[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 71 (Friday, April 12, 2002)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 18083-18084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-9174]



[[Page 18081]]

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Part IV





The President





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Proclamation 7539--National D.A.R.E. Day, 2002
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  Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 71 / Friday, April 12, 2002 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 18083]]

                Proclamation 7539 of April 10, 2002

                
National D.A.R.E. Day, 2002

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Illegal drugs are the enemy of ambition and hope, 
                destroying individual lives and undermining the health 
                of our communities. In addition to the tragic 
                consequences of drug use for Americans and their 
                families, the drug trade supports terrorist networks 
                that threaten our country and our allies around the 
                world. When we fight the war on drugs, we also fight 
                the war on terror.

                The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E) 
                curriculum plays an important role in helping our young 
                people understand the many reasons to avoid drugs. 
                D.A.R.E. is a series of lessons, taught by specially-
                trained police officers, that encourages students to 
                live healthy, drug-free lives. According to the 
                University of Akron Institute for Health and Social 
                Policy, the program operates in 80 percent of our 
                school districts, reaching 26 million young people in 
                America each year. In addition to promoting the right 
                decisions about drugs, D.A.R.E. helps build 
                relationships among parents, teachers, law enforcement 
                officers, and others interested in preventing drug use 
                in their communities.

                My Administration is committed to keeping the fight 
                against drugs among our Nation's top priorities. I have 
                proposed new goals for our country, including a 10 
                percent reduction in teenage and adult drug use over 
                the next 2 years, and a 25 percent reduction over 5 
                years. My National Drug Control Strategy is a 
                community-based approach, incorporating three core 
                principles: (1) stopping drug use before it starts; (2) 
                healing America's drug users; and (3) disrupting the 
                market for drugs in our country. In addition, my 2003 
                budget proposes $19.2 billion for drug control. This 
                includes $3.8 billion for drug treatment and research, 
                an increase of more than 6 percent over 2002.

                Drugs attack everything that is best about our country, 
                robbing Americans, young and old, and their families of 
                dignity and character. Today, we recognize D.A.R.E. as 
                a critical part in our effort to teach young people how 
                to avoid drug use and the devastating effects that 
                drugs can inflict upon their health and on their 
                future.

                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 April 11, 2002, as National 
                D.A.R.E. Day. I call upon youth, parents, educators, 
                and all Americans to observe this day by joining the 
                fight against drugs in your communities. I also 
                encourage our citizens to express appreciation for the 
                law enforcement officers, volunteers, and others who 
                work to help young people avoid the dangers of drug 
                use.

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

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 02-9174
Filed 4-11-02; 10:47 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P