75th Anniversary of the Social Security Act

Proclamation 8546 of August 13, 2010

75th Anniversary of the Social Security Act

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

On August 14, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt
signed into law the Social Security Act to protect
ordinary Americans ``against the loss of a job and
against poverty-ridden old age.'' Our Nation was
entrenched in the Great Depression. Unemployment neared
20 percent, and millions of Americans struggled to
provide for themselves and their families. In the midst
of all this, the Social Security Act brought hope to
some of our most vulnerable citizens, giving elderly
Americans income security and bringing us closer to
President Roosevelt's vision of a Nation free from want
or fear.

As our country recovers from one of the greatest
economic challenges since that time, we are grateful
for President Roosevelt's perseverance, and for the
countless public servants whose efforts produced the
Social Security program we know today. Seventy-five
years later, Social Security remains a safety net for
seniors and a source of resilience for all Americans.
Since 1935, it has been expanded to include dependent
and survivor benefits, disability insurance, and
guaranteed medical insurance for seniors through
Medicare. It is a lasting promise that we can retire
with dignity and peace of mind, that workers who become
disabled can support themselves, and that families who
suffer the loss of a loved one will not live in
poverty.

My Administration is committed to strengthening our
retirement system and protecting Social Security as a
reliable income source for seniors, workers who develop
disabilities, and dependents. After a lifetime of
contributions to our Nation and its economy, Americans
have earned this support. The new health care law, the
Affordable Care Act, helps sustain this commitment and
improves the long-term outlook of the Social Security
program. My Administration is dedicated to safeguarding
Social Security's promise of retirement with dignity
and security.

On the 75th anniversary of the Social Security Act, let
us ensure we continue to preserve this program's
original purpose in the 21st century. Together, we can
give our children and our grandchildren the same
protections we have cherished for decades, and in doing
so, lead our Nation to a brighter day.

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 August 14, 2010, as
the 75th Anniversary of the Social Security Act. I call
upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate
ceremonies and activities that recognize the historic
legacy of the Social Security Act, as well as the vital
safety net it provides to millions of Americans.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
thirteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord two
thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.