    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 134, 116th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Proclamation 10029 of May 7, 2020
    Military Spouse Day, 2020
    By the President of the United States of America
    A Proclamation
    Military spouses, who stand alongside our men and women in uniform,
    share in our service members' heroic endeavors through selfless service,
    immeasurable contributions, and noble sacrifices. Through their
    dedication to their loved ones, military spouses support the mission of
    our Armed Forces to defend our Nation and preserve our liberty. On
    Military Spouse Day, we pay tribute to these extraordinary individuals
    who strengthen and enrich our fighting forces, our communities, and our
    Republic.
    The abiding capacity of our Nation's military spouses to balance the
    many demands of military life reflects their unwavering spirit,
    fortitude, and grace. They support loved ones who have answered our
    country's call to duty, raise children far from extended family, and
    invest in their communities through volunteer service. At the same time,
    demonstrating their loyal devotion to a cause greater than self, many of
    them pursue their own educational and career goals and routinely face
    the stress and uncertainty of frequent moves, as well as the heartache
    and loneliness of deployment. Their individual stories, interests, and
    talents are unique, but military spouses share the common bonds of
    selflessness, strength of character, and faithfulness to a Soldier,
    Sailor, Airman, Marine, Coast Guardsman, or member of the Space Force.
    Our Nation's military spouses bring considerable talent, expertise, and
    experience to the workplace, and their employment is critical to
    military recruitment, retention, and readiness. My Administration
    recognizes that our military spouses face unique obstacles in obtaining and
    retaining employment. Occupational licensing requirements
    disproportionally affect them; they earn substantially less than other
    labor market participants earn; and they currently face an elevated
    unemployment rate. To help solve this problem, last December, I signed
    into law legislation that changed residency requirements to allow
    military spouses to retain their State of residency for business
    purposes, eliminating the long and expensive process of having to re-
    register their business following a change in duty station. This
    legislation also doubled the reimbursement amount for occupational
    licensing and recertification costs from $500 to $1,000 for military
    spouses who have a permanent change of station, helping to defray costs
    for those who work in fields that require documentation.
    My Administration is also working with the private, public, and non-
    profit sectors to help create meaningful jobs, careers, and economic
    empowerment for military spouses. Through the Department of Defense's
    Military Spouse Employment Partnership program, we have secured
    commitments from more than 400 American companies and 13 Federal
    agencies to recruit, hire, train, retrain, and support military spouses.
    Additionally, last year, we held two business summits at the White House
    that resulted in participating companies pledging to work to improve
    military employment opportunities for military spouses. These patriotic
    employers are making efforts to review and reduce requirements for
    certain jobs, partner with other companies to assist with

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    job relocation
    after a change in duty station, and educate managers on the lifestyle of
    military spouses and the challenges they face.
    Today, we salute the spirit and patriotism of the exceptional women and
    men who serve as military spouses and embody the best of America.
    Military spouses are among our country's unsung heroes, serving as the
    heart of the home front and providing tremendous strength to our Armed
    Forces. On this Military Spouse Day, the First Lady and I urge our
    fellow Americans to extend sincere gratitude to our Nation's incredible
    military spouses.
    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 8, 2020, 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 seventh day of May,
    in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty, and of the Independence of
    the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fourth.
    DONALD J. TRUMP