National Consumer Protection Week, 2003

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Part VIII

The President

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Proclamation 7643--National Consumer Protection Week, 2003

___________________________________________________________________

Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 7643 of January 27, 2003

National Consumer Protection Week, 2003

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Few technologies have become fixtures in our daily
lives as quickly as computers and the Internet. Today,
more than half of all Americans log on to the Internet,
and that number is growing. Our access to information,
entertainment, credit and banking, products, and
services from every corner of the world is greater than
ever before. As our personal information becomes more
accessible, consumers, corporations, and government
agencies must take precautions against the misuse of
that information.

Computer technology and the Internet have
revolutionized our ability to communicate and share
knowledge. This new freedom offers incredible
opportunities; but as individuals and as a Nation, we
must guard against the misuse of personal information
and identity theft. The theme of this year's National
Consumer Protection Week is ``Information Security,''
and during this week we resolve to help all Americans
learn how to keep personal information secure.

For consumers, securing a computer is a matter of
routine maintenance and caution. Effective passwords,
firewalls, and up-to-date antivirus software can help
protect computers, and the personal or business
information we store on them, from those who would
damage a network operation or steal personal
information to commit a crime. By practicing effective
information security measures, all citizens can
contribute to the protection of our national
information infrastructure.

To assist consumers, public and private entities have
joined forces to highlight the importance of
information security. They include the Federal Trade
Commission, the U.S. Postal Service, the U.S. Postal
Inspection Service, the Federal Consumer Information
Center, the National Association of Attorneys General,
the National Consumers League, the American Association
of Retired Persons, the Better Business Bureau, the
Consumer Federation of America, and the National
Association of Consumer Agency Administrators. The
National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace also offers
guidance for the full range of computer users on
information security. By working together, we can help
consumers and businesses understand how information
security affects their decisions at home and in the
marketplace.

During National Consumer Protection Week, I encourage
all Americans to take the appropriate steps to ensure
the security of their personal or sensitive
information. By learning ways to safeguard this data,
individuals can help ensure their financial security,
and contribute to the strength and prosperity of our
Nation.

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 February 2 through 8, 2003,
as National Consumer Protection Week. I call upon
Government officials, industry leaders, and consumer
advocates to provide consumers with information about
how we can help safeguard the economic future of all
Americans by keeping our personal information secure.

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

(Presidential Sig.)B