[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 198 (Thursday, October 12, 2000)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 60575-60576]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-26394]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 198 / Thursday, October 12, 2000 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 60575]]


                Proclamation 7356 of October 6, 2000

                
National Children's Day, 2000

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Children hold a special place in our lives, and raising 
                healthy, happy children is the greatest success any 
                parent can hope to achieve; it should also be an 
                important goal of every member of society, because 
                children are profoundly influenced by the people and 
                environment around them. The strongest influence, of 
                course, is often child's family; but good schools and 
                nurturing communities also play a vital role in helping 
                children reach their full potential.

                Over the past 7-1/2 years, my Administration has worked 
                with families and communities across the country to 
                meet the needs of America's children, and we can be 
                proud of what we have accomplished together. We have 
                made education one of our highest priorities, to ensure 
                that every child is empowered with the knowledge and 
                skills necessary to achieve personal fulfillment and 
                success. By expanding Head Start and Early Head Start 
                for preschoolers; promoting high academic standards, 
                smaller class sizes, teacher quality, and charter 
                schools for primary and secondary school students; and 
                providing loans, scholarships, and tax credits so that 
                millions of young Americans can attend college, we are 
                building a world-class education system that will serve 
                our children well.

                We have achieved other important legislative victories 
                for children and families, including a $500 child tax 
                credit, a $1 per hour increase in the minimum wage, 
                expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit, passing the 
                Family and Medical Leave Act, enacting the largest 
                expansion of health insurance for children ever, and 
                creating incentives to move more children from foster 
                care to safe, loving, and permanent homes. As a result 
                of these victories, the child poverty rate in our 
                country has dropped by 22 percent since 1993; millions 
                of working parents have taken time off to care for a 
                new child or sick relative; child immunization rates 
                are at an all-time high, with 90 percent of toddlers 
                receiving crucial vaccinations; and adoptions increased 
                nearly 65 percent between 1996 and 1999.

                We have shown our commitment to ensuring that every 
                child grows up in a safe and nurturing environment 
                through additional measures such as teen pregnancy 
                prevention efforts, welfare reform that moves families 
                from economic dependency to self-sufficiency, expanded 
                access to affordable housing and homeownership, and 
                responsible fatherhood initiatives to ensure that 
                fathers provide both the financial and emotional 
                support their children need. And, to help working 
                families provide for their children, we are continuing 
                our efforts to improve access to high-quality, safe, 
                and affordable child care. We know that from infancy 
                through adolescence, in child-care settings and after-
                school programs, children can learn and thrive with the 
                right care, attention, and education. We owe them no 
                less.

                As we observe National Children's Day this year, let us 
                recommit ourselves to using every resource in this time 
                of unprecedented prosperity to build a bright future 
                for all our children. Let us show our love for them not 
                only through our words, but also by making the tough 
                decisions and important investments necessary to give 
                them the opportunity to achieve their dreams.

[[Page 60576]]

                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 8, 2000, as National 
                Children's Day. I urge all Americans to express their 
                love and appreciation for children on this day and 
                every day throughout the year, and to work within their 
                communities to nurture, love, and teach all our 
                children. I invite Federal officials, State and local 
                governments, and particularly all American families to 
                join together in observing this day with appropriate 
                programs, ceremonies, and activities to honor our 
                Nation's children.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                sixth day of October, 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. 00-26394
Filed 10-11-00; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P