[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 86 (Wednesday, May 4, 2016)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 26987-26988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10657]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 81 , No. 86 / Wednesday, May 4, 2016 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 26987]]


                Proclamation 9438 of April 29, 2016

                
National Small Business Week, 2016

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Responsible for creating nearly two-thirds of net new 
                jobs in the United States each year and employing more 
                than half of all Americans, small businesses have 
                always been a vital part of our country's economy. As 
                outlets for creativity and ingenuity, small businesses 
                do more than create jobs and foster growth--they 
                represent the spirit that has always driven our Nation 
                forward. Throughout National Small Business Week, we 
                celebrate the irreplaceable role these enterprises play 
                in our national life by pledging to support them and 
                equip them with the tools and resources they need to 
                succeed.

                Across America, small businesses support economies, 
                employ local residents, and contribute to the vibrancy 
                of their communities. My Administration is dedicated to 
                helping these businesses and the entrepreneurs who took 
                a chance on turning ideas into realities. We have 
                enacted 18 tax cuts for small businesses, and because 
                of the Affordable Care Act, a tax credit of up to 50 
                percent is available for certain small businesses to 
                help offset the cost of insurance. And our businesses 
                have created jobs in every month since I signed this 
                law.

                Our Nation does best when we help our startups and 
                small businesses expand into new markets and offer 
                goods and services to more people. Ninety-eight percent 
                of the American companies that export are small and 
                medium-sized businesses, but less than 5 percent of our 
                country's small businesses export. In our 21st-century 
                economy, it is imperative that we break down the trade 
                barriers that too often hold small businesses back from 
                extending their reach to those abroad to sell more 
                goods made in the United States. Last year, we reached 
                an agreement with 11 other nations that allows us to 
                write the rules of our global economy and gives more of 
                our people the fair shot at success they deserve. The 
                Trans-Pacific Partnership will eliminate over 18,000 
                taxes imposed by other countries on our goods and 
                services and level the playing field for American 
                workers and businesses, and I look forward to working 
                with the Congress to implement this agreement.

                My Administration has taken action to ensure the 
                Federal Government does its part to support our 
                Nation's small businesses. During fiscal year 2015, we 
                awarded an all-time high of more than a quarter of 
                eligible Federal contracts to small businesses, and we 
                made great strides in ensuring more Government 
                contracts are given to women-owned small businesses--
                nearly $18 billion worth. We have launched next-
                generation manufacturing hubs, and we have made more 
                online tools available to entrepreneurs to give them 
                the resources they need to start a business in a single 
                day--and the Startup in a Day initiative is continuing 
                to engage with all levels of government to streamline 
                the process of beginning a business.

                Our Nation's small businesses play a critical role in 
                generating economic prosperity, and the effort poured 
                into them by ordinary citizens across our country 
                reflects the hard work and determination inherent to 
                who we are as a people. This week, we renew our support 
                for these engines of growth and recognize their 
                incredible contributions to our country.

[[Page 26988]]

                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, 
                2016, as National 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 
                twenty-ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and fortieth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2016-10657
Filed 5-3-16; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F6-P