[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 42 (Wednesday, March 4, 2015)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 11853-11854]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-04517]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 42 / Wednesday, March 4, 2015 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 11853]]


                Proclamation 9239 of February 27, 2015

                
National Consumer Protection Week, 2015

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                As Americans, we believe that our destiny is written by 
                us--not for us--and that ours is a country where hard 
                work should pay off and responsibility should be 
                rewarded. Through all of the challenges we have 
                overcome and the grueling work required to bring our 
                economy out of the worst financial crisis since the 
                Great Depression, we have held on to that promise. Yet 
                each day, fraud, abuse, and theft threaten the economic 
                well-being of individuals and families across our 
                Nation who spend their lives striving to build a sense 
                of security. During National Consumer Protection Week, 
                we redouble our efforts to protect Americans from 
                financial fraud and identity theft, and to ensure our 
                economy gives every person a chance to succeed.

                Over the past 6 years, my Administration has been 
                committed to protecting the hard-earned money and 
                privacy of our citizens. In today's digital age, we are 
                more connected and do more online than ever before. 
                Unfortunately, the very technologies that empower us to 
                do great good can also be used to undermine us and 
                inflict great harm. That is why my Administration is 
                working to create a single, strong national standard so 
                people know when their information has been stolen or 
                misused, and why we are encouraging companies to equip 
                consumers with their credit scores free of charge so 
                they can quickly detect and deal with fraud. I also 
                continue to call on the Congress to enact overdue 
                cybersecurity legislation that will help protect 
                Americans--particularly by clarifying companies' 
                obligations when sensitive data is breached.

                As part of our BuySecure Initiative, the Federal 
                Government is leading the way by transitioning to a 
                more secure chip and PIN payment system--because you 
                should be able to visit our National Parks or use the 
                Postal Service without risking your identity. Earlier 
                this year, we convened the first-ever White House 
                Summit on Cybersecurity and Consumer Protection, and we 
                are taking new steps to assist the victims of identity 
                theft. Furthermore, Americans who responsibly prepare 
                for retirement should not be taken advantage of, so we 
                are proposing a new rule to require retirement advisors 
                to put their clients' financial interests before their 
                own. We have also introduced a discussion draft of 
                legislation for a new Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights 
                to safeguard basic principles that both defend personal 
                privacy and allow industry to keep innovating.

                Consumers can also take steps to protect themselves and 
                their families. Predatory and deceptive lending 
                practices, identity theft, financial scams, and fraud 
                can cause lasting devastation for victims. By 
                empowering ourselves with information about our rights 
                and the resources available to us, we can be prepared 
                and make better-informed decisions. I encourage 
                everyone to visit www.NCPW.gov and 
                www.IdentityTheft.gov to learn more about the risks and 
                vulnerabilities we all face, as well as the steps we 
                can take to defend ourselves and the tools and support 
                available to help save time, money, and heartache.

                When we, as Americans, put our minds together and our 
                shoulders to the wheel, we can accomplish anything. The 
                United States created the Internet and a new age of 
                information--but we also pioneered the Bill

[[Page 11854]]

                of Rights, and we believe individuals have a sphere of 
                privacy around them that should not be breached. This 
                week, let us recommit to safeguarding consumers, and 
                let us strive to grow our economy in ways that preserve 
                the values we hold dear so that each of us has the 
                power to translate our dreams into reality.

                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 through March 
                7, 2015, 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.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                twenty-seventh day of February, in the year of our Lord 
                two thousand fifteen, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
                ninth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2015-04517
Filed 3-3-15; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F5