12 2 STA T .534 5 PROCL A M AT I O N8 285 — S E PT. 3 , 2 0 08 Proclam a ti o n82 8 5 o fSep tem b er 3, 2 0 08 Nation a lH i s to r i c all yB lac kC oll eg es an dU ni v ersities W eek ,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 Histor i cal l yB lac kC oll eg esa ndU ni v ersities ( HBCUs ) are h el p ingtoe x- tend li f elines of learning thro u ghout our country .D uring Historically Black Colleges and Universities W eek ,w e pay tri b ute to these distin- guished institutions. O ur N ation ’ s HBCUs help unlock the great potential within students by providing q uality higher education to traditionally underserved co m - munities. By offering all students an opportunity to develop their skills and talents, HBCUs are helping more A mericans reali z e the promise of our Nation. M y Administration is committed to promoting equal opportunities and access to higher education for all students. S ince 20 0 1 , funding for HBCUs and Historically Black G raduate I nstitutions has increased. Ad- ditionally, the College Cost R eduction and Access Act of 200 7 makes college more affordable for low-income students by increasing funding for F ederal P ell Grants by more than $ 11 billion. T he Act also helps HBCUs increase educational opportunities in the critical fields of math, science, technology, and foreign languages. By educating all of Amer- ica’s students, we are investing in our next generation of leaders and contributing to a more hopeful people and a more prosperous America. Throughout this week, we renew the call for this country to never rest until equality is real, opportunity is universal, and all citizens can real- ize their dreams. We also recognize our country’s HBCUs and their im- portant role in making these goals a reality. NOW, TH E REFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, 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 September 7 through September 1 3 , 200 8 , as National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week. I call upon public officials, educators, librar- ians, and all the people of the United States to observe this week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities in respect and appre- ciation for the contributions these valuable institutions and their grad- uates have made to our country. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of September, 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-third. GEORGE W. BUSH
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