[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 129, 114th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9322 of September 14, 2015

National Hispanic Heritage Month, 2015

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Throughout our history, our Nation has been enriched by the storied
pasts of all who call the United States of America home. America's
Hispanic community has woven unique threads into the diverse fabric of
our country and played an important role in shaping our national
character as a people of limitless possibility. This month, let us honor
their distinct heritage while reaffirming our commitment to enabling
them to build a future bright with hope and opportunity for themselves,
their families, and the country we love.
Hispanics contribute to our Nation's success in extraordinary ways--they
serve in the military and government, attend schools across America, and
strengthen the economy. They are the father who works two jobs to give
his children a better life, and the mother who ventures out to take a
risk and start a business. They are the student--often the first in
their family to go to college--who pursues their greatest aspirations
through higher education. They are the lawful permanent resident who
seeks to naturalize and become a citizen, and the business leader whose
loved ones have lived in the United States for generations. Each day, we
see the tremendous impact they have on our communities, and they reflect
an enduring truth at the heart of our Nation: no matter

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where you come from or where your roots are, with hard work and
perseverance you can make it in America.
My Administration remains committed to ensuring Hispanics have every
opportunity to achieve the American dream. Last year, we approved more
than 4,000 loans totaling over $1 billion for Hispanic-owned small
businesses, helping create jobs and improve local economies. We have
invested resources in education and reformed our schools to provide the
opportunities every Hispanic student needs to graduate from high school
prepared for the future they will inherit. We have also expanded high-
quality preschool and early childhood education for our youngest
learners in Latino communities, and provided grants and loans to assist
tens of thousands of Hispanic young people and adults on their journey
toward earning a college degree. The dropout rate for Hispanic students
has been cut by more than half since the year 2000, and college
enrollment has risen by 45 percent since 2008. Additionally, since I
signed the Affordable Care Act in 2010, the share of Hispanics under 65
without health insurance has fallen by one-third, and in the years ahead
I will continue working to address the health disparities that still
exist. And we are expanding the cultural, economic, and familial ties
that so many Hispanic Americans share with Latin America by entering a
new chapter of engagement and cooperation with Cuba.
The United States has a centuries-old tradition of welcoming immigrants,
which has given us a tremendous advantage over the rest of the world.
Last year, I took action to fix our broken immigration system within the
confines of the law. The policies include offering temporary relief to
parents of children who are United States citizens or lawful permanent
residents so they could come out of the shadows, get right with the law,
and further contribute to America's success while also providing for
their loved ones--because as a Nation that values families, we must work
together to keep them together. I also took steps to modernize the legal
immigration system for families, employers, and workers, and
strengthened Federal immigrant integration efforts. I created the White
House Task Force on New Americans--a Federal interagency effort focused
on strengthening and enhancing our efforts to integrate new Americans
and build welcoming communities. And we are working to make sure the
millions of individuals who are eligible for citizenship understand the
opportunities, rights, and responsibilities that it affords. While these
actions make our system better, they are not a permanent fix to our
broken immigration system--and that is why I continue to call on the
Congress to pass meaningful, comprehensive immigration reform.
As a Nation, we are bound by our shared ideals. America's Hispanic
community has the same dreams, values, trials, and triumphs of people in
every corner of our country, and they show the same grit and
determination that have carried us forward for centuries. During
National Hispanic Heritage Month, let us renew our commitment to
honoring the invaluable ways Hispanics contribute to our common goals,
to celebrating Hispanic culture, and to working toward a stronger, more
inclusive, and more prosperous society for all.
To honor the achievements of Hispanics in America, the Congress by
Public Law 100-402, as amended, has authorized and requested the
President to issue annually a proclamation designating September 15
through October 15 as ``National Hispanic Heritage Month.''

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NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim September 15 through October 15, 2015, as
National Hispanic Heritage Month. I call upon public officials,
educators, librarians, and all Americans to observe this month with
appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of
September, in the year of our Lord two thousand fifteen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
fortieth.
BARACK OBAMA