[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 78 (Monday, April 24, 2006)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 20863-20864]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-3914]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 78 / Monday, April 24, 2006 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 20863]]

                Proclamation 8003 of April 19, 2006

                
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, 2006

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                For 50 years, the President's Council on Physical 
                Fitness and Sports has helped individuals, schools, 
                communities, businesses, and organizations promote 
                healthy lifestyles. During this year's National 
                Physical Fitness and Sports Month, we celebrate the 
                Council's 50th anniversary and underscore our Nation's 
                strong commitment to health, physical activity, and 
                fitness.

                President Dwight D. Eisenhower founded the President's 
                Council on Youth Fitness in 1956 to encourage America's 
                youth to make fitness a priority. He wrote that year, 
                ``Our young people must be physically as well as 
                mentally and spiritually prepared for American 
                citizenship.'' The Council later became the President's 
                Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, including 
                people of all ages and abilities and promoting fitness 
                through sports and games.

                Today, the Council continues to play an important role 
                in promoting fitness and healthy living in America. My 
                HealthierUS Initiative provides simple steps to help 
                citizens live longer and better lives, and millions of 
                young people and adults have participated in the 
                President's Challenge awards program. The Council's 
                website, fitness.gov, has information about these 
                programs and other ways Americans can improve their 
                health through physical activity. By exercising 
                regularly and maintaining healthy eating habits, 
                individuals can feel better and reduce their risk of 
                chronic health conditions like obesity, diabetes, heart 
                disease, and cancer. An active lifestyle also creates 
                opportunities for friends and family to spend time 
                together and enjoy various forms of exercise, such as 
                biking, hiking, and team sports. The medical benefits, 
                increased self-confidence, and stress reduction that 
                can come from athletic activity help contribute to a 
                healthier, more productive Nation.

                I urge children, teens, and all Americans to make time 
                every day for exercise and to encourage family, 
                friends, and neighbors to live healthier lives by 
                participating in physical fitness activities. As 
                President Kennedy said at the 1961 Youth Fitness 
                Conference, ``We do not want in the United States a 
                nation of spectators. We want a nation of participants 
                in the vigorous life.''

                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 2006 as National 
                Physical Fitness and Sports Month. I call upon the 
                people of the United States to make daily exercise a 
                priority. I encourage individuals, community 
                organizations, and schools to celebrate with physical 
                and athletic activities and to work toward the great 
                national goal of an active, fit America.

[[Page 20864]]

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

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 06-3914
Filed 4-21-06; 8:49 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P