[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.

[[Page 5747]]

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