]
To the extent permitted by law, such decisions should be made only after
consideration of their costs and benefits (both quantitative and
qualitative).
(b) Executive Order 13563 of January 18, 2011, ``Improving
Regulation and Regulatory Review,'' directed to executive agencies, was
meant to produce a regulatory system that protects ``public health,
welfare, safety, and our environment while promoting economic growth,
innovation, competitiveness, and job creation.'' Independent regulatory
agencies, no less than executive agencies, should promote that goal.
(c) Executive Order 13563 set out general requirements directed to
executive agencies concerning public participation, integration and
innovation, flexible approaches, and science. To the extent permitted by
law, independent regulatory agencies should comply with these provisions
as well.
Sec. 2. Retrospective Analyses of Existing Rules. (a) To facilitate the
periodic review of existing significant regulations, independent
regulatory agencies should consider how best to promote retrospective
analysis of rules that may be outmoded, ineffective, insufficient, or
excessively burdensome, and to modify, streamline, expand, or repeal
them in accordance with what has been learned. Such retrospective
analyses, including supporting data and evaluations, should be released
online whenever possible.
(b) Within 120 days of the date of this order, each independent
regulatory agency should develop and release to the public a plan,
consistent with law and reflecting its resources and regulatory
priorities and processes, under which the agency will periodically
review its existing significant regulations to determine whether any
such regulations should be modified, streamlined, expanded, or repealed
so as to make the agency's regulatory program more effective or less
burdensome in achieving the regulatory objectives.
Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) For purposes of this order, ``executive
agency'' shall have the meaning set forth for the term ``agency'' in
section 3(b) of Executive Order 12866 of September 30, 1993, and
``independent regulatory agency'' shall have the meaning set forth in 44
U.S.C. 3502(5).
(b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise
affect:
(i) authority granted by law to a department or agency, or the head
thereof; or
(ii) 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.
Barack Obama
The White House,
July 11, 2011.
[[Page 258]]
Executive Order 13580 of July 12, 2011
Interagency Working Group on Coordination of Domestic Energy Development
and Permitting in Alaska
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
interagency working group to coordinate the efforts of Federal agencies
responsible for overseeing the safe and responsible development of
onshore and offshore energy resources and associated infrastructure in
Alaska and to help reduce our dependence on foreign oil, it is hereby
ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. Interagency coordination is important for the safe,
responsible, and efficient development of oil and natural gas resources
in Alaska, both onshore and on the Alaska Outer Continental Shelf (OCS),
while protecting human health and the environment, as well as indigenous
populations. A number of executive departments and agencies (agencies)
are charged with ensuring that resource development projects in Alaska
comply with health, safety, and environmental protection standards. To
formalize and promote ongoing interagency coordination, this order
establishes a high-level, interagency working group that will facilitate
coordinated and efficient domestic energy development and permitting in
Alaska while ensuring that all applicable standards are fully met.
Sec. 2. Establishment. There is established an Interagency Working Group
on Coordination of Domestic Energy Development and Permitting in Alaska
(Working Group), led by the Department of the Interior.
Sec. 3. Membership. (a) The Deputy Secretary of the Interior shall serve
as Chair of the Working Group and coordinate its work. The Working Group
shall also include deputy-level representatives or officials at the
equivalent level, designated by the head of the respective agency, from:
(i) the Department of Defense;
(ii) the Department of Commerce;
(iii) the Department of Agriculture;
(iv) the Department of Energy;
(v) the Department of Homeland Security;
(vi) the Environmental Protection Agency; and
(vii) the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas
Transportation Projects.
(b) The Domestic Policy Council shall work closely with the Chair of
the Working Group and assist in the interagency coordination functions
described in section 4 of this order. To maximize coordination with
National Security Policy Directive-66 (NSPD-66), ``Arctic Region
Policy;'' Executive Order 13547 of July 19, 2010 (``Stewardship of the
Ocean, Our Coasts, and the Great Lakes''); the National Response
Framework; the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution
Contingency Plan (National Contingency Plan); and other relevant Federal
policy initiatives, the Working Group shall also include deputy-level
representatives or officials at the equivalent level, designated by the
head of the respective agency or office, from:
(i) the Council on Environmental Quality;
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(ii) the Office of Science and Technology Policy;
(iii) the Office of Management and Budget; and
(iv) the National Security Staff.
(c) The Working Group shall consult with other agencies and offices,
as appropriate, in order to facilitate the sharing of information and
best practices.
(d) Members of the Working Group shall meet periodically and on a
schedule coordinated with significant milestones in the various
permitting cycles. Staff from the participating agencies shall meet as
appropriate to facilitate the functions of the Working Group.
Sec. 4. Functions. Consistent with the authorities and responsibilities
of participating agencies, the Working Group shall perform the following
functions:
(a) facilitate orderly and efficient decisionmaking regarding the
issuance of permits and conduct of environmental reviews for onshore and
offshore energy development projects in Alaska;
(b) ensure that the schedules and progress of agency regulatory and
permitting activities are coordinated appropriately, that they operate
efficiently and effectively, and that agencies assist one another, as
appropriate;
(c) facilitate the sharing of application and project information
among agencies, including information regarding anticipated timelines
and milestones;
(d) ensure the sharing and integrity of scientific and environmental
information and cultural and traditional knowledge among agencies to
support the permit evaluation process of onshore and offshore energy
development projects in Alaska;
(e) engage in longterm planning and ensure coordination with the
appropriate Federal entities related to such issues as oil spill
prevention, preparedness and response, and the development of necessary
infrastructure to adequately support energy development in Alaska;
(f) coordinate Federal engagement with States, localities, and
tribal governments, as it relates to energy development and permitting
issues in Alaska, including:
(i) designating a primary point of contact to facilitate coordination with
the State of Alaska;
(ii) designating a primary point of contact to facilitate coordination with
local communities, governments, tribes, co-management organizations, and
similar Alaska Native organizations;
(g) collaborate on stakeholder outreach; and
(h) promote interagency dialogue with respect to communications with
industry regarding Alaska offshore and onshore energy development and
permitting issues.
Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) This order shall be implemented
consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
(b) The Department of the Interior shall provide administrative
support for the Working Group to the extent permitted by law.
[[Page 260]]
(c) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise
affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department, 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.
(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.
Barack Obama
The White House,
July 12, 2011.
Executive Order 13581 of July 24, 2011
Blocking Property of Transnational Criminal Organizations
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.) (NEA), and section 301
of title 3, United States Code,
I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, find that
the activities of significant transnational criminal organizations, such
as those listed in the Annex to this order, have reached such scope and
gravity that they threaten the stability of international political and
economic systems. Such organizations are becoming increasingly
sophisticated and dangerous to the United States; they are increasingly
entrenched in the operations of foreign governments and the
international financial system, thereby weakening democratic
institutions, degrading the rule of law, and undermining economic
markets. These organizations facilitate and aggravate violent civil
conflicts and increasingly facilitate the activities of other dangerous
persons. I therefore determine that significant transnational criminal
organizations constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the
national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States, and
hereby declare a national emergency to deal with that threat.
Accordingly, 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, including any overseas branch, of the following persons are
blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or
otherwise dealt in:
(i) the persons listed in the Annex to this order and
(ii) any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in
consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of State:
(A) to be a foreign person that constitutes a significant transnational
criminal organization;
[[Page 261]]
(B) to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial,
material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in
support of, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked
pursuant to this order; or
(C) 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 order.
(b) 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 this order, and
I hereby prohibit such donations as provided by subsection (a) of this
section.
(c) The prohibitions in subsection (a) of this section include, but
are not limited to:
(i) 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 this order; and
(ii) the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or
services from any such person.
(d) The prohibitions in subsection (a) 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 prior to the effective date of this order.
Sec. 2. (a) Any transaction by a United States person or within the
United States 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. 3. For the purposes of this order:
(a) the term ``person'' means an individual or entity;
(b) the term ``entity'' means a partnership, association, trust,
joint venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization;
(c) 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;
(d) the term ``foreign person'' means any citizen or national of a
foreign state, or any entity organized under the laws of a foreign state
or existing in a foreign state, including any such individual or entity
who is also a United States person; and
(e) the term ``significant transnational criminal organization''
means a group of persons, such as those listed in the Annex to this
order, that includes one or more foreign persons; that engages in an
ongoing pattern of serious criminal activity involving the jurisdictions
of at least two foreign
[[Page 262]]
states; and that threatens the national security, foreign policy, or
economy of the United States.
Sec. 4. 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 these measures
ineffectual. I therefore determine that for these measures to be
effective in addressing the national emergency declared in this order,
there need be no prior notice of a listing or determination made
pursuant to section 1(a) of this order.
Sec. 5. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney
General and the Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to take such
actions, including the promulgation of rules and regulations, and to
employ all powers granted to the President by IEEPA, as may be necessary
to carry out the purposes of this order. The Secretary of the Treasury
may redelegate any of these functions to other officers and agencies of
the United States Government consistent with applicable law. All
agencies of the United States Government are hereby directed to take all
appropriate measures within their authority to carry out the provisions
of this order.
Sec. 6. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney
General and the Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to submit the
recurring and final reports to the Congress on the national emergency
declared in this order, consistent with section 401(c) of the NEA (50
U.S.C. 1641(c)) and section 204(c) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1703(c)).
Sec. 7. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney
General and the Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to determine
that circumstances no longer warrant the blocking of the property and
interests in property of a person listed in the Annex to this order, and
to take necessary action to give effect to that determination.
Sec. 8. 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. 9. This order is effective at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on
July 25, 2011.
Barack Obama
The White House,
July 24, 2011.
[[Page 263]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TD27JY11.023
[[Page 264]]
Executive Order 13582 of August 17, 2011
Blocking Property of the Government of Syria and Prohibiting Certain
Transactions With Respect to Syria
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.), and section 301 of
title 3, United States Code,
I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, in order to
take additional steps with respect to the Government of Syria's
continuing escalation of violence against the people of Syria and with
respect to the national emergency 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, and
Executive Order 13573 of May 18, 2011, 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, including any overseas branch, of the Government of Syria are
blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or
otherwise dealt in.
(b) 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, including any overseas branch, 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 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 order; or
(ii) 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 order.
Sec. 2. The following are prohibited:
(a) new investment in Syria by a United States person, wherever located;
(b) the exportation, reexportation, sale, or supply, directly or
indirectly, from the United States, or by a United States person,
wherever located, of any services to Syria;
(c) the importation into the United States of petroleum or petroleum
products of Syrian origin;
(d) any transaction or dealing by a United States person, wherever
located, including purchasing, selling, transporting, swapping,
brokering, approving, financing, facilitating, or guaranteeing, in or
related to petroleum or petroleum products of Syrian origin; and
[[Page 265]]
(e) any approval, financing, facilitation, or guarantee by a United
States person, wherever located, of a transaction by a foreign person
where the transaction by that foreign person would be prohibited by this
section if performed by a United States person or within the United
States.
Sec. 3. I hereby determine that the making of donations of the type 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 section 1 of this order would seriously
impair my ability to deal with the national emergency declared in
Executive Order 13338 and expanded in scope in Executive Order 13572,
and I hereby prohibit such donations as provided by section 1 of this
order.
Sec. 4. The prohibitions in section 1 of this order include but are not
limited to:
(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 this order; and
(b) the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or
services from any such person.
Sec. 5. The prohibitions in sections 1 and 2 of this order 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 prior to the effective date of this order.
Sec. 6. (a) Any transaction by a United States person or within the
United States 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 sections 1 or 2 of this order shall prohibit
transactions for the conduct of the official business of the Federal
Government by employees, grantees, or contractors thereof.
Sec. 8. For the purposes of this order:
(a) the term ``person'' means an individual or entity;
(b) the term ``entity'' means a partnership, association, trust, joint
venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization;
(c) 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; and
(d) the term ``Government of Syria'' means the Government of the Syrian
Arab Republic, its agencies, instrumentalities, and controlled entities.
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
[[Page 266]]
therefore determine that for these measures to be effective in
addressing the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13338 and
expanded in scope in Executive Order 13572, 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
the promulgation of rules and regulations, and to employ all powers
granted to the President by IEEPA as may be necessary to carry out the
purposes of this order. The Secretary of the Treasury may redelegate any
of these functions to other officers and agencies of the United States
Government consistent with applicable law. All agencies of the United
States Government are hereby directed to take all appropriate measures
within their authority to carry out the provisions of this order.
Sec. 11. 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. This order is effective at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on
August 18, 2011.
Barack Obama
The White House,
August 17, 2011.
Executive Order 13583 of August 18, 2011
Establishing a Coordinated Government-Wide Initiative to Promote
Diversity and Inclusion in the Federal Workforce
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, and in order to promote the
Federal workplace as a model of equal opportunity, diversity, and
inclusion, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. Our Nation derives strength from the diversity of
its population and from its commitment to equal opportunity for all. We
are at our best when we draw on the talents of all parts of our society,
and our greatest accomplishments are achieved when diverse perspectives
are brought to bear to overcome our greatest challenges.
A commitment to equal opportunity, diversity, and inclusion is critical
for the Federal Government as an employer. By law, the Federal
Government's recruitment policies should ``endeavor to achieve a work
force from all segments of society.'' (5 U.S.C. 2301(b)(1)). As the
Nation's largest employer, the Federal Government has a special
obligation to lead by example. Attaining a diverse, qualified workforce
is one of the cornerstones of the merit-based civil service.
Prior Executive Orders, including but not limited to those listed below,
have taken a number of steps to address the leadership role and
obligations of the Federal Government as an employer. For example,
Executive Order
[[Page 267]]
13171 of October 12, 2000 (Hispanic Employment in the Federal
Government), directed executive departments and agencies to implement
programs for recruitment and career development of Hispanic employees
and established a mechanism for identifying best practices in doing so.
Executive Order 13518 of November 9, 2009 (Employment of Veterans in the
Federal Government), required the establishment of a Veterans Employment
Initiative. Executive Order 13548 of July 26, 2010 (Increasing Federal
Employment of Individuals with Disabilities), and its related
predecessors, Executive Order 13163 of July 26, 2000 (Increasing the
Opportunity for Individuals With Disabilities to be Employed in the
Federal Government), and Executive Order 13078 of March 13, 1998
(Increasing Employment of Adults With Disabilities), sought to tap the
skills of the millions of Americans living with disabilities.
To realize more fully the goal of using the talents of all segments of
society, the Federal Government must continue to challenge itself to
enhance its ability to recruit, hire, promote, and retain a more diverse
workforce. Further, the Federal Government must create a culture that
encourages collaboration, flexibility, and fairness to enable
individuals to participate to their full potential.
Wherever possible, the Federal Government must also seek to consolidate
compliance efforts established through related or overlapping statutory
mandates, directions from Executive Orders, and regulatory requirements.
By this order, I am directing executive departments and agencies
(agencies) to develop and implement a more comprehensive, integrated,
and strategic focus on diversity and inclusion as a key component of
their human resources strategies. This approach should include a
continuing effort to identify and adopt best practices, implemented in
an integrated manner, to promote diversity and remove barriers to equal
employment opportunity, consistent with merit system principles and
applicable law.
Sec. 2. Government-Wide Diversity and Inclusion Initiative and Strategic
Plan. The Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the
Deputy Director for Management of the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB), in coordination with the President's Management Council (PMC) and
the Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), shall:
(a) establish a coordinated Government-wide initiative to promote
diversity and inclusion in the Federal workforce;
(b) within 90 days of the date of this order:
(i) develop and issue a Government-wide Diversity and Inclusion Strategic
Plan (Government-wide Plan), to be updated as appropriate and at a minimum
every 4 years, focusing on workforce diversity, workplace inclusion, and
agency accountability and leadership. The Government-wide Plan shall
highlight comprehensive strategies for agencies to identify and remove
barriers to equal employment opportunity that may exist in the Federal
Government's recruitment, hiring, promotion, retention, professional
development, and training policies and practices;
(ii) review applicable directives to agencies related to the development or
submission of agency human capital and other workforce plans and reports in
connection with recruitment, hiring, promotion, retention, professional
development, and training policies and practices, and develop
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a strategy for consolidating such agency plans and reports where
appropriate and permitted by law; and
(iii) provide guidance to agencies concerning formulation of agency-
specific Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plans prepared pursuant to
section 3(b) of this order;
(c) identify appropriate practices to improve the effectiveness of
each agency's efforts to recruit, hire, promote, retain, develop, and
train a diverse and inclusive workforce, consistent with merit system
principles and applicable law; and
(d) establish a system for reporting regularly on agencies' progress
in implementing their agency-specific Diversity and Inclusion Strategic
Plans and in meeting the objectives of this order.
Sec. 3. Responsibilities of Executive Departments and Agencies. All
agencies shall implement the Government-wide Plan prepared pursuant to
section 2 of this order, and such other related guidance as issued from
time to time by the Director of OPM and Deputy Director for Management
of OMB. In addition, the head of each executive department and agency
referred to under subsections (1) and (2) of section 901(b) of title 31,
United States Code, shall:
(a) designate the agency's Chief Human Capital Officer to be
responsible for enhancing employment and promotion opportunities within
the agency, in collaboration with the agency's Director of Equal
Employment Opportunity and Director of Diversity and Inclusion, if any,
and consistent with law and merit system principles, including
development and implementation of the agency-specific Diversity and
Inclusion Strategic Plan;
(b) within 120 days of the issuance of the Government-wide Plan or
its update under section 2(b)(i) of this order, develop and submit for
review to the Director of OPM and the Deputy Director for Management of
OMB an agency-specific Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan for
recruiting, hiring, training, developing, advancing, promoting, and
retaining a diverse workforce consistent with applicable law, the
Government-wide Plan, merit system principles, the agency's overall
strategic plan, its human capital plan prepared pursuant to Part 250 of
title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and other applicable
workforce planning strategies and initiatives;
(c) implement the agency-specific Diversity and Inclusion Strategic
Plan after incorporating it into the agency's human capital plan; and
(d) provide information as specified in the reporting requirements
developed under section 2(d).
Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be
construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) authority granted to a department or agency or the head thereof,
including the authority granted to EEOC by other Executive Orders
(including Executive Order 12067) or any agency's authority to establish an
independent Diversity and Inclusion Office; or
(ii) functions of the Director of OMB relating to budgetary,
administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law
and subject to the availability of appropriations.
[[Page 269]]
(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.
Barack Obama
The White House,
August 18, 2011.
Executive Order 13584 of September 9, 2011
Developing an Integrated Strategic Counterterrorism Communications
Initiative and Establishing a Temporary Organization To Support Certain
Government-Wide Communications Activities Directed Abroad
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, including section 2656 of title
22, United States Code, and section 3161 of title 5, United States Code,
it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. The United States is committed to actively countering
the actions and ideologies of al-Qa'ida, its affiliates and adherents,
other terrorist organizations, and violent extremists overseas that
threaten the interests and national security of the United States. These
efforts take many forms, but all contain a communications element and
some use of communications strategies directed to audiences outside the
United States to counter the ideology and activities of such
organizations. These communications strategies focus not only on the
violent actions and human costs of terrorism, but also on narratives
that can positively influence those who may be susceptible to
radicalization and recruitment by terrorist organizations.
The purpose of this Executive Order is to reinforce, integrate, and
complement public communications efforts across the executive branch
that are (1) focused on countering the actions and ideology of al-
Qa'ida, its affiliates and adherents, and other international terrorist
organizations and violent extremists overseas, and (2) directed to
audiences outside the United States. This collaborative work among
executive departments and agencies (agencies) brings together expertise,
capabilities, and resources to realize efficiencies and better
coordination of U.S. Government communications investments to combat
terrorism and extremism.
Sec. 2. Assigned Responsibilities to the Center for Strategic
Counterterrorism Communications.
(a) Under the direction of the Secretary of State (Secretary), the
Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications (Center) that has
been established in the Department of State by the Secretary shall
coordinate, orient, and inform Government-wide public communications
activities directed at audiences abroad and targeted against violent
extremists and terrorist organizations, especially al-Qa'ida and its
affiliates and adherents,
[[Page 270]]
with the goal of using communication tools to reduce radicalization by
terrorists and extremist violence and terrorism that threaten the
interests and national security of the United States. Consistent with
section 404o of title 50, United States Code, the Center shall
coordinate its analysis, evaluation, and planning functions with the
National Counterterrorism Center. The Center shall also coordinate these
functions with other agencies, as appropriate.
Executive branch efforts undertaken through the Center shall draw on all
agencies with relevant information or capabilities, to prepare, plan
for, and conduct these communications efforts.
(b) To achieve these objectives, the Center's functions shall
include:
(i) monitoring and evaluating narratives (overarching communication themes
that reflect a community's identity, experiences, aspirations, and
concerns) and events abroad that are relevant to the development of a U.S.
strategic counterterrorism narrative designed to counter violent extremism
and terrorism that threaten the interests and national security of the
United States;
(ii) developing and promulgating for use throughout the executive branch
the U.S. strategic counterterrorism narratives and public communications
strategies to counter the messaging of violent extremists and terrorist
organizations, especially al-Qa'ida and its affiliates and adherents;
(iii) identifying current and emerging trends in extremist communications
and communications by al-Qa'ida and its affiliates and adherents in order
to coordinate and provide thematic guidance to U.S. Government
communicators on how best to proactively promote the U.S. strategic
counterterrorism narrative and policies and to respond to and rebut
extremist messaging and narratives when communicating to audiences outside
the United States, as informed by a wide variety of Government and non-
government sources, including nongovernmental organizations, academic
sources, and finished intelligence created by the intelligence community;
(iv) facilitating the use of a wide range of communications technologies,
including digital tools, by sharing expertise among agencies, seeking
expertise from external sources, and extending best practices;
(v) identifying and requesting relevant information from agencies,
including intelligence reporting, data, and analysis; and
(vi) identifying shortfalls in U.S. capabilities in any areas relevant to
the Center's mission and recommending necessary enhancements or changes.
(c) The Secretary shall establish a Steering Committee composed of
senior representatives of agencies relevant to the Center's mission to
provide advice to the Secretary on the operations and strategic
orientation of the Center and to ensure adequate support for the Center.
The Steering Committee shall meet not less than every 6 months. The
Steering Committee shall be chaired by the Under Secretary of State for
Public Diplomacy. The Coordinator for Counterterrorism of the Department
of State shall serve as Vice Chair. The Coordinator of the Center shall
serve as Executive Secretary. The Steering Committee shall include one
senior representative designated by the head of each of the following
agencies: the Department of Defense, the Department of Justice, the
Department of Homeland Security, the Department of the Treasury, the
National Counterterrorism Center, the
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Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Counterterrorism Center of the Central
Intelligence Agency, the Broadcast Board of Governors, and the Agency
for International Development. Other agencies may be invited to
participate in the Steering Committee at the discretion of the Chair.
Sec. 3. Establishment of a Temporary Organization.
(a) There is established within the Department of State, in
accordance with section 3161 of title 5, United States Code, a temporary
organization to be known as the Counterterrorism Communications Support
Office (CCSO).
(b) The purpose of the CCSO shall be to perform the specific project
of supporting agencies in Government-wide public communications
activities targeted against violent extremism and terrorist
organizations, especially al-Qa'ida and its affiliates and adherents, to
audiences abroad by using communication tools designed to counter
violent extremism and terrorism that threaten the interests and national
security of the United States.
(c) In carrying out its purpose set forth in subsection (b) of this
section, the CCSO shall:
(i) support agencies in their implementation of whole-of-government public
communications activities directed at audiences abroad, including by
providing baseline research on characteristics of these audiences, by
developing expertise and studies on aspirations, narratives, information
strategies and tactics of violent extremists and terrorist organizations
overseas, by designing and developing sustained campaigns on specific areas
of interest to audiences abroad, and by developing expertise on
implementing highly focused social media campaigns; and
(ii) perform such other functions related to the specific project set forth
in subsection (b) of this section as the Secretary may assign.
(d) The CCSO shall be headed by a Director selected by the
Secretary, with the advice of the Steering Committee. Its staff may
include, as determined by the Secretary: (1) personnel with relevant
expertise detailed on a non-reimbursable basis from other agencies; (2)
senior and other technical advisers; and (3) such other personnel as the
Secretary may direct to support the CCSO. To accomplish this mission,
the heads of agencies participating on the Steering Committee shall
provide to the CCSO, on a non-reimbursable basis, assistance, services,
and other support including but not limited to logistical and
administrative support and details of personnel. Non-reimbursable
details shall be based on reasonable requests from the Secretary in
light of the need for specific expertise, and after consultation with
the relevant agency, to the extent permitted by law.
(e) The CCSO shall terminate at the end of the maximum period
permitted by section 3161(a)(1) of title 5, United States Code, unless
sooner terminated by the Secretary consistent with section 3161(a)(2) of
such title.
Sec. 4. General Provisions.
(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise
affect:
(i) authority granted by law to an agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) 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.
[[Page 272]]
(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.
Barack Obama
The White House,
September 9, 2011.
Executive Order 13585 of September 30, 2011
Continuance of Certain Federal Advisory Committees
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, and consistent with the provisions
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.), it is
hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Each advisory committee listed below is continued until
September 30, 2013.
(a) Committee for the Preservation of the White House; Executive
Order 11145, as amended (Department of the Interior).
(b) President's Commission on White House Fellowships; Executive
Order 11183, as amended (Office of Personnel Management).
(c) President's Committee on the National Medal of Science;
Executive Order 11287, as amended (National Science Foundation).
(d) Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health;
Executive Order 11612, as amended (Department of Labor).
(e) President's Export Council; Executive Order 12131, as amended
(Department of Commerce).
(f) President's Committee on the International Labor Organization;
Executive Order 12216, as amended (Department of Labor).
(g) President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities; Executive
Order 12367, as amended (National Endowment for the Arts).
(h) President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory
Committee; Executive Order 12382, as amended (Department of Homeland
Security).
(i) National Industrial Security Program Policy Advisory Committee;
Executive Order 12829, as amended (National Archives and Records
Administration).
(j) Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee; Executive Order
12905, as amended (Office of the United States Trade Representative).
(k) President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities;
Executive Order 12994, as amended (Department of Health and Human
Services).
(l) National Infrastructure Advisory Council; Executive Order 13231,
as amended (Department of Homeland Security).
[[Page 273]]
(m) President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition; Executive
Order 13265, as amended (Department of Health and Human Services).
(n) President's Board of Advisors on Tribal Colleges and
Universities; Executive Order 13270 (Department of Education).
(o) President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders; Executive Order 13515 (Department of Education).
Sec. 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other Executive Order, the
functions of the President under the Federal Advisory Committee Act that
are applicable to the committees listed in section 1 of this order shall
be performed by the head of the department or agency designated after
each committee, in accordance with the guidelines and procedures
established by the Administrator of General Services.
Sec. 3. Sections 1 and 2 of Executive Order 13511 are superseded by
sections 1 and 2 of this order.
Sec. 4. Executive Order 13515 of October 14, 2009, is amended:
(a) in section 2(a), by striking ``through the Secretaries of
Education and Commerce, as Co-Chairs of the Initiative described in
section 3 of this order'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``through the
Co-Chairs of the Initiative'';
(b) in section 2(c), by striking ``Secretary of Education, in
consultation with the Secretary of Commerce,'' and inserting in lieu
thereof ``Co-Chairs of the Initiative'';
(c) in the introductory text to section 3:
(1) by striking ``The Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Education
shall serve as the Co-Chairs of the Initiative'' and inserting in lieu
thereof ``The Secretary of Education and a senior official to be designated
by the President from the membership of the Initiative shall serve as Co-
Chairs of the Initiative''; and
(2) by striking ``Secretaries'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``Co-
Chairs''; and
(d) in section 3(b), in the list of agency members, by inserting
``the Department of Commerce'' after ``the Department of Agriculture''
and inserting ``the Department of Education'' after ``the Department of
Energy'' and then redesignating the subsections of section 3(b) as
appropriate.
Sec. 5. This order shall be effective September 30, 2011.
Barack Obama
The White House,
September 30, 2011.
[[Page 274]]
Executive Order 13586 of October 6, 2011
Establishing an Emergency Board To Investigate Disputes Between Certain
Railroads Represented by the National Carriers' Conference Committee of
the National Railway Labor Conference and Their Employees Represented by
Certain Labor Organizations
Disputes exist between certain railroads represented by the National
Carriers' Conference Committee of the National Railway Labor Conference
and their employees represented by certain labor organizations. The
railroads and labor organizations involved in these disputes are
designated on the attached list, which is made part of this order.
The disputes have not heretofore been adjusted under the provisions of
the Railway Labor Act, as amended, 45 U.S.C. 151-188 (RLA).
I have been notified by the National Mediation Board that in its
judgment these disputes threaten substantially to interrupt interstate
commerce to a degree that would deprive a section of the country of
essential transportation service.
NOW, THEREFORE, by the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 10 of
the RLA (45 U.S.C. 160), it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Establishment of Emergency Board (Board). There is
established, effective 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on October 7,
2011, a Board composed of a chair and four other members, all five of
whom shall be appointed by the President to investigate and report on
these disputes. No member shall be pecuniarily or otherwise interested
in any organization of railroad employees or any carrier. The Board
shall perform its functions subject to the availability of funds.
Sec. 2. Report. The Board shall report to the President with respect to
the disputes within 30 days of its creation.
Sec. 3. Maintaining Conditions. As provided by section 10 of the RLA,
from the date of the creation of the Board and for 30 days after the
Board has submitted its report to the President, no change in the
conditions out of which the disputes arose shall be made by the parties
to the controversy, except by agreement of the parties.
Sec. 4. Records Maintenance. The records and files of the Board are
records of the Office of the President and upon the Board's termination
shall be maintained in the physical custody of the National Mediation
Board.
Sec. 5. Expiration. The Board shall terminate upon the submission of the
report provided for in section 2 of this order.
Barack Obama
The White House,
October 6, 2011.
[[Page 275]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TD12OC11.025
[[Page 276]]
Executive Order 13587 of October 7, 2011
Structural Reforms To Improve the Security of Classified Networks and
the Responsible Sharing and Safeguarding of Classified Information
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America and in order to ensure the
responsible sharing and safeguarding of classified national security
information (classified information) on computer networks, it is hereby
ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. Our Nation's security requires classified information
to be shared immediately with authorized users around the world but also
requires sophisticated and vigilant means to ensure it is shared
securely. Computer networks have individual and common vulnerabilities
that require coordinated decisions on risk management.
This order directs structural reforms to ensure responsible sharing and
safeguarding of classified information on computer networks that shall
be consistent with appropriate protections for privacy and civil
liberties. Agencies bear the primary responsibility for meeting these
twin goals. These structural reforms will ensure coordinated interagency
development and reliable implementation of policies and minimum
standards regarding information security, personnel security, and
systems security; address both internal and external security threats
and vulnerabilities; and provide policies and minimum standards for
sharing classified information both within and outside the Federal
Government. These policies and minimum standards will address all
agencies that operate or access classified computer networks, all users
of classified computer networks (including contractors and others who
operate or access classified computer networks controlled by the Federal
Government), and all classified information on those networks.
Sec. 2. General Responsibilities of Agencies.
Sec. 2.1. The heads of agencies that operate or access classified
computer networks shall have responsibility for appropriately sharing
and safeguarding classified information on computer networks. As part of
this responsibility, they shall:
(a) designate a senior official to be charged with overseeing
classified information sharing and safeguarding efforts for the agency;
(b) implement an insider threat detection and prevention program
consistent with guidance and standards developed by the Insider Threat
Task Force established in section 6 of this order;
(c) perform self-assessments of compliance with policies and
standards issued pursuant to sections 3.3, 5.2, and 6.3 of this order,
as well as other applicable policies and standards, the results of which
shall be reported annually to the Senior Information Sharing and
Safeguarding Steering Committee established in section 3 of this order;
(d) provide information and access, as warranted and consistent with
law and section 7(d) of this order, to enable independent assessments by
the Executive Agent for Safeguarding Classified Information on Computer
Networks and the Insider Threat Task Force of compliance with relevant
established policies and standards; and
[[Page 277]]
(e) detail or assign staff as appropriate and necessary to the
Classified Information Sharing and Safeguarding Office and the Insider
Threat Task Force on an ongoing basis.
Sec. 3. Senior Information Sharing and Safeguarding Steering Committee.
Sec. 3.1. There is established a Senior Information Sharing and
Safeguarding Steering Committee (Steering Committee) to exercise overall
responsibility and ensure senior-level accountability for the
coordinated interagency development and implementation of policies and
standards regarding the sharing and safeguarding of classified
information on computer networks.
Sec. 3.2. The Steering Committee shall be co-chaired by senior
representatives of the Office of Management and Budget and the National
Security Staff. Members of the committee shall be officers of the United
States as designated by the heads of the Departments of State, Defense,
Justice, Energy, and Homeland Security, the Office of the Director of
National Intelligence, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the
Information Security Oversight Office within the National Archives and
Records Administration (ISOO), as well as such additional agencies as
the co-chairs of the Steering Committee may designate.
Sec. 3.3. The responsibilities of the Steering Committee shall include:
(a) establishing Government-wide classified information sharing and
safeguarding goals and annually reviewing executive branch successes and
shortcomings in achieving those goals;
(b) preparing within 90 days of the date of this order and at least
annually thereafter, a report for the President assessing the executive
branch's successes and shortcomings in sharing and safeguarding
classified information on computer networks and discussing potential
future vulnerabilities;
(c) developing program and budget recommendations to achieve
Government-wide classified information sharing and safeguarding goals;
(d) coordinating the interagency development and implementation of
priorities, policies, and standards for sharing and safeguarding
classified information on computer networks;
(e) recommending overarching policies, when appropriate, for
promulgation by the Office of Management and Budget or the ISOO;
(f) coordinating efforts by agencies, the Executive Agent, and the
Task Force to assess compliance with established policies and standards
and recommending corrective actions needed to ensure compliance;
(g) providing overall mission guidance for the Program Manager-
Information Sharing Environment (PM-ISE) with respect to the functions
to be performed by the Classified Information Sharing and Safeguarding
Office established in section 4 of this order; and
(h) referring policy and compliance issues that cannot be resolved
by the Steering Committee to the Deputies Committee of the National
Security Council in accordance with Presidential Policy Directive/PPD-1
of February 13, 2009 (Organization of the National Security Council
System).
Sec. 4. Classified Information Sharing and Safeguarding Office.
Sec. 4.1. There shall be established a Classified Information Sharing
and Safeguarding Office (CISSO) within and subordinate to the office of
the
[[Page 278]]
PM-ISE to provide expert, full-time, sustained focus on responsible
sharing and safeguarding of classified information on computer networks.
Staff of the CISSO shall include detailees, as needed and appropriate,
from agencies represented on the Steering Committee.
Sec. 4.2. The responsibilities of CISSO shall include:
(a) providing staff support for the Steering Committee;
(b) advising the Executive Agent for Safeguarding Classified
Information on Computer Networks and the Insider Threat Task Force on
the development of an effective program to monitor compliance with
established policies and standards needed to achieve classified
information sharing and safeguarding goals; and
(c) consulting with the Departments of State, Defense, and Homeland
Security, the ISOO, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence,
and others, as appropriate, to ensure consistency with policies and
standards under Executive Order 13526 of December 29, 2009, Executive
Order 12829 of January 6, 1993, as amended, Executive Order 13549 of
August 18, 2010, and Executive Order 13556 of November 4, 2010.
Sec. 5. Executive Agent for Safeguarding Classified Information on
Computer Networks.
Sec. 5.1. The Secretary of Defense and the Director, National Security
Agency, shall jointly act as the Executive Agent for Safeguarding
Classified Information on Computer Networks (the ``Executive Agent''),
exercising the existing authorities of the Executive Agent and National
Manager for national security systems, respectively, under National
Security Directive/NSD-42 of July 5, 1990, as supplemented by and
subject to this order.
Sec. 5.2. The Executive Agent's responsibilities, in addition to those
specified by NSD-42, shall include the following:
(a) developing effective technical safeguarding policies and
standards in coordination with the Committee on National Security
Systems (CNSS), as re-designated by Executive Orders 13286 of February
28, 2003, and 13231 of October 16, 2001, that address the safeguarding
of classified information within national security systems, as well as
the safeguarding of national security systems themselves;
(b) referring to the Steering Committee for resolution any
unresolved issues delaying the Executive Agent's timely development and
issuance of technical policies and standards;
(c) reporting at least annually to the Steering Committee on the
work of CNSS, including recommendations for any changes needed to
improve the timeliness and effectiveness of that work; and
(d) conducting independent assessments of agency compliance with
established safeguarding policies and standards, and reporting the
results of such assessments to the Steering Committee.
Sec. 6. Insider Threat Task Force.
Sec. 6.1. There is established an interagency Insider Threat Task Force
that shall develop a Government-wide program (insider threat program)
for deterring, detecting, and mitigating insider threats, including the
safeguarding of classified information from exploitation, compromise, or
other unauthorized disclosure, taking into account risk levels, as well
as the distinct
[[Page 279]]
needs, missions, and systems of individual agencies. This program shall
include development of policies, objectives, and priorities for
establishing and integrating security, counterintelligence, user audits
and monitoring, and other safeguarding capabilities and practices within
agencies.
Sec. 6.2. The Task Force shall be co-chaired by the Attorney General and
the Director of National Intelligence, or their designees. Membership on
the Task Force shall be composed of officers of the United States from,
and designated by the heads of, the Departments of State, Defense,
Justice, Energy, and Homeland Security, the Office of the Director of
National Intelligence, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the ISOO, as
well as such additional agencies as the co-chairs of the Task Force may
designate. It shall be staffed by personnel from the Federal Bureau of
Investigation and the Office of the National Counterintelligence
Executive (ONCIX), and other agencies, as determined by the co-chairs
for their respective agencies and to the extent permitted by law. Such
personnel must be officers or full-time or permanent part-time employees
of the United States. To the extent permitted by law, ONCIX shall
provide an appropriate work site and administrative support for the Task
Force.
Sec. 6.3. The Task Force's responsibilities shall include the following:
(a) developing, in coordination with the Executive Agent, a
Government-wide policy for the deterrence, detection, and mitigation of
insider threats, which shall be submitted to the Steering Committee for
appropriate review;
(b) in coordination with appropriate agencies, developing minimum
standards and guidance for implementation of the insider threat
program's Government-wide policy and, within 1 year of the date of this
order, issuing those minimum standards and guidance, which shall be
binding on the executive branch;
(c) if sufficient appropriations or authorizations are obtained,
continuing in coordination with appropriate agencies after 1 year from
the date of this order to add to or modify those minimum standards and
guidance, as appropriate;
(d) if sufficient appropriations or authorizations are not obtained,
recommending for promulgation by the Office of Management and Budget or
the ISOO any additional or modified minimum standards and guidance
developed more than 1 year after the date of this order;
(e) referring to the Steering Committee for resolution any
unresolved issues delaying the timely development and issuance of
minimum standards;
(f) conducting, in accordance with procedures to be developed by the
Task Force, independent assessments of the adequacy of agency programs
to implement established policies and minimum standards, and reporting
the results of such assessments to the Steering Committee;
(g) providing assistance to agencies, as requested, including
through the dissemination of best practices; and
(h) providing analysis of new and continuing insider threat
challenges facing the United States Government.
Sec. 7. General Provisions. (a) For the purposes of this order, the word
``agencies'' shall have the meaning set forth in section 6.1(b) of
Executive Order 13526 of December 29, 2009.
[[Page 280]]
(b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to change the
requirements of Executive Orders 12333 of December 4, 1981, 12829 of
January 6, 1993, 12968 of August 2, 1995, 13388 of October 25, 2005,
13467 of June 30, 2008, 13526 of December 29, 2009, 13549 of August 18,
2010, and their successor orders and directives.
(c) Nothing in this order shall be construed to supersede or change
the authorities of the Secretary of Energy or the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended; the
Secretary of Defense under Executive Order 12829, as amended; the
Secretary of Homeland Security under Executive Order 13549; the
Secretary of State under title 22, United States Code, and the Omnibus
Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1986; the Director of ISOO
under Executive Orders 13526 and 12829, as amended; the PM-ISE under
Executive Order 13388 or the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism
Prevention Act of 2004, as amended; the Director, Central Intelligence
Agency under NSD-42 and Executive Order 13286, as amended; the National
Counterintelligence Executive, under the Counterintelligence Enhancement
Act of 2002; or the Director of National Intelligence under the National
Security Act of 1947, as amended, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism
Prevention Act of 2004, as amended, NSD-42, and Executive Orders 12333,
as amended, 12968, as amended, 13286, as amended, 13467, and 13526.
(d) Nothing in this order shall authorize the Steering Committee,
CISSO, CNSS, or the Task Force to examine the facilities or systems of
other agencies, without advance consultation with the head of such
agency, nor to collect information for any purpose not provided herein.
(e) The entities created and the activities directed by this order
shall not seek to deter, detect, or mitigate disclosures of information
by Government employees or contractors that are lawful under and
protected by the Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection Act of
1998, Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989, Inspector General Act of
1978, or similar statutes, regulations, or policies.
(f) With respect to the Intelligence Community, the Director of
National Intelligence, after consultation with the heads of affected
agencies, may issue such policy directives and guidance as the Director
of National Intelligence deems necessary to implement this order.
(g) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise
affect:
(1) the authority granted by law to an agency, or the head thereof; or
(2) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(h) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law
and appropriate protections for privacy and civil liberties, and subject
to the availability of appropriations.
(i) 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.
Barack Obama
The White House,
October 7, 2011.
[[Page 281]]
Executive Order 13588 of October 31, 2011
Reducing Prescription Drug Shortages
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. Shortages of pharmaceutical drugs pose a serious and
growing threat to public health. While a very small number of drugs in
the United States experience a shortage in any given year, the number of
prescription drug shortages in the United States nearly tripled between
2005 and 2010, and shortages are becoming more severe as well as more
frequent. The affected medicines include cancer treatments, anesthesia
drugs, and other drugs that are critical to the treatment and prevention
of serious diseases and life-threatening conditions.
For example, over approximately the last 5 years, data indicates that
the use of sterile injectable cancer treatments has increased by about
20 percent, without a corresponding increase in production capacity.
While manufacturers are currently in the process of expanding capacity,
it may be several years before production capacity has been
significantly increased. Interruptions in the supplies of these drugs
endanger patient safety and burden doctors, hospitals, pharmacists, and
patients. They also increase health care costs, particularly because
some participants in the market may use shortages as opportunities to
hoard scarce drugs or charge exorbitant prices.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the Department of Health and
Human Services has been working diligently to address this problem
through its existing regulatory framework. While the root problems and
many of their solutions are outside of the FDA's control, the agency has
worked cooperatively with manufacturers to prevent or mitigate shortages
by expediting review of certain regulatory submissions and adopting a
flexible approach to drug manufacturing and importation regulations
where appropriate. As a result, the FDA prevented 137 drug shortages in
2010 and 2011. Despite these successes, however, the problem of drug
shortages has continued to grow.
Many different factors contribute to drug shortages, and solving this
critical public health problem will require a multifaceted approach. An
important factor in many of the recent shortages appears to be an
increase in demand that exceeds current manufacturing capacity. While
manufacturers are in the process of expanding capacity, one important
step is ensuring that the FDA and the public receive adequate advance
notice of shortages whenever possible. The FDA cannot begin to work with
manufacturers or use the other tools at its disposal until it knows
there is a potential problem. Similarly, early disclosure of a shortage
can help hospitals, doctors, and patients make alternative arrangements
before a shortage becomes a crisis. However, drug manufacturers have not
consistently provided the FDA with adequate notice of potential
shortages.
As part of my Administration's broader effort to work with
manufacturers, health care providers, and other stakeholders to prevent
drug shortages, this order directs the FDA to take steps that will help
to prevent and reduce current and future disruptions in the supply of
lifesaving medicines.
[[Page 282]]
Sec. 2. Broader Reporting of Manufacturing Discontinuances. To the
extent permitted by law, the FDA shall use all appropriate
administrative tools, including its authority to interpret and
administer the reporting requirements in 21 U.S.C. 356c, to require drug
manufacturers to provide adequate advance notice of manufacturing
discontinuances that could lead to shortages of drugs that are life-
supporting or life-sustaining, or that prevent debilitating disease.
Sec. 3. Expedited Regulatory Review. To the extent practicable, and
consistent with its statutory responsibility to ensure the safety and
effectiveness of the drug supply, the FDA shall take steps to expand its
current efforts to expedite its regulatory reviews, including reviews of
new drug suppliers, manufacturing sites, and manufacturing changes,
whenever it determines that expedited review would help to avoid or
mitigate existing or potential drug shortages. In prioritizing and
allocating its limited resources, the FDA should consider both the
severity of the shortage and the importance of the affected drug to
public health.
Sec. 4. Review of Certain Behaviors by Market Participants. The FDA
shall communicate to the Department of Justice (DOJ) any findings that
shortages have led market participants to stockpile the affected drugs
or sell them at exorbitant prices. The DOJ shall then determine whether
these activities are consistent with applicable law. Based on its
determination, DOJ, in coordination with other State and Federal
regulatory agencies as appropriate, should undertake whatever
enforcement actions, if any, it deems appropriate.
Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed
to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) authority granted by law to an agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) 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.
Barack Obama
The White House,
October 31, 2011.
Executive Order 13589 of November 9, 2011
Promoting Efficient Spending
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, and in order to further promote
efficient spending in the Federal Government, it is hereby ordered as
follows:
[[Page 283]]
Section 1. Policy. My Administration is committed to cutting waste in
Federal Government spending and identifying opportunities to promote
efficient and effective spending. The Federal Government performs
critical functions that support the basic protections that Americans
have counted on for decades. As they serve taxpayers, executive
departments and agencies (agencies) also must act in a fiscally
responsible manner, including by minimizing their costs, in order to
perform these mission-critical functions in the most efficient, cost-
effective way. As such, I have pursued an aggressive agenda for reducing
administrative costs since taking office and, most recently, within my
Fiscal Year 2012 Budget. Building on this effort, I direct agency heads
to take even more aggressive steps to ensure the Government is a good
steward of taxpayer money.
Sec. 2. Agency Reduction Targets. Each agency shall establish a plan for
reducing the combined costs associated with the activities covered by
sections 3 through 7 of this order, as well as activities included in
the Administrative Efficiency Initiative in the Fiscal Year 2012 Budget,
by not less than 20 percent below Fiscal Year 2010 levels, in Fiscal
Year 2013. Agency plans for meeting this target shall be submitted to
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) within 45 days of the date of
this order. The OMB shall monitor implementation of these plans
consistent with Executive Order 13576 of June 13, 2011 (Delivering an
Efficient, Effective, and Accountable Government).
Sec. 3. Travel. (a) Agency travel is important to the effective
functioning of Government and certain activities can be performed only
by traveling to a different location. However, to ensure efficient
travel spending, agencies are encouraged to devise strategic
alternatives to Government travel, including local or technological
alternatives, such as teleconferencing and video-conferencing. Agencies
should make all appropriate efforts to conduct business and host or
sponsor conferences in space controlled by the Federal Government,
wherever practicable and cost-effective. Lastly, each agency should
review its policies associated with domestic civilian permanent change
of duty station travel (relocations), including eligibility rules, to
identify ways to reduce costs and ensure appropriate controls are in
place.
(b) Each agency, agency component, and office of inspector general
should designate a senior-level official to be responsible for
developing and implementing policies and controls to ensure efficient
spending on travel and conference-related activities, consistent with
subsection (a) of this section.
Sec. 4. Employee Information Technology Devices. Agencies should assess
current device inventories and usage, and establish controls, to ensure
that they are not paying for unused or underutilized information
technology (IT) equipment, installed software, or services. Each agency
should take steps to limit the number of IT devices (e.g., mobile
phones, smartphones, desktop and laptop computers, and tablet personal
computers) issued to employees, consistent with the Telework Enhancement
Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-292), operational requirements (including
continuity of operations), and initiatives designed to create efficiency
through the effective implementation of technology. To promote further
efficiencies in IT, agencies should consider the implementation of
appropriate agency-wide IT solutions that consolidate activities such as
desktop services, email, and collaboration tools.
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Sec. 5. Printing. Agencies are encouraged to limit the publication and
printing of hard copy documents and to presume that information should
be provided in an electronic form, whenever practicable, permitted by
law, and consistent with applicable records retention requirements.
Agencies should consider using acquisition vehicles developed by the
OMB's Federal Strategic Sourcing Initiative to acquire printing and
copying devices and services.
Sec. 6. Executive Fleet Efficiencies. The President's Memorandum of May
24, 2011 (Federal Fleet Performance) directed agencies to improve the
performance of the Federal fleet of motor vehicles by increasing the use
of vehicle technologies, optimizing fleet size, and improving agency
fleet management. Building upon this effort, agencies should limit
executive transportation.
Sec. 7. Extraneous Promotional Items. Agencies should limit the purchase
of promotional items (e.g., plaques, clothing, and commemorative items),
in particular where they are not cost-effective.
Sec. 8. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed
to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) authority granted by law to a department or agency, or the head
thereof;
(ii) functions of the Director of OMB related to budgetary, administrative,
or legislative proposals; or
(iii) the authority of inspectors general under the Inspector General Act
of 1978, as amended.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law
and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) Independent agencies are requested to adhere to this order.
(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.
Barack Obama
The White House,
November 9, 2011.
Executive Order 13590 of November 20, 2011
Authorizing the Imposition of Certain Sanctions With Respect to the
Provision of Goods, Services, Technology, or Support for Iran's Energy
and Petrochemical Sectors
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.), and section 301 of
title 3, United
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States Code, and in order to take additional steps with respect to the
national emergency declared in Executive Order 12957 of March 15, 1995,
I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, hereby
order:
Section 1. The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of
the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, and the United States Trade
Representative, and with the President of the Export-Import Bank, the
Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and
other agencies and officials as appropriate, is hereby authorized to
impose on a person any of the sanctions described in section 2 or 3 of
this order upon determining that the person:
(a) knowingly, on or after the effective date of this order, sells,
leases, or provides to Iran goods, services, technology, or support that
has a fair market value of $1,000,000 or more or that, during a 12-month
period, has an aggregate fair market value of $5,000,000 or more, and
that could directly and significantly contribute to the maintenance or
enhancement of Iran's ability to develop petroleum resources located in
Iran;
(b) knowingly, on or after the effective date of this order, sells,
leases, or provides to Iran goods, services, technology, or support that
has a fair market value of $250,000 or more or that, during a 12-month
period, has an aggregate fair market value of $1,000,000 or more, and
that could directly and significantly contribute to the maintenance or
expansion of Iran's domestic production of petrochemical products;
(c) is a successor entity to a person referred to in subsection (a)
or (b) of this section;
(d) owns or controls a person referred to in subsection (a) or (b)
of this section, and had actual knowledge or should have known that the
person engaged in the activities referred to in that subsection; or
(e) is owned or controlled by, or under common ownership or control
with, a person referred to in subsection (a) or (b) of this section, and
knowingly participated in the activities referred to in that subsection.
Sec. 2. When the Secretary of State, in accordance with the terms of
section 1 of this order, has determined that a person meets any of the
criteria described in section 1 and has selected any of the sanctions
set forth below to impose on that person, the heads of relevant
agencies, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall take the
following actions where necessary to implement the sanctions imposed by
the Secretary of State:
(a) the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank shall deny
approval of the issuance of any guarantee, insurance, extension of
credit, or participation in an extension of credit in connection with
the export of any goods or services to the sanctioned person;
(b) agencies shall not issue any specific license or grant any other
specific permission or authority under any statute that requires the
prior review and approval of the United States Government as a condition
for the export or reexport of goods or technology to the sanctioned
person;
(c) with respect to a sanctioned person that is a financial
institution:
(i) the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
and the President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shall take
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such actions as they deem appropriate, including denying designation, or
terminating the continuation of any prior designation of, the sanctioned
person as a primary dealer in United States Government debt instruments; or
(ii) agencies shall prevent the sanctioned person from serving as an agent
of the United States Government or serving as a repository for United
States Government funds; or
(d) agencies shall not procure, or enter into a contract for the
procurement of, any goods or services from the sanctioned person.
(e) The prohibitions in subsections (a)-(d) 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 prior to the effective date of this order.
Sec. 3. (a) When the Secretary of State, in accordance with the terms of
section 1 of this order, has determined that a person has engaged in the
activities described in section 1 and has selected any of the sanctions
set forth below to impose on that person, the Secretary of the Treasury,
in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall take the following
actions where necessary to implement the sanctions imposed by the
Secretary of State:
(i) prohibit any United States financial institution from making loans or
providing credits to the sanctioned person totaling more than $10,000,000
in any 12-month period unless such person is engaged in activities to
relieve human suffering and the loans or credits are provided for such
activities;
(ii) prohibit any transactions in foreign exchange that are subject to the
jurisdiction of the United States and in which the sanctioned person has
any interest;
(iii) prohibit any transfers of credit or payments between financial
institutions or by, through, or to any financial institution, to the extent
that such transfers or payments are subject to the jurisdiction of the
United States and involve any interest of the sanctioned person;
(iv) block all property and interests in property that are in the United
States, that come within the United States, or that are or come within the
possession or control of any United States person, including any foreign
branch, of the sanctioned person, and provide that such property and
interests in property may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or
otherwise dealt in; or (v) restrict or prohibit imports of goods,
technology, or services, directly or indirectly, into the United States
from the sanctioned person.
(b) I hereby determine that, to the extent section 203(b)(2) of
IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(2)) may apply, the making of donations of the
type of articles specified in such section by, to, or for the benefit of
any sanctioned person whose property and interests in property are
blocked pursuant to subsection (a)(iv) of this section 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 subsection (a)(iv) of this section.
(c) The prohibitions in subsection (a)(iv) of this section include,
but are not limited to:
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(i) the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or
services by, to, or for the benefit of any sanctioned person whose property
and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order; and
(ii) the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or
services from any such sanctioned person.
(d) The prohibitions in subsection (a) 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 prior to the effective date of this order.
Sec. 4. (a) Any transaction by a United States person or within the
United States 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. 5. For the purposes of this order:
(a) the term ``person'' means an individual or entity;
(b) the term ``entity'' means a partnership, association, trust,
joint venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization;
(c) 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;
(d) the term ``financial institution'' includes (i) a depository
institution (as defined in section 3(c)(1) of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act) (12 U.S.C. 1813(c)(1)), including a branch or agency of a
foreign bank (as defined in section 1(b)(7) of the International Banking
Act of 1978) (12 U.S.C. 3101(7)); (ii) a credit union; (iii) a
securities firm, including a broker or dealer; (iv) an insurance
company, including an agency or underwriter; and (v) any other company
that provides financial services;
(e) the term ``United States financial institution'' means a
financial institution (including its foreign branches) organized under
the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United
States or located in the United States;
(f) the term ``sanctioned person'' means a person on whom the
Secretary of State, in accordance with the terms of section 1 of this
order, has determined to impose sanctions pursuant to section 1;
(g) the term ``to develop'' petroleum resources means to explore
for, or to extract, refine, or transport by pipeline, petroleum
resources;
(h) 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;
[[Page 288]]
(i) the term ``Government of Iran'' includes the Government of Iran,
any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, and any
person owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, the
Government of Iran;
(j) the term ``knowingly,'' with respect to a conduct, a
circumstance, or a result, means that the person has actual knowledge,
or should have known, of the conduct, the circumstance, or the result;
(k) the term ``petroleum resources'' includes petroleum, oil,
natural gas, liquefied natural gas, and refined petroleum products;
(l) the term ``refined petroleum products'' means diesel, gasoline,
jet fuel (including naptha-type and kerosene-type jet fuel), and
aviation gasoline; and
(m) the term ``petrochemical products'' includes any aromatic,
olefin, and synthesis gas, and any of their derivatives, including
ethylene, propylene, butadiene, benzene, toluene, xylene, ammonia,
methanol, and urea.
Sec. 6. 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 section 3(a)(iv) of 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 an action
taken pursuant to section 3(a)(iv) of this order.
Sec. 7. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the
Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to take such actions, including
the promulgation of rules and regulations, and to employ all powers
granted to the President by IEEPA as may be necessary to carry out the
purposes of section 3 of this order. The Secretary of the Treasury may
redelegate any of these functions to other officers and agencies of the
United States Government consistent with applicable law. All agencies of
the United States Government are hereby directed to take all appropriate
measures within their authority to carry out the provisions of this
order.
Sec. 8. 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. 9. 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.
Sec. 10. This order is effective at 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on
November 21, 2011.
Barack Obama
The White House,
November 20, 2011.
[[Page 289]]
Executive Order 13591 of November 23, 2011
Continuance of Certain Federal Advisory Committees
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, and consistent with the provisions
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.), it is
hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Each advisory committee listed below is continued until
September 30, 2013.
(a) Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues;
Executive Order 13521 (Department of Health and Human Services).
(b) National Council on Federal Labor-Management Relations;
Executive Order 13522 (Office of Personnel Management).
(c) President's Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and
Universities; Executive Order 13532 (Department of Education).
(d) President's Management Advisory Board; Executive Order 13538
(General Services Administration).
(e) President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology;
Executive Order 13539 (Office of Science and Technology Policy).
(f) Interagency Task Force on Veterans Small Business Development;
Executive Order 13540 (Small Business Administration).
(g) State, Local, Tribal, and Private Sector (SLTPS) Policy Advisory
Committee; Executive Order 13549, as amended (National Archives and
Records Administration).
Sec. 2. The following advisory committee is continued until September
30, 2012: Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion, and
Integrative and Public Health; Executive Order 13544 (Department of
Health and Human Services).
Sec. 3. Section 6 of Executive Order 13530 of January 29, 2010
(President's Advisory Council on Financial Capability), is amended to
read as follows: ``Unless extended by the President, the Council shall
terminate on January 29, 2013.''
Sec. 4. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other Executive Order, the
functions of the President under the Federal Advisory Committee Act that
are applicable to the committees listed in sections 1 and 2 of this
order shall be performed by the head of the department or agency
designated after each committee, in accordance with the guidelines and
procedures established by the Administrator of General Services.
Barack Obama
The White House,
November 23, 2011.
[[Page 290]]
Executive Order 13592 of December 2, 2011
Improving American Indian and Alaska Native Educational Opportunities
and Strengthening Tribal Colleges and Universities
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, I hereby order as follows:
Section 1. Policy. The United States has a unique political and legal
relationship with the federally recognized American Indian and Alaska
Native (AI/AN) tribes across the country, as set forth in the
Constitution of the United States, treaties, Executive Orders, and court
decisions. For centuries, the Federal Government's relationship with
these tribes has been guided by a trust responsibility--a long-standing
commitment on the part of our Government to protect the unique rights
and ensure the well-being of our Nation's tribes, while respecting their
tribal sovereignty. In recognition of that special commitment--and in
fulfillment of the solemn obligations it entails--Federal agencies must
help improve educational opportunities provided to all AI/AN students,
including students attending public schools in cities and in rural
areas, students attending schools operated and funded by the Department
of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), and students
attending postsecondary institutions, including Tribal Colleges and
Universities (TCUs). This is an urgent need. Recent studies show that
AI/AN students are dropping out of school at an alarming rate, that our
Nation has made little or no progress in closing the achievement gap
between AI/AN students and their non-AI/AN student counterparts, and
that many Native languages are on the verge of extinction.
It is the policy of my Administration to support activities that will
strengthen the Nation by expanding educational opportunities and
improving educational outcomes for all AI/AN students in order to
fulfill our commitment to furthering tribal self-determination and to
help ensure that AI/AN students have an opportunity to learn their
Native languages and histories and receive complete and competitive
educations that prepare them for college, careers, and productive and
satisfying lives.
My Administration is also committed to improving educational
opportunities for students attending TCUs. TCUs maintain, preserve, and
restore Native languages and cultural traditions; offer a high-quality
college education; provide career and technical education, job training,
and other career-building programs; and often serve as anchors in some
of the country's poorest and most remote areas.
Sec. 2. Definitions. (a) ``Agency'' means any executive department or
agency designated by the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of the
Interior to participate in this order.
(b) ``Indian tribe'' means an Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band,
nation, pueblo, village, or community that the Secretary of the Interior
acknowledges to exist as an Indian tribe pursuant to the Federally
Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994, 25 U.S.C. 479a.
(c) ``American Indian and Alaska Native'' means a member of an
Indian tribe, as membership is defined by the tribe.
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(d) ``Public school'' means a Head Start center or a pre-
kindergarten, elementary, or secondary school that is predominantly
funded by public means through the Federal Government, a State, a local
educational agency, or an Indian tribal government, including a school
operated directly by or through contract or grant with the BIE, an
Indian tribe, or a State, county, or local government.
(e) ``Tribal Colleges and Universities'' are those institutions that
are chartered by their respective Indian tribes through the sovereign
authority of the tribes or by the Federal Government, and defined in
section 316 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c).
Sec. 3. White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native
Education.
(a) Establishment. There is hereby established the White House
Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education (Initiative).
The Secretary of Education and the Secretary of the Interior will co-
chair the Initiative. The Secretary of Education shall appoint an
Executive Director who shall be responsible for overseeing
implementation of the Initiative. This individual shall be a senior-
level, Department of Education official who shall serve as the Secretary
of Education's senior policy advisor on Federal policies affecting AI/AN
education.
The Executive Director shall work closely with the BIE Director and
shall provide periodic reports to the Secretaries of Education and the
Interior regarding progress achieved under the Initiative. The Executive
Director shall coordinate frequent consultations with tribal officials
and shall provide staff support for the National Advisory Council on
Indian Education (NACIE), authorized by section 7141 of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) (20 U.S.C. 7471).
(b) Mission and Functions. (1) The Initiative shall help expand
educational opportunities and improve educational outcomes for all AI/AN
students, including opportunities to learn their Native languages,
cultures, and histories and receive complete and competitive educations
that prepare them for college, careers, and productive and satisfying
lives, by:
(i) working closely with the Executive Office of the President to
help ensure AI/AN participation in the development and implementation of
key Administration priorities;
(ii) strengthening the relationship between the Department of
Education, which has substantial expertise and resources to help improve
Indian education, and the Department of the Interior and its BIE, which
directly operates or provides grants to tribes to operate an extensive
primary, secondary, and college level school system for AI/AN children
and young adults;
(iii) coordinating, in consultation with the Department of
Education's Director of Indian Education, programs administered by the
Department of Education and other executive branch agencies regarding
AI/AN education;
(iv) serving as a liaison with other executive branch agencies on
AI/AN issues and advising those agencies on how they might help to
promote AI/AN educational opportunities;
(v) reporting on the development, implementation, and coordination
of education policy and programs that affect AI/AN students;
[[Page 292]]
(vi) furthering tribal sovereignty by supporting efforts, consistent
with applicable law, to build the capacity of tribal educational
agencies and TCUs to provide high-quality education services to AI/AN
children;
(vii) developing in partnership with tribal educational agencies a
more routine and streamlined process for entering into agreements for
educational studies conducted on tribal lands;
(viii) developing sufficient data resources to inform progress on
Federal performance indicators, in close collaboration with the
Department of Education's National Center for Educational Statistics;
(ix) encouraging and coordinating Federal partnerships with public,
private, philanthropic, and nonprofit entities to help increase the
readiness of AI/AN students for school, college, and careers, and to
help increase the number and percentage of AI/AN students completing
college; and
(x) developing a national network of individuals, organizations, and
communities to share best practices in AI/AN education and encouraging
them to implement these practices.
(2) In order to help expand educational opportunities and improve education
outcomes for AI/AN students, the Initiative shall promote, encourage, and
undertake efforts, consistent with applicable law, to meet the following
objectives:
(i) increasing the number and percentage of AI/AN children who enter
kindergarten ready for success through improved access to high-quality
early learning programs and services, including Native language
immersion programs, that encourage the learning and development of AI/AN
children from birth through age five;
(ii) supporting the expanded implementation of education reform
strategies that have shown evidence of success in enabling AI/AN
students to acquire a rigorous and well-rounded education and increasing
their access to the support services that prepare them for college,
careers, and civic involvement;
(iii) increasing the number and percentage of AI/AN students who
have access to excellent teachers and school leaders, including
effective science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM),
language, and special education teachers, in part by supporting efforts
to improve the recruitment, development, and retention of effective AI/
AN teachers and other effective teachers and school leaders,
particularly through TCUs;
(iv) reducing the AI/AN student dropout rate and helping a greater
number and percentage of those students who stay in high school to be
ready for college and careers by the time of their graduation and
college completion, in part by promoting a positive school climate and
supporting successful and innovative dropout-prevention and recovery
strategies that better engage AI/AN youths in their learning and help
them catch up academically;
(v) providing pathways that enable those who have dropped out to
reenter educational or training programs and acquire degrees,
certificates, or industry-recognized credentials and obtain quality
jobs, and expanding access to high-quality education programs leading to
career advancement, especially in the STEM fields, by supporting adult,
career, and technical education;
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(vi) increasing college access and completion for AI/AN students
through strategies to strengthen the capacity of postsecondary
institutions, particularly TCUs; and
(vii) helping to ensure that the unique cultural, educational, and
language needs of AI/AN students are met.
(3) To facilitate a new partnership between the Department of Education and
the Department of the Interior, to improve AI/AN education, the Executive
Director shall work with the BIE Director and develop a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) between the two Departments that will take advantage of
both Departments' expertise, resources, and facilities. The MOU shall be
completed within 120 days of the date of this order. Among other things,
the MOU shall address how the Departments will collaborate in carrying out
the policy set out in section 1 of this order.
(c) Funding and Administrative Support. Subject to the availability
of appropriations, the Department of Education shall fund the
Initiative, including NACIE. The Department shall also provide
administrative support for the Initiative to the extent permitted by law
and within existing appropriations.
(d) Interagency Working Group. There is established the Interagency
Working Group on AI/AN education and TCUs, which shall be convened by
the Initiative's Executive Director. The Working Group shall consist of
senior officials from the Department of Education and the Department of
the Interior and officials from the Departments of Justice, Agriculture,
Labor, Health and Human Services, and Energy, the Environmental
Protection Agency, and the White House Domestic Policy Council, as well
as such additional agencies and offices as the Secretaries of Education
and the Interior may designate. Senior officials shall be designated by
the heads of their respective agencies and offices. The Secretaries of
Education and the Interior shall serve as the co-chairs of the
Interagency Working Group.
(e) Federal Agency Plans. (1) Each agency designated by the co-
chairs as a member of the Interagency Working Group shall develop and
implement a two-part, 4-year plan of the agency's efforts to fulfill the
purposes of this order, with part one of the plan focusing on all AI/AN
students except for those attending TCUs, and part two focusing on AI/AN
students attending TCUs. Each agency plan shall include:
(i) annual performance indicators and appropriate measurable
objectives with which the agency will measure its success in meeting the
goals of this order;
(ii) information on how the agency intends to increase the capacity
of educational agencies and institutions, including our Nation's public
schools and TCUs, to deliver high-quality education and related social
services to all AI/AN students; and
(iii) agency efforts to enhance the ability of these educational
agencies and institutions serving AI/AN students to compete effectively
for grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and other Federal
resources with which to serve the education needs of AI/AN students, and
to encourage eligible schools and colleges serving those students to
apply for Federal grants and participate in Federal education programs,
as appropriate. Agency plans may also emphasize access to high-quality
educational opportunities for AI/AN students, consistent with
requirements of the ESEA, the Individuals
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with Disabilities Education Act, and other applicable Federal education
statutes; the preservation and revitalization of tribal languages and
cultural traditions; and innovative approaches to more seamlessly align
early learning, elementary, and secondary education programs with the
work of TCUs.
(2) Submission. Each agency shall submit its plan to the Initiative by a
deadline established by the co-chairs. In consultation with NACIE, the
Initiative shall then review agency plans and develop, for submission to
the President, a synthesized interagency plan to achieve the aims of this
order.
(3) Annual Performance Reports. Each agency shall submit to the Initiative
an Annual Performance Report that measures the agency's performance against
the objectives set forth in its plan. In consultation with NACIE, the
Initiative shall review and combine Annual Performance Reports from the
various agencies into one annual report, which shall be submitted to the
Secretaries of Education and the Interior for review.
(f) Private Sector. In consultation with NACIE, and consistent with
applicable law, the Interagency Working Group, led by the Executive
Director, shall encourage the private sector to assist State- and
locally-operated public schools that serve large numbers of AI/AN
students, including those attending our Nation's public schools,
publicly-funded preschools, and TCUs, through increased use of such
strategies as:
(1) Providing funds to support the preservation and revitalization of
Native languages and cultures;
(2) Providing funds to support increased institutional endowments;
(3) Helping these schools develop expertise in financial and facilities
management, information systems, and curricula; and
(4) Providing resources for the hiring and training of effective teachers
and administrators.
Sec. 4. Study. In carrying out this order, the Secretaries of Education
and the Interior shall study and collect information on the education of
AI/AN students.
Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) NACIE shall serve as the Initiative's
advisory committee.
(b) Insofar as the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5
U.S.C. App.), may apply to the Initiative, any functions of the
President under that Act, except for those of reporting to the Congress,
shall be performed by the Secretary of Education, in consultation with
the Secretary of the Interior, in accordance with the guidelines issued
by the Administrator of General Services.
(c) This order revokes Executive Order 13270 of July 3, 2002,
Executive Order 13336 of April 30, 2004, and section 1(n) of Executive
Order 13585 of September 30, 2011.
(d) The heads of agencies shall assist and provide such information
to the Initiative as may be necessary to carry out its functions,
consistent with applicable law.
(e) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise
affect:
(1) authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the
head thereof; or
[[Page 295]]
(2) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(f) 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.
Barack Obama
The White House,
December 2, 2011.
Executive Order 13593 of December 13, 2011
2011 Amendments to the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, including chapter 47 of title 10,
United States Code (Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. 801-
946), and in order to prescribe amendments to the Manual for Courts-
Martial, United States, prescribed by Executive Order 12473, as amended,
it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Parts III and IV of the Manual for Courts-Martial, United
States, are amended as described in the Annex attached and made a part
of this order.
Sec. 2. These amendments shall take effect 30 days from the date of this
order.
(a) Nothing in these amendments shall be construed to make
punishable any act done or omitted prior to the effective date of this
order that was not punishable when done or omitted.
(b) Nothing in these amendments shall be construed to invalidate any
nonjudicial punishment proceedings, restraint, investigation, referral
of charges, trial in which arraignment occurred, or other action begun
prior to the effective date of this order, and any such nonjudicial
punishment, restraint, investigation, referral of charges, trial, or
other action may proceed in the same manner and with the same effect as
if these amendments had not been prescribed.
Barack Obama
The White House,
December 13, 2011.
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Executive Order 13594 of December 19, 2011
Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, including the Continuing
Appropriations and Surface Transportation Extensions Act, 2011 (Public
Law 111-322), which freezes certain pay schedules for civilian Federal
employees at 2010 levels through 2012 and provides for the phase-in of
the full applicable locality pay rates in non-foreign areas pursuant to
the Non-Foreign Area Retirement Equity Assurance Act of 2009 (5 U.S.C.
5304 note), it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Statutory Pay Systems. Pursuant to the Continuing
Appropriations and Surface Transportation Extensions Act, 2011(Public
Law 111-322; December 22, 2010), the rates of basic pay or salaries of
the statutory pay systems (as defined in 5 U.S.C. 5302(1)) are set forth
on the schedules attached hereto and made a part hereof:
(a) The General Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5332(a)) at Schedule 1;
(b) The Foreign Service Schedule (22 U.S.C. 3963) at Schedule 2; and
(c) The schedules for the Veterans Health Administration of the
Department of Veterans Affairs (38 U.S.C. 7306, 7404; section 301(a) of
Public Law 102-40) at Schedule 3.
Sec. 2. Senior Executive Service. The ranges of rates of basic pay for
senior executives in the Senior Executive Service, as established
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 5382, are set forth on Schedule 4 attached hereto
and made a part hereof.
Sec. 3. Certain Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Salaries. The rates
of basic pay or salaries for the following offices and positions are set
forth on the schedules attached hereto and made a part hereof:
(a) The Executive Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5312-5318) at Schedule 5;
(b) The Vice President (3 U.S.C. 104) and the Congress (2 U.S.C. 31)
at Schedule 6; and
(c) Justices and judges (28 U.S.C. 5, 44(d), 135, 252, and 461(a),
and section 140 of Public Law 97-92) at Schedule 7.
Sec. 4. Uniformed Services. The rates of monthly basic pay (37 U.S.C.
203(a)) for members of the uniformed services, as adjusted under 37
U.S.C. 1009, and the rate of monthly cadet or midshipman pay (37 U.S.C.
203(c)) are set forth on Schedule 8 attached hereto and made a part
hereof.
Sec. 5. Locality-Based Comparability Payments. (a) Pursuant to section
5304 of title 5, United States Code, the Non-Foreign Area Retirement
Equity Assurance Act of 2009 (5 U.S.C. 5304 note), and the Continuing
Appropriations and Surface Transportation Extensions Act, 2011(Public
Law 111-322; December 22, 2010), locality-based comparability payments
shall be paid in accordance with Schedule 9 attached hereto and made a
part hereof.
(b) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall take
such actions as may be necessary to implement these payments and to
publish appropriate notice of such payments in the Federal Register.
[[Page 309]]
Sec. 6. Administrative Law Judges. Pursuant to section 5372 of title 5,
United States Code, the rates of basic pay for administrative law judges
are set forth on Schedule 10 attached hereto and made a part hereof.
Sec. 7. Effective Dates. Schedule 8 is effective January 1, 2012. The
other schedules contained herein are effective on the first day of the
first applicable pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2012.
Sec. 8. Prior Order Superseded. Executive Order 13561 of December 22,
2010, is superseded.
Barack Obama
The White House,
December 19, 2011.
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Executive Order 13595 of December 19, 2011
Instituting a National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. (a) The United States recognizes that promoting
women's participation in conflict prevention, management, and
resolution, as well as in post-conflict relief and recovery, advances
peace, national security, economic and social development, and
international cooperation.
(b) The United States recognizes the responsibility of all nations
to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic
cleansing, and crimes against humanity, including when implemented by
means of sexual violence. The United States further recognizes that
sexual violence, when used or commissioned as a tactic of war or as a
part of a widespread or systematic attack against civilians, can
exacerbate and prolong armed conflict and impede the restoration of
peace and security.
(c) It shall be the policy and practice of the executive branch of
the United States to have a National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and
Security (National Action Plan).
Sec. 2. National Action Plan. A National Action Plan shall be created
pursuant to the process outlined in Presidential Policy Directive 1 and
shall identify and develop activities and initiatives in the following
areas:
(a) National integration and institutionalization. Through
interagency coordination, policy development, enhanced professional
training and education, and evaluation, the United States Government
will institutionalize a gender-responsive approach to its diplomatic,
development, and defense-related work in conflict-affected environments.
(b) Participation in peace processes and decisionmaking. The United
States Government will improve the prospects for inclusive, just, and
sustainable peace by promoting and strengthening women's rights and
effective leadership and substantive participation in peace processes,
conflict prevention, peacebuilding, transitional processes, and
decisionmaking institutions in conflict-affected environments.
(c) Protection from violence. The United States Government will
strengthen its efforts to prevent--and protect women and children from--
harm, exploitation, discrimination, and abuse, including sexual and
gender-based violence and trafficking in persons, and to hold
perpetrators accountable in conflict-affected environments.
(d) Conflict prevention. The United States Government will promote
women's roles in conflict prevention, improve conflict early-warning and
response systems through the integration of gender perspectives, and
invest in women and girls' health, education, and economic opportunity
to create conditions for stable societies and lasting peace.
(e) Access to relief and recovery. The United States Government will
respond to the distinct needs of women and children in conflict-affected
disasters and crises, including by providing safe, equitable access to
humanitarian assistance.
[[Page 322]]
Sec. 3. Responsibility of Executive Departments and Agencies. (a)
Executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall maintain a current
awareness of U.S. policy with regard to Women, Peace, and Security, as
set out in the National Action Plan, as it is relevant to their
functions, and shall perform such functions so as to respect and
implement that policy fully, while retaining their established
institutional roles in the implementation, interpretation, and
enforcement of Federal law.
(b) The Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and the
Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development
shall each:
(i) designate one or more officers, as appropriate, as responsible for
coordinating and implementing the National Action Plan;
(ii) within 150 days of the date of the release of the National Action
Plan, develop and submit to the Assistant to the President and National
Security Advisor an agency-specific implementation plan that will identify
the actions each agency plans to take to implement the National Action
Plan; and
(iii) execute their agency-specific implementation plans, and monitor and
report to the Assistant to the President and National Security Advisor on
such execution.
Sec. 4. Interagency Process. The Assistant to the President and National
Security Advisor shall, consistent with Presidential Policy Directive 1
or any successor documents, establish an interagency process for
coordinating the implementation of this order, which shall, inter alia:
(a) coordinate implementation of the National Action Plan and
agency-specific implementation plans as specified in section 3(b) of
this order;
(b) establish a mechanism for agencies to report progress in
implementing the National Action Plan and agency-specific implementation
plans, as appropriate and as specified in section 3(b), and in meeting
the objectives of this order, which the Assistant to the President and
National Security Advisor shall draw upon to provide an annual report to
the President;
(c) coordinate a comprehensive periodic review of, and update to,
the National Action Plan. The review of, and update to, the National
Action Plan will be informed by consultation with relevant civil society
organizations. The first review will take place in 2015; and
(d) consider and implement other revisions to the National Action
Plan, as necessary.
Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed
to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) authority granted by law to an agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) 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) Independent agencies are strongly encouraged to comply with this
order.
[[Page 323]]
(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.
Barack Obama
The White House,
December 19, 2011.
Executive Order 13596 of December 19, 2011
Amendments to Executive Orders 12131 and 13539
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Section 1-102 of Executive Order 12131 of May 4, 1979, as
amended (President's Export Council), is further amended to read as
follows:
``The membership of the Council shall be as follows:
(a) The heads of the following executive departments, agencies, or
offices, or their representatives:
(1) Department of State.
(2) Department of the Treasury.
(3) Department of Agriculture.
(4) Department of Commerce.
(5) Department of Labor.
(6) Department of Energy.
(7) Department of Transportation.
(8) Department of Homeland Security.
(9) Office of United States Trade Representative.
(10) Export-Import Bank of the United States.
(11) Small Business Administration.
(12) United States Trade and Development Agency.
(13) Overseas Private Investment Corporation.
(14) Council of Economic Advisers.
(15) Office of Management and Budget.
(16) National Economic Council.
(17) National Security Staff.
(b) In their discretion, the heads of the following organizations or
their designees:
(1) National Governors Association.
[[Page 324]]
(2) United States Conference of Mayors.
(c) Five members of the United States Senate, designated by the
President of the Senate, and five members of the United States House of
Representatives, designated by the Speaker of the House, to serve for a
two-year term.
(d) Not to exceed 28 citizens appointed by the President. These
individuals shall be selected from those who are not full-time Federal
officers or employees. They shall include representatives of business
and industry, agriculture, and labor.''.
Sec. 2. (a) Section 3(d) of Executive Order 13539 of April 21, 2010, as
amended (President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology), is
further amended to read as follows: ``The Department of Energy shall
provide such funding and administrative and technical support as the
PCAST may require.''.
(b) Section 5(a) of Executive Order 13539, as amended, is further
amended to read as follows: ``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.''.
Barack Obama
The White House,
December 19, 2011.
[[Page 325]]
________________________________________________________________________
OTHER PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS
________________________________________________________________________
Page
Subchapter A-- [Reserved]
Subchapter B-- Administrative Orders 325
Subchapter C-- Reorganization Plans [None]
Subchapter D-- Designations [None]
________________________________________________________________________
Subchapter B-- Administrative Orders
________________________________________________________________________
Memorandum of January 6, 2011
Disestablishment of United States Joint Forces Command
Memorandum for the Secretary of Defense
Pursuant to my authority as Commander in Chief and under 10 U.S.C. 161,
I hereby accept the recommendations of the Secretary of Defense and
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and approve the disestablishment
of United States Joint Forces Command, effective on a date to be
determined by the Secretary of Defense. I direct this action be
reflected in the 2010 Unified Command Plan.
Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 161(b)(2) and 3 U.S.C. 301, you are directed to
notify the Congress on my behalf.
You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the
Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, January 6, 2011.
[[Page 326]]
Notice of January 13, 2011
Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Terrorists Who
Threaten To Disrupt the Middle East Peace Process
On January 23, 1995, by Executive Order 12947, the President declared a
national emergency pursuant to the International Emergency Economic
Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706) to deal with the unusual and
extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and
economy of the United States constituted by grave acts of violence
committed by foreign terrorists who threaten to disrupt the Middle East
peace process. On August 20, 1998, by Executive Order 13099, the
President modified the Annex to Executive Order 12947 to identify four
additional persons, including Usama bin Laden, who threaten to disrupt
the Middle East peace process.
Because these terrorist activities continue to threaten the Middle East
peace process and to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the
national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States, the
national emergency declared on January 23, 1995, and the measures
adopted on that date and on August 20, 1998, to deal with that emergency
must continue in effect beyond January 23, 2011. 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 foreign terrorists who threaten to disrupt the Middle East
peace process.
This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted
to the Congress.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
January 13, 2011.
Memorandum of January 18, 2011
Regulatory Compliance
Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies
My Administration is committed to enhancing effectiveness and efficiency
in Government. Pursuant to the Memorandum on Transparency and Open
Government, issued on January 21, 2009, executive departments and
agencies (agencies) have been working steadily to promote
accountability, encourage collaboration, and provide information to
Americans about their Government's activities.
To that end, much progress has been made toward strengthening our
democracy and improving how Government operates. In the regulatory area,
several agencies, such as the Department of Labor and the Environmental
Protection Agency, have begun to post online (at ogesdw.dol.gov and
www.epa-echo.gov), and to make readily accessible to the public,
information concerning their regulatory compliance and enforcement
activities,
[[Page 327]]
such as information with respect to administrative inspections,
examinations, reviews, warnings, citations, and revocations (but
excluding law enforcement or otherwise sensitive information about
ongoing enforcement actions).
Greater disclosure of regulatory compliance information fosters fair and
consistent enforcement of important regulatory obligations. Such
disclosure is a critical step in encouraging the public to hold the
Government and regulated entities accountable. Sound regulatory
enforcement promotes the welfare of Americans in many ways, by
increasing public safety, improving working conditions, and protecting
the air we breathe and the water we drink. Consistent regulatory
enforcement also levels the playing field among regulated entities,
ensuring that those that fail to comply with the law do not have an
unfair advantage over their law-abiding competitors. Greater agency
disclosure of compliance and enforcement data will provide Americans
with information they need to make informed decisions. Such disclosure
can lead the Government to hold itself more accountable, encouraging
agencies to identify and address enforcement gaps.
Accordingly, I direct the following:
First, agencies with broad regulatory compliance and administrative
enforcement responsibilities, within 120 days of this memorandum, to the
extent feasible and permitted by law, shall develop plans to make public
information concerning their regulatory compliance and enforcement
activities accessible, downloadable, and searchable online. In so doing,
agencies should prioritize making accessible information that is most
useful to the general public and should consider the use of new
technologies to allow the public to have access to real-time data. The
independent agencies are encouraged to comply with this directive.
Second, the Federal Chief Information Officer and the Chief Technology
Officer shall work with appropriate counterparts in each agency to make
such data available online in searchable form, including on centralized
platforms such as data.gov, in a manner that facilitates easy access,
encourages cross-agency comparisons, and engages the public in new and
creative ways of using the information.
Third, the Federal Chief Information Officer and the Chief Technology
Officer, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) and their counterparts in each agency, shall work to
explore how best to generate and share enforcement and compliance
information across the Government, consistent with law. Such data
sharing can assist with agencies' risk-based approaches to enforcement:
A lack of compliance in one area by a regulated entity may indicate a
need for examination and closer attention by another agency. Efforts to
share data across agencies, where appropriate and permitted by law, may
help to promote flexible and coordinated enforcement regimes.
This memorandum 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.
Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise
affect the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and
Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
[[Page 328]]
The Director of OMB is authorized and directed to publish this
memorandum in the Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, January 18, 2011.
Memorandum of January 18, 2011
Regulatory Flexibility, Small Business, and Job Creation
Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies
Small businesses play an essential role in the American economy; they
help to fuel productivity, economic growth, and job creation. More than
half of all Americans working in the private sector either are employed
by a small business or own one. During a recent 15-year period, small
businesses created more than 60 percent of all new jobs in the Nation.
Although small businesses and new companies provide the foundations for
economic growth and job creation, they have faced severe challenges as a
result of the recession. One consequence has been the loss of
significant numbers of jobs.
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), 5 U.S.C. 601-612, establishes a
deep national commitment to achieving statutory goals without imposing
unnecessary burdens on the public. The RFA emphasizes the importance of
recognizing ``differences in the scale and resources of regulated
entities'' and of considering ``alternative regulatory approaches . . .
which minimize the significant economic impact of rules on small
businesses, small organizations, and small governmental jurisdictions.''
5 U.S.C. 601 note.
To promote its central goals, the RFA imposes a series of requirements
designed to ensure that agencies produce regulatory flexibility analyses
that give careful consideration to the effects of their regulations on
small businesses and explore significant alternatives in order to
minimize any significant economic impact on small businesses. Among
other things, the RFA requires that when an agency proposing a rule with
such impact is required to provide notice of the proposed rule, it must
also produce an initial regulatory flexibility analysis that includes
discussion of significant alternatives. Significant alternatives include
the use of performance rather than design standards; simplification of
compliance and reporting requirements for small businesses;
establishment of different timetables that take into account the
resources of small businesses; and exemption from coverage for small
businesses.
Consistent with the goal of open government, the RFA also encourages
public participation in and transparency about the rulemaking process.
Among other things, the statute requires agencies proposing rules with a
significant economic impact on small businesses to provide an
opportunity for public
[[Page 329]]
comment on any required initial regulatory flexibility analysis, and
generally requires agencies promulgating final rules with such
significant economic impact to respond, in a final regulatory
flexibility analysis, to comments filed by the Chief Counsel for
Advocacy of the Small Business Administration.
My Administration is firmly committed to eliminating excessive and
unjustified burdens on small businesses, and to ensuring that
regulations are designed with careful consideration of their effects,
including their cumulative effects, on small businesses. Executive Order
12866 of September 30, 1993, as amended, states, ``Each agency shall
tailor its regulations to impose the least burden on society, including
individuals, businesses of differing sizes, and other entities
(including small communities and governmental entities), consistent with
obtaining the regulatory objectives, taking into account, among other
things, and to the extent practicable, the costs of cumulative
regulations.''
In the current economic environment, it is especially important for
agencies to design regulations in a cost-effective manner consistent
with the goals of promoting economic growth, innovation,
competitiveness, and job creation.
Accordingly, I hereby direct executive departments and agencies and
request independent agencies, when initiating rulemaking that will have
a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities,
to give serious consideration to whether and how it is appropriate,
consistent with law and regulatory objectives, to reduce regulatory
burdens on small businesses, through increased flexibility. As the RFA
recognizes, such flexibility may take many forms, including:
extended compliance dates that take into account the
resources available to small entities;
performance standards rather than design standards;
simplification of reporting and compliance requirements
(as, for example, through streamlined forms and electronic filing
options);
different requirements for large and small firms; and
partial or total exemptions.
I further direct that whenever an executive agency chooses, for reasons
other than legal limitations, not to provide such flexibility in a
proposed or final rule that is likely to have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small entities, it should explicitly
justify its decision not to do so in the explanation that accompanies
that proposed or final rule.
Adherence to these requirements is designed to ensure that regulatory
actions do not place unjustified economic burdens on small business
owners and other small entities. If regulations are preceded by careful
analysis, and subjected to public comment, they are less likely to be
based on intuition and guesswork and more likely to be justified in
light of a clear understanding of the likely consequences of alternative
courses of action. With that understanding, agencies will be in a better
position to protect the public while avoiding excessive costs and
paperwork.
This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or
benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by
any
[[Page 330]]
party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities,
its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. Nothing in this
memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect the
functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
The Director of the Office of Management and Budget is authorized and
directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, January 18, 2011.
Notice of January 26, 2011
Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Situation in
or in Relation to C[ocirc]te d'Ivoire
On February 7, 2006, by Executive Order 13396, the President declared a
national emergency, pursuant to the International Emergency Economic
Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706), to deal with the unusual and
extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the
United States constituted by the situation in or in relation to
C[ocirc]te d'Ivoire and ordered related measures blocking the property
of certain persons contributing to the conflict in C[ocirc]te d'Ivoire.
The situation in or in relation to C[ocirc]te d'Ivoire, which has been
addressed by the United Nations Security Council in Resolution 1572 of
November 15, 2004, and subsequent resolutions, has resulted in the
massacre of large numbers of civilians, widespread human rights abuses,
significant political violence and unrest, and fatal attacks against
international peacekeeping forces. Because the situation in or in
relation to C[ocirc]te d'Ivoire continues to pose an unusual and
extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the
United States, the national emergency declared on February 7, 2006, and
the measures adopted on that date to deal with that emergency, must
continue in effect beyond February 7, 2011. 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 13396.
This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted
to the Congress.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
January 26, 2011.
[[Page 331]]
Memorandum of February 7, 2011
Annual Update to the Report Specified in Section 1251 of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111-84)
Memorandum for the Secretary of Defense [and] the Secretary of Energy
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, I hereby direct the Secretaries of
Defense and Energy to jointly provide annual updates to the report
specified in section 1251 of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111-84) (the ``1251 Report''). I further
authorize and direct the Secretaries of Defense and Energy to jointly
submit this annual update to the 1251 Report concurrently with the
President's budget each year, beginning in calendar year 2011.
The Secretary of Defense is authorized and directed to publish this
memorandum in the Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, February 7, 2011.
Memorandum of February 14, 2011
Delegation of Reporting and Other Authorities
Memorandum for the Secretary of Agriculture
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States, including section 301 of title 3, United
States Code, I hereby delegate to you the functions and authority
conferred upon the President by section 7 of the Soil and Water
Resources Conservation Act of 1977 (16 U.S.C. 2006), as amended by
section 2804 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, to make
the specified reports to the Congress.
You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the
Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, February 14, 2011.
[[Page 332]]
Notice of February 24, 2011
Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Cuba and of the
Emergency Authority Relating to the Regulation of the Anchorage and
Movement of Vessels
On March 1, 1996, by Proclamation 6867, a national emergency was
declared to address the disturbance or threatened disturbance of
international relations caused by the February 24, 1996, destruction by
the Cuban government of two unarmed U.S.-registered civilian aircraft in
international airspace north of Cuba. On February 26, 2004, by
Proclamation 7757, the national emergency was extended and its scope was
expanded to deny monetary and material support to the Cuban government.
The Cuban government has not demonstrated that it will refrain from the
use of excessive force against U.S. vessels or aircraft that may engage
in memorial activities or peaceful protest north of Cuba. In addition,
the unauthorized entry of any U.S.-registered vessel into Cuban
territorial waters continues to be detrimental to the foreign policy of
the United States. Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the
National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing the
national emergency with respect to Cuba and the emergency authority
relating to the regulation of the anchorage and movement of vessels set
out in Proclamation 6867 as amended by Proclamation 7757.
This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted
to the Congress.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
February 24, 2011.
Notice of March 2, 2011
Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Zimbabwe
On March 6, 2003, by Executive Order 13288, the President declared a
national emergency and blocked the property of persons undermining
democratic processes or institutions in Zimbabwe, pursuant to the
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706). He
took this action to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to
the foreign policy of the United States constituted by the actions and
policies of certain members of the Government of Zimbabwe and other
persons to undermine Zimbabwe's democratic processes or institutions.
These actions and policies have contributed to the deliberate breakdown
in the rule of law in Zimbabwe, to politically motivated violence and
intimidation in that country, and to political and economic instability
in the southern African region.
[[Page 333]]
On November 22, 2005, the President issued Executive Order 13391 to take
additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in
Executive Order 13288 by ordering the blocking of the property of
additional persons undermining democratic processes or institutions in
Zimbabwe.
On July 25, 2008, the President issued Executive Order 13469, which
expanded the scope of the national emergency declared in Executive Order
13288 and ordered the blocking of the property of additional persons
undermining democratic processes or institutions in Zimbabwe.
Because the actions and policies of these persons continue to pose an
unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United
States, the national emergency declared on March 6, 2003, and the
measures adopted on that date, on November 22, 2005, and on July 25,
2008, to deal with that emergency, must continue in effect beyond March
6, 2011. 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 actions and policies of certain
members of the Government of Zimbabwe and other persons to undermine
Zimbabwe's democratic processes or institutions.
This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted
to the Congress.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
March 2, 2011.
Memorandum of March 4, 2011
Enhanced Collection of Relevant Data and Statistics Relating to Women
Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies
I am proud to work with the White House Council on Women and Girls, the
Office of Management and Budget, and the Department of Commerce on this
week's release of Women in America, a report detailing the status of
American women in the areas of families and income, health, employment,
education, and violence and crime. This report provides a snapshot of
the status of American women today, serving as a valuable resource for
Government officials, academics, members of non-profit, nongovernmental,
and news organizations, and others.
My Administration is committed to ensuring that Federal programs achieve
policy goals in the most cost-effective manner. The Women in America
report, together with the accompanying website collection of relevant
data, will assist Government officials in crafting policies in light of
available statistical evidence. It will also assist the work of the
nongovernmental sector, including journalists, public policy analysts,
and academic researchers, by providing data that allow greater
understanding of policies and programs.
Preparation of this report revealed the vast data resources of the
Federal statistical agencies. It also revealed some gaps in data
collection. Gathering
[[Page 334]]
and analyzing additional data to fill in the gaps could help
policymakers gather a more accurate and comprehensive view of the status
and needs of American women.
Accordingly, I hereby request the heads of executive departments and
agencies, where possible within existing collections of data and in
light of budgetary constraints, to identify and to seek to fill in gaps
in statistics and improve survey methodology relating to women wherever
appropriate, including in the broad areas covered by the Women in
America report: families and income, health, employment, education, and
violence and crime.
Examples of some of the efforts that could be undertaken by departments
and agencies with respect to the gathering or design of comprehensive
data related to women include the following:
(a) Maternal Mortality. I encourage the National Center for Health
Statistics (NCHS) to continue to work with States and other registration
areas to complete the expeditious adoption of the most current standards
for the collection of information on vital events, as well as the
transition to electronic reporting systems. Maternal mortality is an
important indicator of women's health both internationally and
nationally. In the United States, maternal mortality statistics are
based upon the information recorded on death certificates and collected
by State and local vital records offices. The NCHS compiles the data
across the 50 States and other registration areas. Due to concerns about
data quality in the ascertainment of maternal mortality statistics, the
2003 revision of the standard death certificate introduced improved
standards for collecting data. Until all 50 States and registration
areas adopt the new data standards, formulating a national-level
maternal mortality ratio remains difficult.
(b) Women in Leadership in Corporate America. Women participate in every
sector of the workforce. Their current role in corporate leadership is
an important indicator of their progress. I encourage the Chair of the
Securities and Exchange Commission to seek to supplement the information
it already collects by seeking to collect, among other data, information
on the presence of women in governance positions in corporations, in
order to shed further light on the role of women in corporate America.
(c) Women in Leadership in Public Service. I encourage the Corporation
for National and Community Service to include statistics about the role
of women in diverse aspects of public service within its planned work on
measuring civic engagement.
This memorandum shall be carried out to the extent permitted by law,
consistent with the legal authorities of executive departments and
agencies and subject to the availability of appropriations. Nothing in
this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect the
authority granted by law to a department or agency, or the head thereof;
or the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
This memorandum 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.
[[Page 335]]
The Director of the Office of Management and Budget is hereby authorized
and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, March 4, 2011.
Presidential Determination No. 2011-7 of March 7, 2011
Unexpected Urgent Refugee and Migration Needs Related to Cote d'Ivoire
Memorandum for the Secretary of State
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States, including section 2(c)(1) of the Migration
and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 (the ``Act''), as amended, (22 U.S.C.
2601), I hereby determine, pursuant to section 2(c)(1) of the Act, that
it is important to the national interest to furnish assistance under the
Act, in an amount not to exceed $12.6 million from the United States
Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund, for the purpose of
meeting unexpected and urgent refugee and migration needs, including by
contributions to international, governmental, and nongovernmental
organizations and payment of administrative expenses of the Bureau of
Population, Refugees, and Migration of the Department of State, related
to humanitarian needs resulting from the recent unrest in C[ocirc]te
d'Ivoire.
You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the
Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, March 7, 2011.
Presidential Determination No. 2011-8 of March 7, 2011
Unexpected Urgent Refugee and Migration Needs Related to Libya
Memorandum for the Secretary of State
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States, including section 2(c)(1) of the Migration
and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 (the ``Act''), as amended, (22 U.S.C.
2601), I hereby determine, pursuant to section 2(c)(1) of the Act, that
it is important to the national interest to furnish assistance under the
Act, in an amount not to exceed $15 million from the United States
Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund, for the purpose of
meeting unexpected and urgent
[[Page 336]]
refugee and migration needs, including by contributions to
international, governmental, and nongovernmental organizations and
payment of administrative expenses of the Bureau of Population,
Refugees, and Migration of the Department of State, related to the
humanitarian crisis resulting from the violence in Libya.
You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the
Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, March 7, 2011.
Notice of March 8, 2011
Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Iran
On March 15, 1995, by Executive Order 12957, the President declared a
national emergency with respect to Iran pursuant to the International
Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706) to deal with the
unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign
policy, and economy of the United States constituted by the actions and
policies of the Government of Iran. On May 6, 1995, the President issued
Executive Order 12959, imposing more comprehensive sanctions to further
respond to this threat; on August 19, 1997, the President issued
Executive Order 13059, consolidating and clarifying the previous orders;
and on September 28, 2010, I issued Executive Order 13553 to take
additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in
Executive Order 12957.
Because the actions and policies of the Government of Iran continue to
pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security,
foreign policy, and economy of the United States, the national emergency
declared on March 15, 1995, must continue in effect beyond March 15,
2011. 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 Iran. Because the emergency declared
by Executive Order 12957 constitutes an emergency separate from that
declared on November 14, 1979, by Executive Order 12170, this renewal is
distinct from the emergency renewal of November 2010.
This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted
to the Congress.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
March 8, 2011.
[[Page 337]]
Memorandum of March 8, 2011
Designation of Officers of the Office of the Director of National
Intelligence To Act as Director of National Intelligence
Memorandum for the Director of National Intelligence
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Vacancies
Reform Act of 1998, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq., it is hereby ordered that:
Section 1. Subject to the provisions of sections 3 and 4 of this
memorandum, the officers of the Office of the Director of National
Intelligence named in section 2, in the order listed, shall act as and
perform the functions and duties of the Director of National
Intelligence (DNI), during any period in which the DNI and the Principal
Deputy Director of National Intelligence have died, resigned, or
otherwise become unable to perform the functions and duties of the DNI,
until such time as the DNI or the Principal Deputy Director of National
Intelligence is able to perform the functions and duties of the DNI.
Sec. 2. Order of Succession.
(a) Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Intelligence
Integration;
(b) Director of the National Counterterrorism Center; and
(c) National Counterintelligence Executive.
Sec. 3. National Security Act of 1947. This memorandum shall not
supersede the authority of the Principal Deputy Director of National
Intelligence to act for, and exercise the powers of, the DNI during the
absence or disability of the DNI or during a vacancy in the position of
the DNI (National Security Act of 1947, as amended, 50 U.S.C. 403-3a).
Sec. 4. Exceptions. (a) No individual who is serving in an office listed
in section 2 of this memorandum in an acting capacity shall act as the
DNI pursuant to this memorandum.
(b) No individual listed in section 1 of this memorandum shall act
as the DNI unless that individual is otherwise eligible to so serve
under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of this memorandum, the President
retains discretion, to the extent permitted by law, to depart from this
memorandum in designating an acting DNI.
(d) In the event that the Director of the National Counterterrorism
Center acts as and performs the functions and duties of the DNI pursuant
to section 1 of this memorandum, that individual shall not
simultaneously serve as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center
during that time, in accordance with 50 U.S.C. 404o(b)(2).
Sec. 5. Revocation. The Presidential Memorandum of October 3, 2008
(Designation of Officers of the Office of the Director of National
Intelligence to Act as Director of National Intelligence), is hereby
revoked.
Sec. 6. This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any
right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in
equity by any
[[Page 338]]
party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities,
its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
Sec. 7. You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in
the Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, March 8, 2011.
Memorandum of March 11, 2011
Government Reform for Competitiveness and Innovation
Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies
As I outlined in my State of the Union address to the Congress on
January 25, 2011, winning the future in the global economy will require
reducing our deficit while investing in areas critical to long-term
economic growth and competitiveness such as education, innovation, and
infrastructure. By out-educating, out-innovating, and out-building our
competitors, we will enable our Nation to grow, create jobs, and thrive
in the years ahead.
At the same time, we cannot win the future with a government built for
the past. We live and do business in the information age, but the
organization of the Federal Government has not kept pace. Government
agencies have grown without overall strategic planning and duplicative
programs have sprung up, making it harder for each to reach its goals.
Already, my Administration has taken on this waste and duplication. My
current budget proposes more than 200 terminations, reductions, and
savings in agency programs totaling approximately $30 billion in fiscal
year 2012. And in areas as varied as surface transportation to job
training, public health, and education, I have proposed to consolidate
scores of programs into more focused, effective, and streamlined
initiatives.
But we must go further. Winning the future will take a government that
judiciously allocates scarce government resources to maximize its
efficiency and effectiveness so that it can best support American
competitiveness and innovation. Now is the time to act to consolidate
and reorganize the executive branch of the Federal Government in a way
that best serves this goal.
By this memorandum, I assign our Nation's first Chief Performance
Officer, who also serves as the Deputy Director for Management of the
Office of Management and Budget (the ``Chief Performance Officer''), the
responsibility of leading the effort to create a plan for the
restructuring and streamlining of the executive branch of the Federal
Government. The first focus of this effort shall be on the executive
departments and agencies and the functions that support one of our most
important priorities--increasing trade, exports, and our overall
competitiveness (``trade and competitiveness'').
Accordingly, I direct the following:
[[Page 339]]
(1) The Chief Performance Officer shall establish a Government Reform
for Competitiveness and Innovation Initiative, led by an Executive
Director, to conduct a comprehensive review of the Federal agencies and
programs involved in trade and competitiveness, including analyzing
their scope and effectiveness, areas of overlap and duplication, unmet
needs, and possible cost savings.
(2) As part of this review, the Chief Performance Officer and Executive
Director shall confer broadly with the heads and staff of executive
departments and agencies, including the offices and agencies within the
Executive Office of the President (collectively, the ``agencies''). They
should also consult broadly with external stakeholders, including
Members of Congress, business leaders, unions, nongovernmental
organizations, and government reform experts, to hear their individual
and independent perspectives on what we are doing well and where we
could improve our effectiveness and efficiency.
(3) Within 90 days from the date of this memorandum, the Chief
Performance Officer shall submit recommendations to me for presidential
and, ultimately, congressional action to restructure and streamline
Federal Government programs focused on trade and competitiveness, based
on the following principles:
(a) the functions of the executive branch of the Federal Government
involved in trade and competitiveness should be organized so that the
Federal Government can most efficiently and effectively facilitate the
competitiveness of American businesses, large and small, and American
workers in the changing global economy;
(b) the responsibilities, authorities, programs, and requirements of
agencies should be transparent, understandable, and easily accessible to
the American public; and
(c) agencies and programs should be organized to reduce
inefficiencies and overlapping responsibilities or functions, maximize
return on taxpayer dollars, and best serve the American public.
(4) Agencies shall provide, consistent with law, information and
assistance requested by the Chief Performance Officer and Executive
Director to inform their work as directed by this memorandum.
(5) Agencies shall carry out the provisions of this memorandum to the
extent permitted by law and consistent with their statutory and
regulatory authorities and their enforcement mechanisms.
(6) This memorandum 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.
(7) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget is hereby
authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal
Register.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, March 11, 2011.
[[Page 340]]
Memorandum of April 6, 2011
Unified Command Plan 2011
Memorandum for the Secretary of Defense
Pursuant to my authority as Commander in Chief, I hereby approve and
direct the implementation of the revised Unified Command Plan.
Consistent with title 10, United States Code, section 161(b)(2) and
title 3, United States Code, section 301, you are directed to notify the
Congress on my behalf.
You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the
Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, April 6, 2011.
Notice of April 7, 2011
Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Somalia
On April 12, 2010, by Executive Order 13536, I declared a national
emergency pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act
(50 U.S.C. 1701-1706) to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat
to the national security and foreign policy of the United States
constituted by the deterioration of the security situation and the
persistence of violence in Somalia, and acts of piracy and armed robbery
at sea off the coast of Somalia, which have repeatedly been the subject
of United Nations Security Council resolutions, and violations of the
Somalia arms embargo imposed by the United Nations Security Council.
Because the situation with respect to Somalia continues to pose an
unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign
policy of the United States, the national emergency declared on April
12, 2010, and the measures adopted on that date to deal with that
emergency, must continue in effect beyond April 12, 2011. 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 13536.
This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted
to the Congress.
Barack Obama
THE WHITE HOUSE,
April 7, 2011.
[[Page 341]]
Memorandum of April 14, 2011
Delegation of Functions and Authority Under Sections 315 and 325 of
Title 32, United States Code
Memorandum for the Secretary of Defense
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of title 3,
United States Code, I hereby delegate to you: (a) the functions and
authority of the President contained in section 315 of title 32, United
States Code, to permit a commissioned officer of the Regular Army or
Regular Air Force to accept a commission in the Army National Guard or
the Air National Guard, as the case may be, terminable at your
discretion, without prejudicing his or her rank and without vacating his
or her regular appointment; and (b) the functions and authority of the
President contained in section 325 of title 32, United States Code, to
authorize the service of an officer of the Army National Guard or the
Air National Guard on active duty without relieving that officer from
duty in the National Guard of his or her State, or of the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, Guam, or the United States Virgin Islands, or the
District of Columbia and to give such authorization in advance for the
purpose of establishing the succession of command of a unit.
This delegation of functions and authority supersedes and replaces the
July 23, 2004, delegation to the Secretary of Defense of the functions
and authority of the President contained in section 325 of title 32,
United States Code.
You are further authorized and directed to make necessary arrangements
to fund the exercise of these functions and authority from the proper
appropriation, prescribe regulations to implement these functions and
authority, and to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, April 14, 2011.
[[Page 342]]
Presidential Determination No. 2011-9 of April 26, 2011
Drawdown Pursuant to Section 552(c)(2) of the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961, as Amended, of up to $25 Million in Commodities and Services from
any Agency of the United States Government for Libyan Groups, such as
the Transitional National Council, To Support Efforts To Protect
Civilians and Civilian-Populated Areas Under Threat of Attack in Libya
Memorandum for the Secretary of State [and] the Secretary of Defense
Pursuant to the authority vested in me as President by section 552(c)(2)
of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, 22 U.S.C. 2348a
(FAA), I hereby determine that:
(1) as a result of an unforeseen emergency, the provision of assistance
under Chapter Six of Part II of the FAA in amounts in excess of funds
otherwise available for such assistance is important to the national
interests of the United States; and
(2) such unforeseen emergency requires the immediate provision of
assistance under Chapter Six of Part II of the FAA.
I therefore direct the drawdown of up to $25 million in nonlethal
commodities and services from the inventory and resources of any agency
of the United States Government to support key U.S. Government partners
such as the Transitional National Council in efforts to protect
civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in Libya.
The Secretary of State is authorized and directed to report this
determination to the Congress, arrange for its publication in the
Federal Register, and coordinate the implementation of this drawdown.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, April 26, 2011.
Notice of April 29, 2011
Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Actions of
the Government of Syria
On May 11, 2004, pursuant to his authority under the International
Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1701-1706, and the Syria
Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003, Public
Law 108-175, the President issued Executive Order 13338, in which he
declared a national emergency with respect to the actions of the
Government of Syria. To deal with this national emergency, Executive
Order 13338 authorized the blocking of property of certain persons and
prohibited the exportation or reexportation of certain goods to Syria.
On April 25, 2006, and February 13, 2008, the President issued Executive
Order 13399 and Executive Order
[[Page 343]]
13460, respectively, to take additional steps with respect to this
national emergency.
The President took these actions to deal with the unusual and
extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and
economy of the United States constituted by the actions of the
Government of Syria in supporting terrorism, maintaining its then-
existing occupation of Lebanon, pursuing weapons of mass destruction and
missile programs, and undermining U.S. and international efforts with
respect to the stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq.
The Syrian government has reduced the number of foreign fighters bound
for Iraq--although the fighters have still created serious problems
there--but its actions and policies, including continuing support for
terrorist organizations, damaging the Lebanese government's ability to
function, and pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and missile
programs, continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the
national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. As
a result, the national emergency declared on May 11, 2004, and the
measures adopted on that date, on April 25, 2006, in Executive Order
13399, and on February 13, 2008, in Executive Order 13460, to deal with
that emergency must continue in effect beyond May 11, 2011. 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 with respect to certain actions of the Government of Syria. In
addition, the United States condemns the use of violence against
peacefully demonstrating citizens in Syria, and calls on the Syrian
government to respect human rights and to forge a credible path to a
future of greater freedom, democracy, opportunity, and justice. The
United States will consider changes in the policies and actions of the
Government of Syria in determining whether to continue or terminate this
national emergency in the future and would welcome progress by the
Government of Syria on these matters. This notice shall be published in
the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
April 29, 2011.
Notice of May 16, 2011
Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Burma
On May 20, 1997, the President issued Executive Order 13047, certifying
to the Congress under section 570(b) of the Foreign Operations, Export
Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1997 (Public Law
104-208), that the Government of Burma had committed large-scale
repression of the democratic opposition in Burma after September 30,
1996, thereby invoking the prohibition on new investment in Burma by
United States persons contained in that section. The President also
declared a national
[[Page 344]]
emergency to deal with the threat posed to the national security and
foreign policy of the United States by the actions and policies of the
Government of Burma, invoking the authority, inter alia, of the
International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1701-1706.
Because the actions and policies of the Government of Burma continue to
pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and
foreign policy of the United States, the national emergency declared on
May 20, 1997, and the measures adopted to deal with that emergency in
Executive Orders 13047 of May 20, 1997, 13310 of July 28, 2003, 13348 of
October 18, 2007, and 13464 of April 30, 2008, must continue in effect
beyond May 20, 2011.
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 Burma. This notice shall be published in the
Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
May 16, 2011.
Notice of May 17, 2011
Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Stabilization
of Iraq
On May 22, 2003, by Executive Order 13303, the President declared a
national emergency protecting the Development Fund for Iraq and certain
other property in which Iraq has an interest, pursuant to the
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706). The
President took this action to deal with the unusual and extraordinary
threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States
posed by obstacles to the orderly reconstruction of Iraq, the
restoration and maintenance of peace and security in the country, and
the development of political, administrative, and economic institutions
in Iraq.
In Executive Order 13315 of August 28, 2003, Executive Order 13350 of
July 29, 2004, Executive Order 13364 of November 29, 2004, and Executive
Order 13438 of July 17, 2007, the President modified the scope of the
national emergency declared in Executive Order 13303 and took additional
steps in response to this national emergency.
Because the obstacles to the orderly reconstruction of Iraq, the
restoration and maintenance of peace and security in the country, and
the development of political, administrative, and economic institutions
in Iraq continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the
national security and foreign policy of the United States, the national
emergency declared in Executive Order 13303, as modified in scope and
relied upon for additional steps taken in Executive Orders 13315, 13350,
13364, and 13438, must continue in effect beyond May 22, 2011.
Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies
Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)),
[[Page 345]]
I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency with respect to the
stabilization of Iraq.
This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted
to the Congress.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
May 17, 2011.
Memorandum of May 31, 2011
Delegation of Authority To Appoint Commissioned Officers of the Ready
Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service
Memorandum for the Secretary of Health and Human Services
By virtue of the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution
and the laws of the United States, including section 301 of title 3,
United States Code, I hereby assign to you the functions of the
President under section 203 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended
by Public Law 111-148, to appoint commissioned officers of the Ready
Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service. Commissions issued under
this delegation of authority may not be for a term longer than 6 months.
Officers appointed pursuant to this delegation may not be appointed to
the Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service for a term greater
than 6 months other than by the President or to the Regular Corps of the
Public Health Service other than by the President with the advice and
consent of the Senate. This authority may not be redelegated.
You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the
Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, May 31, 2011.
Presidential Determination No. 2011-10 of June 3, 2011
Suspension of Limitations Under the Jerusalem Embassy Act
Memorandum for the Secretary of State
Pursuant to the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution
and the laws of the United States, including section 7(a) of the
Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-45) (the ``Act''), I
hereby determine that it is necessary, in order to protect the national
security interests of the United States, to suspend for a period of 6
months the limitations set forth in sections 3(b) and 7(b) of the Act.
[[Page 346]]
You are hereby authorized and directed to transmit this determination to
the Congress, accompanied by a report in accordance with section 7(a) of
the Act, and to publish the determination in the Federal Register.
This suspension shall take effect after transmission of this
determination and report to the Congress.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, June 3, 2011.
Memorandum of June 6, 2011
Designation of Officers of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation
To Act as President of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation
Memorandum for the President of the Overseas Private Investment
Corporation
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Vacancies
Reform Act of 1998, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq. (the ``Act''), it is hereby
ordered that:
Section 1. Order of Succession. Subject to the provisions of section 2
of this memorandum, and to the limitations set forth in the Act, the
following officers of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation
(OPIC), in the order listed, shall act as and perform the functions and
duties of the office of the President of OPIC during any period in which
the President of OPIC has died, resigned, or otherwise become unable to
perform the functions and duties of the office of the President of OPIC:
(a) Executive Vice President;
(b) Vice President and General Counsel;
(c) Vice President and Chief Financial Officer;
(d) Chief of Staff;
(e) Vice President, Investment Policy;
(f) Vice President, External Affairs;
(g) Vice President, Investment Funds;
(h) Vice President, Insurance;
(i) Vice President, Structured Finance; and
(j) Vice President, Small and Medium Enterprise Finance.
Sec. 2. Exceptions. (a) No individual who is serving in an office listed
in section 1(a)-(j) of this memorandum in an acting capacity shall, by
virtue of so serving, act as President of OPIC pursuant to this
memorandum.
(b) No individual who is serving in an office listed in section 1 of
this memorandum shall act as President of OPIC unless that individual is
otherwise eligible to so serve under the Act.
[[Page 347]]
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of this memorandum, the President
retains discretion, to the extent permitted by law, to depart from this
memorandum in designating an acting President of OPIC.
Sec. 3. The Presidential Memorandum of January 16, 2009 (Designation of
Officers to Act as President of the Overseas Private Investment
Corporation), is hereby revoked.
Sec. 4. This memorandum 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. 5. You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in
the Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, June 6, 2011.
Presidential Determination No. 2011-11 of June 8, 2011
Unexpected Urgent Refugee and Migration Needs Related to Libya and
C[ocirc]te d'Ivoire
Memorandum for the Secretary of State
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States, including section 2(c)(1) of the Migration
and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 (the ``Act''), as amended (22 U.S.C.
2601(c)(1)), I hereby determine, pursuant to section 2(c)(1) of the Act,
that it is important to the national interest to furnish assistance
under the Act, in an amount not to exceed $15 million from the United
States Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund, for the purpose
of meeting unexpected and urgent refugee and migration needs, including
by contributions to international, governmental, and nongovernmental
organizations and payment of administrative expenses of the Bureau of
Population, Refugees, and Migration of the Department of State, related
to the humanitarian crises resulting from the violence in Libya and
C[ocirc]te d'Ivoire.
You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the
Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, June 8, 2011.
[[Page 348]]
Notice of June 14, 2011
Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Actions and
Policies of Certain Members of the Government of Belarus and Other
Persons To Undermine Belarus Democratic Processes or Institutions
On June 16, 2006, by Executive Order 13405, the President declared a
national emergency and ordered related measures blocking the property of
certain persons undermining democratic processes or institutions in
Belarus, pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50
U.S.C. 1701-1706). The President took this action to deal with the
unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign
policy of the United States constituted by the actions and policies of
certain members of the Government of Belarus and other persons to
undermine Belarus democratic processes or institutions; to commit human
rights abuses related to political repression, including detentions and
disappearances; and to engage in public corruption, including by
diverting or misusing Belarusian public assets or by misusing public
authority.
The flawed December 2010 Presidential election in Belarus and its
aftermath--the harsh violence against peaceful demonstrators; the
continuing detention, prosecution, and imprisonment of opposition
Presidential candidates and others; and the continuing repression of
independent media and civil society activists--all show that the
Government of Belarus has taken steps backward in the development of
democratic governance and respect for human rights.
The actions and policies of the Government of Belarus and other persons
continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national
security and foreign policy of the United States. Accordingly, the
national emergency declared on June 16, 2006, and the measures adopted
on that date to deal with that emergency, must continue in effect beyond
June 16, 2011. 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 13405.
This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted
to the Congress.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
June 14, 2011.
[[Page 349]]
Notice of June 17, 2011
Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Risk of
Nuclear Proliferation Created by the Accumulation of Weapons-Usable
Fissile Material in the Territory of the Russian Federation
On June 21, 2000, the President issued Executive Order 13159 (the
``order'') blocking property and interests in property of the Government
of the Russian Federation 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 United States persons that are directly related
to the implementation of the Agreement Between the Government of the
United States of America and the Government of the Russian Federation
Concerning the Disposition of Highly Enriched Uranium Extracted from
Nuclear Weapons, dated February 18, 1993, and related contracts and
agreements (collectively, the ``HEU Agreements''). The HEU Agreements
allow for the downblending of highly enriched uranium derived from
nuclear weapons to low enriched uranium for peaceful commercial
purposes. The order invoked the authority, inter alia, of the
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706) and
declared a national emergency to deal with the unusual and extraordinary
threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States
posed by the risk of nuclear proliferation created by the accumulation
of a large volume of weapons usable fissile material in the territory of
the Russian Federation.
The national emergency declared on June 21, 2000, must continue beyond
June 21, 2011, to provide continued protection from attachment,
judgment, decree, lien, execution, garnishment, or other judicial
process for the property and interests in property of the Government of
the Russian Federation that are directly related to the implementation
of the HEU Agreements and subject to U.S. jurisdiction. 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 risk of nuclear proliferation
created by the accumulation of weapons-usable fissile material in the
territory of the Russian Federation. This notice shall be published in
the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
June 17, 2011.
Notice of June 23, 2011
Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to North Korea
On June 26, 2008, by Executive Order 13466, the President declared a
national emergency pursuant to the International Emergency Economic
Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706) to deal with the unusual and
extraordinary
[[Page 350]]
threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States
constituted by the existence and risk of the proliferation of weapons-
usable fissile material on the Korean Peninsula. The President also
found that it was necessary to maintain certain restrictions with
respect to North Korea that would otherwise have been lifted pursuant to
Proclamation 8271 of June 26, 2008, which terminated the exercise of
authorities under the Trading With the Enemy Act (50 U.S.C. App. 1-44)
with respect to North Korea.
On August 30, 2010, I signed Executive Order 13551, which expanded the
scope of the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13466 to
deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security,
foreign policy, and economy of the United States posed by the continued
actions and policies of the Government of North Korea.
On April 18, 2011, I signed Executive Order 13570 to take additional
steps to address the national emergency declared in Executive Order
13466, and expanded in Executive Order 13551, to ensure the
implementation of the import restrictions contained in United Nations
Security Council Resolutions 1718 and 1874 and complement the import
restrictions provided for in the Arms Export Control Act.
Because the existence and the risk of proliferation of weapons-usable
fissile material on the Korean Peninsula and the actions and policies of
the Government of North Korea continue to pose an unusual and
extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and
economy of the United States, the national emergency declared in
Executive Order 13466, expanded in scope in Executive Order 13551, and
addressed further in Executive Order 13570, and the measures taken to
deal with that national emergency, must continue in effect beyond June
26, 2011. 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 13466.
This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted
to the Congress.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
June 23, 2011.
Notice of June 23, 2011
Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Western
Balkans
On June 26, 2001, by Executive Order 13219, the President declared a
national emergency with respect to the Western Balkans, pursuant to the
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706), to
deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security
and foreign policy of the United States constituted by the actions of
persons engaged in, or assisting, sponsoring, or supporting (i)
extremist violence in the Republic of Macedonia and elsewhere in the
Western Balkans region, or (ii) acts obstructing implementation of the
Dayton Accords in Bosnia or
[[Page 351]]
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 of June 10, 1999, in
Kosovo. The President subsequently amended that order in Executive Order
13304 of May 28, 2003.
Because the actions of persons threatening the peace and international
stabilization efforts in the Western Balkans continue to pose an unusual
and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of
the United States, the national emergency declared on June 26, 2001, and
the measures adopted on that date and thereafter to deal with that
emergency, must continue in effect beyond June 26, 2011. 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 Western Balkans.
This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted
to the Congress.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
June 23, 2011.
Memorandum of July 19, 2011
Delegation of Certain Function and Authority Conferred Upon the
President by Section 1535(c)(1) of the Ike Skelton National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011
Memorandum for the Secretary of State
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States, including section 301 of title 3, United
States Code, I hereby delegate to you, in coordination with the
Secretary of Defense, the function and authority conferred upon the
President by section 1535(c)(1) of the Ike Skelton National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011, Public Law 111-383, to make the
specified report to the Committees on Armed Services, Foreign Relations,
and Appropriations of the Senate and the Committees on Armed Services,
Foreign Affairs, and Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the
Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, July 19, 2011.
[[Page 352]]
Notice of July 20, 2011
Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Former
Liberian Regime of Charles Taylor
On July 22, 2004, by Executive Order 13348, the President declared a
national emergency and ordered related measures, including the blocking
of the property of certain persons connected to the former Liberian
regime of Charles Taylor, pursuant to the International Emergency
Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706). The President took this
action to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign
policy of the United States constituted by the actions and policies of
former Liberian President Charles Taylor and other persons, in
particular their unlawful depletion of Liberian resources and their
removal from Liberia and secreting of Liberian funds and property, which
have undermined Liberia's transition to democracy and the orderly
development of its political, administrative, and economic institutions
and resources.
The actions and policies of Charles Taylor and others have left a legacy
of destruction that continues to undermine Liberia's transformation and
recovery. Because the actions and policies of these persons continue to
pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the
United States, the national emergency declared on July 22, 2004, and the
measures adopted on that date to deal with that emergency, must continue
in effect beyond July 22, 2011. 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
13348.
This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted
to the Congress.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
July 20, 2011.
Notice of July 28, 2011
Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Actions of
Certain Persons to Undermine the Sovereignty of Lebanon or Its
Democratic Processes and Institutions
On August 1, 2007, by Executive Order 13441, the President declared a
national emergency and ordered related measures blocking the property of
certain persons undermining the sovereignty of Lebanon or its democratic
processes or institutions and certain other persons, pursuant to the
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706). The
President determined that the actions of certain persons to undermine
Lebanon's legitimate and democratically elected government or democratic
institutions; to contribute to the deliberate breakdown in the rule of
law in
[[Page 353]]
Lebanon, including through politically motivated violence and
intimidation; to reassert Syrian control or contribute to Syrian
interference in Lebanon; or to infringe upon or undermine Lebanese
sovereignty and contribute to political and economic instability in that
country and the region and constitute an unusual and extraordinary
threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.
Certain ongoing activities, such as continuing arms transfers to
Hizballah that include increasingly sophisticated weapons systems, serve
to undermine Lebanese sovereignty, contribute to political and economic
instability in Lebanon, and continue to pose an unusual and
extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the
United States. Therefore, the national emergency declared on August 1,
2007, and the measures adopted on that date to deal with that emergency,
must continue in effect beyond August 1, 2011. 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
13441.
This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted
to the Congress.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
July 28, 2011.
Presidential Determination No. 2011-12 of August 8, 2011
Unexpected Urgent Refugee and Migration Needs Related to the Horn of
Africa
Memorandum for the Secretary of State
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States, including section 2(c)(1) of the Migration
and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 (the ``Act''), as amended, (22 U.S.C.
2601(c)(1)), I hereby determine, pursuant to section 2(c)(1) of the Act,
that it is important to the national interest to furnish assistance
under the Act, in an amount not to exceed $10 million from the United
States Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund, for the purpose
of meeting unexpected and urgent refugee and migration needs, including
by contributions to international, governmental, and nongovernmental
organizations and payment of administrative expenses of the Bureau of
Population, Refugees, and Migration of the Department of State, related
to the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa.
You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the
Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, August 8, 2011.
[[Page 354]]
Presidential Determination No. 2011-13 of August 10, 2011
Continuation of U.S. Drug Interdiction Assistance to the Government of
Colombia
Memorandum for the Secretary of State [and] the Secretary of Defense
Pursuant to the authority vested in me by section 1012 of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995, as amended (22 U.S.C.
2291-4), I hereby certify, with respect to Colombia, that (1)
interdiction of aircraft reasonably suspected to be primarily engaged in
illicit drug trafficking in that country's airspace is necessary,
because of the extraordinary threat posed by illicit drug trafficking to
the national security of that country; and (2) that country has
appropriate procedures in place to protect against innocent loss of life
in the air and on the ground in connection with such interdiction, which
shall at a minimum include effective means to identify and warn an
aircraft before the use of force is directed against the aircraft.
The Secretary of State is authorized and directed to publish this
determination in the Federal Register and to notify the Congress of this
determination.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, August 10, 2011.
Notice of August 12, 2011
Continuation of Emergency Regarding Export Control Regulations
On August 17, 2001, consistent with the authority provided to the
President under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50
U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the President issued Executive Order 13222. In
that order, he declared a national emergency with respect to the unusual
and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and
economy of the United States in light of the expiration of the Export
Administration Act of 1979, as amended (50 U.S.C. App. 2401 et seq.).
Because the Export Administration Act has not been renewed by the
Congress, the national emergency declared on August 17, 2001, must
continue in effect beyond August 17, 2011. 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
13222.
This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted
to the Congress.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
August 12, 2011.
[[Page 355]]
Presidential Determination No. 2011-14 of August 30, 2011
Waiver of Restriction on Providing Funds to the Palestinian Authority
Memorandum for the Secretary of State
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, including section 7040(b) of the
Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
Appropriations Act, 2010 (Division F, Public Law 111-117), as carried
forward by the Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 (Division
B, Public Law 112-10), as enacted on April 15, 2011 (together, the
``Act''), I hereby certify that it is important to the national security
interests of the United States to waive the provisions of section
7040(a) of the Act, in order to provide funds appropriated to carry out
Chapter 4 of Part II of the Foreign Assistance Act, as amended, to the
Palestinian Authority.
You are directed to transmit this determination to the Congress, with a
report pursuant to section 7040(d) of the Act, and to publish this
determination in the Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, August 30, 2011.
Notice of September 9, 2011
Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Certain Terrorist
Attacks
Consistent with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act, 50
U.S.C. 1622(d), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency
previously declared on September 14, 2001, in Proclamation 7463, with
respect to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the
continuing and immediate threat of further attacks on the United States.
Because the terrorist threat continues, the national emergency declared
on September 14, 2001, and the powers and authorities adopted to deal
with that emergency must continue in effect beyond September 14, 2011.
Therefore, I am continuing in effect for an additional year the national
emergency that was declared on September 14, 2001, with respect to the
terrorist threat.
This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted
to the Congress.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
September 9, 2011.
[[Page 356]]
Memorandum of September 12, 2011
Delegation Under Section 2(a) of the Special Agent Samuel Hicks Families
of Fallen Heroes Act
Memorandum for the Administrator of General Services
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of title 3,
United States Code, I hereby delegate to you the function conferred upon
the President by section 2(a) of the Special Agent Samuel Hicks Families
of Fallen Heroes Act (Public Law 111-178) to prescribe the applicable
regulations.
You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the
Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, September 12, 2011.
Presidential Determination No. 2011-15 of September 13, 2011
Continuation of the Exercise of Certain Authorities Under the Trading
With the Enemy Act
Memorandum for the Secretary of State [and] the Secretary of the
Treasury
Under section 101(b) of Public Law 95-223 (91 Stat. 1625; 50 U.S.C. App.
5(b) note), and a previous determination on September 2, 2010 (75 FR
54459, September 7, 2010), the exercise of certain authorities under the
Trading With the Enemy Act is scheduled to terminate on September 14,
2011.
I hereby determine that the continuation for 1 year of the exercise of
those authorities with respect to Cuba is in the national interest of
the United States.
Therefore, consistent with the authority vested in me by section 101(b)
of Public Law 95-223, I continue for 1 year, until September 14, 2012,
the exercise of those authorities with respect to Cuba, as implemented
by the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part 515.
The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed to publish this
determination in the Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, September 13, 2011.
[[Page 357]]
Presidential Determination No. 2011-16 of September 15, 2011
Presidential Determination on Major Illicit Drug Transit or Major
Illicit Drug Producing Countries for Fiscal Year 2012
Memorandum for the Secretary of State
Pursuant to section 706(1) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act,
Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107-228)(FRAA), I hereby identify the
following countries as major drug transit or major illicit drug
producing countries: Afghanistan, The Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Burma,
Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador,
Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua,
Pakistan, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.
A country's presence on the Majors List is not necessarily an adverse
reflection of its government's counternarcotics efforts or level of
cooperation with the United States. Consistent with the statutory
definition of a major drug transit or drug producing country set forth
in section 481(e)(2) and (5) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as
amended (FAA), one of the reasons that major drug transit or illicit
drug producing countries are placed on the list is the combination of
geographic, commercial, and economic factors that allow drugs to transit
or be produced despite the concerned government's most assiduous
narcotics control law enforcement measures.
Pursuant to section 706(2)(A) of the FRAA, I hereby designate Bolivia,
Burma, and Venezuela as countries that have failed demonstrably during
the previous 12 months to make substantial efforts to adhere to their
obligations under international counternarcotics agreements and take the
measures set forth in section 489(a)(1) of the FAA. Accompanying this
report are justifications for the determinations on Bolivia, Burma, and
Venezuela, as required by section 706(2)(B).
I have also determined, in accordance with provisions of section
706(3)(A) of the FRAA, that support for programs to aid Bolivia and
Venezuela are vital to the national interests of the United States.
Afghanistan remains the world's largest producer of opium poppy and a
major source of heroin. Primary trafficking routes from Afghanistan,
where poppy cultivation is still mostly confined to the southern and
western provinces, are through Iran to Turkey and Western Europe;
through Pakistan to Africa, Asia, and the Middle East; and through
Central Asia to the Russian Federation.
Helmand Province remains the largest grower of opium poppy in
Afghanistan, but the Provincial Government's innovative Food Zone
program, which provides farmers with wheat seed and fertilizer in
exchange for a pledge not to grow poppy, coupled with credible law
enforcement, has reduced Helmand's poppy cultivation by a third, to
69,883 hectares in 2009 and even further to 65,043 hectares in 2010. The
U.S.-funded Governor Led Eradication (GLE) program has demonstrated
progress in Helmand with 2,111 hectares eradicated by the end of May
2011. To date during 2011, a total of 3,827 hectares of GLE has been
verified in 17 provinces throughout the country, an increase of more
than 45 percent in eradication over the same time last year.
[[Page 358]]
Although the amount of opium poppy cultivated in Pakistan is much less
than Afghanistan, the country continues to qualify as a major drug
producing country, with an estimated 1,700 hectares of opium poppy under
cultivation. The country also remains a major transit country for
opiates and hashish for markets around the world and is a transit
country for precursor chemicals illegally smuggled to Afghanistan, where
they are used to process heroin. Bilateral cooperation between Pakistan
and the United States continues to support Pakistan's goal of returning
to poppy-free status. United States Government support focuses
especially on upgrading the institutional capacity of Pakistan's law
enforcement agencies.
A number of indicators qualify the addition of El Salvador and Belize to
the Majors List along with the remainder of Central American countries
on the isthmus connecting South America to North America.
El Salvador, located between Guatemala and Nicaragua along the Pacific
coastline and sharing an eastern border with Honduras, is subject to a
number of factors making it vulnerable to the drug trade flowing to the
United States from South America. The International Narcotics Control
Board describes El Salvador as part of the so-called ``northern
triangle'' with Guatemala and Honduras where ``national gangs are
forming alliances with international criminal syndicates.'' According to
the most recent U.S. interagency assessment of cocaine flows, the amount
of this illicit substance passing through El Salvador destined directly
for the United States was estimated at 4 metric tons in 2009.
The most recent U.S. assessment for Belize estimates the flow of drugs
destined for the United States through this Central American country on
the Caribbean coast at about 10 metric tons. Belize's vulnerability as a
south-north avenue for the illegal narcotics trade is also demonstrated
by recent drug and weapons seizures in Mexico along the border it shares
with Belize. United States officials also report that drug control
observers in Belize are increasingly concerned about the presence of
drug trafficking organizations, including Los Zetas of Mexico, in the
country's border areas and in coastal ports.
Considering the Central American region as a whole, the United States
Government estimates that as much as 90 percent of some 700 metric tons
of cocaine shipped annually from Colombia and other producing nations
intended for the U.S. markets passes through the countries of Central
America. This situation is an important element prompting the Central
American Citizen Security Partnership, which I announced in March 2011.
Through this partnership, the United States is working to refocus the
impact of assistance through the Central American Regional Security
Initiative (CARSI) and enhance the impact of complementary United States
Government non-CARSI citizen safety and rule of law programs. Countries
in the region are increasing coordination through the Central American
Integration System, a combined effort to promote citizen security and
economic prosperity, including programs aimed at thwarting the drug
trade.
International documentation shows continued strengthening of illegal
drug trafficking ties between South America and West Africa. West Africa
is the closest point to South America for transatlantic purposes, and
its close proximity to southern Europe provides a natural gateway to
European drug
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markets. Porous borders, inadequate law enforcement, and corruption
create a permissive environment for the illegal drug trade. West African
linguistic connections among Brazil, Portugal, and Cape Verde may also
contribute to narcotics trafficking.
According to the U.S. assessment of cocaine movement, about a third of
cocaine destined for Europe passed through West Africa in 2009. The 2011
U.N. World Drug Report also states there are reports that cocaine from
Latin America is being stockpiled in some West African countries for
future distribution to Europe in smaller quantities.
Despite the range of domestic challenges, including corruption, West
African countries have begun to consider narcotics control as a top
national security priority. For example, in 2010, Liberian law
enforcement successfully uncovered and interdicted a cache of cocaine
valued at $100 million. A number of U.S. projects in West Africa are
aimed at improving drug interdiction and investigation capabilities. The
assistance provided by international donors and organizations to West
African governments to improve their counternarcotics capability is
increasingly urgent. The United States welcomes fresh impetus in 2010
and 2011 from the international community, especially the United Nations
and the European Union, to make Africa a priority for drug-control
assistance, to promote and protect the stability and positive growth of
countries in Africa.
The stealth with which both marijuana and synthetic drugs such as MDMA
(ecstasy) and methamphetamine are produced in Canada and trafficked to
the United States makes it difficult to measure the overall impact of
this smuggling. However, a special report prepared in May 2011 by the
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration states that ``the threat posed by
MDMA trafficking from Canada to and within the United States is
significant.'' For example, in April 2011, a seizure of 20 pounds of
MDMA from a Canada-based trafficking group was made by U.S. law
enforcement in Plattsburg, New York. The United States pledges a more
robust engagement and dialogue with Canada to reduce the shared problem
of illegal drug trafficking. The results of this bilateral redoubling of
drug-control cooperation will be considered in the framework of next
year's Presidential Determination.
You are hereby authorized and directed to submit this determination
under section 706 of the FRAA, transmit it to the Congress, and publish
it in the Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, September 15, 2011.
Notice of September 21, 2011
Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Persons Who
Commit, Threaten To Commit, or Support Terrorism
On September 23, 2001, by Executive Order 13224, the President declared
a national emergency with respect to persons who commit, threaten to
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commit, or support terrorism, pursuant to the International Emergency
Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706). The President took this
action to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national
security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States constituted
by the grave acts of terrorism and threats of terrorism committed by
foreign terrorists, including the terrorist attacks on September 11,
2001, in New York and Pennsylvania and against the Pentagon, and the
continuing and immediate threat of further attacks against United States
nationals or the United States. Because the actions of these persons who
commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism continue to pose an
unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign
policy, and economy of the United States, the national emergency
declared on September 23, 2001, and the measures adopted on that date to
deal with that emergency, must continue in effect beyond September 23,
2011. 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 persons who commit, threaten to
commit, or support terrorism.
This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted
to the Congress.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
September 21, 2011.
Memorandum of September 28, 2011
Provision of Aviation Insurance Coverage for Commercial Air Carrier
Service in Domestic and International Operations
Memorandum for the Secretary of Transportation
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States, including 49 U.S.C. 44301-44310, I hereby:
1. Determine that the continuation of U.S. commercial air transportation
is necessary in the interest of air commerce, national security, and the
foreign policy of the United States.
2. Approve the provision by the Secretary of Transportation of insurance
or reinsurance to U.S. air carriers against loss or damage arising out
of any risk from the operation of an aircraft in the manner and to the
extent provided in chapter 443 of title 49 of the U.S. Code until
September 30, 2012, when he determines such insurance or reinsurance
cannot be obtained on reasonable terms and conditions from any company
authorized to conduct an insurance business in a State of the United
States.
[[Page 361]]
You are directed to bring this determination immediately to the
attention of all air carriers, as defined in 49 U.S.C. 40102(a)(2), and
to arrange for its publication in the Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, September 28, 2011.
Presidential Determination No. 2011-17 of September 30, 2011
Fiscal Year 2012 Refugee Admissions Numbers and Authorizations of In-
Country Refugee Status Pursuant to Sections 207 and 101(a)(42),
Respectively, of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and Determination
Pursuant to Section 2(b)(2) of the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act,
as Amended
Memorandum for the Secretary of State
In accordance with section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act
(the ``Act'') (8 U.S.C. 1157), as amended, and after appropriate
consultations with the Congress, I hereby make the following
determinations and authorize the following actions:
The admission of up to 76,000 refugees to the United States during
Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 is justified by humanitarian concerns or is
otherwise in the national interest; provided that this number shall be
understood as including persons admitted to the United States during FY
2012 with Federal refugee resettlement assistance under the Amerasian
immigrant admissions program, as provided below.
The 76,000 admissions numbers shall be allocated among refugees of
special humanitarian concern to the United States in accordance with the
following regional allocations (provided that the number of admissions
allocated to the East Asia region shall include persons admitted to the
United States during FY 2012 with Federal refugee resettlement
assistance under section 584 of the Foreign Operations, Export
Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act of 1988, as contained
in section 101(e) of Public Law 100-202 (Amerasian immigrants and their
family members)):
Africa 12,000
East Asia 18,000
Europe and Central Asia 2,000
Latin America/Caribbean 5,500
Near East/South Asia 35,500
Unallocated Reserve 3,000
The 3,000 unallocated refugee numbers shall be allocated to regional
ceilings, as needed. Upon providing notification to the Judiciary
Committees
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of the Congress, you are hereby authorized to use unallocated admissions
in regions where the need for additional admissions arises.
Additionally, upon notification to the Judiciary Committees of the
Congress, you are further authorized to transfer unused admissions
allocated to a particular region to one or more other regions, if there
is a need for greater admissions for the region or regions to which the
admissions are being transferred. Consistent with section 2(b)(2) of the
Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 (22 U.S.C. 2601(b)(2)), as
amended, I hereby determine that assistance to or on behalf of persons
applying for admission to the United States as part of the overseas
refugee admissions program will contribute to the foreign policy
interests of the United States and designate such persons for this
purpose.
Consistent with section 101(a)(42) of the Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(42)),
and after appropriate consultation with the Congress, I also specify
that, for FY 2012, the following persons may, if otherwise qualified, be
considered refugees for the purpose of admission to the United States
within their countries of nationality or habitual residence:
a. Persons in Cuba
b. Persons in Eurasia and the Baltics
c. Persons in Iraq
d. In exceptional circumstances, persons identified by a
United States Embassy in any location
You are authorized and directed to report this determination to the
Congress immediately and to publish it in the Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, September 30, 2011.
Presidential Determination No. 2011-18 of September 30, 2011
Presidential Determination With Respect to Foreign Governments' Efforts
Regarding Trafficking in Persons
Memorandum for the Secretary of State
Consistent with section 110 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of
2000 (Division A of Public Law 106-386), as amended (the ``Act''), I
hereby:
Make the determination provided in section 110(d)(1)(A)(i) of the Act,
with respect to Burma, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial
Guinea, and Zimbabwe, not to provide certain funding for those
countries' governments for Fiscal Year 2012, until such governments
comply with the minimum standards or make significant efforts to bring
themselves into compliance, as may be determined by the Secretary of
State in a report to the Congress pursuant to section 110(b) of the Act;
Make the determination provided in section 110(d)(l)(A)(ii) of the Act,
with respect to Cuba, the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea
(DPRK), Eritrea, Iran, Madagascar, and Venezuela, not to provide certain
funding for
[[Page 363]]
those countries' governments for Fiscal Year 2012, until such
governments comply with the minimum standards or make significant
efforts to bring themselves into compliance, as may be determined by the
Secretary of State in a report to the Congress pursuant to section
110(b) of the Act;
Determine, consistent with section 110(d)(4) of the Act, with respect to
Algeria, the Central African Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Kuwait, Lebanon,
Libya, Mauritania, Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan,
Turkmenistan, and Yemen that provision to these countries' governments
of all programs, projects, or activities of assistance described in
sections 110(d)(l)(A)(i)-(ii) and 110(d)(l)(B) of the Act would promote
the purposes of the Act or is otherwise in the national interest of the
United States;
Determine, consistent with section 110(d)(4) of the Act, with respect to
Burma, that a partial waiver to allow funding for programs described in
section 110(d)(1)(A)(i) of the Act to support government labs and
offices that work to combat infectious disease and to support government
participation in nongovernmental organization-run civil society programs
and Association of South East Asian Nations programs addressing
vulnerable populations would promote the purposes of the Act or is
otherwise in the national interest of the United States;
Determine, consistent with section 110(d)(4) of the Act, with respect to
Cuba and Venezuela, that a partial waiver to allow funding for
educational and cultural exchange programs described in section
110(d)(1)(A)(ii) of the Act that are related to democracy or the rule of
law programming would promote the purposes of the Act or is otherwise in
the national interest of the United States;
Determine, consistent with section 110(d)(4) of the Act, with respect to
Iran, that a partial waiver to allow funding for educational and
cultural exchange programs described in section 110(d)(1)(A)(ii) of the
Act would promote the purposes of the Act or is otherwise in the
national interest of the United States;
Determine, consistent with section 110(d)(4) of the Act, with respect to
the Democratic Republic of the Congo, that assistance and programs
described in section 110(d)(1)(A)(i) and 110(d)(1)(B) of the Act, with
the exception of Foreign Military Sales and Foreign Military Financing,
would promote the purposes of the Act or is otherwise in the national
interest of the United States;
Determine, consistent with section 110(d)(4) of the Act, with respect to
Venezuela, that a partial waiver to allow funding for programs described
in section 110(d)(1)(A)(i) of the Act to support programs designed to
strengthen the democratic process in Venezuela would promote the
purposes of the Act or is otherwise in the national interest of the
United States;
Determine, consistent with section 110(d)(4) of the Act, with respect to
Equatorial Guinea, that a partial waiver to allow funding for programs
described in section 110(d)(1)(A)(i) of the Act to support programs to
study and combat the spread of infectious diseases and to advance
sustainable natural resource management and biodiversity would promote
the purposes of the Act or is otherwise in the national interest of the
United States;
Determine, consistent with section 110(d)(4) of the Act, with respect to
Equatorial Guinea, that assistance described in section 110(d)(1)(B) of
the
[[Page 364]]
Act would promote the purposes of the Act or is otherwise in the
national interest of the United States;
Determine, consistent with section 110(d)(4) of the Act, with respect to
Zimbabwe, that a partial waiver to allow funding for programs described
in section 110(d)(l)(A)(i) of the Act for assistance for victims of
trafficking in persons or to combat such trafficking, and for programs
to support the promotion of health, good governance, education,
agriculture and food security, poverty reduction, livelihoods, family
planning, and macroeconomic growth including anticorruption, and
programs that would have a significant adverse effect on vulnerable
populations if suspended, would promote the purposes of the Act or is
otherwise in the national interest of the United States;
And determine, consistent with section 110(d)(4) of the Act, with
respect to Venezuela and Zimbabwe, that assistance described in section
110(d)(1)(B) of the Act, which:
(1) is a regional program, project, or activity under which the
total benefit to Venezuela or Zimbabwe does not exceed 10 percent of the
total value of such program, project, or activity; or
(2) has as its primary objective the addressing of basic human
needs, as defined by the Department of the Treasury with respect to
other, existing legislative mandates concerning U.S. participation in
the multilateral development banks; or
(3) is complementary to or has similar policy objectives to programs
being implemented bilaterally by the United States Government; or
(4) has as its primary objective the improvement of Venezuela or
Zimbabwe's legal system, including in areas that impact Venezuela or
Zimbabwe's ability to investigate and prosecute trafficking cases or
otherwise improve implementation of its anti-trafficking policy,
regulations or legislation; or
(5) is engaging a government, international organization, or civil
society organization, and seeks as its primary objective(s) to: (a)
increase efforts to investigate and prosecute trafficking in persons
crimes; (b) increase protection for victims of trafficking through
better screening, identification, rescue or removal; aftercare (shelter,
counseling) training and reintegration; or (c) expand prevention efforts
through education and awareness campaigns highlighting the dangers of
trafficking or training and economic empowerment of populations clearly
at risk of falling victim to trafficking, would promote the purposes of
the Act or is otherwise in the national interest of the United States.
The certification required by section 110(e) of the Act is provided
herewith.
You are hereby authorized and directed to submit this determination to
the Congress, and to publish it in the Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, September 30, 2011.
[[Page 365]]
Presidential Determination No. 2012-1 of October 4, 2011
Certification and Determination With Respect to the Child Soldiers
Prevention Act of 2008
Memorandum for the Secretary of State
Pursuant to section 404 of the Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008
(CSPA) (title IV, Public Law 110-457), I hereby: certify that the
Government of Chad has implemented measures that include an action plan
and actual steps to come into compliance with the standards outlined in
the CSPA, and has implemented policies and mechanisms to prohibit and
prevent future government or government-supported use of child soldiers
and to ensure that no children are recruited, conscripted, or otherwise
compelled to serve as child soldiers.
I hereby determine that it is in the national interest of the United
States to waive the application of the prohibition in section 404(a) of
the CSPA with respect to Yemen; and further determine that it is in the
national interest of the United States to waive in part the application
of the prohibition in section 404(a) of the CSPA with respect to the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, to allow for continued provision of
International Military Education and Training and non-lethal Excess
Defense Articles, and issuance of licenses for direct commercial sales
of military equipment; and I hereby waive such provisions accordingly.
You are authorized and directed to submit this determination to the
Congress, along with the accompanying Memorandum of Justification, and
to publish the determination in the Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, October 4, 2011.
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Presidential Determination No. 2012-2 of October 14, 2011
Provision of U.S. Drug Interdiction Assistance to the Government of
Brazil
Memorandum for the Secretary of State [and] the Secretary of Defense
Pursuant to the authority vested in me by section 1012 of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995, as amended (22 U.S.C.
2291-4), I hereby certify, with respect to Brazil, that (1) interdiction
of aircraft reasonably suspected to be primarily engaged in illicit drug
trafficking in that country's airspace is necessary because of the
extraordinary threat posed by illicit drug trafficking to the national
security of that country; and (2) that country has appropriate
procedures in place to protect against innocent loss of life in the air
and on the ground in connection with such interdiction, which shall at a
minimum include effective means to identify and warn an aircraft before
the use of force is directed against the aircraft.
The Secretary of State is authorized and directed to publish this
determination in the Federal Register and to notify the Congress of this
determination.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, October 14, 2011.
Notice of October 19, 2011
Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Significant
Narcotics Traffickers Centered in Colombia
On October 21, 1995, by Executive Order 12978, the President declared a
national emergency pursuant to the International Emergency Economic
Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706) to deal with the unusual and
extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and
economy of the United States constituted by the actions of significant
narcotics traffickers centered in Colombia and the extreme level of
violence, corruption, and harm such actions cause in the United States
and abroad.
Because the actions of significant narcotics traffickers centered in
Colombia continue to threaten the national security, foreign policy, and
economy of the United States and cause an extreme level of violence,
corruption, and harm in the United States and abroad, the national
emergency declared on October 21, 1995, and the measures adopted
pursuant thereto to deal with that emergency, must continue in effect
beyond October 21, 2011. 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 significant narcotics
traffickers centered in Colombia.
[[Page 371]]
This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted
to the Congress.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
October 19, 2011.
Notice of October 25, 2011
Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Situation in
or in Relation 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 that continue to threaten regional stability.
Because this situation continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary
threat to the foreign policy of the United States, the national
emergency declared on October 27, 2006, and the measures adopted on that
date to deal with that emergency, must continue in effect beyond October
27, 2011. 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 13413.
This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted
to the Congress.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
October 25, 2011.
Memorandum of October 28, 2011
Making It Easier for America's Small Businesses and America's Exporters
To Access Government Services To Help Them Grow and Hire
Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies
As I outlined in my State of the Union address to the Congress on
January 25, 2011, winning the future in the global economy will require
a Government that wisely allocates its scarce resources to maximize
efficiency and
[[Page 372]]
effectiveness so that it can best support American competitiveness,
innovation, and job growth. If we are to thrive in the global economy,
and make America the best place on Earth to do business, we need to
equip our Government with the tools necessary to support innovation and
job growth in the 21st century.
Accordingly, we must make it easier for businesses to access the full
range of Government programs and services without having to waste effort
navigating their way through the Federal bureaucracy. At the same time,
we must further streamline and coordinate Federal programs to reduce
costs and provide customer-oriented service.
Businesses looking for assistance from the Federal Government should
feel like they are interacting with one entity, rather than a number of
separate, albeit linked, components. This means adopting a ``No Wrong
Door'' policy that uses technology to quickly connect businesses to the
services and information relevant to them, regardless of which agency's
website, call center, or office they go to for help.
In addition, a business's interactions with the Federal Government
should be individualized and efficient. If the private sector can allow
consumers to customize interactions so that they receive only the
information they want, in the form they want it, so can the Federal
Government.
Today, I am directing a first wave of changes focused on both small
businesses and businesses of all sizes that want to begin or increase
exporting (exporters), because those businesses help drive economic
growth and have the most to gain from Federal assistance. We plan to use
the resulting improvements as a model for future reforms so that, in
time, all businesses and all citizens receive the highest level of
customer service when they interact with the Federal Government.
Accordingly, I direct the following:
(1) All executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall work
with a Steering Committee co-chaired by the Federal Chief Information
Officer, Assistant to the President and Chief Technology Officer, and
Chief Performance Officer (the Co-Chairs) to carry out the directives in
this memorandum within 90 days of the date of this memorandum, unless a
provision of this memorandum expressly states otherwise. The Steering
Committee shall include senior policy and technical representatives,
appointed by the heads of their respective agencies, from the
Departments of State, Defense, Agriculture, Commerce, and Veterans
Affairs, the Small Business Administration (SBA), the General Services
Administration (GSA), the Export-Import Bank, and other agencies
designated by the Co-Chairs. The Co-Chairs and representatives from the
Department of Commerce and SBA shall serve as the Executive Committee of
the Steering Committee, which shall coordinate the strategy, design,
development, launch, and operation of BusinessUSA, a common, open,
online platform and web service with dedicated resources that will, as a
first step, disseminate core information regarding the Federal
Government's programs and services relevant to small businesses and
exporters.
(2) Agencies shall work with the Steering Committee to develop and
launch an introductory version of BusinessUSA. BusinessUSA shall be
designed, tested, and built with the active feedback of U.S. businesses
and relevant online communities. To the extent appropriate, practicable,
and
[[Page 373]]
permitted by law, the BusinessUSA platform shall integrate related State
and local government services as well as those of private sector
partners.
(3) Agencies shall make information regarding their small business
and export programs and services accessible through BusinessUSA. To
accomplish this in a uniform fashion, the Steering Committee shall
develop a common set of standards for content available through
BusinessUSA, which shall identify the types of programs and services to
be included initially on BusinessUSA and a structure for organizing and
presenting such information. These standards shall be used by all
agencies in the creation, presentation, and delivery of information
regarding their programs and services, to the extent practicable and
permitted by law.
(4) Agencies shall also work with the Steering Committee to develop
new content for BusinessUSA that synthesizes information available
across agencies to better serve small businesses and exporters. Among
other things, agencies shall work together to aggregate on the
BusinessUSA platform statistical, demographic, and other raw Government
datasets of particular interest to small businesses and exporters,
making Government data more easily accessible and spurring innovative
uses of the data through business-oriented web or mobile applications.
(5) Agencies shall integrate BusinessUSA, including ready access to
the BusinessUSA website, into their current websites, call centers, and
field offices to ensure that small businesses and exporters have access
to the wide range of Government programs and services at each entry
point into the Federal Government. During the year following the date of
this memorandum, agencies shall work with GSA and the Office of
Management and Budget to enhance the centralized call center for
responding to public questions about Federal programs and services (1-
800-FED-INFO) to add expertise with Government programs and services for
small businesses and exporters.
(6) (a) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or
otherwise affect:
(i) authority granted by law or Executive Order to an agency, or the head
thereof; or
(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) BusinessUSA shall be operated by a single hosting agency under the
Executive Committee's coordination. To the extent permitted by law,
agencies shall reimburse the hosting agency for the cost of establishing,
maintaining, and operating BusinessUSA.
(c) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and
subject to the availability of appropriations.
(d) This memorandum 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.
[[Page 374]]
(7) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget is
authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal
Register.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, October 28, 2011.
Notice of November 1, 2011
Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Sudan
On November 3, 1997, by Executive Order 13067, the President declared a
national emergency with respect to Sudan, pursuant to the International
Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706), to deal with the
unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign
policy of the United States posed by the actions and policies of the
Government of Sudan. On April 26, 2006, in Executive Order 13400, the
President determined that the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region posed an
unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign
policy of the United States, expanded the scope of the national
emergency to deal with that threat, and ordered the blocking of property
of certain persons connected to the conflict. On October 13, 2006, the
President issued Executive Order 13412 to take additional steps with
respect to the national emergency and to implement the Darfur Peace and
Accountability Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-344).
Because the actions and policies of the Government of Sudan continue to
pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and
foreign policy of the United States, the national emergency declared on
November 3, 1997, as expanded on April 26, 2006, and with respect to
which additional steps were taken on October 13, 2006, must continue in
effect beyond November 3, 2011. Therefore, consistent 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 Sudan.
This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted
to the Congress.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
November 1, 2011.
[[Page 375]]
Notice of November 7, 2011
Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Iran
On November 14, 1979, by Executive Order 12170, the President declared a
national emergency with respect to Iran, pursuant to the International
Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706), to deal with the
unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign
policy, and economy of the United States constituted by the situation in
Iran. Because our relations with Iran have not yet returned to normal,
and the process of implementing the agreements with Iran, dated January
19, 1981, is still under way, the national emergency declared on
November 14, 1979, must continue in effect beyond November 14, 2011.
Therefore, consistent with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies
Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year this national
emergency with respect to Iran.
This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted
to the Congress.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
November 7, 2011.
Notice of November 9, 2011
Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Weapons of Mass
Destruction
On November 14, 1994, by Executive Order 12938, the President declared a
national emergency with respect to the unusual and extraordinary threat
to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United
States posed by the proliferation of nuclear, biological, and chemical
weapons (weapons of mass destruction) and the means of delivering such
weapons. On July 28, 1998, the President issued Executive Order 13094
amending Executive Order 12938 to respond more effectively to the
worldwide threat of weapons of mass destruction proliferation
activities. On June 28, 2005, the President issued Executive Order 13382
which, inter alia, further amended Executive Order 12938 to improve our
ability to combat proliferation. The proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction and the means of delivering them continues to pose an
unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign
policy, and economy of the United States; therefore, the national
emergency first declared on November 14, 1994, and extended in each
subsequent year, must continue. 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 12938, as amended.
[[Page 376]]
This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted
to the Congress.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
November 9, 2011.
Memorandum of November 28, 2011
Managing Government Records
Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies
Section 1. Purpose. This memorandum begins an executive branch-wide
effort to reform records management policies and practices. Improving
records management will improve performance and promote openness and
accountability by better documenting agency actions and decisions.
Records transferred to the National Archives and Records Administration
(NARA) provide the prism through which future generations will
understand and learn from our actions and decisions. Modernized records
management will also help executive departments and agencies (agencies)
minimize costs and operate more efficiently. Improved records management
thus builds on Executive Order 13589 of November 9, 2011 (Promoting
Efficient Spending), which directed agencies to reduce spending and
focus on mission-critical functions.
When records are well-managed, agencies can use them to assess the
impact of programs, to reduce redundant efforts, to save money, and to
share knowledge within and across their organizations. In these ways,
proper records management is the backbone of open Government.
Decades of technological advances have transformed agency operations,
creating challenges and opportunities for agency records management.
Greater reliance on electronic communication and systems has radically
increased the volume and diversity of information that agencies must
manage. With proper planning, technology can make these records less
burdensome to manage and easier to use and share. But if records
management policies and practices are not updated for a digital age, the
surge in information could overwhelm agency systems, leading to higher
costs and lost records.
We must address these challenges while using the opportunity to develop
a 21st-century framework for the management of Government records. This
framework will provide a foundation for open Government, leverage
information to improve agency performance, and reduce unnecessary costs
and burdens.
Sec. 2. Agency Commitments to Records Management Reform. (a) The head of
each agency shall:
(i) ensure that the successful implementation of records management
requirements in law, regulation, and this memorandum is a priority for
senior agency management;
(ii) ensure that proper resources are allocated to the effective
implementation of such requirements; and
[[Page 377]]
(iii) within 30 days of the date of this memorandum, designate in writing
to the Archivist of the United States (Archivist), a senior agency official
to supervise the review required by subsection (b) of this section, in
coordination with the agency's Records Officer, Chief Information Officer,
and General Counsel.
(b) Within 120 days of the date of this memorandum, each agency head
shall submit a report to the Archivist and the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) that:
(i) describes the agency's current plans for improving or maintaining its
records management program, particularly with respect to managing
electronic records, including email and social media, deploying cloud-based
services or storage solutions, and meeting other records challenges;
(ii) identifies any provisions, or omissions, in relevant statutes,
regulations, or official NARA guidance that currently pose an obstacle to
the agency's adoption of sound, cost-effective records management policies
and practices; and
(iii) identifies policies or programs that, if included in the Records
Management Directive required by section 3 of this memorandum or adopted or
implemented by NARA, would assist the agency's efforts to improve records
management.
The reports submitted pursuant to this subsection should supplement, and
therefore need not duplicate, information provided by agencies to NARA
pursuant to other reporting obligations.
Sec. 3. Records Management Directive. (a) Within 120 days of the
deadline for reports submitted pursuant to section 2(b) of this
memorandum, the Director of OMB and the Archivist, in coordination with
the Associate Attorney General, shall issue a Records Management
Directive that directs agency heads to take specific steps to reform and
improve records management policies and practices within their agency.
The directive shall focus on:
(i) creating a Government-wide records management framework that is more
efficient and cost-effective;
(ii) promoting records management policies and practices that enhance the
capability of agencies to fulfill their statutory missions;
(iii) maintaining accountability through documentation of agency actions;
(iv) increasing open Government and appropriate public access to Government
records;
(v) supporting agency compliance with applicable legal requirements related
to the preservation of information relevant to litigation; and
(vi) transitioning from paper-based records management to electronic
records management where feasible.
(b) In the course of developing the directive, the Archivist, in
coordination with the Director of OMB and the Associate Attorney
General, shall review relevant statutes, regulations, and official NARA
guidance to identify opportunities for reforms that would facilitate
improved Government-wide records management practices, particularly with
respect to electronic records. The Archivist, in coordination with the
Director of OMB and the Associate Attorney General, shall present to the
President the results of this
[[Page 378]]
review, no later than the date of the directive's issuance, to
facilitate potential updates to the laws, regulations, and policies
governing the management of Federal records.
(c) In developing the directive, the Director of OMB and the
Archivist, in coordination with the Associate Attorney General, shall
consult with other affected agencies, interagency groups, and public
stakeholders.
Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) This memorandum shall be implemented
consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
(b) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or
otherwise affect:
(i) authority granted by law to a department or agency, or the head
thereof; or
(ii) functions of the Director of OMB relating to budgetary,
administrative, or legislative proposals.
(c) This memorandum 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. 5. Publication. The Archivist is hereby authorized and directed to
publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, November 28, 2011.
Presidential Determination No. 2012-3 of December 2, 2011
Suspension of Limitations Under the Jerusalem Embassy Act
Memorandum for the Secretary of State
Pursuant to the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution
and the laws of the United States, including section 7(a) of the
Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-45) (the ``Act''), I
hereby determine that it is necessary, in order to protect the national
security interests of the United States, to suspend for a period of 6
months the limitations set forth in sections 3(b) and 7(b) of the Act.
You are hereby authorized and directed to transmit this determination to
the Congress, accompanied by a report in accordance with section 7(a) of
the Act, and to publish the determination in the Federal Register.
This suspension shall take effect after the transmission of this
determination and report to the Congress.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, December 2, 2011.
[[Page 379]]
Memorandum of December 15, 2011
Determinations Under Section 1106(a) of the Omnibus Trade and
Competitiveness Act of 1988--Russian Federation
Memorandum for the United States Trade Representative
Pursuant to section 1106(a) of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act
of 1988 (19 U.S.C. 2905(a)), I determine that state trading enterprises
account for a significant share of the exports of the Russian Federation
(Russia) and goods that compete with imports into Russia. I further
determine that such state trading enterprises unduly burden and
restrict, or adversely affect, the foreign trade of the United States or
of the U.S. economy, or are likely to result in such a burden,
restriction, or effect.
Russia is seeking to become a member of the World Trade Organization
(WTO). The terms and conditions for Russia's accession to the WTO
include Russia's commitments that it will ensure that state-owned and
state-controlled enterprises, when engaged in commercial activity, will
make purchases, which are not intended for governmental use, and sales
in international trade in a manner consistent with applicable provisions
of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization
(WTO Agreement). In addition, Russia's state trading enterprises will
make purchases and sales based solely on commercial considerations,
e.g., price, quality, marketability, and availability, and that U.S.
business firms will have an adequate opportunity to compete for sales to
and purchases from these enterprises on non-discriminatory terms and
conditions. The obligations that Russia will assume under the WTO
Agreement, including Russia's protocol of accession, meet the
requirements of section 1106(b)(2)(A) (19 U.S.C. 2905(b)(2)(A)), and
thus my determinations under section 1106(a) do not require invocation
of the non-application provisions of the WTO Agreement.
You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the
Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, December 15, 2011.
Memorandum of December 21, 2011
Flexible Implementation of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards Rule
Memorandum for the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
Today's issuance, by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), of the
final Mercury and Air Toxics Standards rule for power plants (the ``MATS
[[Page 380]]
Rule'') represents a major step forward in my Administration's efforts
to protect public health and the environment.
This rule, issued after careful consideration of public comments,
prescribes standards under section 112 of the Clean Air Act to control
emissions of mercury and other toxic air pollutants from power plants,
which collectively are among the largest sources of such pollution in
the United States. The EPA estimates that by substantially reducing
emissions of pollutants that contribute to neurological damage, cancer,
respiratory illnesses, and other health risks, the MATS Rule will
produce major health benefits for millions of Americans--including
children, older Americans, and other vulnerable populations. Consistent
with Executive Order 13563 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review),
the estimated benefits of the MATS Rule far exceed the estimated costs.
The MATS Rule can be implemented through the use of demonstrated,
existing pollution control technologies. The United States is a global
market leader in the design and manufacture of these technologies, and
it is anticipated that U.S. firms and workers will provide much of the
equipment and labor needed to meet the substantial investments in
pollution control that the standards are expected to spur.
These new standards will promote the transition to a cleaner and more
efficient U.S. electric power system. This system as a whole is critical
infrastructure that plays a key role in the functioning of all facets of
the U.S. economy, and maintaining its stability and reliability is of
critical importance. It is therefore crucial that implementation of the
MATS Rule proceed in a cost-effective manner that ensures electric
reliability.
Analyses conducted by the EPA and the Department of Energy (DOE)
indicate that the MATS Rule is not anticipated to compromise electric
generating resource adequacy in any region of the country. The Clean Air
Act offers a number of implementation flexibilities, and the EPA has a
long and successful history of using those flexibilities to ensure a
smooth transition to cleaner technologies.
The Clean Air Act provides 3 years from the effective date of the MATS
Rule for sources to comply with its requirements. In addition, section
112(i)(3)(B) of the Act allows the issuance of a permit granting a
source up to one additional year where necessary for the installation of
controls. As you stated in the preamble to the MATS Rule, this
additional fourth year should be broadly available to sources,
consistent with the requirements of the law.
The EPA has concluded that 4 years should generally be sufficient to
install the necessary emission control equipment, and DOE has issued
analysis consistent with that conclusion. While more time is generally
not expected to be needed, the Clean Air Act offers other important
flexibilities as well. For example, section 113(a) of the Act provides
the EPA with flexibility to bring sources into compliance over the
course of an additional year, should unusual circumstances arise that
warrant such flexibility.
To address any concerns with respect to electric reliability while
assuring MATS' public health benefits, I direct you to take the
following actions:
1. Building on the information and guidance that you have provided to
the public, relevant stakeholders, and permitting authorities in the
preamble of the MATS Rule, work with State and local permitting
authorities to make
[[Page 381]]
the additional year for compliance with the MATS Rule provided under
section 112(i)(3)(B) of the Clean Air Act broadly available to sources,
consistent with law, and to invoke this flexibility expeditiously where
justified.
2. Promote early, coordinated, and orderly planning and execution of the
measures needed to implement the MATS Rule while maintaining the
reliability of the electric power system. Consistent with Executive
Order 13563, this process should be designed to ``promote predictability
and reduce uncertainty,'' and should include engagement and coordination
with DOE, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, State utility
regulators, Regional Transmission Organizations, the North American
Electric Reliability Corporation and regional electric reliability
organizations, other grid planning authorities, electric utilities, and
other stakeholders, as appropriate.
3. Make available to the public, including relevant stakeholders,
information concerning any anticipated use of authorities: (a) under
section 112(i)(3)(B) of the Clean Air Act in the event that additional
time to comply with the MATS Rule is necessary for the installation of
technology; and(b) under section 113(a) of the Clean Air Act in the
event that additional time to comply with the MATS Rule is necessary to
address a specific and documented electric reliability issue. This
information should describe the process for working with entities with
relevant expertise to identify circumstances where electric reliability
concerns might justify allowing additional time to comply.
This memorandum 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.
You are hereby authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the
Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, December 21, 2011.
[[Page 383]]
CHAPTER I--EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Part Page
100 Standards of conduct........................ 384
101 Public information provisions of the
Administrative Procedures Act........... 384
102 Enforcement of nondiscrimination on the
basis of handicap in programs or
activities conducted by the Executive
Office of the President................. 384
PART 100_STANDARDS OF CONDUCT--Table of Contents
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 7301.
Source: 64 FR 12881, Mar. 16, 1999, unless otherwise noted.
[[Page 384]]
Sec. 100.1 Ethical conduct standards and financial disclosure regulations.
Employees of the Executive Office of the President are subject to
the executive branch-wide standards of ethical conduct at 5 CFR part
2635, and the executive branch-wide financial disclosure regulations at
5 CFR part 2634.
PART 101_PUBLIC INFORMATION PROVISIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
ACT--Table of Contents
Sec.
101.1 Executive Office of the President.
101.2 Office of Management and Budget.
101.3 Office of Administration.
101.4 National Security Council.
101.5 Council on Environmental Quality.
101.6 Office of National Drug Control Policy.
101.7 Office of Science and Technology Policy.
101.8 Office of the United States Trade Representative.
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552.
Source: 40 FR 8061, Feb. 25, 1975 and 55 FR 46067, November 1, 1990,
unless otherwise noted.
Sec. 101.1 Executive Office of the President.
Until further regulations are promulgated, the remainder of the
entities within the Executive Office of the President, to the extent
that 5 U.S.C. 552 is applicable, shall follow the procedures set forth
in the regulations applicable to the Office of Management and Budget (5
CFR Ch. III). Requests for information from these other entities should
be submitted directly to such entity.
Sec. 101.2 Office of Management and Budget.
Freedom of Information regulations for the Office of Management and
Budget appear at 5 CFR Ch. III.
Sec. 101.3 Office of Administration.
Freedom of Information regulations for the Office of Administration
appear at 5 CFR part 2502.
[55 FR 46037, Nov. 1, 1990]
Sec. 101.4 National Security Council.
Freedom of Information regulations for the National Security Council
appear at 32 CFR Ch. XXI.
Sec. 101.5 Council on Environmental Quality.
Freedom of Information regulations for the Council on Environmental
Quality appear at 40 CFR Ch. V.
[42 FR 65131, Dec. 30, 1977]
Sec. 101.6 Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Freedom of Information regulations for the Office of National Drug
Control Policy appear at 21 CFR parts 1400-1499.
[55 FR 46037, Nov. 1, 1990]
Sec. 101.7 Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Freedom of Information regulations for the Office of Science and
Technology Policy appear at 32 CFR part 2402.
[55 FR 46037, Nov. 1, 1990]
Sec. 101.8 Office of the United States Trade Representative.
Freedom of Information regulations for the Office of the United
States Trade Representative appear at 15 CFR part 2004.
[55 FR 46037, Nov. 1, 1990]
PART 102_ENFORCEMENT OF NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF HANDICAP IN
PROGRAMS OR ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED BY THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE
PRESIDENT--Table of Contents
Sec.
102.101 Purpose.
102.102 Application.
102.103 Definitions.
102.104-102.109 [Reserved]
102.110 Self-evaluation.
102.111 Notice.
102.112-102.129 [Reserved]
[[Page 385]]
102.130 General prohibitions against discrimination.
102.131-102.139 [Reserved]
102.140 Employment.
102.141-102.148 [Reserved]
102.149 Program accessibility: Discrimination prohibited.
102.150 Program accessibility: Existing facilities.
102.151 Program accessibility: New construction and alterations.
102.152-102.159 [Reserved]
102.160 Communications.
102.161-102.169 [Reserved]
102.170 Compliance procedures.
102.171-102.999 [Reserved]
Authority: 29 U.S.C. 794.
Source: 53 FR 25879, July 8, 1988, unless otherwise noted.
Sec. 102.101 Purpose.
The purpose of this regulation is to effectuate section 119 of the
Rehabilitation, Comprehensive Services, and Developmental Disabilities
Amendments of 1978, which amended section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973 to prohibit discrimination on the basis of handicap in programs
or activities conducted by Executive agencies or the United States
Postal Service.
Sec. 102.102 Application.
This regulation (Sec. Sec. 102.101-102.170) applies to all programs
or activities conducted by the agency, except for programs or activities
conducted outside the United States that do not involve individuals with
handicaps in the United States.
Sec. 102.103 Definitions.
For purposes of this regulation, the term--
Agency means, for purposes of this regulation only, the following
entities in the Executive Office of the President: the White House
Office, the Office of the Vice President, the Office of Management and
Budget, the Office of Policy Development, the National Security Council,
the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Office of the United
States Trade Representative, the Council on Environmental Quality, the
Council of Economic Advisers, the Office of Administration, the Office
of Federal Procurement Policy, and any committee, board, commission, or
similar group established in the Executive Office of the President.
Agency head or head of the agency; as used in Sec. Sec.
102.150(a)(3), 102.160(d) and 102.170 (i) and (j), shall be a three-
member board which will include the Director, Office of Administration,
the head of the Executive Office of the President, agency in which the
issue needing resolution or decision arises and one other agency head
selected by the two other board members. In the event that an issue
needing resolution or decision arises within the Office of
Administration, one of the board members shall be the Director of the
Office of Management and Budget.
Assistant Attorney General means the Assistant Attorney General,
Civil Rights Division, United States Department of Justice.
Auxiliary aids means services or devices that enable persons with
impaired sensory, manual, or speaking skills to have an equal
opportunity to participate in, and enjoy the benefits of, programs or
activities conducted by the agency. For example, auxiliary aids useful
for persons with impaired vision include readers, Brailled materials,
audio recordings, and other similar services and devices. Auxiliary aids
useful for persons with impaired hearing include telephone handset
amplifiers, telephones compatible with hearing aids, telecommunication
devices for deaf persons (TDD's), interpreters, notetakers, written
materials, and other similar services and devices.
Complete complaint means a written statement that contains the
complainant's name and address and describes the agency's alleged
discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the agency of the
nature and date of the alleged violation of section 504. It shall be
signed by the complainant or by someone authorized to do so on his or
her behalf. Complaints filed on behalf of classes or third parties shall
describe or identify (by name, if possible) the alleged victims of
discrimination.
Facility means all or any portion of buildings, structures,
equipment, roads, walks, parking lots, rolling stock or other
conveyances, or other real or personal property.
Historic preservation programs means programs conducted by the
agency that
[[Page 386]]
have preservation of historic properties as a primary purpose.
Historic properties means those properties that are listed or
eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places or
properties designated as historic under a statute of the appropriate
State or local government body.
Individual with handicaps means any person who has a physical or
mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life
activities, has a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having
such an impairment.
As used in this definition, the phrase:
(1) Physical or mental impairment includes--
(i) Any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement,
or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the following body systems:
Neurological; musculoskeletal; special sense organs; respiratory,
including speech organs; cardiovascular; reproductive; digestive;
genitourinary; hemic and lymphatic; skin; and endocrine; or
(ii) Any mental or psychological disorder, such as mental
retardation, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and
specific learning disabilities. The term ``physical or mental
impairment'' includes, but is not limited to, such diseases and
conditions as orthopedic, visual, speech, and hearing impairments,
cerebral palsy, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis,
cancer, heart disease, diabetes, mental retardation, emotional illness,
and drug addiction and alcoholism.
(2) Major life activities includes functions such as caring for
one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking,
breathing, learning, and working.
(3) Has a record of such an impairment means has a history of, or
has been misclassified as having, a mental or physical impairment that
substantially limits one or more major life activities.
(4) Is regarded as having an impairment means--
(i) Has a physical or mental impairment that does not substantially
limit major life activities but is treated by the agency as constituting
such a limitation;
(ii) Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits
major life activities only as a result of the attitudes of others toward
such impairment; or
(iii) Has none of the impairments defined in paragraph (1) of this
definition but is treated by the agency as having such an impairment.
Qualified individual with handicaps means--
(1) With respect to preschool, elementary, or secondary education
services provided by the agency, an individual with handicaps who is a
member of a class of persons otherwise entitled by statute, regulation,
or agency policy to receive education services from the agency;
(2) With respect to any other agency program or activity under which
a person is required to perform services or to achieve a level of
accomplishment, an individual with handicaps who meets the essential
eligibility requirements and who can achieve the purpose of the program
or activity without modifications in the program or activity that the
agency can demonstrate would result in a fundamental alteration in its
nature;
(3) With respect to any other program or activity, an individual
with handicaps who meets the essential eligibility requirements for
participation in, or receipt of benefits from, that program or activity;
and
(4) ``Qualified handicapped person'' as that term is defined for
purposes of employment in 29 CFR 1613.702(f), which is made applicable
to this regulation by Sec. 102.140.
Section 504 means section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
(Pub. L. 93-112, 87 Stat. 394 (29 U.S.C. 794)), as amended by the
Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1974 (Pub. L. 93-516, 88 Stat. 1617);
the Rehabilitation, Comprehensive Services, and Developmental
Disabilities Amendments of 1978 (Pub. L. 95-602, 92 Stat. 2955); and the
Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1986 (Pub. L. 99-506, 100 Stat. 1810).
As used in this regulation, section 504 applies only to programs or
activities conducted by Executive agencies and not to federally assisted
programs.
Substantial impairment means a significant loss of the integrity of
finished
[[Page 387]]
materials, design quality, or special character resulting from a
permanent alteration.
Sec. Sec. 102.104-102.109 [Reserved]
Sec. 102.110 Self-evaluation.
(a) The agency shall, by September 6, 1989, evaluate its current
policies and practices, and the effects thereof, that do not or may not
meet the requirements of this regulation and, to the extent modification
of any such policies and practices is required, the agency shall proceed
to make the necessary modifications.
(b) The agency shall provide an opportunity to interested persons,
including individuals with handicaps or organizations representing
individuals with handicaps, to participate in the self-evaluation
process by submitting comments (both oral and written).
(c) The agency shall, for at least three years following completion
of the self-evaluation, maintain on file and make available for public
inspection:
(1) A description of areas examined and any problems identified; and
(2) A description of any modifications made.
Sec. 102.111 Notice.
The agency shall make available to employees, applicants,
participants, beneficiaries, and other interested persons such
information regarding the provisions of this regulation and its
applicability to the programs or activities conducted by the agency, and
make such information available to them in such manner as the head of
the agency finds necessary to apprise such persons of the protections
against discrimination assured them by section 504 and this regulation.
Sec. Sec. 102.112-102.129 [Reserved]
Sec. 102.130 General prohibitions against discrimination.
(a) No qualified individual with handicaps shall, on the basis of
handicap, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of,
or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or
activity conducted by the agency.
(b)(1) The agency, in providing any aid, benefit, or service, may
not, directly or through contractual, licensing, or other arrangements,
on the basis of handicap--
(i) Deny a qualified individual with handicaps the opportunity to
participate in or benefit from the aid, benefit, or service;
(ii) Afford a qualified individual with handicaps an opportunity to
participate in or benefit from the aid, benefit, or service that is not
equal to that afforded others;
(iii) Provide a qualified individual with handicaps with an aid,
benefit, or service that is not as effective in affording equal
opportunity to obtain the same result, to gain the same benefit, or to
reach the same level of achievement as that provided to others;
(iv) Provide different or separate aid, benefits, or services to
individuals with handicaps or to any class of individuals with handicaps
than is provided to others unless such action is necessary to provide
qualified individuals with handicaps with aid, benefits, or services
that are as effective as those provided to others;
(v) Deny a qualified individual with handicaps the opportunity to
participate as a member of planning or advisory boards;
(vi) Otherwise limit a qualified individual with handicaps in the
enjoyment of any right, privilege, advantage, or opportunity enjoyed by
others receiving the aid, benefit, or service.
(2) The agency may not deny a qualified individual with handicaps
the opportunity to participate in programs or activities that are not
separate or different, despite the existence of permissibly separate or
different programs or activities.
(3) The agency may not, directly or through contractual or other
arrangements, utilize criteria or methods of administration the purpose
or effect of which would--
(i) Subject qualified individuals with handicaps to discrimination
on the basis of handicap; or
(ii) Defeat or substantially impair accomplishment of the objectives
of a program or activity with respect to individuals with handicaps.
[[Page 388]]
(4) The agency may not, in determining the site or location of a
facility, make selections the purpose or effect of which would--
(i) Exclude individuals with handicaps from, deny them the benefits
of, or otherwise subject them to discrimination under any program or
activity conducted by the agency; or
(ii) Defeat or substantially impair the accomplishment of the
objectives of a program or activity with respect to individuals with
handicaps.
(5) The agency, in the selection of procurement contractors, may not
use criteria that subject qualified individuals with handicaps to
discrimination on the basis of handicap.
(6) The agency may not administer a licensing or certification
program in a manner that subjects qualified individuals with handicaps
to discrimination on the basis of handicap, nor may the agency establish
requirements for the programs or activities of licensees or certified
entities that subject qualified individuals with handicaps to
discrimination on the basis of handicap. However, the programs or
activities of entities that are licensed or certified by the agency are
not, themselves, covered by this regulation.
(c) The exclusion of nonhandicapped persons from the benefits of a
program limited by Federal statute or Executive order to individuals
with handicaps or the exclusion of a specific class of individuals with
handicaps from a program limited by Federal statute or Executive order
to a different class of individuals with handicaps is not prohibited by
this regulation.
(d) The agency shall administer programs and activities in the most
integrated setting appropriate to the needs of qualified individuals
with handicaps.
Sec. Sec. 102.131-102.139 [Reserved]
Sec. 102.140 Employment.
No qualified individual with handicaps shall, on the basis of
handicap, be subject to discrimination in employment under any program
or activity conducted by the agency. The definitions, requirements, and
procedures of section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C.
791), as established by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in
29 CFR part 1613, shall apply to employment in federally conducted
programs or activities.
Sec. 102.141-102.148 [Reserved]
Sec. 102.149 Program accessibility: Discrimination prohibited.
Except as otherwise provided in Sec. 102.150, no qualified
individual with handicaps shall, because the agency's facilities are
inaccessible to or unusable by individuals with handicaps, be denied the
benefits of, be excluded from participation in, or otherwise be
subjected to discrimination under any program or activity conducted by
the agency.
Sec. 102.150 Program accessibility: Existing facilities.
(a) General. The agency shall operate each program or activity so
that the program or activity, when viewed in its entirety, is readily
accessible to and usable by individuals with handicaps. This paragraph
does not--
(1) Necessarily require the agency to make each of its existing
facilities accessible to and usable by individuals with handicaps;
(2) In the case of historic preservation programs, require the
agency to take any action that would result in a substantial impairment
of significant historic features of an historic property; or
(3) Require the agency to take any action that it can demonstrate
would result in a fundamental alteration in the nature of a program or
activity or in undue financial and administrative burdens. In those
circumstances where agency personnel believe that the proposed action
would fundamentally alter the program or activity or would result in
undue financial and administrative burdens, the agency has the burden of
proving that compliance with Sec. 102.150(a) would result in such
alteration or burdens. The decision that compliance would result in such
alteration or burdens must be made by the agency head or his or her
designee after considering all agency resources available for use in the
funding and operation of the conducted program or activity, and must be
accompanied by a written statement of the reasons
[[Page 389]]
forreaching that conclusion. If an action would result in such an
alteration or such burdens, the agency shall take any other action that
would not result in such an alteration or such burdens but would
nevertheless ensure that individuals with handicaps receive the benefits
and services of the program or activity.
(b) Methods--(1) General. The agency may comply with the
requirements of this section through such means as redesign of
equipment, reassignment of services to accessible buildings, assignment
of aides to beneficiaries, home visits, delivery of services at
alternate accessible sites, alteration of existing facilities and
construction of new facilities, use of accessible rolling stock, or any
other methods that result in making its programs or activities readily
accessible to and usable by individuals with handicaps. The agency is
not required to make structural changes in existing facilities where
other methods are effective in achieving compliance with this section.
The agency, in making alterations to existing buildings, shall meet
accessibility requirements to the extent compelled by the Architectural
Barriers Act of 1968, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4151-4157), and any
regulations implementing it. In choosing among available methods for
meeting the requirements of this section, the agency shall give priority
to those methods that offer programs and activities to qualified
individuals with handicaps in the most integrated setting appropriate.
(2) Historic preservation programs. In meeting the requirements of
Sec. 102.150(a) in historic preservation programs, the agency shall
give priority to methods that provide physical access to individuals
with handicaps. In cases where a physical alteration to an historic
property is not required because of Sec. 102.150(a) (2) or (3),
alternative methods of achieving program accessibility include--
(i) Using audio-visual materials and devices to depict those
portions of an historic property that cannot otherwise be made
accessible;
(ii) Assigning persons to guide individuals with handicaps into or
through portions of historic properties that cannot otherwise be made
accessible; or
(iii) Adopting other innovative methods.
(c) Time period for compliance. The agency shall comply with the
obligations established under this section by November 7, 1988, except
that where structural changes in facilities are undertaken, such changes
shall be made by September 6, 1991, but in any event as expeditiously as
possible.
(d) Transition plan. In the event that structural changes to
facilities will be undertaken to achieve program accessibility, the
agency shall develop, by March 6, 1989, a transition plan setting forth
the steps necessary to complete such changes. The agency shall provide
an opportunity to interested persons, including individuals with
handicaps or organizations representing individuals with handicaps, to
participate in the development of the transition plan by submitting
comments (both oral and written). A copy of the transition plan shall be
made available for public inspection. The plan shall, at a minimum--
(1) Identify physical obstacles in the agency's facilities that
limit the accessibility of its programs or activities to individuals
with handicaps;
(2) Describe in detail the methods that will be used to make the
facilities accessible;
(3) Specify the schedule for taking the steps necessary to achieve
compliance with this section and, if the time period of the transition
plan is longer than one year, identify steps that will be taken during
each year of the transition period; and
(4) Indicate the official responsible for implementation of the
plan.
Sec. 102.151 Program accessibility: New construction and alterations.
Each building or part of a building that is constructed or altered
by, on behalf of, or for the use of the agency shall be designed,
constructed, or altered so as to be readily accessible to and usable by
individuals with handicaps. The definitions, requirements, and standards
of the Architectural Barriers Act (42 U.S.C. 4151-4157), as established
in 41 CFR 101-19.600 to 101-19.607,
[[Page 390]]
apply to buildings covered by this section.
Sec. Sec. 102.152-102.159 [Reserved]
Sec. 102.160 Communications.
(a) The agency shall take appropriate steps to ensure effective
communication with applicants, participants, personnel of other Federal
entities, and members of the public.
(1) The agency shall furnish appropriate auxiliary aids where
necessary to afford an individual with handicaps an equal opportunity to
participate in, and enjoy the benefits of, a program or activity
conducted by the agency.
(i) In determining what type of auxiliary aid is necessary, the
agency shall give primary consideration to the requests of the
individual with handicaps.
(ii) The agency need not provide individually prescribed devices,
readers for personal use or study, or other devices of a personal
nature.
(2) Where the agency communicates with applicants and beneficiaries
by telephone, telecommunication devices for deaf persons (TDD's) or
equally effective telecommunication systems shall be used to communicate
with persons with impaired hearing.
(b) The agency shall ensure that interested persons, including
persons with impaired vision or hearing, can obtain information as to
the existence and location of accessible services, activities, and
facilities.
(c) The agency shall provide signage at a primary entrance to each
of its inaccessible facilities, directing users to a location at which
they can obtain information about accessible facilities. The
international symbol for accessibility shall be used at each primary
entrance of an accessible facility.
(d) This section does not require the agency to take any action that
it can demonstrate would result in a fundamental alteration in the
nature of a program or activity or in undue financial and administrative
burdens. In those circumstances where agency personnel believe that the
proposed action would fundamentally alter the program or activity or
would result in undue financial and administrative burdens, the agency
has the burden of proving that compliance with Sec. 102.160 would
result in such alteration or burdens. The decision that compliance would
result in such alteration or burdens must be made by the agency head or
his or her designee after considering all agency resources available for
use in the funding and operation of the conducted program or activity
and must be accompanied by a written statement of the reasons for
reaching that conclusion. If an action required to comply with this
section would result in such an alteration or such burdens, the agency
shall take any other action that would not result in such an alteration
or such burdens but would nevertheless ensure that, to the maximum
extent possible, individuals with handicaps receive the benefits and
services of the program or activity.
Sec. Sec. 102.161-102.169 [Reserved]
Sec. 102.170 Compliance procedures.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, this
section applies to all allegations of discrimination on the basis of
handicap in programs and activities conducted by the agency.
(b) The agency shall process complaints alleging violations of
section 504 with respect to employment according to the procedures
established by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 29 CFR
part 1613 pursuant to section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29
U.S.C. 791).
(c) The Director, Facilities Management, Office of Administration,
Executive Office of the President, shall be responsible for coordinating
implementation of this section. Complaints may be sent to the Director
at the following address: Room 486, Old Executive Office Building, 17th
and Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20500.
(d) The agency shall accept and investigate all complete complaints
for which it has jurisdiction. All complete complaints must be filed
within 180 days of the alleged act of discrimination. The agency may
extend this time period for good cause.
[[Page 391]]
(e) If the agency receives a complaint over which it does not have
jurisdiction, it shall promptly notify the complainant and shall make
reasonable efforts to refer the complaint to the appropriate Government
entity.
(f) The agency shall notify the Architectural and Transportation
Barriers Compliance Board upon receipt of any complaint alleging that a
building or facility that is subject to the Architectural Barriers Act
of 1968, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4151-4157), is not readily accessible to
and usable by individuals with handicaps.
(g) Within 180 days of the receipt of a complete complaint for which
it has jurisdiction, the agency shall notify the complainant of the
results of the investigation in a letter containing--
(1) Findings of fact and conclusions of law;
(2) A description of a remedy for each violation found; and
(3) A notice of the right to appeal.
(h) Appeals of the findings of fact and conclusions of law or
remedies must be filed by the complainant within 90 days of receipt from
the agency of the letter required by Sec. 102.170(g). The agency may
extend this time for good cause.
(i) Timely appeals shall be accepted and processed by the head of
the agency.
(j) The head of the agency shall notify the complainant of the
results of the appeal within 60 days of the receipt of the request. If
the head of the agency determines that additional information is needed
from the complainant, he or she shall have 60 days from the date of
receipt of the additional information to make his or her determination
on the appeal.
(k) The time limits cited in paragraphs (g) and (j) of this section
may be extended with the permission of the Assistant Attorney General.
(l) The agency may delegate its authority for conducting complaint
investigations to other Federal agencies, except that the authority for
making the final determination may not be delegated to another agency.
Sec. Sec. 102.171-102.999 [Reserved]
[[Page 393]]
TITLE 3 FINDING AIDS
________________________________________________________________________
Table 1--Proclamations
Table 2--Executive Orders
Table 3--Other Presidential Documents
Table 4--Presidential Documents Affected During 2011
Table 5--Statutes Cited as Authority for Presidential Documents
List of CFR Sections Affected
Index
[[Page 395]]
Table 1--PROCLAMATIONS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. Signature Date Subject 76 FR Page
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
2011.............
8622................ Jan. 9........... Honoring the 2241
Victims of the
Tragedy in
Tucson, Arizona.
8623................ Jan. 14.......... Religious 3817
Freedom Day,
2011.
8624................ Jan. 14.......... Martin Luther 3819
King, Jr.,
Federal
Holiday, 2011.
8625................ Jan. 31.......... American Heart 6305
Month, 2011.
8626................ Jan. 31.......... National Teen 6307
Dating Violence
Awareness and
Prevention
Month, 2011.
8627................ Feb. 1........... National African 6521
American
History Month,
2011.
8628................ Feb. 28.......... American Red 11927
Cross Month,
2011.
8629................ Feb. 28.......... Irish-American 11929
Heritage Month,
2011.
8630................ Feb. 28.......... Women's History 11931
Month, 2011.
8631................ Feb. 28.......... 50th Anniversary 11933
of the Peace
Corps.
8632................ Feb. 28.......... Death of Army 11935
Corporal Frank
W. Buckles, the
Last Surviving
American
Veteran of
World War I.
8633................ Mar. 1........... Read Across 12265
America Day,
2011.
8634................ Mar. 4........... National 12817
Consumer
Protection
Week, 2011.
8635................ Mar. 4........... Save Your Vision 12819
Week, 2011.
8636................ Mar. 4........... 150th 12821
Anniversary of
the
Inauguration of
Abraham Lincoln.
8637................ Mar. 16.......... 150th 15209
Anniversary of
the Unification
of Italy, 2011.
8638................ Mar. 18.......... National Poison 16523
Prevention
Week, 2011.
8639................ Mar. 24.......... 100th 17327
Anniversary of
the Triangle
Shirtwaist
Factory Fire.
8640................ Mar. 24.......... Greek 17329
Independence
Day: A National
Day of
Celebration of
Greek and
American
Democracy, 2011.
8641................ Mar. 30.......... Cesar Chavez 18629
Day, 2011.
8642................ Mar. 31.......... National Donate 18631
Life Month,
2011.
8643................ Mar. 31.......... National Sexual 18633
Assault
Awareness and
Prevention
Month, 2011.
8644................ Mar. 31.......... National Cancer 19259
Control Month,
2011.
8645................ Mar. 31.......... National Child 19261
Abuse
Prevention
Month, 2011.
8646................ Mar. 31.......... National 19263
Financial
Literacy Month,
2011.
8647................ Apr. 1........... World Autism 19265
Awareness Day,
2011.
8648................ Apr. 6........... National 19899
D.A.R.E. Day,
2011.
8649................ Apr. 7........... National 20215
Volunteer Week,
2011.
8650................ Apr. 8........... National Crime 20829
Victims' Rights
Week, 2011.
8651................ Apr. 8........... Pan American Day 20831
and Pan
American Week,
2011.
8652................ Apr. 8........... National Former 20833
Prisoner of War
Recognition
Day, 2011.
8653................ Apr. 11.......... National Equal 21221
Pay Day, 2011.
8654................ Apr. 12.......... Civil War 21223
Sesquicentennia
l.
8655................ Apr. 14.......... Education and 21999
Sharing Day,
U.S.A., 2011.
8656................ Apr. 15.......... National Park 22001
Week, 2011.
8657................ Apr. 22.......... Earth Day, 2011. 23685
8658................ Apr. 27.......... Workers Memorial 24785
Day, 2011.
[[Page 396]]
8659................ Apr. 29.......... Asian American 25515
and Pacific
Islander
Heritage Month,
2011.
8660................ Apr. 29.......... Jewish American 25517
Heritage Month,
2011.
8661................ Apr. 29.......... National Foster 25519
Care Month,
2011.
8662................ Apr. 29.......... National 25521
Physical
Fitness and
Sports Month,
2011.
8663................ Apr. 29.......... Older Americans 25523
Month, 2011.
8664................ Apr. 29.......... National Charter 25525
Schools Week,
2011.
8665................ Apr. 29.......... Law Day, U.S.A., 25527
2011.
8666................ Apr. 29.......... Loyalty Day, 25529
2011.
8667................ Apr. 29.......... National Day of 25531
Prayer, 2011.
8668................ May 3............ 50th Anniversary 26925
of the Freedom
Rides.
8669................ May 5............ Military Spouse 27217
Appreciation
Day, 2011.
8670................ May 6............ National Women's 27599
Health Week,
2011.
8671................ May 6............ Mother's Day, 27601
2011.
8672................ May 9............ National 27843
Building Safety
Month, 2011.
8673................ May 12........... Small Business 28623
Week, 2011.
8674................ May 13........... Emergency 29133
Medical
Services Week,
2011.
8675................ May 13........... National Defense 29135
Transportation
Day and
National
Transportation
Week, 2011.
8676................ May 13........... Peace Officers 29137
Memorial Day
and Police
Week, 2011.
8677................ May 13........... World Trade 29139
Week, 2011.
8678................ May 18........... National 29989
Maritime Day,
2011.
8679................ May 20........... National 30493
Hurricane
Preparedness
Week, 2011.
8680................ May 20........... National Safe 30495
Boating Week,
2011.
8681................ May 20........... Armed Forces 30497
Day, 2011.
8682................ May 23........... To Modify the 30499
Rules of Origin
for the United
States-
Singapore Free
Trade
Agreement, and
for Other
Purposes.
8683................ May 27........... Prayer for 32065
Peace, Memorial
Day, 2011.
8684................ May 31........... African-American 32851
Music
Appreciation
Month, 2011.
8685................ May 31........... Lesbian, Gay, 32853
Bisexual, and
Transgender
Pride Month,
2011.
8686................ May 31........... National 32855
Caribbean-
American
Heritage Month,
2011.
8687................ May 31........... Great Outdoors 32857
Month, 2011.
8688................ June 2........... National Oceans 33119
Month, 2011.
8689................ June 10.......... Flag Day and 35089
National Flag
Week, 2011.
8690................ June 17.......... Father's Day, 36855
2011.
8691................ July 1........... 40th Anniversary 40215
of the 26th
Amendment.
8692................ July 15.......... Captive Nations 43109
Week, 2011.
8693................ July 24.......... Suspension of 44751
Entry of Aliens
Subject to
United Nations
Security
Council Travel
Bans and
International
Emergency
Economic Powers
Act Sanctions.
8694................ July 25.......... Anniversary of 45163
the Americans
With
Disabilities
Act, 2011.
8695................ July 26.......... National Korean 45395
War Veterans
Armistice Day,
2011.
8696................ July 27.......... World Hepatitis 46183
Day, 2011.
8697................ Aug. 4........... Suspension of 49277
Entry as
Immigrants and
Nonimmigrants
of Persons Who
Participate in
Serious Human
Rights and
Humanitarian
Law Violations
and Other
Abuses.
8698................ Aug. 5........... National Health 49647
Center Week,
2011.
8699................ Aug. 25.......... Women's Equality 53809
Day, 2011.
8700................ Aug. 31.......... National 54919
Preparedness
Month, 2011.
8701................ Aug. 31.......... National Alcohol 54921
and Drug
Addiction
Recovery Month,
2011.
[[Page 397]]
8702................ Aug. 31.......... National 55207
Childhood
Obesity
Awareness
Month, 2011.
8703................ Sept. 1.......... National Ovarian 55209
Cancer
Awareness
Month, 2011.
8704................ Sept. 1.......... National 55211
Wilderness
Month, 2011.
8705................ Sept. 1.......... National 55549
Childhood
Cancer
Awareness
Month, 2011.
8706................ Sept. 1.......... National 55551
Prostate Cancer
Awareness
Month, 2011.
8707................ Sept. 2.......... Labor Day, 2011. 55779
8708................ Sept. 9.......... National Days of 56939
Prayer and
Remembrance,
2011.
8709................ Sept. 9.......... National 56941
Grandparents
Day, 2011.
8710................ Sept. 9.......... Patriot Day and 56943
National Day of
Service and
Remembrance,
2011.
8711................ Sept. 12......... National Health 57617
Information
Technology
Week, 2011.
8712................ Sept. 15......... National 58375
Hispanic
Heritage Month,
2011.
8713................ Sept. 15......... National POW/MIA 58377
Recognition
Day, 2011.
8714................ Sept. 16......... Constitution Day 58707
and Citizenship
Day,
Constitution
Week, 2011.
8715................ Sept. 16......... National 58709
Employer
Support of the
Guard and
Reserve Week,
2011.
8716................ Sept. 16......... National Farm 58711
Safety and
Health Week,
2011.
8717................ Sept. 16......... National 58713
Historically
Black Colleges
and
Universities
Week, 2011.
8718................ Sept. 21......... National 59499
Hispanic-
Serving
Institutions
Week, 2011.
8719................ Sept. 22......... National Public 59881
Lands Day, 2011.
8720................ Sept. 23......... National Hunting 59883
and Fishing
Day, 2011.
8721................ Sept. 23......... Minority 60353
Enterprise
Development
Week, 2011.
8722................ Sept. 23......... Gold Star 60355
Mother's and
Family's Day,
2011.
8723................ Oct. 3........... National Arts 62283
and Humanities
Month, 2011.
8724................ Oct. 3........... National Breast 62285
Cancer
Awareness
Month, 2011.
8725................ Oct. 3........... National 62287
Cybersecurity
Awareness
Month, 2011.
8726................ Oct. 3........... National 62289
Disability
Employment
Awareness
Month, 2011.
8727................ Oct. 3........... National 62291
Domestic
Violence
Awareness
Month, 2011.
8728................ Oct. 3........... National 62293
Substance Abuse
Prevention
Month, 2011.
8729................ Oct. 3........... Child Health 62295
Day, 2011.
8730................ Oct. 6........... National Energy 63529
Action Month,
2011.
8731................ Oct. 6........... German-American 63531
Day, 2011.
8732................ Oct. 7........... Fire Prevention 63803
Week, 2011.
8733................ Oct. 7........... National School 63805
Lunch Week,
2011.
8734................ Oct. 7........... Leif Erikson 63807
Day, 2011.
8735................ Oct. 7........... Columbus Day, 63809
2011.
8736................ Oct. 11.......... General Pulaski 63999
Memorial Day,
2011.
8737................ Oct. 14.......... National 65095
Character
Counts Week,
2011.
8738................ Oct. 14.......... National Forest 65097
Products Week,
2011.
8739................ Oct. 14.......... Blind Americans 65099
Equality Day,
2011.
8740................ Oct. 24.......... United Nations 66847
Day, 2011.
8741................ Oct. 25.......... To Take Certain 67035
Actions Under
the African
Growth and
Opportunity Act.
[[Page 398]]
8742................ Oct. 31.......... To Modify the 68273
Harmonized
Tariff Schedule
of the United
States.
8743................ Nov. 1........... Military Family 68611
Month, 2011.
8744................ Nov. 1........... National 68613
Adoption Month,
2011.
8745................ Nov. 1........... National 68615
Alzheimer's
Disease
Awareness
Month, 2011.
8746................ Nov. 1........... National 68617
Diabetes Month,
2011.
8747................ Nov. 1........... National 68619
Entrepreneurshi
p Month, 2011.
8748................ Nov. 1........... National Family 68621
Caregivers
Month, 2011.
8749................ Nov. 1........... National Native 68623
American
Heritage Month,
2011.
8750................ Nov. 1........... Establishment of 68625
the Fort Monroe
National
Monument.
8751................ Nov. 3........... Veterans Day, 69081
2011.
8752................ Nov. 8........... World Freedom 70633
Day, 2011.
8753................ Nov. 14.......... American 71447
Education Week,
2011.
8754................ Nov. 15.......... America Recycles 71863
Day, 2011.
8755................ Nov. 16.......... Thanksgiving 72079
Day, 2011.
8756................ Nov. 18.......... National Family 72603
Week, 2011.
8757................ Nov. 18.......... National Farm- 72605
City Week, 2011.
8758................ Nov. 18.......... National Child's 72607
Day, 2011.
8759................ Nov. 21.......... 50th Anniversary 72821
of the United
States Agency
for
International
Development.
8760................ Nov. 30.......... Critical 76021
Infrastructure
Protection
Month, 2011.
8761................ Nov. 30.......... National 76023
Impaired
Driving
Prevention
Month, 2011.
8762................ Nov. 30.......... World AIDS Day, 76025
2011.
8763................ Dec. 2........... International 76601
Day of Persons
With
Disabilities,
2011.
8764................ Dec. 6........... National Pearl 76871
Harbor
Remembrance
Day, 2011.
8765................ Dec. 8........... Human Rights Day 77363
and Human
Rights Week,
2011.
8766................ Dec. 8........... Bill of Rights 77365
Day, 2011.
8767................ Dec. 15.......... Wright Brothers 79021
Day, 2011.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. Signature Date Subject 77 FR Page
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
2012.............
8768................ Dec. 28.......... National 209
Mentoring
Month, 2012.
8769................ Dec. 28.......... National 211
Stalking
Awareness
Month, 2012.
8770................ Dec. 29.......... To Modify Duty- 407
Free Treatment
Under the
Generalized
System of
Preferences and
for Other
Purposes.
8771................ Dec. 29.......... To Modify the 413
Harmonized
Tariff Schedule
of the United
States and for
Other Purposes.
8772................ Dec. 30.......... National Slavery 1007
and Human
Trafficking
Prevention
Month, 2012.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 399]]
Table 2--EXECUTIVE ORDERS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. Signature Date Subject 76 FR Page
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
2011...........
13563............. Jan. 18........ Improving Regulation 3821
and Regulatory
Review.
13564............. Jan. 31........ Establishment of the 6309
President's Council
on Jobs and
Competitiveness.
13565............. Feb. 8......... Establishment of the 7681
Intellectual
Property
Enforcement
Advisory Committees.
13566............. Feb. 25........ Blocking Property 11315
and Prohibiting
Certain
Transactions
Related to Libya.
13567............. Mar. 7......... Periodic Review of 13277
Individuals
Detained at
Guantanamo Bay
Naval Station
Pursuant to the
Authorization for
Use of Military
Force.
13568............. Mar. 8......... Extending Provisions 13497
of the
International
Organizations
Immunities Act to
the Office of the
High Representative
in Bosnia and
Herzegovina and the
International
Civilian Office in
Kosovo.
13569............. Apr. 5......... Amendments to 19891
Executive Orders
12824, 12835,
12859, and 13532,
Reestablishment
Pursuant to
Executive Order
13498, and
Revocation of
Executive Order
13507.
13570............. Apr. 18........ Prohibiting Certain 22291
Transactions With
Respect to North
Korea.
13571............. Apr. 27........ Streamlining Service 24339
Delivery and
Improving Customer
Service.
13572............. Apr. 29........ Blocking Property of 24787
Certain Persons
With Respect to
Human Rights Abuses
in Syria.
13573............. May 18......... Blocking Property of 29143
Senior Officials of
the Government of
Syria.
13574............. May 23......... Authorizing the 30505
Implementation of
Certain Sanctions
Set Forth in the
Iran Sanctions Act
of 1996, as Amended.
13575............. June 9......... Establishment of the 34841
White House Rural
Council.
13576............. June 13........ Delivering an 35297
Efficient,
Effective, and
Accountable
Government.
13577............. June 15........ Establishment of the 35715
SelectUSA
Initiative.
13578............. July 6......... Coordinating 40591
Policies on
Automotive
Communities and
Workers.
13579............. July 11........ Regulation and 41587
Independent
Regulatory Agencies.
[[Page 400]]
13580............. July 12........ Interagency Working 41989
Group on
Coordination of
Domestic Energy
Development and
Permitting in
Alaska.
13581............. July 24........ Blocking Property of 44757
Transnational
Criminal
Organizations.
13582............. Aug. 17........ Blocking Property of 52209
the Government of
Syria and
Prohibiting Certain
Transactions With
Respect to Syria.
13583............. Aug. 18........ Establishing a 52847
Coordinated
Government-Wide
Initiative to
Promote Diversity
and Inclusion in
the Federal
Workforce.
13584............. Sept. 9........ Developing an 56945
Integrated
Strategic
Counterterrorism
Communications
Initiative and
Establishing a
Temporary
Organization To
Support Certain
Government-Wide
Communications
Activities Directed
Abroad.
13585............. Sept. 30....... Continuance of 62281
Certain Federal
Advisory Committees.
13586............. Oct. 6......... Establishing an 63533
Emergency Board To
Investigate
Disputes Between
Certain Railroads
Represented by the
National Carriers'
Conference
Committee of the
National Railway
Labor Conference
and Their Employees
Represented by
Certain Labor
Organizations.
13587............. Oct. 7......... Structural Reforms 63811
To Improve the
Security of
Classified Networks
and the Responsible
Sharing and
Safeguarding of
Classified
Information.
13588............. Oct. 31........ Reducing 68295
Prescription Drug
Shortages.
13589............. Nov. 9......... Promoting Efficient 70863
Spending.
13590............. Nov. 20........ Authorizing the 72609
Imposition of
Certain Sanctions
With Respect to the
Provision of Goods,
Services,
Technology, or
Support for Iran's
Energy and
Petrochemical
Sectors.
13591............. Nov. 23........ Continuance of 74623
Certain Federal
Advisory Committees.
13592............. Dec. 2......... Improving American 76603
Indian and Alaska
Native Educational
Opportunities and
Strengthening
Tribal Colleges and
Universities.
13593............. Dec. 13........ 2011 Amendments to 78451
the Manual for
Courts-Martial,
United States.
13594............. Dec. 19........ Adjustments of 80191
Certain Rates of
Pay.
13595............. Dec. 19........ Instituting a 80205
National Action
Plan on Women,
Peace, and Security.
13596............. Dec. 19........ Amendments to 80725
Executive Orders
12131 and 13539.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 401]]
Table 3--OTHER PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
76 FR
Signature Date Subject Page
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011
Jan. 6................... Memorandum: Disestablishment of 1977
United States Joint Forces
Command.
Jan. 13.................. Notice: Continuation of the 3009
National Emergency With Respect
to Terrorists Who Threaten To
Disrupt the Middle East Peace
Process.
Jan. 18.................. Memorandum: Regulatory Compliance. 3825
Jan. 18.................. Memorandum: Regulatory 3827
Flexibility, Small Business, and
Job Creation.
Jan. 26.................. Notice: Continuation of the 5053
National Emergency With Respect
to the Situation in or in
Relation to C[ocirc]te d'Ivoire.
Feb. 7................... Memorandum: Annual Update to the 7477
Report Specified in Section 1251
of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2010 (Public Law 111-84).
Feb. 14.................. Memorandum: Delegation of 9493
Reporting and Other Authorities.
Feb. 24.................. Notice: Continuation of the 11073
National Emergency With Respect
to Cuba and of the Emergency
Authority Relating to the
Regulation of the Anchorage and
Movement of Vessels.
Mar. 2................... Notice: Continuation of the 12267
National Emergency With Respect
to Zimbabwe.
Mar. 4................... Memorandum: Enhanced Collection of 12823
Relevant Data and Statistics
Relating to Women.
Mar. 7................... Presidential Determination No. 14269
2011-7: Unexpected Urgent Refugee
and Migration Needs Related to
Cote d'Ivoire.
Mar. 7................... Presidential Determination No. 14271
2011-8: Unexpected Urgent Refugee
and Migration Needs Related to
Libya.
Mar. 8................... Notice: Continuation of the 13283
National Emergency With Respect
to Iran.
Mar. 8................... Memorandum: Designation of 13499
Officers of the Office of the
Director of National Intelligence
to Act as Director of National
Intelligence.
Mar. 11.................. Memorandum: Government Reform for 14273
Competitiveness and Innovation.
Apr. 6................... Memorandum: Unified Command Plan 19893
2011.
Apr. 7................... Notice: Continuation of the 19897
National Emergency With Respect
to Somalia.
Apr. 14.................. Memorandum: Delegation of 22003
Functions and Authority Under
Sections 315 and 325 of Title 32,
United States Code.
Apr. 26.................. Presidential Determination No. 27845
2011-9: Drawdown Pursuant to
Section 552(c)(2) of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961, as
Amended, of up to $25 Million in
Commodities and Services from any
Agency of the United States
Government for Libyan Groups,
such as the Transitional National
Council, To Support Efforts To
Protect Civilians and Civilian-
Populated Areas Under Threat of
Attack in Libya.
[[Page 402]]
Apr. 29.................. Notice: Continuation of the 24791
National Emergency With Respect
to the Actions of the Government
of Syria.
May 16................... Notice: Continuation of the 28883
National Emergency With Respect
to Burma.
May 17................... Notice: Continuation of the 29141
National Emergency With Respect
to the Stabilization of Iraq.
May 31................... Memorandum: Delegation of 33117
Authority To Appoint Commissioned
Officers of the Ready Reserve
Corps of the Public Health
Service.
June 3................... Presidential Determination No. 35713
2011-10: Suspension of
Limitations Under the Jerusalem
Embassy Act.
June 6................... Memorandum: Designation of 33613
Officers of the Overseas Private
Investment Corporation To Act as
President of the Overseas Private
Investment Corporation.
June 8................... Presidential Determination No. 35719
2011-11: Unexpected Urgent
Refugee and Migration Needs
Related to Libya and Cote
d'Ivoire.
June 14.................. Notice: Continuation of the 35093
National Emergency With Respect
to the Actions and Politics of
Certain Members of the Government
of Belarus and Other Persons to
Undermine Belarus Democratic
Processes or Institutions.
June 17.................. Notice: Continuation of the 35955
National Emergency With Respect
to the Risk of Nuclear
Proliferation Created by the
Accumulation of Weapons-Usable
Fissile Material in the Territory
of the Russian Federation.
June 23.................. Notice: Continuation of the 37237
National Emergency With Respect
to North Korea.
June 23.................. Notice: Continuation of the 37239
National Emergency With Respect
to the Western Balkans.
July 19.................. Memorandum: Delegation of Certain 76869
Function and Authority Conferred
Upon the President by Section
1535(c)(1) of the Ike Skelton
National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2011.
July 20.................. Notice: Continuation of the 43801
National Emergency With Respect
to the Former Liberian Regime of
Charles Taylor.
July 28.................. Notice: Continuation of the 45653
National Emergency With Respect
to Actions of Certain Persons to
Undermine the Sovereignty of
Lebanon or Its Democratic
Processes and Institutions.
Aug. 8................... Presidential Determination No. 53297
2011-12: Unexpected Urgent
Refugee and Migration Needs
Related to the Horn of Africa.
Aug. 10.................. Presidential Determination No. 53299
2011-13: Continuation of U.S.
Drug Interdiction Assistance to
the Government of Colombia.
Aug. 12.................. Notice: Continuation of Emergency 50661
Regarding Export Control
Regulations.
Aug. 30.................. Presidential Determination No. 59493
2011-14: Waiver of Restriction on
Providing Funds to the
Palestinian Authority.
Sept. 9.................. Notice: Continuation of the 56633
National Emergency With Respect
to Certain Terrorist Attacks.
Sept. 12................. Memorandum: Delegation Under 57621
Section 2(a) of the Special Agent
Samuel Hicks Families of Fallen
Heroes Act.
Sept. 13................. Presidential Determination No. 57623
2011-15: Continuation of the
Exercise of Certain Authorities
Under the Trading With the Enemy
Act.
[[Page 403]]
Sept. 15................. Presidential Determination No. 59495
2011-16: Presidential
Determination on Major Illicit
Drug Transit or Major Illicit
Drug Producing Countries for
Fiscal Year 2012.
Sept. 21................. Notice: Continuation of the 59001
National Emergency With Respect
to Persons Who Commit, Threaten
To Commit, or Support Terrorism.
Sept. 28................. Memorandum: Provision of Aviation 61247
Insurance Coverage for Commercial
Air Carrier Service in Domestic
and International Operations.
Sept. 30................. Presidential Determination No. 62597
2011-17: Fiscal Year 2012 Refugee
Admissions Numbers and
Authorizations of In-Country
Refugee Status Pursuant to
Sections 207 and 101(a)(42),
Respectively, of the Immigration
and Nationality Act, and
Determination Pursuant to Section
2(b)(2) of the Migration and
Refugee Assistance Act, as
Amended.
Sept. 30................. Presidential Determination No. 62599
2011-18: Presidential
Determination With Respect to
Foreign Governments' Efforts
Regarding Trafficking in Persons.
Oct. 4................... Presidential Determination No. 65927
2012-1: Certification and
Determination With Respect to the
Child Soldiers Prevention Act of
2008.
Oct. 14.................. Presidential Determination No. 70635
2012-2: Provision of U.S. Drug
Interdiction Assistance to the
Government of Brazil.
Oct. 19.................. Notice: Continuation of the 65355
National Emergency With Respect
to Significant Narcotics
Traffickers Centered in Colombia.
Oct. 25.................. Notice: Continuation of the 66599
National Emergency With Respect
to the Situation in or in
Relation to the Democratic
Republic of the Congo.
Oct. 28.................. Memorandum: Making It Easier for 68049
America's Small Businesses and
America's Exporters To Access
Government Services To Help Them
Grow and Hire.
Nov. 1................... Notice: Continuation of the 68055
National Emergency With Respect
to Sudan.
Nov. 7................... Notice: Continuation of the 70035
National Emergency With Respect
to Iran.
Nov. 9................... Notice: Continuation of the 70319
National Emergency With Respect
to Weapons of Mass Destruction.
Nov. 28.................. Memorandum: Managing Government 75423
Records.
Dec. 2................... Presidential Determination No. 82073
2012-3: Suspension of Limitations
Under the Jerusalem Embassy Act.
Dec. 15.................. Memorandum: Determinations Under 79023
Section 1106(a) of the Omnibus
Trade and Competitiveness Act of
1988--Russian Federation.
Dec. 21.................. Memorandum: Flexible 80727
Implementation of the Mercury and
Air Toxics Standards Rule.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 405]]
Title 3--The President
Table 4--PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS AFFECTED DURING 2011
________________________________________________________________________
Editorial note: The following abbreviations are used in this table:
EO Executive Order
FR Federal Register
PLO Public Land Order (43 CFR, Appendix to Chapter II)
Proc. Proclamation
Pub. L. Public Law
Stat. U.S. Statutes at Large
WCPD Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents
________________________________________________________________________
Proclamations
Date or Number
Comment
6641.............See Proc. 8682.........................................
6867.............See Notice of Feb. 24, p. 332..........................
7463.............See Notice of Sept. 9, p. 355..........................
7747.............See Proc. 8682.........................................
7757.............See Notice of Feb. 24, p. 332..........................
7826.............See Proc. 8770.........................................
8097.............See Proc. 8682.........................................
8214.............See Proc. 8682.........................................
8271.............See Notice of June 23, p. 349..........................
8334.............See Proc. 8770.........................................
8405.............See Proc. 8682.........................................
8467.............See Proc. 8770.........................................
8522.............Superseded by Proc. 8681...............................
8536.............See Proc. 8682.........................................
8618.............See Proc. 8770.........................................
8742.............See Proc. 8770.........................................
Executive Orders
Date or Number
Comment
April 17, 1926...Partially revoked by PLO 7772..........................
11145............See EO 13585...........................................
11183............See EO 13585...........................................
11287............See EO 13585...........................................
11612............See EO 13585...........................................
[[Page 406]]
12067............See EO 13583...........................................
12131............Amended by EOs 13585, 13596............................
12170............See Notices of Mar. 8, p. 336; Nov. 7, p. 375..........
12216............See EO 13585...........................................
12333............See EO 13587...........................................
12367............See EO 13585...........................................
12382............See EO 13585...........................................
12473............See EO 13593...........................................
12824............Amended by EO 13569....................................
12829............See EOs 13585, 13587...................................
12835............Amended by EO 13569....................................
12859............Amended by EO 13569....................................
12862............See EO 13571...........................................
12866............See EOs 13563, 13579; Memorandum of Jan. 18, p. 328....
12905............See EO 13585...........................................
12938............See Notice of Nov. 9, p. 375...........................
12947............See Notice of Jan. 13, p. 326..........................
12957............See EOs 13574, 13590; Notice of Mar. 8, p. 336.........
12959............See Notice of Mar. 8, p. 336...........................
12968............See EO 13587...........................................
12978............See Notice of Oct. 19, p. 370..........................
12994............See EO 13585...........................................
13047............See Notice of May 16, p. 343...........................
13059............See Notice of Mar. 8, p. 336...........................
13067............See Notice of Nov. 1, p. 374...........................
13078............See EO 13583...........................................
13094............See Notice of Nov. 9, p. 375...........................
13099............See Notice of Jan. 13, p. 326..........................
13159............See Notice of June 17, p. 349..........................
13163............See EO 13583...........................................
13171............See EO 13583...........................................
13270............Revoked by EO 13592....................................
13219............See Notice of June 23, p. 350..........................
13222............See Notice of Aug. 12, p. 354..........................
13224............See Notice of Sept. 21, p. 359.........................
13231............See EOs 13585, 13587...................................
13265............See EO 13585...........................................
13270............See EO 13585...........................................
13286............See EO 13587...........................................
13288............See Notice of Mar. 2, p. 332...........................
13303............See Notice of May 17, p. 344...........................
13304............See Notice of June 23, p. 350..........................
13310............See Notice of May 16, p. 344...........................
13315............See Notice of May 17, p. 344...........................
13336............Revoked by EO 13592....................................
13338............See EOs 13572, 13573, 13582; Notice of Apr. 29, p. 342.
[[Page 407]]
13348............See Notices of May 16, p. 343; July 20, p. 352.........
13350............See Notice of May 17, p. 344...........................
13364............See Notice of May 17, p. 344...........................
13382............See Notice of Nov. 9, p. 375...........................
13388............See EO 13587...........................................
13391............See Notice of Mar. 2, p. 332...........................
13396............See Notice of Jan. 26, p. 330..........................
13399............See EOs 13572, 13573, 13582; Notice of Apr. 29, p. 342.
13400............See Notice of Nov. 1, p. 374...........................
13405............See Notice of June 14, p. 348..........................
13412............See Notice of Nov. 1, p. 374...........................
13413............See Notice of Oct. 25, p. 371..........................
13438............See Notice of May 17, p. 344...........................
13441............See Notice of July 28, p. 352..........................
13460............See EOs 13572, 13573, 13582; Notice of Apr. 29, p. 342.
13464............See Notice of May 16, p. 343...........................
13466............See EO 13570; Notice of June 23, p. 349................
13467............See EO 13587...........................................
13469............See Notice of Mar. 2, p. 332...........................
13491............See EO 13567...........................................
13492............See EO 13567...........................................
13498............See EO 13569...........................................
13501............Revoked by EO 13564....................................
13507............Revoked by EO 13569....................................
13509............Revoked by EO 13578....................................
13511............Superseded by EO 13585.................................
13515............Amended by EO 13585....................................
13518............See EO 13583...........................................
13521............See EO 13591...........................................
13522............See EO 13591...........................................
13526............See EO 13587...........................................
13530............Amended by EO 13591....................................
13532............See EO 13591; Amended by EO 13569......................
13538............See EO 13591...........................................
13539............See EO 13591; Amended by EO 13596......................
13540............See EO 13591...........................................
13544............See EO 13591...........................................
13547............See EO 13580...........................................
13548............See EO 13583...........................................
13549............See EOs 13587, 13591...................................
13551............See EO 13570; Notice of June 23, p. 349................
13553............See Notice of Mar. 8, p. 336...........................
13556............See EO 13587...........................................
13561............Superseded by EO 13594.................................
[[Page 408]]
13563............See EO 13579...........................................
13570............See Notice of June 23, p. 349..........................
13572............See EOs 13573, 13582...................................
13573............See EO 13582...........................................
13576............See EO 13589...........................................
13585............Revoked by EO 13592....................................
13589............See Memorandum of Nov. 28, p. 376......................
Other Presidential Documents
Date or Number
Comment
Memorandum of MarSee EO 13571...........................................
Memorandum of MarSee EO 13571...........................................
Memorandum of OctRevoked by Memorandum of Mar. 8, p. 337................
Memorandum of JanRevoked by Memorandum of June 6, p. 346................
Memorandum of JanSee Memorandum of Jan. 18, p. 326......................
Memorandum of MaySee EO 13589...........................................
Presidential DeteSee Presidential Determination No. 2011-15, p. 356.....
[[Page 409]]
Title 3--The President
Table 5--STATUTES CITED AS AUTHORITY FOR PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS
________________________________________________________________________
Editorial note: Statutes which were cited as authority for the issuance
of Presidential documents contained in this volume are listed under one
of these headings. For authority cites for hortatory proclamations, see
the text of each proclamation:
United States Code
United States Statutes at Large
Public Laws
Short Title of Act
Citations have been set forth in the style in which they appear in the
documents. Since the form of citations varies from document to document,
users of this table should search under all headings for pertinent
references.
________________________________________________________________________
United States Code
U.S. Code Citation Presidential Document
3 U.S.C. 301................. Procs. 8693, 8697; EOs 13566, 13570,
13572, 13573, 13574, 13581, 13582,
13590; Memorandums of Jan. 6, p. 325;
Feb. 14, p. 331; Apr. 6, p. 340; Apr.
14, p. 341; May 31, p. 345; July 19, p.
351; Sept. 12, p. 356
5 U.S.C. App................. EOs 13564, 13585, 13591
5 U.S.C. 3161................ EO 13584
5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq......... Memorandums of Mar. 8, p. 337; June 6, p.
346
8 U.S.C. 1157................ Presidential Determination No. 11-17, p.
361
8 U.S.C. 1182(f)............. Procs. 8693, 8697
10 U.S.C. Ch. 47............. EO 13593
10 U.S.C. 161................ Memorandum of Jan. 6, p. 325
10 U.S.C. 161(b)(2).......... Memorandums of Jan. 6, p. 325; Apr. 6, p.
340
15 U.S.C. 8111-8116.......... EO 13565
15 U.S.C. 8113............... EO 13565
16 U.S.C. 431................ Proc. 8750
19 U.S.C. 2461-67, 2483...... Proc. 8741
19 U.S.C. 2905(a)............ Memorandum of Dec. 15, p. 379
19 U.S.C. 3703............... Proc. 8741
22 U.S.C. 287c............... EO 13570
22 U.S.C. 288................ EO 13568
22 U.S.C. 2291-4............. Presidential Determination Nos. 11-13, p.
354; 12-2, p. 370
22 U.S.C. 2348a.............. Presidential Determination No. 11-9, p.
342
22 U.S.C. 2601............... Presidential Determination Nos. 11-7, p.
335; 11-8, p. 335
22 U.S.C. 2601(c)(1)......... Presidential Determination Nos. 11-11, p.
347; 11-12, p. 353
[[Page 410]]
22 U.S.C. 2656............... EO 13584
35 U.S.C. 103................ Proc. 8644
45 U.S.C. 160................ EO 13586
49 U.S.C. 44301-44310........ Memorandum of Sept. 28, p. 360
50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq........ EOs 13566, 13570, 13572, 13573, 13574,
13581, 13582, 13590
50 U.S.C. 1622(d)............ Notices of Jan. 13, p. 326; Jan. 26, p.
330; Feb. 24. p. 332; Mar. 2, p. 332;
Mar. 8, p. 336; Apr. 7, p. 340; Apr. 29,
p. 343; May 16, p. 343; May 17, p. 334;
June 14, p. 348; June 17, p. 349; June
23, p. 349; June 23, p. 350; July 20, p.
352; July 28, p. 352; Aug. 12, p. 354;
Sept. 9, p. 355; Sept. 21, p. 359; Oct.
19, p. 370; Oct. 25, p. 371; Nov. 1, p.
374; Nov. 7, p. 375; Nov. 9, p. 375
50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq........ EOs 13566, 13570, 13572, 13573, 13574,
13581, 13582, 13590
50 U.S.C. 1701 note.......... EO 13574
United States Statutes at Large
Statute Citation Presidential Document
34 Stat. 225................. Proc. 8750
59 Stat. 669................. EO 13568
124 Stat. 1260............... EO 13568
Public Laws
Law Number Presidential Document
87-20........................ Proc. 8665
95-223....................... Presidential Determination No. 11-15, p.
356
104-45....................... Presidential Determination Nos. 11-10, p.
345; 12-3, p. 378
106-386 (Division A)......... Presidential Determination No. 11-18, p.
362
107-40....................... EO 13567
107-228...................... Presidential Determination No. 11-16, p.
357
108-175...................... Notice of Apr. 29, p. 342
110-457 (title IV)........... Presidential Determination No. 12-1, p.
365
111-117 (Division F)......... Presidential Determination No. 11-14, p.
355
111-177...................... EO 13568
111-195...................... EO 13574
111-322...................... EO 13594
112-10 (Division B).......... Presidential Determination No. 11-14, p.
355
Short Title of Act
Title Presidential Document
Antiquities Act................. Proc. 8750
Child Soldiers Prevention Act of Presidential Determination No. 12-1,
2008. p. 365
Department of State, Foreign Presidential Determination No. 11-14,
Operations, and Related p. 355
Programs Appropriations Act,
2010.
Dominican Republic-Central Proc. 8771
America-United States
Implementation Act.
[[Page 411]]
Foreign Relations Authorization Presidential Determination No. 11-16,
Act, Fiscal Year 2003. p. 357
Omnibus Trade and Proc. 8771
Competitiveness Act of 1988.
Trade Act of 1974............... Procs. 8682, 8770, 8771
United States-Australia Free Proc. 8771
Trade Agreement Implementation
Act.
United States-Bahrain Free Trade Proc. 8771
Agreement Implementation Act.
United States-Chile Free Trade Proc. 8771
Agreement Implementation Act.
United States-Israel Free Trade Proc. 8770
Area Implementation Act of 1985.
United States-Morocco Free Trade Proc. 8771
Agreement Implementation Act.
United States-Oman Free Trade Proc. 8771
Agreement Implementation Act.
United States-Peru Trade Procs. 8682, 8771
Promotion Agreement
Implementation Act.
United States-Singapore Free Procs. 8682, 8771
Trade Agreement Implementation
Act.
Uruguay Round Agreements Act.... Proc. 8771
[[Page 413]]
LIST OF CFR SECTIONS AFFECTED
________________________________________________________________________
Editorial note: All changes in this volume of the Code of Federal
Regulations which were made by documents published in the Federal
Register since January 1, 2001, are enumerated in the following list.
Entries indicate the nature of the changes effected. Page numbers refer
to Federal Register pages. The user should consult the entries for
chapters and parts as well as sections for revisions.
For the period before January 1, 2001, see the ``List of CFR Sections
Affected, 1949-1963, 1964-1972, 1973-1985, and 1986-2000,'' published in
11 separate volumes.
Presidential documents affected during 2011 are set forth in Table 4
on page 405.
________________________________________________________________________
2001-2011
3 CFR
(No regulations issued)
[[Page 415]]
INDEX
A
Adoption Month, National (Proc. 8744)
Africa
African Growth and Opportunity Act, certain actions under (Proc. 8741)
Refugee and migration assistance (Presidential Determination Nos. 11-7,
p. 335; 11-8, p. 335; 11-11, p. 347; 11-12, p. 353)
African American History Month, National (Proc. 8627)
African-American Music Appreciation Month (Proc. 8684)
African Growth and Opportunity Act, to take certain actions under the
(Proc. 8741)
Agriculture, Department of; delegation of reporting authority to the
Secretary (Memorandum of Feb. 14, p. 331)
Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, National (Proc. 8701)
Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month, National (Proc. 8745)
Amendments, revocations, suspensions, etc.
Executive Order 13498; reestablishment (EO 13569)
Executive Order 13507; revocation (EO 13569)
Executive orders 12131 and 13539; amendments (EO 13596)
Executive orders 12824, 12835, 12859 and 13532 (EO 13569)
Executive Orders 12824, 12835, 12859 and 13532; amendments (EO 13569)
American Education Week (Proc. 8753)
American Heart Month (Proc. 8625)
American Indian and Alaska Native; improving educational opportunities
(EO 13592)
American Red Cross Month (Proc. 8628)
Americans With Disabilities Act, anniversary (Proc. 8694)
America Recycles Day (Proc. 8754)
Armed Forces
Armed Forces Day (Proc. 8681)
Death of Army Corp. Frank W. Buckles, the last surviving veteran of
World War I (Proc. 8632)
Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day (Proc. 8722)
Military Family Month (Proc. 8743)
Military Spouse Appreciation Day (Proc. 8669)
National Days of Prayer and Remembrance (Proc. 8708)
National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week (Proc. 8715)
National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day (Proc. 8652)
National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day (Proc. 8695)
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (Proc. 8764)
National POW/MIA Recognition Day (Proc. 8713)
Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day (Proc. 8683)
Uniform Code of Military Justice, Manual for Courts-Martial; amendments
(EO 13593)
Veterans Day (Proc. 8751)
Armed Forces Day (Proc. 8681)
Arts and Humanities Month (Proc. 8723)
Asia; refugee and migration assistance (Presidential Determination No.
11-17, p. 361)
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (Proc. 8659)
Automotive Communities and Workers; coordinating policies (EO 13578)
Aviation; insurance coverage for air carrier service in domestic and
inter-national operations (Memorandum of Sept. 28, p. 360)
B
Balkans, Western; continuation of national emergency (Notice of June 23,
p. 350)
[[Page 416]]
Belarus; blocking property of persons undermining Democratic processes or
institutions; continuation of national emergency (Notice of June 14, p.
384)
Bill of Rights Day (Proc. 8766)
Blind Americans Equality Day (Proc. 8739)
Boards, commissions, committees, etc.
See under Government organization and employees
Brazil; drug interdiction assistance (Presidential Determination No. 12-
2, p. 370)
Breast Cancer Awareness Month, National (Proc. 8724)
Building Safety Month, National (Proc. 8672)
Burma; continuation of national emergency (Notice of May 16, p. 343)
C
Cancer Control Month, National (Proc. 8644)
Captive Nations Week (Proc. 8692)
Caribbean-American Heritage Month, National (Proc. 8686)
Cesar Chavez Day (Proc. 8641)
Character Counts Week, National (Proc. 8737)
Charter Schools Week, National (Proc. 8664)
Child Abuse Prevention Month, National (Proc. 8645)
Child Health Day (Proc. 8729)
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, National (Proc. 8705)
Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, National (Proc. 8702)
Child's Day, National (Proc. 8758)
Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008; certification and determination
(Presidential Determination No. 12-1, p. 365)
Civil War Sesquicentennial (Proc. 8654)
Colombia
Narcotics traffickers; continuation of national emergency (Notice of
Oct. 19, p. 370)
U.S. drug interdiction assistance to the Government; continuation
(Presidential Determination No. 11-13, p. 354)
Columbus Day (Proc. 8735)
Congo; continuation of national emergency (Notice of Oct. 25, p. 371)
Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, Constitution Week (Proc. 8714)
Consumer Protection Week, National (Proc. 8634)
Cote d'Ivoire
Continuation of national emergency (Notice of Jan. 26, p. 330)
Refugee and migration assistance (Presidential Determination Nos. 11-7,
p. 335; 11-11, p. 347)
Courts-Martial Manual for Uniform Code of Military Justice; amendments
(EO 13593)
Crime Victims' Rights Week, National (Proc. 8650)
Critical Infrastructure Protection Month (Proc. 8760)
Cuba
Continuation of national emergency regarding anchorage and movement of
vessels (Notice of Feb. 24, p. 332)
Trading With the Enemy Act; continuation of certain authorities
(Presidential Determination No. 11-15, p. 356)
Cybersecurity Awareness Month, National (Proc. 8725)
D
D.A.R.E. Day, National (Proc. 8648)
Day of Prayer, National (Proc. 8667)
Days of Prayer and Remembrance, National (Proc. 8708)
Defense and security, national
Balkans, Western; continuation of national emergency (Notice of June
23, p. 350)
Belarus; continuation with respect to persons who undermine democratic
process (Notice of June 14, p. 348)
Burma; continuation of national security (Notice of May 16, p. 343)
Classified networks and information sharing and safeguarding;
structural reforms (EO 13587)
Congo; continuation of national emergency (Notice of Oct. 25, p. 371)
Cote d'Ivoire; continuation of national emergency (Notice of Jan. 26,
p. 330)
Cuba; continuation of national emergency regulating anchorage and
movement (Notice of Feb. 24, p. 332)
Export control regulations; continuation of national emergency (Notice
of Aug. 12, p. 354)
Iran; continuation of national emergency (Notices of Mar. 8, p. 336;
Nov. 7, p. 375)
Iraq; continuation of national emergency (Notice of May 17, p. 344)
Korea, North; continuation of national emergency (Notice of June 23, p.
349)
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Middle East peace process; continuation of national emergency
respecting terrorist who threaten (Notice of Jan. 13, p. 326)
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010; report
(Memorandum of Feb. 7, p. 331)
National Defense Transportation Day and National Transportation Week
(Proc. 8675)
National Preparedness Month (Proc. 8700)
Palestinian Authority; waiver of restrictions on providing funds
(Presidential Determination No. 11-14, p. 355)
Russia; weapons-usable fissile material, continuation of national
emergency (Notice of June 17, p. 349)
Somalia; continuation of national emergency (Notice of Apr. 7, p. 340)
Sudan; continuation of national emergency (Notice of Nov. 1, p. 374)
Syria; continuation of national emergency (Notice of Apr. 29, p. 342)
Trading With the Enemy Act; continuation of certain authorities
(Presidential Determination No. 11-15, p. 356)
U.S. Joint Forces Command; disestablishment (Memorandum of Jan. 6, p.
325)
Weapons of mass destruction; continuation of national emergency (Notice
of Nov. 9, p. 375)
Zimbabwe; continuation of national emergency (Notice of Mar. 2, p. 332)
Defense Authorization Act, National; delegation of function and authority
(Memorandum of July 19, p. 351)
Defense, Department of
Secretary
Delegation of functions and authority under sections 315 and 325
(Memorandum of Apr. 14, p. 341)
Unified Command Plan (Memorandum of Apr. 6, p. 340)
Defense Transportation Day and Transportation Week, National (Proc. 8675)
Diabetes Month, National (Proc. 8746)
Disability Employment Awareness Month, National (Proc. 8726)
Domestic Violence Awareness Month, National (Proc. 8727)
Donate Life Month, National (Proc. 8642)
Drugs and narcotics
Brazil; drug interdiction assistance (Presidential Determination No.
12-2, p. 370)
Colombia
Drug traffickers; continuation of national emergency (Notice of Oct. 19, p.
370)
U.S. drug interdiction assistance; continuation (Presidential Determination
No. 11-13, p. 354)
Illicit drug producing or transit countries (Presidential Determination
No. 11-16, p. 357)
E
Earth Day (Proc. 8657)
Education and Sharing Day, U.S.A. (Proc. 8655)
Emergency Medical Services Week (Proc. 8674)
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week, National (Proc. 8715)
Energy Action Month, National (Proc. 8730)
Entrepreneurship Month, National (Proc. 8747)
Environment
America Recycles Day (Proc. 8754)
Earth Day (Proc. 8657)
Mercury and Air Toxics Standards rule; flexible implementation
(Memorandum of Dec. 21, p. 379)
Oceans Month, National (Proc. 8688)
Park Week, National (Proc. 8656)
Environmental Protection Agency; Mercury and Air Toxics Standards rule,
flexible implementation (Memorandum of Dec. 21, p. 379)
Equal Pay Day, National (Proc. 8653)
Exports and imports
Export control regulations; continuation of emergency (Notice of Aug.
12, p. 354)
Government services; easier access for small businesses and exporters
(Memorandum of Oct. 28, p. 371)
Russia; Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988, determinations
under (Memorandum of Dec. 15, p. 379)
F
Family Caregivers Month, National (Proc. 8748)
Family Week, National (Proc. 8756)
Farm-City Week, National (Proc. 8757)
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Farm Safety and Health Week, National (Proc. 8716)
Father's Day (Proc. 8690)
Financial Literacy Month, National (Proc. 8646)
Fire Prevention Week (Proc. 8732)
Flag Day and National Flag Week (Proc. 8689)
Foreign relations
Cote d'Ivoire; unexpected urgent refugee and migration assistance
(Presidential Determinations Nos. 11-7, p. 335; 11-11, p. 347)
East Africa; unexpected urgent refugee and migration assistance
(Presidential Determination No. 11-12, p. 353)
Foreign governments' efforts regarding trafficking in persons
(Presidential Determination No. 11-18, p. 362)
Illicit drug