[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 78 (Wednesday, April 23, 2003)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 19929-19930]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10195]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 78 / Wednesday, April 23, 2003 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 19929]]

                Proclamation 7665 of April 18, 2003

                
National Park Week, 2003

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                America is a land of majestic beauty, and we are 
                blessed with immeasurable natural wealth. Americans are 
                united in the belief that we must preserve this 
                treasured heritage and conserve these natural resources 
                for the benefit and enjoyment of the American people.

                As a Nation, we can be proud of our diverse parklands, 
                ranging from the rugged wilderness of snow-capped 
                mountains, thick forests, sweeping desert sands, and 
                remote canyons to national symbols such as the Statue 
                of Liberty and the Lincoln Memorial. Our National Park 
                Service has a long and important history. In 1864, the 
                Federal Government ensured a grand natural landscape 
                for generations to come when it designated Yosemite 
                Valley and the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias to be 
                ``held for public use, resort, and recreation . . . 
                inalienable for all time.'' Eight years later in 1872, 
                the Congress created the first national park in the 
                Yellowstone region of the Territories of Montana and 
                Wyoming. Finally, in 1916, the National Park Service 
                was established to efficiently administer our growing 
                number of parks, which today includes 388 national 
                parks on more than 84 million acres of public lands. 
                These lands continue to be cherished by all our 
                citizens.

                The full and safe enjoyment of our national parks 
                depends on dedicated National Park Service employees 
                and thousands of people who volunteer their time to 
                conserve these sites. This year's theme for National 
                Park Week, ``Celebrating Volunteers,'' recognizes their 
                valuable contributions to conserving and maintaining 
                our natural, cultural, and historical heritage.

                Across the country, my Administration is promoting 
                volunteer service, encouraging public-private 
                partnerships, and advocating community-based interest 
                in our national parks. We are committed to ensuring 
                that our land is conserved, our air is clean, our water 
                is pure, and our parks are open and accessible to all 
                Americans. Recently, my Administration re-launched Take 
                Pride in America, a national partnership that engages 
                volunteers from every corner of America to enhance our 
                parks and other public lands. As part of the USA 
                Freedom Corps initiative, Take Pride in America will 
                encourage more Americans to take part in volunteer 
                service opportunities available on public lands.

                My Administration has also supported improvements in 
                park management and is working to reduce the park 
                maintenance backlog. My fiscal year 2004 budget 
                includes over $1 billion to reduce the maintenance 
                backlog, an increase of $180 million over last year's 
                request, along with $76 million, a $9 million increase 
                over last year's request, for the National Park Service 
                Natural Resource Challenge to monitor ``vital signs'' 
                of conditions in our parks. This initiative will help 
                conserve native species and habitats, maintain our 
                natural resources, eradicate invasive species, and 
                provide the public with information about resources in 
                our parks. In addition, my Administration has developed 
                the website www.recreation.gov, which is a user-
                friendly way to obtain information about recreational 
                opportunities in the national parks and other public 
                recreation sites.

[[Page 19930]]

                As we observe National Park Week, I encourage all 
                citizens to explore our national parks and to commit to 
                the conservation and stewardship of these timeless 
                treasures. By working together, we can ensure that 
                these special places thrive for generations to come.

                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 21 through April 27, 
                2003, as National Park Week. I call upon the people of 
                the United States to join me in recognizing the 
                importance of our national parks and to learn more 
                about these areas of beauty, their historical 
                significance, and the many ways citizens can volunteer 
                to help preserve these precious resources.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                eighteenth 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. 03-10195
Filed 4-22-03; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P