Proclamation 6139.
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/statutes-at-large/vol-104/proclamation-6139·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
104 STAT. 5285 Proclamation 6139 of May 23, 1990 World Trade Week, 1990 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation As we enter the last decade of the 20th century, it is fitting that we prepare to do business—global business—in the 21st. Because our participation in international trade has become essential to the Nation’s strength and prosperity, it must continue to increase. The prospects for expanded U.S. participation in world trade are improving dramatically.
Nearly 500 years ago, the historic journey of Christopher Columbus helped to launch the exploration and development of a vast portion of the globe. Today the winds of change are leading us into uncharted areas of business and commercial opportunity. New markets are emerging, markets that will affect the social and economic development of entire nations. The triumph of democratic ideals and the emergence of free market principles around the world are creating tremendous opportunities, not only for peoples who once suffered under the centralized planning of Marxist-Leninist regimes, but also for American business and industry.
As more and more countries establish market systems and entrepreneurial economies, the American private sector can help to foster desperately needed innovation and flexibility. The U.S. Government is already committed to promoting free enterprise in those countries and to opening their markets to American business. At the Uruguay Round of trade negotiations with 97 other countries, the United States is seeking the freer movement of goods, services, and capital across national boundaries.
We are working diligently to bring those negotiations to a successful conclusion by the end of the year. In the United States itself, we are equally committed to building and maintaining an economic environment that is favorable to trade and to improving our ability to compete. However, the United States Government can only provide the setting; the actual work must be done by individual business men and women. Toughened in recent years by fierce competition on a global scale, these Americans know that protectionism is not a means to progress and prosperity.
Rather, U.S. business leaders have strengthened and renewed their commitment to excellence. The owners, managers, and employees of American companies and farms know that improving their competitiveness requires the production of consistently high quality products and services that will attract buyers in every country. A growing number of U.S. firms are engaged in extensive efforts to enhance the quality of their operations through thoughtful, self-critical assessment and hard work.
Still, we have only scratched the surface. We need to do much more in our national quest for excellence. In today’s highly competitive global economy, Americans must pursue export sales with the same energy and enthusiasm they devote to sales in this country. They can and should move quickly to take advantage of opportunities overseas. The risks are sometimes great, but the re-104 STAT. 5286wards are always enjoyed by many: companies benefit from profits and growth; workers benefit from more jobs; consumers benefit from a greater variety of goods and services at lower prices.
The entire population gains. The global flowering of freedom, the expansion of world markets, and the critical stage of the Uruguay Round make this World Trade Week an especially important one. I call on al! Americans to respond to the challenge. NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE 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 the week beginning May 20, 1990, as World Trade Week, I call upon the people of the United States to observe this week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-third day of May, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fourteenth. GEORGE BUSH **Editorial note**: For the President’s remarks of May 23, 1990, on World Trade Week, see the *Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents* (vol. 26, p. 814). 6140 May 24, 1990 25th Anniversary of Head Start, 1990 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 6140 of May 24, 1990 25th Anniversary of Head Start, 1990 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Since its inception 25 years ago, Head Start has helped to put millions of disadvantaged children on the path to success.
Offering comprehensive health and nutrition programs, as well as educational and social services, Head Start helps to ensure that these children enter school ready to learn. Too often, children from low-income families begin school with significant physical needs, as well as a lack of optimism and self-confidence. Head Start not only emphasizes proper nutrition and the early identification and treatment of health problems, but also offers disadvantaged children a variety of learning experiences designed to help them grow in curiosity and self-esteem.
Promoting the intellectual and emotional growth of these children, as well as their physical well-being, Head Start has been a model for child development programs. Head Start has effectively included children with disabilities and assisted them in obtaining the social and cognitive skills needed for achievement in school. Currently, more than 13 percent of Head Start participants are children with disabilities. Head Start staff members cooperate with other community agencies as they work to meet the special needs of these children. 104 STAT. 5287 An essential element of every Head Start program is the sustained involvement of parents.
Because they are their children’s first and greatest teachers, parents play a very important role in planning and implementing Head Start programs—either through membership on Head Start Policy Councils or through participation in classroom activities. In fact, parents of present and former students constitute more than one-third of Head Start’s paid staff. While government leadership is important, the caring and dedication of parents and volunteers are the key to Head Start’s success.
Today there are more volunteers than enrolled children in Head Start programs, and there are eight times more volunteers than paid staff members. Thus, Head Start not only serves as a shining example of the good that can be accomplished by concerned individuals working together at the community level, but also demonstrates that income and life circumstances are not barriers to serving others. Disadvantaged children will continue to benefit as more doctors and dentists, speech and language therapists, psychologists, and other professionals lend their services to Head Start.
Because Head Start helps to ensure that children enter school eager and able to learn, strengthening and expanding this program is an important part of our national strategy to promote excellence in American education. Indeed, for fiscal year 1991, I have proposed a $500,000,000 increase in the budget for the Head Start program. These funds would allow us to serve up to 70 percent of eligible 4 year-olds before they start kindergarten. The Congress, by House Joint Resolution 490, has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of the 25th anniversary of Head Start.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby urge all Americans to observe the 25th anniversary of Head Start with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities in recognition of all that this program has done and continues to do for low-income children and their families. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fourteenth.
GEORGE BUSH **Editorial note**: For the President’s remarks of May 24, 1990, on the 25th anniversary of the Head Start program, see the *Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents* (vol. 26, p. 828). 6141 May 24, 1990 Memorial Day, 1990 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation