[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 70 (Friday, April 11, 2003)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 17875-17876]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-9172]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 70 / Friday, April 11, 2003 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 17875]]


                Proclamation 7661 of April 9, 2003

                
National D.A.R.E. Day, 2003

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Drugs destroy the hopes, dreams, and the health of our 
                children, and we must continue to work to reduce drug 
                use among America's young people. Today we honor Drug 
                Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.), the most widely 
                recognized substance abuse and violence prevention 
                curriculum in America. As we celebrate the 20th 
                anniversary of this important program, we recognize 
                D.A.R.E.'s proud record of helping millions of young 
                people lead productive, drug-free, and violence-free 
                lives, and reaffirm our commitment to end illegal drug 
                use among our youth.

                D.A.R.E. was founded in 1983 by the Los Angeles Police 
                Department (LAPD), which faced an overwhelming drug use 
                problem among juveniles and saw the need for a program 
                to educate children and young adults about the 
                destructive realities of substance abuse. Teaming with 
                the Los Angeles Unified School District, the LAPD sent 
                specially trained police officers into classrooms to 
                teach middle school students how to resist peer 
                pressure and make positive decisions. Since that 
                beginning 20 years ago, D.A.R.E. has grown to reach 36 
                million students in more than 300,000 classrooms in the 
                United States and around the world. Today, D.A.R.E. 
                programs are taught in 80 percent of our Nation's 
                school districts.

                D.A.R.E.'s in-school curriculum focuses on giving 
                children practical skills to avoid becoming involved in 
                drugs, gangs, and violence. D.A.R.E. officers serve as 
                supportive role models and encourage young people to 
                develop healthy self-esteem. D.A.R.E. also helps young 
                people in the critical after-school hours through 
                D.A.R.E. P.L.U.S. (Play and Learn Under Supervision), a 
                follow-up program that serves as a safe and fun 
                alternative to the local streets. D.A.R.E. P.L.U.S. is 
                designed to encourage middle school students to start 
                taking responsibility for their actions and to engage 
                in activities other than drug use.

                One of the core principles of my National Drug Control 
                Strategy is to stop drug use before it starts, and 
                D.A.R.E. and D.A.R.E. P.L.U.S. play an important role 
                in my community-based approach. Through these programs, 
                parents, educators, law enforcement officials, and 
                other caring citizens are joining together in a 
                collaborative fight against illegal drugs. However, we 
                have more to do to reduce illegal drug use among 
                America's youth. The most effective way to reduce the 
                supply of drugs is to reduce the demand, and I am 
                confident that we can help accomplish this goal through 
                a focus on effective, family-centered education and 
                prevention.

                Toward this end, I have proposed the creation of a 
                Parents Drug Corps to educate and train parents to lead 
                the effort in preventing drug use among children and 
                teens. In addition, I have asked the Congress to 
                support millions of parents and concerned citizens in 
                communities nationwide by doubling funding for the 
                Drug-Free Communities Support Program. These new 
                efforts will complement our ongoing work to surround 
                our most vulnerable children with caring adults who can 
                offer support, guidance, and encouragement.

                As we honor the dedicated individuals whose 
                extraordinary efforts make D.A.R.E. work, we resolve to 
                continue to help young people avoid the

[[Page 17876]]

                dangers of drug use and violence. By helping to ensure 
                that all our children are educated and supported by 
                positive and caring role models, we contribute to a 
                promising future that offers hope and opportunity for 
                all.

                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 10, 2003, as National 
                D.A.R.E. Day. I call upon all the people of the United 
                States, particularly our youth, parents, and educators, 
                to observe this day by joining the fight against drugs 
                in our 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.

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

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 03-9172
Filed 4-10-03; 11:24 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P