[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 193 (Monday, October 6, 1997)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 52223-52224]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26440]



[[Page 52221]]

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Part IV





The President





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 Proclamation 7031--National Disability Employment Awareness Month, 
1997
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  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 193 / Monday, October 6, 1997 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 52223]]

                Proclamation 7031 of October 2, 1997

                
National Disability Employment Awareness Month, 
                1997

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                 America has always been blessed with abundant natural 
                resources; but we sometimes fail to recognize that we 
                have been blessed with rich human resources as well. 
                Millions of people in thousands of professions have 
                built this great country with their labor and made a 
                reality of the American Dream for themselves and their 
                families. But for 20 percent of our population, that 
                dream has too often been deferred or denied. Americans 
                with disabilities have had to overcome barriers in 
                communication, transportation, architecture, and 
                attitude to take their rightful place in our Nation's 
                work force.

                 If America is to continue to grow and prosper, if we 
                are to lead the challenging global economy of the 21st 
                century, we cannot afford to ignore the talents, 
                energy, and creativity of the 54 million Americans with 
                disabilities. Thanks to the Americans with Disabilities 
                Act, we are making significant progress in eliminating 
                workplace discrimination and ensuring equal job 
                opportunities for people with disabilities. This 
                landmark civil rights legislation, enacted 7 years ago 
                with bipartisan support, has opened doors and brought 
                down barriers across our country for people with 
                disabilities. It has empowered them with the 
                opportunity to become employees, taxpayers, and active 
                participants in the life of their communities.

                 To build on this progress, government at every level 
                must work in partnership with business, labor, and 
                community organizations to ensure that all Americans, 
                regardless of disability, can live and learn and work 
                alongside their fellow citizens. Only when we guarantee 
                the inclusion, empowerment, and independence of all our 
                people will America fulfill its great promise of 
                freedom and opportunity.

                 To recognize the full potential of individuals with 
                disabilities and to encourage all Americans to work 
                toward their full integration into the work force, the 
                Congress, by joint resolution approved August 11, 1945, 
                as amended (36 U.S.C. 155), has designated October of 
                each year as ``National Disability Employment Awareness 
                Month.''

                 NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of 
                the United States of America, do hereby proclaim 
                October 1997 as National Disability Employment 
                Awareness Month. I call upon government officials, 
                educators, labor leaders, employers, and the people of 
                the United States to observe this month with 
                appropriate programs and activities that reaffirm our 
                determination to achieve the full integration into the 
                work force of people with disabilities.

[[Page 52224]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                second day of October, in the year of our Lord nineteen 
                hundred and ninety-seven, and of the Independence of 
                the United States of America the two hundred and 
                twenty-second.

                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 97-26440
Filed 10-3-97; 10:53 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P