Proc. 7273 Title 3--The President in their homes; consequently, it is more important than ever that con- sumers know their rights, understand the risks, and know to whom they can turn for recourse. While there are risks to home shopping, including unwanted solicitations, ill-advised purchases, and failure to deliver items purchased, consumers can protect themselves against these dangers by taking basic, commonsense precautions. Home shoppers should ascertain the seller's location and rep- utation; give out personal information only if they know who is collecting it, why it is being collected, and how it will be used; and report problems that they cannot resolve with the vendor. In order to protect consumers, the Federal Trade Commission, the Depart- ment of Justice, the Consumer Federation of America, the American Asso- ciation of Retired Persons, the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators, and the National Association of Attorneys General have ioined forces to inform Americans about their rights as home shoppers, about merchant responsibilities, and about how to enioy safely the benefits of shopping from home. This information is available in writing, by tele- phone, and on-line, helping to educate consumers about such issues as how to stop unwanted telemarketing or mail-order solicitations and when to provide private information to an on-line business. I encourage all Americans to take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about safe shopping from home. By becoming wise and well-informed consumers, we can reduce the incidence of fraud and deception in the mar- ketplace. NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitu- tion and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim February 14 through February 20, 2000, as National Consumer Protection Week. I call upon government officials, industry leaders, consumer advocates, and the American people to participate in programs promoting safe and reliable shopping from home and to raise public awareness about the dangers of de- ceptive and fraudulent practices targeting home shoppers. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eleventh day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-fourth. WILLIAM J. CLINTON Proclamation 7273 of February 16, 2000 To Facilitate Positive Adjustment to Competition From Imports of Certain Steel Wire Rod By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation 1. On July 12, 1999, the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) transmitted to the President a report on its investigation under sec- tion 202 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (the "Trade Act") (19 U.S.C. 2252), with respect to imports of certain steel wire rod provided for in sub- 24
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