[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 101 (Wednesday, May 24, 2000)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 33431-33432]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-13190]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 101 / Wednesday, May 24, 2000 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 33431]]


                Proclamation 7311 of May 19, 2000

                
Small Business Week, 2000

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                The men and women who own and operate our Nation's 25 
                million small businesses have made, and continue to 
                make, an indispensable contribution to America's 
                economic strength and success. These entrepreneurs 
                possess many of the characteristics that have always 
                defined the American spirit: a fierce independence, an 
                extraordinary work ethic, and an uncompromising 
                commitment to building a better life. Taking risks to 
                fulfill their dreams, they have made a profound and 
                positive impact on the lives and futures of their 
                fellow citizens.

                America's small business owners represent more than 99 
                percent of all employers, and they employ more than 
                half of the private sector workforce. They create 80 
                percent of the new jobs in our economy, and last year 
                they generated 51 percent of our Nation's gross 
                national product--more than $16 trillion. Small 
                business owners are leaders in innovation, creating a 
                wellspring of new technology, new products, and more 
                effective business processes.

                Recognizing the important role small businesses play in 
                the life of our Nation and in the vitality of our 
                economy, my Administration is committed to continuing 
                and expanding their success so that more Americans have 
                the opportunity for prosperity and a secure future for 
                themselves and their families. By balancing the Federal 
                budget, we freed up capital for starting and expanding 
                small businesses. We have put in place policies and 
                programs that grant tax and regulatory relief and 
                expand access to capital and overseas markets for small 
                businesses. And we have strengthened America's 
                workforce through investment in education, training, 
                and improved benefits.

                Through the Small Business Administration, we 
                guaranteed more than $12 billion in loans to nearly 50 
                thousand companies last year alone; opened the door to 
                $4.2 billion in venture capital investment for 2,000 
                companies; and provided management and technical 
                assistance to more than 900,000 small businesses. 
                Through our New Markets Initiative and our efforts to 
                bridge the digital divide, my Administration is helping 
                to create opportunities for small businesses by 
                promoting public and private sector investment in 
                underserved communities and expanding e-commerce 
                capability.

                During Small Business Week, we salute America's 
                millions of small business owners; men and women of 
                courage and initiative whose future is limited only by 
                their imagination and whose success has created better 
                lives for us all.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, 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 May 21 through May 27, 2000, 
                as Small Business Week. I call upon government 
                officials and all the people of the United States to 
                observe this week with appropriate ceremonies, 
                activities, and programs that celebrate the 
                achievements of small business owners and encourage the 
                development of new enterprises.

[[Page 33432]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand, and of the Independence of the United States 
                of America the two hundred and twenty-fourth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 00-13190
Filed 5-23-00; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P