Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 122.djvu/5341

 12 2 STA T .53 1 8PROCL A M AT I O N 82 64— MA Y 3 0, 2008 Month,we h ig h l ight the b ene f it s of owning a ho m ean d en c o ur age our fellow citi z ens to be res p onsible homeowners . M yA dministration is committed to helping Americans achie v e their dreams of homeownership. W e have wor k ed to ensure that the mort - gage industry is more transparent, reliable, and fair, and in order to sustain homeownership, we have launched initiatives to help respon- sible homeowners keep their homes. T he FH A S ecure program has given the Federal Housing Administration more fle x ibility in refi- nancing mortgages for homeowners who have good credit histories but cannot afford their current payments. I n addition, the H OPEN OW Alli- ance connects struggling homeowners with lenders, loan servicers, and mortgage counselors to help families stay in their homes. Homeowners deserve our help, and these initiatives assist those in need. D uring National Homeownership Month and throughout the year, I en- courage all Americans to take advantage of financial education oppor- tunities to explore homeownership. My Advisory C ouncil on Financial L iteracy is finding ways to help educate people from all walks of life about matters pertaining to their finances and their futures. B y prac- ticing fiscal responsibility, Americans can contribute to the strength of our neighborhoods and our country. NOW, THE R EFORE, I, G EORGE W. B U SH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Con- stitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim J une 20 0 8 as National Homeownership Month. I call upon the people of the United States to j oin me in recognizing the importance of homeowner- ship and building a more prosperous future for themselves and their communities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty- ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second. GEORGE W. BUSH Proclam a ti o n8264 o fM a y30, 2008 BlackMusi cM onth,20 0 8BythePr e sid e n t of the U nited S t a tes of Am eri c a A Proc l amation America ’ s diverse musical heritage exemplifies the creativity and opti- mism of our Nation. During Black Music Month, we celebrate the ex- traordinary talents and creativity of African-American singers, musi- cians, and composers whose achievements have enriched our culture and enhanced our lives. For generations, African-American artists have created music that com- municates across racial boundaries and expresses both joy and sorrow. When facing the cruelty of slavery and injustice, African Americans lifted spirituals to the heavens, bringing comfort to troubled souls. These timeless declarations of hope and faith evolved into the more modern genres of gospel, blues, ragtime, and jazz, and they are given

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