The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 13, 2011

Presidential Proclamation--World Trade Week

American businesses embody the ingenuity and entrepreneurship that has defined our Nation since its founding, and they consistently reinvent themselves to adapt to changing times.  As we recover from a historic economic recession, enterprising commercial leaders continue to look beyond our borders to supply the world with innovative and technologically advanced products and services.  Millions of jobs in the United States are tied to exports, and our world continues to grow more interdependent.

 World Trade Week is a time to highlight the vital connection between the global economy and the prosperity of our own country.  Our 21st-century economy requires American businesses and workers to compete in an international marketplace.  To ensure our success, we must advance a robust, forward-looking trade agenda that emphasizes exports and domestic job growth.

 Last year, my Administration launched the National Export Initiative, an effort to marshal the full resources of the Federal Government behind America's businesses, large and small, and help them sell their goods, services, and ideas to the world.  Though the United States remains a leading exporter, this Initiative is redoubling our efforts to ensure American companies have free and fair access in trade, and it is building on our successes in export-driven growth.  Through this effort, we can help even more American companies grow, compete, and thrive in global markets and help reach our goal of doubling exports in 5 years by 2015.  In turn, those companies will be able to hire more American workers to produce the goods and services they sell to customers around the world.

 By out-innovating, out-educating, and out-building the rest of the world, we can keep Americans working and export more of the high-quality products and services for which our workers and companies are admired.  With a commitment to winning the future, we can continue to lead the world in attracting the jobs, businesses, and industries of tomorrow.

 NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 15 through May 21, 2011, as World Trade Week.  I encourage all Americans to observe this week with events, trade shows, and educational programs that celebrate and inform Americans about the benefits of trade to our Nation and the global economy.

 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 13, 2011

Presidential Proclamation--Emergency Medical Services Week

      Each day, Americans rely on emergency medical service (EMS) systems to help them in their hour of greatest need.  In communities across our Nation, we take comfort in knowing that well trained, caring men and women are only a phone call away from treating injuries sustained in a car crash, responding to a cardiac emergency, or helping a child with asthma breathe easier.  When accidents and illnesses strike unexpectedly, EMS personnel are the first on the scene, and their timely actions often make the difference between life and death.

      Emergency medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics, and first responders serve on the front lines of our health care and public health system.  Working with them are many others whose dedication makes the EMS system function, including emergency dispatchers, physicians, nurses, and researchers, as well as colleagues in the fire service and law enforcement.  Our Nation's EMS system represents the American spirit at its best, with many ambulances in the United States partially or fully staffed by volunteers.  They devote countless hours to keeping their communities, including often underserved rural areas, safe.

      My Administration is committed to supporting the brave men and women who help keep America secure and resilient.  This year, I signed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act into law, ensuring that rescue and recovery workers, and others suffering from health consequences related to the World Trade Center disaster, have access to the medical monitoring and treatment they need and deserve.  As a Nation, we must never forget the selfless courage demonstrated by the EMTs, paramedics, and first responders who risked their lives to save others.

      During EMS Week, we recognize the importance of ensuring our Nation's children have full access to high quality EMS care.  Reauthorized in the Affordable Care Act, the Federal EMS for Children program works with public and private sector partners across the United States to make certain that all children    regardless of where they live, attend school, or travel    receive appropriate EMS care.

      EMS agencies are an integral part of our Nation's health security strategy, and they help to build community resilience by strengthening all aspects of the emergency response system.  Whether responding by car, ambulance, helicopter, boat, or plane, this diverse group of dedicated Americans provides crucial pre hospital medical care to fellow citizens when they need it most.  This week, we take time to recognize the inspiring contributions of our Nation's EMS practitioners and honor their dedication to serving their country and fellow citizens.

      NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 15 through May 21, 2011, as Emergency Medical Services Week.  I encourage all Americans to observe this occasion by sharing their support with their local EMS providers and taking steps to improve their personal safety and preparedness.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

            BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 13, 2011

Presidential Proclamation--National Defense Transportation Day and National Transportation Week

      America has long depended on a robust and reliable transportation network to support our drive towards lasting security and prosperity.  Our highways, railroads, ports, and airways allow us to move around our country quickly and efficiently.  Effective transportation systems have helped our economy grow, our first responders save lives, and our Armed Forces mobilize.

      The freedom of movement created by America's transportation infrastructure facilitates our Nation's economic vitality.  Our ability to travel safely enables us to trade with our neighbors and visit our friends and family.  It provides Americans from every corner of our country access to the first rate products and services that define our economy, increasing the productivity of our people and our land.  Our transportation system also permits our military to move personnel and supplies at a moment's notice.  The ability to deploy rapidly empowers our men and women in uniform to respond to crises or natural disasters at home and abroad with urgency.

      Maintaining the transportation networks that earlier generations bequeathed to us is a challenge, and we must do more than preserve the status quo.  We need to develop a 21st century transportation network    one that is safer, more energy efficient, more environmentally sustainable, and offers more transportation choices to our citizens than the one we inherited.

      As we celebrate the legacy of our Nation's transportation arteries, we recognize the world is now more connected and more competitive than ever before.  New companies around the world look for the fastest and most reliable ways to move people and goods.  To attract new businesses to our shores, we must rebuild crumbling roads and bridges and continue to invest in the modernization of our infrastructure.  We must repair our highways, reengineer our railroads into high speed rail networks, and ready ourselves for the next revolutionary breakthroughs in transportation technology.  We must provide increased transportation options that cut commuting time, ease traffic congestion, reduce oil consumption, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and expand access to job opportunities and housing that American families can afford.  Together, we can continue the work started by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to maintain a world class logistics network, create new jobs, and win the future for our children.
      In recognition of the importance of our Nation's transportation infrastructure, and of the men and women who build, maintain, and utilize it, the Congress has requested, by joint resolution approved May 16, 1957, as amended (36 U.S.C. 120), that the President designate the third Friday in May of each year as "National Defense Transportation Day," and, by joint resolution approved May 14, 1962, as amended (36 U.S.C. 133), that the week during which that Friday falls be designated as "National Transportation Week."

      NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Friday, May 20, 2011, as National Defense Transportation Day and May 15 through May 21, 2011, as National Transportation Week.  I call upon all Americans to recognize the importance of our Nation's transportation infrastructure and to acknowledge the contributions of those who build, operate, and maintain it.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty fifth.

      BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 12, 2011

Presidential Proclamation--Small Business Week

A PROCLAMATION

     Our country started as an idea, and it took hard-working, dedicated, and visionary patriots to make it a reality.  Successful businesses start much the same way -- as ideas realized by entrepreneurs who dream of a better world and work until they see it through.  From the family businesses that anchor Main Street to the high-tech startups that keep America on the cutting edge, small businesses are the backbone of our economy and the cornerstones of America's promise.

     Throughout our economic recovery, persevering small businesses have helped put our country back on track.  Countless new and saved jobs have come from small businesses who took advantage of tax relief, access to capital, and other tools in the Recovery Act, the Small Business Jobs Act, and other initiatives launched by my Administration to put Americans back to work.  To ensure the stability of our recovery, we must continue to provide new opportunities for small business owners and the next generation of entrepreneurs, who will help us out‑innovate our global competitors to win the future.

   To support high-growth businesses, my Administration has launched Startup America, an initiative that will strengthen access to capital and mentoring while reducing barriers to growth for small businesses.  Entrepreneurship is essential to the strength and resilience of our economy and our way of life.  Startup America will give entrepreneurs the tools they need to build their business into the next great American company.  To encourage innovation, we released the Strategy for American Innovation, a report outlining my Administration's plan to harness ingenuity.  This means investing in the building blocks of innovation, like education and infrastructure, while promoting market-based growth through tax credits and effective intellectual property laws.

     The National Export Initiative is working to open markets to American businesses and support small exporters, who increase American competitiveness abroad and create good jobs here at home.  We continue to create opportunities for businesses in underserved communities through new lending initiatives, expanded access to counseling, and technical assistance.  We are also working to provide small businesses more opportunities to compete for Federal contracts.  This gives Federal agencies access to some of our country's best products and services while helping these businesses grow and employ community members.  Through these and other initiatives, we are supporting the entrepreneurs and small businesses that provide work for half of American workers and create two out of every three new private sector jobs.

 Small businesses embody the promise of America:  that if you have a good idea and are willing to work hard enough, you can succeed in our country.  This week, we honor and celebrate the individuals whose inspiration and efforts keep America strong.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 15 through May 21, 2011, as Small Business Week.  I call upon all Americans to recognize the contributions of small businesses to the competitiveness of the American economy with appropriate programs and activities.

  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 09, 2011

Presidential Proclamation--National Building Safety Month

A Proclamation

     Building safety is a critical component of our homeland security, our personal and public safety, the protection of property, and our economic well‑being.  While disasters have had devastating and heartbreaking effects in our country and around the world, modern building safety standards and fire prevention codes help us withstand, mitigate, and rapidly recover from hurricanes, winter storms, tornadoes, earthquakes, and floods.

     It is our collective responsibility as a Nation ‑‑ nonprofit organizations and the public and private sectors -- to implement effective standards and codes that sustain safe and resilient structures.  We need innovation and partnerships at all levels of society to develop transformative breakthroughs in building materials and construction techniques that strengthen the integrity of our homes, workplaces, and commercial facilities.

     Building safety and fire prevention officials, architects, engineers, design professionals, builders, and others in the construction industry work every day to ensure the sound construction of buildings and the safety of our citizens.  Their efforts to construct or retrofit buildings that utilize state‑of‑the‑art safety, energy efficiency, and fire prevention standards are important to our national resilience and our ability to compete in the 21st‑century economy.

     As a resilient Nation, we must continue to do everything in our power to enhance our ability to withstand and rapidly recover from natural and manmade disasters, disruptions, and emergencies.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2011 as National Building Safety Month.  I encourage citizens, government agencies, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other interested groups to join in activities that will increase awareness of building safety, and I further urge Americans to learn more about how they can contribute to building safety at home and in their communities.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 06, 2011

Presidential Proclamation--National Women's Health Week

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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

Women are a foundation of our families, and their health affects the well-being of our communities and our country. They often make health care decisions for their families as well as themselves. However, American women have not always had access to the health care they need, or the freedom to make the best health choices for their loved ones. As a Nation, we must ensure our mothers, daughters, friends, and colleagues receive fair treatment and access to resources they need to live healthy, happy lives. During National Women's Health Week, we reaffirm our commitment to making women's health a priority.

In the past, insurance companies have effectively considered being a woman a "pre-existing condition," and the specific medical needs of women meant higher fees and less coverage. Before the Affordable Care Act became law last year, insurance companies could deny coverage to women due to previous events such as having had cancer or having been pregnant. In 2014, it will be illegal for insurance companies to discriminate against anyone with a pre-existing condition, or charge women higher premiums than they charge men.

The Affordable Care Act gives women greater freedom and control over their health care. Thanks to this landmark legislation, women joining new health plans have the ability to choose their own doctor from any primary care provider, OB-GYN, or pediatrician in their health plan's network without a referral. The new insurance exchanges created by this law ensure coverage of preventive care and basic health services, including maternity care, which is often not provided in health plans in the individual insurance market.

National Women's Health Week is also an opportunity for women of all ages, ethnicities, and economic circumstances to take simple, everyday steps to embrace healthier lifestyles. This week, we encourage women to schedule their annual checkups and talk to their health care provider about important health screenings, many of which will be free of charge because of the Affordable Care Act. All American women and their loved ones can visit www.WomensHealth.gov and www.GirlsHealth.gov for more information and resources on living longer and healthier lives. During National Women's Health Week, I encourage women, and all Americans, to make their own health a priority and support each other in these efforts.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 8 through May 14, 2011, as National Women's Health Week. I encourage all Americans to celebrate the progress we have made in protecting women's health and to promote awareness, prevention, and educational activities that improve the health of all women.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

                     BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 06, 2011

Presidential Proclamation--Mother's Day

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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

As our society has changed, so have the challenges facing women raising families. Many American women are raising children at home while caring for an elderly parent, holding down two jobs, serving as the sole parent in a family, or defending our country overseas as a service member. Our Nation's mothers not only look after our needs and teach us to be compassionate and responsible, but also manage households, build careers, and improve our neighborhoods and communities. While the roles and responsibilities of mothers have evolved, their guidance and care remains as strong and constant as ever.

On Mother's Day, we celebrate the extraordinary importance of mothers in our lives. The bond of love and dedication a mother shares with her children and family is without bounds or conditions. Whether an adoptive mom or grandmother, mother or partner, the women who raise us show us that no hurdle is too high, and no dream is beyond our reach. As sons and daughters, we show our gratitude for the women in our lives who care for us, shape our values, and set us on the path to a limitless future.

Throughout our history, mothers have made remarkable sacrifices for the well-being of their loved ones. Nearly a century ago, Anna Jarvis, who had suffered the loss of her beloved mother, campaigned with many other Americans to make Mother's Day a recognized holiday and pay respect to all women raising children. Today, we continue to celebrate the influence, love, and nurturing our mothers provide in our lives and in our national life.

To support the parents who are raising tomorrow's leaders, my Administration is committed to doing all we can to create jobs and economic opportunities for families across America. We are striving to help mothers in the workplace by enforcing equal pay laws and addressing workplace flexibility as families balance the demands of work, child and elder care, and education. My budget strengthens the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit to help families afford the cost of quality childcare. The tax-cut package we passed last December extended expansions of the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit, providing a tax cut for 15.7 million families with about 29.1 million children. The Affordable Care Act gives women more access to health care and better resources to protect the health of their families by requiring new insurance plans to cover wellness benefits for children, ending the exclusion of pre-existing conditions by insurance companies, and extending parents' health coverage for young adults up to age 26. First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move!" initiative is also providing mothers with helpful tools to support their children's healthy growth.

Mothers are the rocks of our families and a foundation in our communities. In gratitude for their generous love, patient counsel, and lifelong support, let us pay respect to the women who carry out the hard work of motherhood with skill and grace, and let us remember those mothers who, though no longer with us, inspire us still.

The Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 8, 1914, (38 Stat. 770), has designated the second Sunday in May each year as "Mother's Day" and requested the President to call for its appropriate observance.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 8, 2011, as Mother's Day. I urge all Americans to express their love, respect, and gratitude to mothers everywhere, and I call upon all citizens to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

                    BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 05, 2011

Presidential Proclamation--Military Spouse Appreciation Day

      Military spouses serve as steady and supportive partners to the heroes in uniform who protect and defend our great Nation every day.  Across America and around the world, military spouses serve our country in their own special way, helping families and friends through the stress of a deployment, caring for our wounded warriors, and supporting each other when a loved one has made the ultimate sacrifice.

      Our service members and their families seldom ask for support or recognition.  They carry out their duties to family and country with the quiet courage and strength that has always exemplified the American spirit.  On Military Spouse Appreciation Day, we have an opportunity to not only honor the husbands and wives of our service members, but also thank them by actively expressing our gratitude in both word and deed.

      When a member of our Armed Forces is deployed, an entire family is called to serve.  The readiness of our troops depends on the readiness of our military families, as millions of parents, children, and loved ones sacrifice as well.  This means supporting our military spouses is also a national security imperative.  Earlier this year, my Administration released the report on military families, Strengthening our Military Families:  Meeting America's Commitment, which marshaled resources from across our Government to identify new opportunities to support these patriots.

      First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden are working tirelessly to enlist all sectors of American life to address the unique challenges of military families.  Their national initiative, "Joining Forces," mobilizes Americans to give our service members and their families the opportunities and support they have earned.  Americans can find service projects, send messages of thanks to military families, and learn more about this initiative by visiting:  www.JoiningForces.gov.

      On Military Spouse Appreciation Day, let us join together to show our service members we are taking care of their families back home as they serve our Nation across the globe.  As neighbors, teachers, parents, and fellow citizens, we can reach out to military husbands and wives in our communities.  We can show our appreciation in countless ways, from offering to help with household maintenance and childcare to encouraging the community involvement and career development of military spouses.

      It is through our actions that we show our commitment to our service members and their spouses.  By embracing military families, we demonstrate our partnership in the defense of our freedom and the security of the United States.

      NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 6, 2011, as Military Spouse Appreciation Day.  I call upon the people of the United States to honor military spouses with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

           BARACK OBAMA

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 03, 2011

Presidential Proclamation--50th Anniversary of the Freedom Rides

A Proclamation

     Fifty years ago, America was struggling to implement the ideals of justice and equality set forth in our founding.  The Freedom Rides, organized in the spring of 1961, were an interracial, nonviolent effort to protest the practice of segregation.  Setting out from Washington, D.C., on May 4, 1961, the Freedom Riders sought to actualize the decision in Boynton v. Virginia, which held that interstate passengers had a right to be served without discrimination, and to challenge the enforcement of local segregation laws and practices.

     The Freedom Rides, organized by the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and other devoted advocates, built upon the boycotts and sit‑ins that were defying Jim Crow segregation across the South.  The Freedom Riders themselves were black and white, often students and young people, and committed to the cause of nonviolent resistance.  Along the way, buses were attacked and men and women were intimidated, arrested, and brutally beaten.  The publicity generated by the courageous Freedom Riders as they faced continued violence and complicit local police drew the attention of the Kennedy Administration and Americans across our country.

     Through their defiant journeys, the Freedom Riders sent a resounding message to the rest of our Nation that desegregation was a moral imperative.  The Freedom Riders also motivated and mobilized the next generation of civil rights leaders.  The unflinching bravery and unyielding commitment of the Freedom Riders inspired many of those involved to become lifelong activists, organizers, and leaders in the civil rights movement.

     Today, we remember the Freedom Riders for the sacrifices they made in pursuit of the rights we now enjoy.  They showed that people working together across backgrounds and boundaries could hold America accountable to our highest ideals and bend the arc of history towards justice.  They showed that young people have the power to generate a movement for equality and steer the course of our Nation.  Because of their efforts, and the work of those who marched and stood against injustice, we live in a country where all Americans have the right to dream and choose their own destiny.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2011 as the 50th Anniversary of the Freedom Rides.  I call upon all Americans to participate in ceremonies and activities that honor the Freedom Riders and all those who struggled for equal rights during the civil rights movement.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
April 29, 2011

Presidential Proclamation--National Day of Prayer

      Throughout our history, Americans have turned to prayer for strength, inspiration, and solidarity.

      Prayer has played an important role in the American story and in shaping our Nation's leaders.  President Abraham Lincoln once said, "I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.  My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for the day."  The late Coretta Scott King recounted a particularly difficult night, during the Montgomery bus boycott, when her husband, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., received a threatening phone call and prayed at the kitchen table, saying, "Lord, I have nothing left.  I have nothing left.  I have come to the point where I can't face it alone."  Dr. King said, in that moment of prayer, he was filled with a sense of comfort and resolve, which his wife credited as a turning point in the civil rights movement.

      It is thus fitting that, from the earliest years of our country's history, Congress and Presidents have set aside days to recognize the role prayer has played in so many definitive moments in our history.  On this National Day of Prayer, let us follow the example of President Lincoln and Dr. King.  Let us be thankful for the liberty that allows people of all faiths to worship or not worship according to the dictates of their conscience, and let us be thankful for the many other freedoms and blessings that we often take for granted.

      Let us pray for the men and women of our Armed Forces and the many selfless sacrifices they and their families make on behalf of our Nation.  Let us pray for the police officers, firefighters, and other first responders who put themselves in harm's way every day to protect their fellow citizens.  And let us ask God for the sustenance and guidance for all of us to meet the great challenges we face as a Nation.

      Let us remember in our thoughts and prayers those who have been affected by natural disasters at home and abroad in recent months, as well as those working tirelessly to render assistance.  And, at a time when many around the world face uncertainty and unrest, but also hold resurgent hope for freedom and justice, let our prayers be with men and women everywhere who seek peace, human dignity, and the same rights we treasure here in America.

      The Congress, by Public Law 100-307, as amended, has called on the President to issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a "National Day of Prayer."

      NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 5, 2011, as a National Day of Prayer.  I invite all citizens of our Nation, as their own faith or conscience directs them, to join me in giving thanks for the many blessings we enjoy, and I ask all people of faith to join me in asking God for guidance, mercy, and protection for our Nation.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

          BARACK OBAMA