[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 5 (Monday, February 3, 2003)]
[Page 108]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7643--National Consumer Protection Week, 2003

 January 27, 2003

 By the President of the United States

 of America

 A Proclamation

    Few technologies have become fixtures in our daily lives as quickly 
as computers and the Internet. Today, more than half of all Americans 
log on to the Internet, and that number is growing. Our access to 
information, entertainment, credit and banking, products, and services 
from every corner of the world is greater than ever before. As our 
personal information becomes more accessible, consumers, corporations, 
and government agencies must take precautions against the misuse of that 
information.
    Computer technology and the Internet have revolutionized our ability 
to communicate and share knowledge. This new freedom offers incredible 
opportunities; but as individuals and as a Nation, we must guard against 
the misuse of personal information and identity theft. The theme of this 
year's National Consumer Protection Week is ``Information Security,'' 
and during this week we resolve to help all Americans learn how to keep 
personal information secure.
    For consumers, securing a computer is a matter of routine 
maintenance and caution. Effective passwords, firewalls, and up-to-date 
antivirus software can help protect computers, and the personal or 
business information we store on them, from those who would damage a 
network operation or steal personal information to commit a crime. By 
practicing effective information security measures, all citizens can 
contribute to the protection of our national information infrastructure.
    To assist consumers, public and private entities have joined forces 
to highlight the importance of information security. They include the 
Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Postal Service, the U.S. Postal 
Inspection Service, the Federal Consumer Information Center, the 
National Association of Attorneys General, the National Consumers 
League, the American Association of Retired Persons, the Better Business 
Bureau, the Consumer Federation of America, and the National Association 
of Consumer Agency Administrators. The National Strategy to Secure 
Cyberspace also offers guidance for the full range of computer users on 
information security. By working together, we can help consumers and 
businesses understand how information security affects their decisions 
at home and in the marketplace.
    During National Consumer Protection Week, I encourage all Americans 
to take the appropriate steps to ensure the security of their personal 
or sensitive information. By learning ways to safeguard this data, 
individuals can help ensure their financial security, and contribute to 
the strength and prosperity of our Nation.
    Now, Therefore, I, George W. Bush, President of the United States of 
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and 
laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim February 2 through 8, 
2003, as National Consumer Protection Week. I call upon Government 
officials, industry leaders, and consumer advocates to provide consumers 
with information about how we can help safeguard the economic future of 
all Americans by keeping our personal information secure.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh 
day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand three, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
seventh.
                                                George W. Bush

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 9:52 a.m., January 29, 
2003]

Note: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on January 
30.