National Family Week, 2016

Proclamation 9544 of November 18, 2016

National Family Week, 2016

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Through every passing generation, families have formed
the backbone of our society. With pride, passion, and a
commitment to their loved ones, family members give of
themselves to create opportunities they never had and
forge a brighter future for themselves and their
children. This week, we honor the families who have
built the America we know today and reaffirm our
commitment to ensuring every family can have their
chance at a fair shot.

Nobody should have to choose between spending time with
their family and financially supporting them, and my
Administration has prioritized efforts to strengthen
families and address the challenges we face in our
workforce. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, the
uninsured rate has never been lower, and more families
have been able to get quality, affordable health care.
But there is more work to be done. The United States is
the only advanced country that does not guarantee paid
family or sick leave, and too often, American workers
have to make painful choices about whether they can
afford to be there when their families need them most.
Workers also deserve fair work schedules that ensure
predictability and certainty. And women should be paid
the same as men for doing the same jobs--a principle
that is not just fair and ethical, but also necessary
because more women are their family's main breadwinners
than ever before.

We all have a role to play in lifting up families, and
the Federal Government is leading by example. To help
give more families the comfort of safe and nurturing
child care, my Administration published a new rule
earlier this year to strengthen quality, health, and
safety standards for child care programs. Earlier this
year, I took action to expand overtime protections to
more than 4 million workers, and because no one who
works full time should have to raise their family in
poverty, I have called on the Congress to raise the
Federal minimum wage--in the meantime, cities, States,
and businesses across our country have taken action,
answering the call to raise the minimum wage and
helping American families everywhere.

Families of every race, religion, and background have
written America's story and embodied our founding
notion: that out of many, we are one. Adoptive and
foster families open their hearts and their homes to
welcome children in need, patriotic military families
sacrifice precious time with their loved ones to give
us the opportunity to be with ours, and last year, the
families of gay and lesbian couples who fought so long
for basic civil rights were finally recognized as equal
under the law.

Through challenging moments and difficult times,
America's families are representative of the strength
and unity at the core of our communities. Their love is
an enduring reminder of what is best about our country.
This week, let us celebrate the devotion of dedicated
family members across our Nation and pledge to give
them the support they need to thrive.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim November 20 through

November 26, 2016, as National Family Week. I invite
all States, communities, and individuals to join in
observing this week with appropriate ceremonies and
activities to honor our Nation's families.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
eighteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord two
thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and forty-first.