[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 5, 2021)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 23857-23858]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-09593]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 85 / Wednesday, May 5, 2021 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 23857]]


                Proclamation 10196 of April 30, 2021

                
Public Service Recognition Week, 2021

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                In the face of unprecedented challenges this past year, 
                America's dedicated public servants have risen to the 
                moment--bringing strength, healing, and hope to their 
                communities and to our Nation. Our public servants are 
                a living reminder that, here in America, we take care 
                of one another and leave no one behind. As we work to 
                defeat the pandemic and rebuild our economy, it is more 
                important than ever to recognize and reflect upon both 
                our collective loss and our collective resilience. 
                During Public Service Recognition Week, we celebrate 
                and thank our public servants at the local, State, and 
                Federal levels who exemplify dedication to the common 
                good.

                Public servants are the lifeblood of our democracy. 
                They are our researchers and scientists, our front-line 
                workers, our educators, our first responders, our 
                election officials, and our military service members--
                among countless others. They are ordinary Americans who 
                answer the call to do extraordinary things, giving 
                their time--and, in some cases, risking or giving their 
                lives--to make life better for all of us.

                Throughout this week and beyond, my Administration will 
                be shining a light on the individual and collective 
                efforts of public servants at the local, State, Tribal, 
                and Federal levels who unite us and help lead us 
                through challenging times. In the toughest of 
                circumstances and often at great personal sacrifice, 
                our public servants tackle the most complex problems 
                facing our communities. Whether developing public 
                health guidance and working across agencies to safely 
                reopen schools during the pandemic, partnering with the 
                private sector to develop and distribute vaccines, 
                keeping small businesses dreams alive, or combating 
                natural disasters in their hometowns, public servants 
                demonstrate their commitment to our Nation every day. 
                It is our responsibility, in turn, to ensure that they 
                are honored and protected.

                Since taking office earlier this year, I have made it 
                the policy of the United States to protect, empower, 
                and rebuild the career Federal workforce. My 
                Administration made employee safety a priority--
                directing agencies to create COVID-19 workplace safety 
                plans and require mask-wearing, physical distancing, 
                and other public health measures in Federal buildings 
                and on Federal lands. I revoked several Executive 
                Orders that undermined the foundations of civil 
                service, worked to ensure the right of Federal 
                employees to engage in collective bargaining, and 
                created a new interagency task force to ensure that 
                Federal employees engaged in scientific research and 
                data collection are never subjected to political 
                interference.

                In addition, I have strengthened protections against 
                discrimination for Federal employees, including 
                discrimination on the basis of gender identity or 
                sexual orientation. I have also asked the Director of 
                the Office of Personnel Management to provide me with 
                recommendations to promote a $15 per hour minimum wage 
                for Federal employees, as well as recommendations for 
                expanding the Federal Government's policy of providing 
                employees time off to vote. And this week, I signed an 
                Executive Order that will increase the minimum wage for 
                employees working on Federal contracts to $15 per hour.

[[Page 23858]]

                Together, as we strive to build, support, and 
                continuously improve our public workforce, we recognize 
                and celebrate the indispensable contributions our 
                public servants make while protecting our communities, 
                taking care of our neighbors, and helping us heal and 
                build back better. It is the honor of my lifetime to 
                serve our Nation alongside our public servants, who 
                work tirelessly to improve the lives of Americans and 
                people around the globe.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., 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 2 through 
                May 8, 2021, as Public Service Recognition Week. I call 
                upon all Americans to celebrate public servants and 
                their contributions this week and throughout the year.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                fifth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2021-09593
Filed 5-4-21; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3295-F1-P