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 Proclamations Proc. 7597 My Administration, through the efforts of the Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA), is committed to promoting the growth of minority businesses. In FY 2001, the MBDA assisted minority businesses in gaining access to $1.6 billion in contracts. In addition, last year the SBA offered assistance to more than 1 million small business owners, and continues to play a major role in our Nation's disaster relief efforts by making low-inter- est recovery loans available to Americans. The important efforts of the MBDA and SBA help businesses build entrepreneurial opportunity for all. 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 September 22 through Sep- tember 28, 2002, as Minority Enterprise Development Week. I call upon all Americans to celebrate this week with appropriate observances, cere- monies, and activities, and to recognize the countless contributions of our Nation's minority enterprises. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand two, and of the Inde- pendence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-sev- enth. GEORGE W. BUSH Proclamation 7597 of September 20, 2002 Family Day, 2002 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation America's character begins in the home, where children learn proper stand- ards of conduct, principled values, and the importance of service. Families provide children the encouragement, support, and love they need to be- come confident, compassionate, and successful members of society. We must work together to promote and preserve the health and security of our families by upholding the timeless values that have sustained our society through history. Recent events have reminded Americans of the blessings of family and friends, and of the importance of faith. As a Nation, we have a renewed dedication to our freedom, our country, and our principles. In homes, schools, places of worship, the workplace, and civic and social organiza- tions, we must continue to encourage responsibility, compassion, and good citizenship. Americans must also act to fight crime and drugs, and provide a safe and healthy environment for our children. We can begin by working to strengthen the bonds and improving communication between parents and children. Research done by the National Center on Addiction and Sub- stance Abuse at Columbia University has consistently shown that the more often children eat dinner with their parents, the less likely children are to smoke, drink, or use illegal drugs. Naturally, parents should be the most 137

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