Minority Enterprise Development Week, 2002

Proclamation 7596 of September 20, 2002

Minority Enterprise Development Week, 2002

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Entrepreneurs help make America strong and are
essential to our economic success. Their talent, skill,
and hard work have helped sustain our Nation since its
founding; and their disciplined work ethic and capacity
for innovation reflect the true character of our
country. During Minority Enterprise Development Week,
we celebrate our more than 3 million minority- owned
businesses, and we recognize the important
contributions they make to the United States of
America.

To promote prosperity in our Nation, Government must
help create an environment where innovative,
hardworking, and determined individuals have the
opportunity to fully participate and succeed in our
economy. Last year's tax relief initiative, including
the repeal of the ``Death Tax,'' was an important part
of developing an enhanced business climate in America.
And this year, I signed two pieces of legislation into
law that will promote growth. The Trade Act of 2002
gives me new Trade Promotion Authority that will help
boost our economy, create new jobs, and provide America
with the opportunity to participate in new and emerging
international markets. And the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002 will improve business practices by creating tough
corporate responsibility laws that will help expose and
punish acts of corruption and protect small investors.
These vital initiatives will benefit minority business
enterprises and help these important job creators
compete fully and fairly in the global economy.

My Administration, through the efforts of the
Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development
Agency (MBDA) and the Small Business Administration
(SBA), is committed to promoting the growth of minority
businesses. In FY 2001, the MBDA assisted minority
businesses in gaining access to $1.6 billion in
contracts. In addition, last year the SBA offered
assistance to more than 1 million small business
owners, and continues to play a major role in our
Nation's disaster relief efforts by making low-interest
recovery loans available to Americans. The important
efforts of the MBDA and SBA help businesses build
entrepreneurial opportunity for all.

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 September 22 through
September 28, 2002, as Minority Enterprise Development
Week. I call upon all Americans to celebrate this week
with appropriate observances, ceremonies, and
activities, and to recognize the countless
contributions of our Nation's minority enterprises.

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

(Presidential Sig.)B