12 2 STA T .53 12 PROCL A M AT I O N8 25 7— MA Y 15 , 2 0 08 about boat ing,v i s it us c gboating . o r g. D uring N ationa lS a feB oating W ee k an d t h roughout the y ear, I urge all Am ericans to p ut safety first w hen en j oying our country ’ s magnificent waters. In recognition of the importance of safe boating practices, the C ongress, by joint resolution approved J une 4 , 1958(36U .S.C. 131 ) , as amended, has authori z ed and re q uested the P resident to proclaim annually the 7- day period prior to M emorial Day weekend as ‘ ‘National Safe Boating Week.’’ N O W, THER E F ORE, I, G EORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 17 through May 2 3,2 0 08, as National Safe Boating Week. I encourage the Governors of the 50 States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and officials of other areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, to join in observ- ing this week. I also urge all Americans to learn more about safe boat- ing practices and always act responsibly while on the water. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of May, in the year of our L ord 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 n8257 o fM a y1 5 , 2 0 08 WorldT r a d e Wee k,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 Free and fair trade helps secure a future of freedom and promise. Dur- ing World Trade Week, we recognize the positive effects of opening markets around the world. Open markets play an integral role in Amer- ica’s economic progress, creating better-paying jobs, e x panding con- sumer choices, and providing increased opportunities for American workers and employers. Free and fair trade also increases economic growth among our trading partners. My Administration is committed to expanding economic freedom worldwide. We will continue to seek an ambitious outcome in the Doha Round that will reduce and eliminate tariffs and other barriers on goods and open new markets for services trade. The Doha Round provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to advance open markets, strengthen economic growth, and help millions rise out of poverty. We also encourage the Congress to approve our pending trade agree- ments with Colombia, Panama, and South K orea. Our free trade agree- ment with Colombia is important, because it will support one of our closest allies in the Western Hemisphere currently under assault from a terrorist network. Congressional approval of this agreement would make clear America’s unshakeable commitment to advancing the bene- fits of free markets and the interests of free people. Today, nearly 250,000 U.S. firms export U.S. products. Ninety-seven percent of those exporters are small- or medium-sized businesses. The number of U.S. small business exporters has more than doubled since
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