National Consumer Protection Week, 2012

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 8782 of March 5, 2012

National Consumer Protection Week, 2012

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Millions of Americans use financial products, including
credit cards, mortgages, and student loans, to build
the foundation for a better tomorrow. These tools help
bring our aspirations within reach and empower
countless individuals to earn an education, afford a
home, or raise a family. Yet, irresponsible lending and
deceptive practices pose serious risks to consumers and
our economy alike. During National Consumer Protection
Week, we recommit to empowering all Americans with the
clear and concise information they need to make
financial decisions, and to encouraging open and honest
competition in the marketplace.

For 14 years, consumer advocacy groups, private
organizations, and agencies at every level of
government have come together to celebrate National
Consumer Protection Week by highlighting the ways
individuals and families can protect themselves from
scams, fraud, and abuse. Robust consumer education is
essential to a healthy economy, and I encourage all
Americans to learn more about money management,
avoiding identity theft, understanding loans and
mortgages, and other topics at: www.NCPW.gov.

With the leadership of the Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau (CFPB) and Director Richard Cordray,
my Administration continues to look out for the
interests of everyday Americans by strengthening
oversight and accountability in the financial sector
and fighting for the protections consumers deserve.
Last year, we launched the ``Know Before You Owe''
campaign to simplify home loan applications, student
financial aid packages, and credit card agreements and
make it easier for consumers to compare options. We are
reaching out to seniors, service members, and others
who face unique financial challenges to help them
access the tools and resources they need. To better
understand the issues confronting consumers across our
country, we are also engaging individuals and
organizations and ensuring they have a voice at the
CFPB. To share your own experience with consumer
financial products, file a complaint, or find more
information about how the CFPB is protecting American
families, visit: www.ConsumerFinance.gov.

For centuries, our Nation has endeavored to uphold a
principle that will forever remain at the heart of the
American promise--that with hard work and
responsibility, every individual deserves the
opportunity to get ahead. As we continue to restore
financial security through strong consumer protections,
we help ensure no American is left to face unfair
practices alone and every family has the chance to
preserve and pass down what they have worked so hard to
achieve.

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 4 through March
10, 2012, 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
fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord two
thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.