Presidential Documents

Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 180 / Wednesday, September 17, 1997 / Presidential Documents 48931

Proclamation 7020 of September 12, 1997

National Hispanic Heritage Month, 1997

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Throughout our history, America’s promise of individual freedom and opportunity has drawn millions upon millions of immigrants from across the

globe. As these newcomers arrived, they gradually wove their own traditions

into the tapestry of our Nation’s culture and society. The world’s economy

is becoming ever more interdependent and competitive, and these changes

and others brought on by the revolution in communication technologies

are lowering many of the old barriers to economic, cultural, and intellectual

exchange among nations. In this new global community, we benefit greatly

from the contributions that Hispanic Americans bring to our economy and

our society.

As the youngest and fastest-growing segment of our population, Hispanic

Americans are an increasingly vital part of our economy. In the first 3

years of our Administration, more than 220,000 Hispanic-American-owned

businesses were created, and in recent years the number of companies

owned by Hispanic women, in particular, has grown at three times the

overall rate of business growth. Our citizens with roots in South and Central

America, the Caribbean, and Spain have inherited an entrepreneurial spirit

and an intense work ethic that have helped energize the strongest American

economy in a generation. The new head of the Small Business Administration, Aida Alvarez, is a symbol of that spirit and its importance to America.

Along with Secretary of Energy Federico Pen ̃ a, Under Secretary of Agriculture

I. Miley Gonzales, and Ambassador Bill Richardson, the United States Representative to the United Nations, Administrator Alvarez reflects my Administration’s continuing commitment to bring highly qualified Hispanic Americans into the highest levels of Government.

Our Hispanic citizens also are vital to America’s success in expanding

trade and developing closer ties with nations throughout the Western Hemisphere. Sharing a rich cultural and linguistic heritage with Hispanic Americans, these nations are already among our closest trading partners, and

we hope to further expand our relationships with them at the Summit

of the Americas next March.

The contributions of Hispanic Americans to the life of our Nation are much

more than economic. Their strong commitment to family, community, and

country sets a shining example for all our people. Generations of Hispanic

Americans have served and sacrificed in America’s Armed Forces to defend

liberty and advance democracy throughout the world. And Hispanic culture

continues to deeply enrich our social, intellectual, and artistic life.

To meet the challenges of the 21st century, we must create a society that

offers opportunity to all Americans, requires responsibility from all Americans, and nurtures a community of all Americans. Hispanic Americans

throughout our country are working to build such a society. To honor

them for their dedication to this endeavor and for their many contributions

to our Nation and our culture, the Congress, by Public Law 100-402, has

authorized and requested the President to issue annually a proclamation

designating September 15 through October 15 as ‘‘National Hispanic Heritage

Month.’’
48932 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 180 / Wednesday, September 17, 1997 / Presidential Documents

NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the United States

of America, do hereby proclaim September 15 through October 15, 1997,

as National Hispanic Heritage Month. I call upon all government officials,

educators, and the people of the United States to honor this observance

with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities, and I encourage all

Americans to rededicate themselves to the pursuit of equality.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day

of September, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-seven,

and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred

[FR Doc. 97–24903

Filed 9–16–97; 9:04 am]

Billing code 3195–01–P

and twenty-second.

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