Presidential Documents

23535

Federal Register

Vol. 66, No. 90

Wednesday, May 9, 2001

Proclamation 7433 of May 4, 2001

Small Business Week, 2001

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Small business owners who work long hours, juggling family and career

responsibilities and serving as community volunteers, are integral to our

country’s prosperity and to the vibrancy of our communities. These entrepreneurs are fundamental to our economy. Through the opportunities offered

by the men and women who own and operate our Nation’s 25.5 million

small businesses, many of our citizens are able to pursue their dreams

of a better life.

Federal, State, and local governments can help our small business owners

by creating an environment in which the American spirit flourishes, an

environment that promotes innovation, risk-taking, and equal opportunity.

My Administration is working for lower taxes, reasonable regulations, and

a reduction of tariffs and other barriers to free trade that will increase

the competitive strength of our small business sector. Education reforms

also will ensure that our young people are prepared to enter the global

marketplace and small businesses will have the needed pool of talent.

Many of America’s entrepreneurs risk everything to make their businesses

successful. They are leaders of innovation, and their efforts create a

wellspring of new technology, new products, and improved business processes. One of my priorities as President is to encourage that entrepreneurial

spirit, and to see that it encompasses all Americans. To that end, we have

instituted the New Freedom Initiative, which includes a component to help

small businesses better serve customers with disabilities and to hire more

people with disabilities. Also, my Administration supports the Drug Free

Workplace Program, to help small businesses develop employee education

programs and company drug policies. These are examples of our commitment

to the ideal that the role of our Government is not to create business

barriers, but to help our citizens overcome them.

America’s small business owners and their employees represent more than

half of the private workforce. These entrepreneurs, who create more than

75 percent of the net new jobs nationwide and generate more than 50

percent of the Nation’s gross domestic product, and the employees who

work in small businesses, deserve our thanks. We salute them by observing

Small Business Week.

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 May 6 through 12,

2001, as Small Business Week. I urge all Americans to join in observing

this week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

23536 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 90 / Wednesday, May 9, 2001 / Presidential Documents

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

of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand one, and of the Independence

of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-fifth.

Filed 5

Billing code 3195

[FR Doc. 01

–8–01; 8:45 am]

–11850

–01–P

W