    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 133, 116th Congress, 1st Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Proclamation 9862 of April 12, 2019

    Pan American Day and Pan American Week, 2019

    By the President of the United States of America

    A Proclamation

    In October 1889, the nations of the Americas convened in Washington,
    D.C., at the First International Conference of the American States, to
    strengthen the bonds of friendship among the countries of the Western
    Hemisphere and to consider opportunities for improved cooperation. This
    conference set the foundation for the Organization of American States,
    which was eventually established in 1948 and today serves as the primary
    international forum for the countries of the Western Hemisphere. As we
    celebrate this Pan American Day and Pan American Week, nearly 130 years
    after the First International Conference, the United States proudly
    continues to stand in solidarity with the nations of the Americas.
    Together, we commemorate the progress we have made toward our shared
    goal of a hemisphere united in democracy, prosperity, and security.
    The people of the Americas are bound together by much more than
    geographic proximity. From the earliest days of the inter-American
    system, we have shared a deep respect for liberty. Enshrined in the
    Charter of the Organization of American States is a declaration that
    ``representative democracy is an indispensable condition for the
    stability, peace, and development of the region'' and that ``the
    historic mission of America is to offer to man a land of liberty.'' We
    remain committed to freedom and a strong and interconnected Western
    Hemisphere in the face of current challenges.
    Together, the nations of America must continue to confront oppression
    and advocate for freedom--both in the region and around the globe.
    Sadly, the people of Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua continue to live
    under tyranny and authoritarianism. The brutality and corruption of the
    illegitimate former regime in Venezuela has crippled the country and
    brought it to ruin. We must not forget that the struggle is one between
    dictatorship and democracy, between oppression and freedom, and between
    continued suffering for millions of Venezuelans and an opportunity for a
    renewed future of freedom and prosperity. The community of democracies
    in our Western Hemisphere must continue to support the people of
    Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua as they fight for the restoration of
    democracy and liberty.
    Despite such challenges, the countries of the Americas have made
    substantive progress on issues such as trafficking and crime, poverty
    reduction, and safety. The United States has worked with its partners to
    disrupt transnational criminal networks, stem drug and human
    trafficking, enhance citizen security, and strengthen border security.
    We will continue working cooperatively in the Americas and throughout
    the world to promote the rule of law and give the people of our
    countries every opportunity to thrive.
    On Pan American Day and during Pan American Week, the nations of the
    Americas renew our common mission of advancing freedom in our
    hemisphere. Through unmatched levels of trade and investment, steady
    cooperation, and investment in the well-being of people from all

    [[Page 3344]]

    walks of life, we are helping to secure prosperity and security for
    future generations.
    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 April 14, 2019, as Pan
    American Day and April 14 through April 20, 2019, as Pan American Week.
    I urge the Governors of the 50 States, the Governor of the Commonwealth
    of Puerto Rico, and the officials of the other areas under the flag of
    the United States of America to honor these observances with appropriate
    ceremonies and activities.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of
    April, in the year of our Lord two thousand nineteen, and of the
    Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
    third.
    DONALD J. TRUMP