National Consumer Protection Week, 2011

Proclamation 8634 of March 4, 2011

National Consumer Protection Week, 2011

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Each day, families across America navigate complex
financial decisions, from buying a home or car to
paying off a loan or using a credit card. Consumer
education is vital to protecting American families and
preserving economic health in the United States. When
fully informed about the potential risks in the
marketplace and their rights as consumers, Americans
are better able to recognize misinformation, scams, and
abusive and deceptive practices that can endanger
individual economic security and erode the prosperity
of our communities.

For more than a decade, National Consumer Protection
Week has encouraged Americans to make better-informed
decisions about saving, buying, borrowing, and
investing. This year's theme, ``Your Information
Destination: www.NCPW.gov,'' highlights the resources
offered by Federal agencies and partner organizations
that encourage the public to manage their money, stay
safe online, and understand mortgages and other
financial transactions. By seeking out this
information, families can both strengthen the economy
and protect themselves from fraudulent behavior. For
information and resources, I encourage American
consumers to visit www.NCPW.gov.

The Federal Government has an important role to play in
safeguarding transactions, and my Administration is
committed to holding abusive companies accountable and
shifting the balance of power back to the American
consumer. I was proud to sign into law the strongest
consumer protections in our Nation's history with the
Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and
Disclosure Act (Credit CARD Act) and the Dodd-Frank
Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. One of
the centerpieces of this financial reform legislation
was the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection
Bureau, which is charged with enforcing historic
financial protections and empowering Americans with
clear and concise information to make the best choices
for their families. These common-sense reforms will
protect both consumers and our economy as a whole.

As a Nation, we must foster an environment that
supports informed decisionmaking, supports fair and
robust competition in the marketplace, and guards all
citizens from unfair and predatory practices. During
National Consumer Protection Week, I encourage all
Americans to learn about their rights as consumers and
seek out the knowledge to manage their finances more
effectively by visiting www.MyMoney.gov and
www.ConsumerFinance.gov.

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 March 6 through March
12, 2011, as National Consumer Protection Week. I call
upon government officials, industry leaders, and
advocates across the Nation to share information about
consumer protection and provide our citizens with
information about their rights as consumers.

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