Public Service Recognition Week, 2016

Proclamation 9440 of April 29, 2016

Public Service Recognition Week, 2016

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Our Nation's progress has long been fueled by the
efforts of selfless citizens who come together in
service to their fellow Americans to change our country
for the better. At the birth of our Nation, our
Founders fought to secure a democracy that represents
the people, and the civil servants who pour everything
they have into making a difference are the individuals
who keep that democracy running smoothly and
effectively. During Public Service Recognition Week, we
honor those who dedicate themselves to ensuring
America's promise rings true in every corner of our
country, and we recommit to upholding the values they
fight for every day.

Civil servants demonstrate resolve and inspire optimism
in sectors throughout our country. They are engineers
and educators, military service members and social
workers, and their individual and collective
contributions drive us forward on the path toward an
ever brighter tomorrow. Both at home and abroad, they
carry forward the notion that as Americans, we are
committed to looking out for one another and to working
together to forge a bright future for generations to
come. And the only way our Nation's civil service will
remain at the forefront of our progress is for talented
and patriotic young people to join in the effort of
serving their fellow Americans--whether for 1 year or
throughout their career.

Throughout this week, we recognize the tireless efforts
of the women and men who strive to make sure ours is a
government that stays true to its founding ideals. With
85 percent of Federal Government jobs located outside
of the Washington, DC area, our Federal workers,
together with leaders and advocates from State and
local levels, play key roles in ensuring the voices of
the American people are heard. And even in the toughest
of circumstances, including a politics that does not
always fully recognize the value of their work, our
public servants--often at great personal sacrifice--
continue striving to build a better country and to
bring lasting change to the lives of ordinary people
across America. These selfless individuals tackle great
challenges facing our country. Whether leading
important scientific advances, helping homeless
veterans get off the street and reclaim their lives,
supporting small businesses and impoverished
communities, or sustaining our environment by reducing
harmful pollutants emitted into our air and waterways,
these often unsung heroes make vital contributions to
our country and help make our founding promise real for
more people.

The well-being of our people depends on the passion and
dedication of our workforce, and my Administration has
worked to recruit, uplift, and empower exceptional
civil servants. In an effort to fully realize the
belief that all of us have the capacity to make a
meaningful difference and contribute to our shared
success, I have directed the Office of Personnel
Management to begin taking action to ``ban the box'' on
most Federal job applications so we are not
disqualifying people with a criminal record simply
because of a mistake they made in the past.
Additionally, we are implementing programs that
encourage Government-wide collaboration, giving workers
a chance to lend and develop their talents across
agencies and departments so our best ideas can flourish
and grow to their fullest potential.

Serving the public is not just about a paycheck--it's
about contributing to the steady effort to perfect our
Union over time so our democracy works for everyone.
This week, let us embrace the hopeful spirit that
embodies the extraordinary work of our civil servants.
It is the same spirit that built America, and because
of the hard work of compassionate and determined public
servants, it will continue to build us up for
generations to come.

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 May 1 through May 7,
2016, as Public Service Recognition Week. I call upon
all Americans to recognize the hard work and dedication
of our Nation's public servants and to observe this
week by expressing their gratitude and appreciation
through appropriate activities, events, and programs.

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