    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 117, 108th Congress, 1st Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Proclamation 7643 of January 27, 2003

    National Consumer Protection Week, 2003

    By the President of the United States of America
    A Proclamation

    Few technologies have become fixtures in our daily lives as quickly as
    computers and the Internet. Today, more than half of all Americans log
    on to the Internet, and that number is growing. Our access to
    information, entertainment, credit and banking, products, and services
    from every corner of the world is greater than ever before. As our
    personal information becomes more accessible, consumers, corporations,
    and government agencies must take precautions against the misuse of that
    information.
    Computer technology and the Internet have revolutionized our ability to
    communicate and share knowledge. This new freedom offers incredible
    opportunities; but as individuals and as a Nation, we must guard against
    the misuse of personal information and identity theft. The theme of this
    year's National Consumer Protection Week is ``Information Security,''
    and during this week we resolve to help all Americans learn how to keep
    personal information secure.
    For consumers, securing a computer is a matter of routine maintenance
    and caution. Effective passwords, firewalls, and up-to-date antivirus
    software can help protect computers, and the personal or business
    information we store on them, from those who would damage a network
    operation or steal personal information to commit a crime. By practicing
    effective information security measures, all citizens can contribute to
    the protection of our national information infrastructure.
    To assist consumers, public and private entities have joined forces to
    highlight the importance of information security. They include the
    Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Postal Service, the U.S. Postal
    Inspection Service, the Federal Consumer Information Center, the
    National Association of Attorneys General, the National Consumers
    League, the American Association of Retired Persons, the Better Business
    Bureau, the Consumer Federation of America, and the National Association
    of Consumer Agency Administrators. The National Strategy to Secure
    Cyberspace also offers guidance for the full range of computer users on
    information security. By working together, we can help consumers and
    businesses understand how information security affects their decisions
    at home and in the marketplace.
    During National Consumer Protection Week, I encourage all Americans to
    take the appropriate steps to ensure the security of their personal

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    or sensitive information. By learning ways to safeguard this data,
    individuals can help ensure their financial security, and contribute to
    the strength and prosperity of our Nation.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, 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 February 2 through 8,
    2003, as National Consumer Protection Week. I call upon Government
    officials, industry leaders, and consumer advocates to provide consumers
    with information about how we can help safeguard the economic future of
    all Americans by keeping our personal information secure.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day
    of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand three, and of the
    Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
    seventh.
    GEORGE W. BUSH