    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 132, 115th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Proclamation 9746 of May 10, 2018

    Military Spouse Day, 2018

    By the President of the United States of America

    A Proclamation

    Since the founding of our Republic, military spouses have served
    alongside their loved ones and played vital roles in the defense of our
    country. Their selfless support, volunteer spirit, and significant
    contributions have left indelible marks on our military and communities.
    On Military Spouse Day, we pay tribute to these remarkable patriots,
    past and present, including the incredible women and men who currently
    serve, in steadfast support of America's Armed Forces, as our Nation's
    military spouses.
    Military Spouse Day is an opportunity to thank the inspirational men and
    women who are the foundation of our Nation's military families. Their
    countless sacrifices and tireless devotion to this country, and to those
    who defend her, are invaluable and irreplaceable. Military spouses
    shoulder the burdens of a challenging and demanding lifestyle with
    pride, strength, and determination. They demonstrate uncommon grace and
    grit, and although most military spouses do not wear a uniform, they
    honorably serve our Nation--often times without their loved one standing
    beside them.
    We ask so much of our military spouses: frequent moves; heartbreaking
    separations; parenting alone; incomplete celebrations; and weeks,
    months, and sometimes years of waiting for a loved one's safe return
    from harm's way. Time and time again, however, military spouses respond
    with resilience that defies explanation. Our service members are often
    praised as national heroes, but their spouses are equally worthy of that
    distinction.
    My Administration is committed to taking care of our Armed Forces and
    ensuring that our military is equipped to defend our country and protect
    our way of life. This mission also includes caring for the unique needs
    of military spouses, whose service to our Nation cannot be overstated.
    Too often, military life can interfere with the aspirations and dreams
    of our military spouses. For example, frequent and often unexpected
    moves can impair career and academic goals. Even as our economy
    prospers, military spouses continue to face an unemployment rate far
    higher than the national average, up to 16 percent in 2017. Further,
    data from the 2016 American Community Survey indicates that military
    spouses suffer from underemployment at a greater rate than Americans
    more broadly, at an estimated 31.4 percent compared to 19.6 percent
    overall. All of these are added and unnecessary burdens on military
    families.

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    We can and will do better, which is why my Administration will continue
    to focus on enhancing employment opportunities for military spouses. On
    May 9, I signed an Executive Order to enhance opportunities for military
    spouses looking for employment in the Federal Government. This action
    promotes the use of an existing hiring authority for military spouses
    and seeks to provide significantly greater opportunity for military
    spouses to be considered for Federal Government positions.
    Beyond the Federal Government, I encourage every American business,
    large and small, to find ways to employ military spouses, and keep them
    employed as they relocate--sometimes every 2 or 3 years--to new duty
    stations. More than 360 employers with regional and national footprints
    have made this commitment through the Department of Defense's Military
    Spouse Employment Partnership. In less than 7 years, these patriotic
    partners have hired more than 112,000 military spouses. We are grateful
    for these employment opportunities and hope to see many more businesses
    participate in this important initiative.
    In addition, many military spouses encounter unnecessary delays
    remaining in the workforce following a change in duty station. These
    spouses are more likely than other workers to face barriers to
    employment due to the impact of occupational licensing laws, since they
    frequently move across State lines and are disproportionately employed
    in occupations that require a license. Existing State laws regarding
    license portability are insufficient. States and occupational licensing
    boards can and must do more to improve the license portability to
    facilitate career continuity and ease financial burdens on our military
    families.
    As we observe Military Spouse Day, we salute generations of military
    spouses for their leadership, courage, love, patriotism, and unwavering
    support for the courageous men and women of our Armed Forces. On this
    day, Melania and I offer our deepest respect and gratitude to every
    person who has embraced this noble calling in proud service to our
    Nation as a military spouse.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, 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 11, 2018, as
    Military Spouse Day. I call upon the people of the United States to
    honor military spouses with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of May,
    in the year of our Lord two thousand eighteen, and of the Independence
    of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-second.
    DONALD J. TRUMP