Presidential Documents

28181 

Federal Register 

Vol. 75, No. 97 

Thursday, May 20, 2010 

Title 3— 

The President 

Proclamation 8520 of May 14, 2010 

National Defense Transportation Day and National Transportation Week, 2010 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

The transportation networks of early America connected our rapidly growing 

Nation with natural waterways and dirt roads, making travel difficult and 

time-consuming. In the time since, undeveloped paths have given way to 

iron and concrete thoroughfares, and our modern transportation system has 

profoundly shaped our landscape, communities, commerce, and culture. 

During National Defense Transportation Day and National Transportation 

Week, we reaffirm the importance of an advanced transportation infrastructure to our Nation’s economy and security, and we thank the dedicated 

men and women who build and maintain it. 

In times of peace and national crisis, efficient roads, rails, ports, and airports 

play a vital role in keeping us safe by enabling the rapid movement of 

people and resources. The devoted professionals who design and manage 

this infrastructure help ensure America has a world-class logistics and transportation system to support our military readiness and emergency response 

capabilities. 

Our Nation’s transportation arteries make our economy more efficient, promoting economic growth, the lifeblood of commerce. The Department of 

Transportation is working closely with State, local, and tribal governments 

to ensure billions in transportation funds from the American Recovery and 

Reinvestment Act of 2009 are used to improve infrastructure across America. 

Through Recovery Act projects, we are repairing crumbling infrastructure, 

expanding transit capacity, and modernizing our transportation system to 

meet national security standards and the needs of a 21st-century economy. 

The ability to travel effectively also strengthens us as a people. President 

Eisenhower’s creation of our interstate highway system over 50 years ago 

revolutionized channels of economic and social mobility, drew together 

distant areas of our Nation, and helped us maneuver through dense metropolitan areas. Today, smart, sustainable development, coupled with quality public 

transportation, has created more livable and environmentally sustainable 

communities for all to enjoy. By reducing isolation and bringing neighborhoods together, we can continue to increase access to good jobs, affordable 

housing, safe streets and parks, and a healthy food supply. 

Working together to upgrade our Nation’s transportation infrastructure, we 

will lay a new foundation for long-term growth, security, and prosperity 

in America and give future generations a transportation system that is second 

to none. 

To recognize the importance of transportation and the Americans who work 

to meet our transportation needs, the Congress has requested, by joint resolution approved May 16, 1957, as amended (36 U.S.C. 120), that the President 

designate the third Friday in May of each year as ‘‘National Defense Transportation Day,’’ and, by joint resolution approved May 14, 1962, as amended 

(36 U.S.C. 133), that the week during which that Friday falls be designated 

as ‘‘National Transportation Week.’’ 


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28182 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 97 / Thursday, May 20, 2010 / Presidential Documents 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States 

of America, do hereby proclaim Friday, May 21, 2010, as National Defense 

Transportation Day and the week of May 16 through May 22, 2010, as 

National Transportation Week. I call upon all Americans to recognize the 

importance of our Nation’s transportation system and to acknowledge the 

contributions of the men and women who support this critical sector. 

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

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

of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth. 

[FR Doc. 2010–12263 

Filed 5–19–10; 8:45 am] 

Billing code 3195–W0–P 


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