[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 38 (Monday, September 22, 2003)]
[Pages 1216-1217]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7704--Small Business Week, 2003

 September 12, 2003

 By the President of the United States

 of America

 A Proclamation

    The success of small businesses in America reflects the innovation, 
determination, and

[[Page 1217]]

hard work of the American people. During Small Business Week, we 
celebrate the entrepreneurs and business people who create goods, 
services, and jobs, and bring opportunity and economic prosperity to 
communities throughout our country. We also reaffirm our commitment to 
helping more small business owners and their employees realize the 
American Dream.
    Small businesses create the majority of new jobs in our Nation and 
account for more than half of the output of our economy. They lead the 
way in generating new ideas and creating new technologies, goods, and 
services for our country and for the world.
    Small businesses also reflect the diversity of America. Nearly 40 
percent of small companies in the United States are owned by women. 
There are also more than 3 million minority-owned small businesses 
across the country.
    Because small businesses are vital to our Nation's prosperity and 
reflect the hard work of the American people, my Administration has 
taken important steps to assist small businesses and the people they 
employ. We have reduced taxes, encouraged investment, and removed 
obstacles to growth. The Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act 
of 2003 I signed into law will provide 23 million small business owners 
with tax cuts averaging more than $2,200 each. The Act also quadrupled 
the amount that small businesses can expense for new capital 
investments, encouraging new investment in technology, machinery, and 
other equipment. This new technology and equipment will increase 
productivity and create new jobs, thereby contributing to the overall 
strength of our economy.
    We are also seeking to permanently eliminate the death tax. With the 
repeal of this tax, small business men and women will be able to pass 
their life's work to the next generation without having to pay a 
punitive tax that in many cases forces the sale of the business or many 
of its assets. And I support legislation that would make it easier for 
small businesses to offer health coverage options to their employees. 
Through Association Health Plans, small businesses could pool together 
to offer group plans to all of their employees, like those available to 
large businesses. In addition, we are working to streamline small 
business regulations and paperwork. To this end, I issued an Executive 
Order that requires all Federal regulatory agencies to minimize these 
burdens on our Nation's small businesses.
    The Small Business Administration (SBA), which helps American 
innovators and risk-takers launch and build their businesses, celebrates 
its 50th anniversary this year. By helping small businesses succeed, the 
SBA continues to strengthen America.
     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 September 14 through 
September 20, 2003, as Small Business Week. I call upon all the people 
of the United States to observe this week with appropriate ceremonies, 
activities, and programs that celebrate the achievements of small 
business owners and their employees and encourage and foster the 
development of new small businesses.
     In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of 
September, in the year of our Lord two thousand three, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
eighth.
                                                George W. Bush

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 1:44 p.m., September 
15, 2003]

Note: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on 
September 16. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish 
language version of this proclamation. This item was not received in 
time for publication in the appropriate issue.