[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 6 (Monday, February 14, 2005)]
[Page 187]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7869--National Consumer Protection Week, 2005

 February 7, 2005

 By the President of the United States

 of America

 A Proclamation

    This year's National Consumer Protection Week focuses on the impact 
and problems caused by identity theft and on the steps Government is 
taking to safeguard personal information. Today, many Americans reveal 
personal information when making purchases, borrowing money, or opening 
a bank or credit card account. This information makes it convenient to 
conduct routine transactions, but consumers must take precautions to 
protect their names, addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, 
and account numbers against fraud and theft.
    As one of the highest impact financial crimes in our Nation, 
identity theft can undermine the basic trust on which our economy 
depends. Millions of Americans have had their identity stolen, costing 
them and our country's businesses billions of dollars. Identity theft 
can shake consumers' confidence, destroy a person's financial 
reputation, and damage lifelong efforts to build and maintain a good 
credit rating.
    We are acting to protect citizens from these crimes and the grief 
and problems they cause. During the last 2 years, I have signed the Fair 
and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003, which makes it easier for 
consumers to detect and protect themselves from fraud, and the Identity 
Theft Penalty Enhancement Act, which strengthens the penalties for 
identity theft. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Bureau 
of Investigation, and the United States Secret Service are working with 
State and local officials to stop the criminal networks responsible for 
much of the identity theft in America. The Federal Trade Commission also 
trains local law enforcement in detecting and investigating identity 
theft, and they have set up the Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse, which 
tracks complaints across the country and provides these records to 
prosecutors seeking to shut down those who steal our citizens' good 
names.
    Consumers can learn to prevent identity theft by visiting the 
National Consumer Protection Week website, www.consumer.gov/ncpw. 
Working together, we can reduce this growing problem and protect the 
financial security of our citizens and 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 6 through 
February 12, 2005, as National Consumer Protection Week. I call upon 
government officials, industry leaders, and consumer advocates to 
provide citizens with information about identity theft and how they can 
be responsible consumers, and I encourage all citizens to take an active 
role in protecting their personal information.
     In Witness Whereof,  I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day 
of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand five, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
ninth.
                                                George W. Bush

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., February 9, 
2005]

Note: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on 
February 10.