Proclamation 9404-National Consumer Protection Week, 2016
Issued 2016-03-04 by Barack Obama
Plain-English Overview
AI-generated summary explaining what this action does, who it affects, and why it matters
President Obama issued this proclamation designating March 6-12, 2016, as National Consumer Protection Week. The proclamation is a ceremonial observance that brings national attention to consumer protection issues. It does not create new laws or impose legal requirements on anyone—it simply expresses the President's sentiment on behalf of the nation and encourages public awareness of consumer rights.
The proclamation discusses the administration's broader consumer protection efforts, including Wall Street reform and rules aimed at protecting people from certain lending practices involving payday loans and title loans. It mentions the Pay As You Earn plan that capped student loan payments at 10 percent of monthly income and a Student Aid Bill of Rights focused on affordable education and loan payments. The proclamation also references updated rules to protect military members and their families from certain lender practices, as well as government efforts to make online transactions more secure.
The proclamation calls on government officials, industry leaders, and advocates to share information about consumer protection during this week. It directs consumers to websites like NCPW.gov for information about consumer rights and IdentityTheft.gov for help with identity theft issues. This type of presidential proclamation has been used since George Washington and falls within established executive tradition, requiring no congressional approval.
AI-generated summary for educational purposes
Constitutional Analysis
How this action fits (or doesn't) within Article II authority and existing law
This proclamation designates "Proclamation 9404-National Consumer Protection Week, 2016" — a ceremonial observance that brings national attention to consumer protection. Presidents have issued ceremonial proclamations since George Washington, and they fall squarely within the executive tradition. They do not create new law, direct federal spending, or impose legal obligations on citizens.
Ceremonial proclamations like this one are purely declaratory. They express the sentiment of the President on behalf of the nation, drawing public awareness to causes or communities. They require no congressional approval and face no constitutional challenges.
Official Summary
Administration of Barack Obama, 2016 Proclamation 9404—National Consumer Protection Week, 2016 March 4, 2016 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation After a long road to recovery, our Nation has risen from the depths of recession thanks to the grit and determination of the American people. Ensuring hardworking families feel secure and confident that they can get ahead without being ripped off or getting sucked into vicious cycles of debt was essential to our rebound and is critical to our continuing efforts to build an economy that works better for everyone. When we uphold our country's promise of fairness and opportunity, we all do better, and during National Consumer Protection Week, we reaffirm our fidelity to this ideal by striving to build an economy based on the principles of fair play, equal access, and shared responsibility. When I took office, big banks that made reckless bets were relying on the American people to clean up after them. That is why my Administration pursued historic Wall Street reform, enacting strong consumer protections and stabilizing the foundation of our country's economic prosperity. We proposed new rules that protect people from unscrupulous lenders—including those engaged in abusive practices