[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 90 (Thursday, May 9, 2002)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 31105-31106]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-11780]




                        Presidential Documents 



Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 90 / Thursday, May 9, 2002 / 
Presidential Documents

___________________________________________________________________

Title 3--
The President

[[Page 31105]]

                Proclamation 7555 of May 3, 2002

                
Small Business Week, 2002

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                The strength of our economy is built on the creativity 
                and entrepreneurship of our people. Those who own and 
                operate our Nation's 25 million small businesses make a 
                vital contribution to our prosperity through their 
                ongoing work to create new technologies, products, and 
                services. These hardworking men and women and their 
                employees define the American spirit through their 
                innovation, dedication, and determination.

                The tragedy of September 11, 2001, greatly affected our 
                Nation and our economy; but our economy is recovering 
                and remains fundamentally sound. In the aftermath of 
                the terrorist attacks, the business community rose to 
                this challenge by volunteering their time and services 
                to help with the relief and rebuilding efforts in New 
                York City and Washington, D.C. This compassionate 
                spirit demonstrated America's true character.

                To help businesses recover from September 11, my 
                Administration has made more than $520 million in 
                disaster loans available to business owners nationwide. 
                I also remain committed to a domestic policy that 
                stimulates economic growth, boosts consumer purchasing 
                power, and creates a level playing field. Our efforts 
                to lower taxes, enact reasonable regulations, and 
                reduce tariffs and other barriers to free trade will 
                increase the competitive position of our small 
                businesses. To further encourage economic growth, I 
                recently signed into law the Job Creation and Worker 
                Assistance Act of 2002. The Act helps to create more 
                jobs across our country by providing tax incentives for 
                companies to expand and create jobs by investing in 
                facilities and equipment. This action will lead to more 
                opportunities in manufacturing, high-tech sectors, and 
                our small businesses. I am also committed to achieve a 
                permanent repeal of the death tax and the permanent 
                extension of tax relief to help ensure the strength and 
                survival of small businesses.

                America's small business owners represent more than 99 
                percent of all employers and their businesses employ 
                more than half of the private work force. These 
                entrepreneurs who create more than 66 percent of the 
                new jobs nationwide and generate more than 50 percent 
                of the Nation's gross domestic product growth are 
                critical to our country's prosperity and the well-being 
                of our communities. We salute these employers by 
                celebrating Small Business Week and recognizing their 
                contributions to all Americans.

                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 May 5 through May 11, 2002, 
                as Small Business Week. I call on all Americans to 
                observe this week with appropriate ceremonies, 
                activities, and programs that celebrate the 
                achievements of small business owners and encourage and 
                foster the development of new enterprises.

[[Page 31106]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                third day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand 
                two, and of the Independence of the United States of 
                America the two hundred and twenty-sixth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 02-11780
Filed 5-8-02; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P