[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 193 (Wednesday, October 4, 2000)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 59317-59318]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-25676]


 
 
                         Presidential Documents 
 
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 193 / Wednesday, October 4, 2000 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 59317]]


                Proclamation 7349 of September 29, 2000

                
Child Health Day, 2000

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                As parents and as concerned citizens, we have a 
                profound responsibility to ensure that America's 
                children not only receive a healthy start in life, but 
                also that they continue to grow and develop in a 
                nurturing environment where they have the opportunity 
                to reach their full potential.

                Recognizing the importance of healthy, happy children 
                to the future of our Nation, my Administration has 
                strived to offer America's families the tools they need 
                to fulfill their responsibilities. In 1997, I was proud 
                to sign into law the Child Health Insurance Program 
                (CHIP), the largest investment in children's health 
                care since the creation of Medicaid 35 years ago. This 
                innovative program allows States to use Federal funds 
                to provide health insurance for children of working 
                families whose incomes are too high to qualify for 
                Medicaid but too low to afford private health 
                insurance. Children with health insurance are more 
                likely to receive the immunizations and other 
                preventive care they need to avoid serious illnesses 
                and to enjoy a healthier start in life. In March of 
                1997, only 4 States provided such coverage for 
                children. Today, 30 States have plans approved to cover 
                qualified children, and I have proposed an additional 
                $5.5 billion over the next 10 years to cover even more 
                children and to raise awareness of CHIP among families 
                who may not realize they are eligible.

                In addition to quality health care, children need 
                nutritious meals every day. I am pleased that our 
                national school lunch program provides healthy lunches 
                to more than 25 million students in more than 96,000 
                schools across our nation, ensuring that some of our 
                most vulnerable children can look forward to at least 
                one healthy meal each day. We can also be heartened to 
                know that children enrolled in programs funded under 
                the Department of Agriculture's Special Supplemental 
                Program for Women, Infants, and Children not only 
                receive the nutritious food they need, but also are 
                immunized earlier, perform better in school, and spend 
                less time in the doctor's office.

                Since 1965, in addition to engaging parents in the 
                early educational development of their children, the 
                Head Start program has provided medical, mental health, 
                nutrition, and dental services to more than 17 million 
                children from birth to age 5. My Administration will 
                continue this investment by increasing Head Start 
                funding in our proposed fiscal 2001 budget by $1 
                billion--the largest Head Start expansion in history.

                It is also our responsibility to ensure that our 
                children feel part of a safe, strong, nurturing 
                community. Through our Safe Schools/Healthy Students 
                initiative, my Administration is helping parents, 
                school principals, police, and mental health providers 
                to collaborate on local solutions to school and youth 
                violence. My proposed budget for fiscal 2001 includes 
                an increase of more than $100 million for this program. 
                I have also called on the Congress to allow eligible 
                workers under the Family and Medical Leave Act to take 
                up to 24 hours of additional leave each year to meet 
                family obligations, including school activities such as 
                parent-teacher conferences. America is enjoying a 
                period of unprecedented economic success today; but we 
                will never be truly successful as a Nation until we 
                ensure that

[[Page 59318]]

                all families have the tools and opportunity they need 
                in order to raise healthy children. To acknowledge the 
                importance of our children's health, the Congress, by 
                joint resolution approved May 18, 1928, as amended (36 
                U.S.C. 105), has called for the designation of the 
                first Monday in October as ``Child Health Day'' and has 
                requested the President to issue a proclamation in 
                observance of this day.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the 
                United States of America, do hereby proclaim Monday, 
                October 2, 2000, as Child Health Day. I call upon 
                families, schools, communities, and governments to 
                dedicate themselves to promoting and protecting the 
                health and well-being of all our children.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                twenty-ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord 
                two thousand, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and twenty-fifth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 00-25676
Filed 10-3-00; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P