[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 194 (Thursday, October 8, 2009)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 51739-51740]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-24446]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 194 / Thursday, October 8, 2009 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 51739]]


                Proclamation 8433 of October 2, 2009

                
Child Health Day, 2009

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Our Nation has an obligation to provide access to 
                affordable, high-quality health care for all our 
                children. No child should be forced to go without 
                medical attention because the cost of a doctor visit is 
                too high. Healthy children are better equipped to 
                combat illness and to perform well in school, impacting 
                their development well into adulthood. On Child Health 
                Day, we recognize the fundamental importance of health 
                care for our Nation's children, and dedicate our 
                collective energies to support their needs and those of 
                their families.

                The responsibility for our children's health rests with 
                every American. Parents and guardians should lead by 
                example. We must teach our children the importance of 
                healthy eating and a physically active lifestyle. We 
                can support community programs across America that 
                provide our young people with healthy choices, and 
                ensure that families have the resources necessary to 
                champion the health of their children. From outdoor 
                activities to community athletic teams, we can seize 
                opportunities to increase physical activity in the 
                lives of our children, and promote healthy habits at an 
                early age.

                When our children make smart, healthy decisions, they 
                are set on the path towards success. A balanced diet, 
                coupled with proper exercise, has proven effective in 
                combating childhood obesity and other chronic illnesses 
                among our Nation's young people. More recently, the 
                lure of indoor distractions has drawn our children away 
                from the athletic fields and outdoor activities that 
                can be part of a healthy lifestyle. We must engage our 
                Nation's children in behaviors that support their 
                physical fitness, ensure they have access to healthy, 
                affordable food, and empower their families with the 
                information essential for healthy living.

                As a Nation, we cannot allow our children to fail in 
                reaching their full potential because we fail to meet 
                their basic needs. My Administration has made 
                children's health a priority, and I was proud to sign 
                the reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance 
                Program (CHIP), extending health care to millions of 
                young Americans who were previously uninsured. Today, 
                we celebrate the health of our children and rededicate 
                ourselves to providing a bright, healthy future for our 
                Nation's youth.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim Monday, October 5, 
                2009, as Child Health Day.

                I call upon families, child health professionals, 
                faith-based and community organizations, and 
                governments to help ensure that America's children stay 
                safe and healthy.

[[Page 51740]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                second day of October, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. E9-24446
Filed 10-7-09; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-W9-P