Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 94 (May 15, 2018)
Page Range
22347-22348
FR Document
2018-10453
Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 94 (Tuesday, May 15, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 15, 2018)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 22347-22348]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-10453]
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 83 , No. 94 / Tuesday, May 15, 2018 /
Presidential Documents
___________________________________________________________________
Title 3--
The President
[[Page 22347]]
Proclamation 9746 of May 10, 2018
Military Spouse Day, 2018
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Since the founding of our Republic, military spouses
have served alongside their loved ones and played vital
roles in the defense of our country. Their selfless
support, volunteer spirit, and significant
contributions have left indelible marks on our military
and communities. On Military Spouse Day, we pay tribute
to these remarkable patriots, past and present,
including the incredible women and men who currently
serve, in steadfast support of America's Armed Forces,
as our Nation's military spouses.
Military Spouse Day is an opportunity to thank the
inspirational men and women who are the foundation of
our Nation's military families. Their countless
sacrifices and tireless devotion to this country, and
to those who defend her, are invaluable and
irreplaceable. Military spouses shoulder the burdens of
a challenging and demanding lifestyle with pride,
strength, and determination. They demonstrate uncommon
grace and grit, and although most military spouses do
not wear a uniform, they honorably serve our Nation--
often times without their loved one standing beside
them.
We ask so much of our military spouses: frequent moves;
heartbreaking separations; parenting alone; incomplete
celebrations; and weeks, months, and sometimes years of
waiting for a loved one's safe return from harm's way.
Time and time again, however, military spouses respond
with resilience that defies explanation. Our service
members are often praised as national heroes, but their
spouses are equally worthy of that distinction.
My Administration is committed to taking care of our
Armed Forces and ensuring that our military is equipped
to defend our country and protect our way of life. This
mission also includes caring for the unique needs of
military spouses, whose service to our Nation cannot be
overstated.
Too often, military life can interfere with the
aspirations and dreams of our military spouses. For
example, frequent and often unexpected moves can impair
career and academic goals. Even as our economy
prospers, military spouses continue to face an
unemployment rate far higher than the national average,
up to 16 percent in 2017. Further, data from the 2016
American Community Survey indicates that military
spouses suffer from underemployment at a greater rate
than Americans more broadly, at an estimated 31.4
percent compared to 19.6 percent overall. All of these
are added and unnecessary burdens on military families.
We can and will do better, which is why my
Administration will continue to focus on enhancing
employment opportunities for military spouses. On May
9, I signed an Executive Order to enhance opportunities
for military spouses looking for employment in the
Federal Government. This action promotes the use of an
existing hiring authority for military spouses and
seeks to provide significantly greater opportunity for
military spouses to be considered for Federal
Government positions.
Beyond the Federal Government, I encourage every
American business, large and small, to find ways to
employ military spouses, and keep them employed as they
relocate--sometimes every 2 or 3 years--to new duty
stations. More than 360 employers with regional and
national footprints have made this
[[Page 22348]]
commitment through the Department of Defense's Military
Spouse Employment Partnership. In less than 7 years,
these patriotic partners have hired more than 112,000
military spouses. We are grateful for these employment
opportunities and hope to see many more businesses
participate in this important initiative.
In addition, many military spouses encounter
unnecessary delays remaining in the workforce following
a change in duty station. These spouses are more likely
than other workers to face barriers to employment due
to the impact of occupational licensing laws, since
they frequently move across State lines and are
disproportionately employed in occupations that require
a license. Existing State laws regarding license
portability are insufficient. States and occupational
licensing boards can and must do more to improve the
license portability to facilitate career continuity and
ease financial burdens on our military families.
As we observe Military Spouse Day, we salute
generations of military spouses for their leadership,
courage, love, patriotism, and unwavering support for
the courageous men and women of our Armed Forces. On
this day, Melania and I offer our deepest respect and
gratitude to every person who has embraced this noble
calling in proud service to our Nation as a military
spouse.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, 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 11, 2018, as
Military Spouse 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
tenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand
eighteen, and of the Independence of the United States
of America the two hundred and forty-second.
(Presidential Sig.)
[FR Doc. 2018-10453
Filed 5-14-18; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3295-F8-P