Presidential Documents

22815 

Federal Register 

Vol. 74, No. 92 

Thursday, May 14, 2009 

Title 3— 

The President 

Proclamation 8377 of May 11, 2009 

National Defense Transportation Day and National Transportation Week, 2009 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

Every day, Americans rely on roads, rails, ports, and airports to get to 

work and to transport goods and services. At the same time, the United 

States Armed Forces rely on our transportation infrastructure to move personnel and supplies. During National Transportation Week and on National 

Defense Transportation Day, we underscore the importance of the transportation system to our Nation’s economy and security. We also honor the 

dedicated professionals who build, maintain, and operate our transportation 

infrastructure. 

From rural roads to state-of-the-art intermodal facilities, transportation infrastructure is crucial to economic growth. Goods and services flow constantly 

across land, water, and sky, and our most efficient modes of travel save 

businesses and consumers money, and can reduce impacts on our environment. To compete in the 21st century global economy, the United States 

must have an advanced transportation system. 

Securing America’s energy future and maintaining our national defense also 

require a robust transportation system. Whether responding to natural disasters at home or mobilizing resources to defend America abroad, transportation 

is vital to keeping Americans safe. Global climate change and our reliance 

on foreign oil have also created tremendous national security challenges. 

To solve these problems and create new economic opportunities, we must 

make our transportation system cleaner and more efficient. 

My Administration has taken bold action to rebuild our Nation’s crumbling 

infrastructure. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act integrates the 

goals of job creation and economic growth with a renewed commitment 

to transportation. This legislation will fund projects to improve public transportation, repair highways and roads, modernize airports and seaports, and 

invest in renewable energy, all while creating or saving hundreds of thousands of jobs. 

To make the most of every taxpayer dollar, my Administration is working 

side-by-side with State and local governments and the private sector to 

provide oversight and to closely monitor these transportation investments. 

The women and men who support this critical sector every day make this 

plan possible. Renewing America’s transportation system is an historic task, 

and I am convinced they will rise to the challenge. 

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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22816 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 92 / Thursday, May 14, 2009 / Presidential Documents 

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

of America, do hereby proclaim Friday, May 15, 2009, as National Defense 

Transportation Day and May 10 through May 16, 2009, as National Transportation Week. I call upon all Americans to recognize the importance of 

our Nation’s transportation infrastructure and to acknowledge the contributions of those who build, operate, and maintain it. 

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

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

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

[FR Doc. E9–11496 

Filed 5–13–09; 11:15 am] 

Billing code 3195–W9–P 


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