PROCLAMATION 721&—AUG. 27, 1999 113 STAT. 2137 provides skill grants directly to workers so they can choose the kind of training they want and where they want to obtain it. As we observe Small Manufacturing Week, let us pay tribute to America's more than 385,000 small manufacturing firms whose commitment to hard work and excellence has helped set our country on a steady course for continued growth and prosperity. NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, 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 September 19 through September 25, 1999, as Small Manufacturing Week, 1999. I invite all Americans to observe this week with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs that recognize the achievements of our Nation's small manufacturers. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fifth day of August, in the year of our Lord nineteen h\mdred and ninety- nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-fourth. WILLIAM J. CLINTON Proclamation 7218 of August 27, 1999 America Goes Back to School, 1999 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Education has always been at the heart of opiportunity in America. It opens doors for our young people, gives them the tools they need to succeed, and instills in them a sense of responsibility as they strive to make the most of their lives. However, whilts the importance of education is michanging, the challenges facing America's schools and students are not. There are now more children, from more diverse backgrounds, in our public schools than at any time in our country's history. We must ensure that their education gives them the knowledge and skills they need to help our Nation thrive in the new century. America's ciurent prosperity offers us an unprecedented opportunity to invest in our children's education. I am proud, that we have begun that task by opening the doors of college to all our yoimg people with tax credits and more affordable student loans, more Pell grants and workstudy jobs, education IRAs,' and the new HOPE Scholarship tax cut that more than 5 million Americans will have received by the end of this year. I have also announced $43 million in grants to help States and communities to recruit talented people into teaching jobs and improve the quality of teaching nationwide. These are important accomplishments, but we must build on them. The goal of the America Goes Back to School initiative is to support family and community involvement in childhood learning and to build strong community support for our schools, teachers, and students. This year's theme—"Challenge Our Students and They Will Soar"—reflects our faith in America's youth and our commitment to providing them with the tools they need to succeed in our rapidly changing
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