[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 98 (Monday, May 21, 2001)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 28045-28046]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-12966]



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Part III





The President





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Proclamation 7438--National Biotechnology Week



Proclamation 7439--National Defense Transportation Day and National 
Transportation Week, 2001
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  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 98 / Monday, May 21, 2001 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 28045]]

                Proclamation 7438 of May 16, 2001

                
National Biotechnology Week

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                For thousands of years, man has been utilizing and 
                modifying biological processes to improve man's quality 
                of life. Scientific advances have enabled biotechnology 
                to play an increasingly large role in the development 
                of new products that enhance all areas of our lives.

                In the battle against disease, our ever-increasing 
                knowledge of cellular and genetic processes continues 
                to improve the quality of our health care. 
                Biotechnology has contributed to the development of 
                vaccines, antibiotics, and other drugs that have saved 
                or prolonged the lives of millions of people. Insulin, 
                which is vital in the treatment of diabetes, can now be 
                produced inexpensively and in large quantities through 
                the use of genetically engineered bacteria. In 
                addition, exciting gains in the understanding of the 
                human body's genetic code show significant promise in 
                finding treatments and eventually a cure for many 
                diseases. This technology is now central to the 
                research being conducted on diseases such as cancer, 
                diabetes, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, heart and lung 
                disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Acquired Immune 
                Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

                Consumers enjoy continual improvements to the quality 
                and quantity of our Nation's food supply. Genetic 
                engineering will enable farmers to modify crops so that 
                they will grow on land that was previously considered 
                infertile. In addition, it will enable farmers to grow 
                produce with enhanced nutritional value. We also are 
                benefiting from crops that resist plant diseases and 
                insects, thus reducing the use of pesticides.

                The environmental benefits of biotechnology can be 
                realized through the increased ability of manufacturers 
                to produce their products with less energy, pollution, 
                and waste. In addition, the development of new 
                biotechnology promises to improve our ability to clean 
                up toxic substances from soil and water and improve 
                waste management techniques.

                Our Nation stands as a global leader in research and 
                development, in large part because of our successes in 
                understanding and utilizing the biological processes of 
                life. The field of biotechnology is important to the 
                quality of our lives, the protection of our 
                environment, and the strength of our economy. We must 
                continue to be leaders in the pursuit of knowledge and 
                technology, and we must be vigilant to ensure that new 
                technologies are regulated and used responsibly towards 
                achieving noble goals.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, 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 May 13 through May 19, 2001, 
                as National Biotechnology Week. I call upon the people 
                of the United States to observe this week with 
                appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

[[Page 28046]]

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

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 01-12966
Filed 5-18-01; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P