    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 124, 111th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    PROCLAMATION 8546--AUG. 13, 2010

    Proclamation 8546 of August 13, 2010
    75th Anniversary of the Social Security Act
    By the President of the United States of America
    A Proclamation

    On August 14, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law the
    Social Security Act to protect ordinary Americans ``against the loss of
    a job and against poverty-ridden old age.'' Our Nation was entrenched in
    the Great Depression. Unemployment neared 20 percent, and millions of
    Americans struggled to provide for themselves and their families. In the
    midst of all this, the Social Security Act brought

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    hope to some of our most vulnerable citizens, giving elderly Americans
    income security and bringing us closer to President Roosevelt's vision
    of a Nation free from want or fear.
    As our country recovers from one of the greatest economic challenges
    since that time, we are grateful for President Roosevelt's perseverance,
    and for the countless public servants whose efforts produced the Social
    Security program we know today. Seventy-five years later, Social
    Security remains a safety net for seniors and a source of resilience for
    all Americans. Since 1935, it has been expanded to include dependent and
    survivor benefits, disability insurance, and guaranteed medical
    insurance for seniors through Medicare. It is a lasting promise that we
    can retire with dignity and peace of mind, that workers who become
    disabled can support themselves, and that families who suffer the loss
    of a loved one will not live in poverty.
    My Administration is committed to strengthening our retirement system
    and protecting Social Security as a reliable income source for seniors,
    workers who develop disabilities, and dependents. After a lifetime of
    contributions to our Nation and its economy, Americans have earned this
    support. The new health care law, the Affordable Care Act, helps sustain
    this commitment and improves the long-term outlook of the Social
    Security program. My Administration is dedicated to safeguarding Social
    Security's promise of retirement with dignity and security.
    On the 75th anniversary of the Social Security Act, let us ensure we
    continue to preserve this program's original purpose in the 21st
    century. Together, we can give our children and our grandchildren the
    same protections we have cherished for decades, and in doing so, lead
    our Nation to a brighter day.
    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 August 14, 2010, as
    the 75th Anniversary of the Social Security Act. I call upon all
    Americans to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities
    that recognize the historic legacy of the Social Security Act, as well
    as the vital safety net it provides to millions of Americans.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of
    August, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the
    Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
    fifth.
    BARACK OBAMA