[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 199 (Wednesday, October 15, 1997)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 53701-53702]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27583]



[[Page 53699]]

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Part IV





The President





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Proclamation 7040--National Children's Day, 1997
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  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 199 / Wednesday, October 15, 1997 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 53701]]

                Proclamation 7040 of October 10, 1997

                
National Children's Day, 1997

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                With the birth of every child, the world becomes new 
                again. Within each new infant lies enormous potential--
                potential for loving, for learning, and for making life 
                better for others. But this potential must be nurtured. 
                Just as seeds need fertile soil, warm sunshine, and 
                gentle rain to grow, so do our children need a caring 
                environment, the security of knowing they are loved, 
                and the encouragement and opportunity to make the most 
                of their God-given talents. There is no more urgent 
                task before us, as a people and as a Nation, than 
                creating such an environment for America's children.

                One of the surest ways to do so is to strengthen 
                American families and help parents in their efforts to 
                raise healthy, happy children. My Administration has 
                worked hard to give parents the tools they need to 
                fulfill their crucial responsibilities. We have sought 
                to put tobacco and guns out of the reach of children. 
                We are improving the quality of our children's schools 
                by making a national commitment to high academic and 
                teaching standards. Recognizing the importance of a 
                child's early years to his or her development, we have 
                expanded Head Start and established Early Head Start 
                for low-income families with children 3 years old or 
                younger. We have made it easier for millions of parents 
                to take time off to be with a sick child without losing 
                their jobs, and to keep their health insurance when 
                they change jobs. We have protected Medicaid coverage 
                for 36 million Americans, including about 20 million 
                children, and the Balanced Budget Act I recently signed 
                into law will provide meaningful health care coverage 
                to millions more uninsured children.

                But there is still much to be accomplished if we are to 
                ensure that America's children grow up to meet their 
                fullest potential. Our next important goal must be to 
                build upon our efforts and improve the quality and 
                affordability of child care in our Nation. With more 
                people in the work force, with more single-parent 
                homes, and with more families in which both parents 
                have to work to make ends meet, millions of American 
                children are already in some form of day care, and the 
                demand for affordable, quality child care is growing. 
                Later this month, the First Lady and I will host the 
                White House Conference on Child Care to work with and 
                learn from other parents, child care providers and 
                experts, business leaders, and economists. Together we 
                will focus on the best means to increase the quality, 
                availability, and affordability of child care in our 
                Nation.

                As we observe National Children's Day this year, let us 
                recommit ourselves to creating a society where parents 
                can raise healthy, happy children; where every newborn 
                is cherished, where every child is encouraged to 
                succeed, and where all our young people are free to 
                pursue their dreams.

[[Page 53702]]

                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 October 12, 1997, as 
                National Children's Day. I urge all Americans to 
                express their love and appreciation for children on 
                this day and on every day throughout the year. I invite 
                Federal officials, State and local governments, and 
                particularly all American families to join together in 
                observing this day with appropriate ceremonies and 
                activities to honor our Nation's children.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                tenth 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. 97-27583
Filed 10-14-97; 11:16 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P