[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 126, 112th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
PROCLAMATION 8782--MAR. 5, 2012

Proclamation 8782 of March 5, 2012

National Consumer Protection Week, 2012

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Millions of Americans use financial products, including credit cards,
mortgages, and student loans, to build the foundation for a better
tomorrow. These tools help bring our aspirations within reach and
empower countless individuals to earn an education, afford a home, or
raise a family. Yet, irresponsible lending and deceptive practices pose
serious risks to consumers and our economy alike. During National
Consumer Protection Week, we recommit to empowering all Americans with
the clear and concise information they need to make financial decisions,
and to encouraging open and honest competition in the marketplace.
For 14 years, consumer advocacy groups, private organizations, and
agencies at every level of government have come together to celebrate
National Consumer Protection Week by highlighting the ways individuals
and families can protect themselves from scams, fraud, and abuse. Robust
consumer education is essential to a healthy economy, and I encourage
all Americans to learn more about money management, avoiding identity
theft, understanding loans and mortgages, and other topics at:
www.NCPW.gov.
With the leadership of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
and Director Richard Cordray, my Administration continues to look out
for the interests of everyday Americans by strengthening oversight and
accountability in the financial sector and fighting for the protections
consumers deserve. Last year, we launched the ``Know Before You Owe''
campaign to simplify home loan applications, student fi-



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nancial aid packages, and credit card agreements and make it easier for consumers to
compare options. We are reaching out to seniors, service members, and
others who face unique financial challenges to help them access the
tools and resources they need. To better understand the issues
confronting consumers across our country, we are also engaging
individuals and organizations and ensuring they have a voice at the
CFPB. To share your own experience with consumer financial products,
file a complaint, or find more information about how the CFPB is
protecting American families, visit: www.ConsumerFinance.gov.
For centuries, our Nation has endeavored to uphold a principle that will
forever remain at the heart of the American promise--that with hard work
and responsibility, every individual deserves the opportunity to get
ahead. As we continue to restore financial security through strong
consumer protections, we help ensure no American is left to face unfair
practices alone and every family has the chance to preserve and pass
down what they have worked so hard to achieve.
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 4 through March
10, 2012, 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 fifth day of March,
in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of
the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.
BARACK OBAMA