[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 3, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 3CFR7596]

Proc. 7596

Proclamation 7596 of September 20, 2002

Minority Enterprise Development Week, 2002

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

          Entrepreneurs help make America strong and are essential to 
          our economic success. Their talent, skill, and hard work have 
          helped sustain our Nation since its founding; and their 
          disciplined work ethic and capacity for innovation reflect the 
          true character of our country. During Minority Enterprise 
          Development Week, we celebrate our more than 3 million 
          minority- owned businesses, and we recognize the important 
          contributions they make to the United States of America.
          To promote prosperity in our Nation, Government must help 
          create an environment where innovative, hardworking, and 
          determined individuals have the opportunity to fully 
          participate and succeed in our economy. Last year's tax relief 
          initiative, including the repeal of the ``Death Tax,'' was an 
          important part of developing an enhanced business climate in 
          America. And this year, I signed two pieces of legislation 
          into law that will promote growth. The Trade Act of 2002 gives 
          me new Trade Promotion Authority that will help boost our 
          economy, create new jobs, and provide America with the 
          opportunity to participate in new and emerging international 
          markets. And the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 will improve 
          business practices by creating tough corporate responsibility 
          laws that will help expose and punish acts of corruption and 
          protect small investors. These vital initiatives will benefit 
          minority business enterprises and help these important job 
          creators compete fully and fairly in the global economy.

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          My Administration, through the efforts of the Department of 
          Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and the 
          Small Business Administration (SBA), is committed to promoting 
          the growth of minority businesses. In FY 2001, the MBDA 
          assisted minority businesses in gaining access to $1.6 billion 
          in contracts. In addition, last year the SBA offered 
          assistance to more than 1 million small business owners, and 
          continues to play a major role in our Nation's disaster relief 
          efforts by making low-interest recovery loans available to 
          Americans. The important efforts of the MBDA and SBA help 
          businesses build entrepreneurial opportunity for all.
          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 22 through September 28, 2002, as Minority 
          Enterprise Development Week. I call upon all Americans to 
          celebrate this week with appropriate observances, ceremonies, 
          and activities, and to recognize the countless contributions 
          of our Nation's minority enterprises.
          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth 
          day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand two, 
          and of the Independence of the United States of America the 
          two hundred and twenty-seventh.

GEORGE W. BUSH