[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 9, 2019)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 53989-53990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-22220]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 84 , No. 196 / Wednesday, October 9, 2019 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 53989]]


                Proclamation 9944 of October 4, 2019

                
Child Health Day, 2019

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                On Child Health Day, we recognize that America's 
                children are the promise of our Nation, and their 
                health and well-being are among our greatest 
                responsibilities. Today, we recommit to our children 
                growing strong, dreaming big, and reaching their full 
                potential.

                In partnership with families and communities, my 
                Administration is implementing new Federal programs and 
                supporting new State-level initiatives that help 
                diagnose, prevent, and combat diseases and maintain 
                health and wellness from childhood through adulthood. 
                The Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant 
                Program continues to provide funding to all States to 
                improve access to quality healthcare services for low-
                income women, children, and families by improving the 
                outcomes of high-risk pregnancies, reducing infant 
                deaths, promoting childhood immunizations, and 
                protecting against diseases. Additionally, I have 
                approved funding for the Maternal, Infant, and Early 
                Childhood Home Visiting Program to support Federal, 
                State, and community partners in offering voluntary 
                home visiting services that empower caregivers with the 
                evidence-based skills and resources they need to raise 
                healthy and happy children. I also signed into law the 
                SUPPORT Act, which addresses the most vulnerable 
                victims of the opioid crisis by allowing State Medicaid 
                programs to cover healthcare services for infants 
                suffering from neonatal abstinence syndrome in 
                residential pediatric recovery centers.

                My Administration is also working to eradicate the 
                leading cause of post-infancy death among our Nation's 
                young people--childhood cancer. Working with the 
                Congress, the Federal Government will invest $500 
                million over the next decade in pediatric cancer 
                research. This funding will enable our Nation's best 
                scientists and doctors to learn from those young people 
                living with this disease, creating new opportunities to 
                understand the unique causes of and best cures for 
                childhood cancer. We must continue to employ every 
                resource available to ensure that the more than 15,000 
                children and adolescents under the age of 19 diagnosed 
                with cancer each year receive the best possible care 
                and treatment so they can triumph in their battle 
                against this horrible disease.

                America's young people are facing unprecedented 
                challenges at school, in their homes, and in their 
                communities. From bullying and negative social media 
                interactions to the impacts of the opioid crisis on 
                themselves and their loved ones, we must do more to 
                foster an environment that promotes a culture of 
                respect for every human life. That is why I am proud of 
                the work our First Lady, Melania Trump, has undertaken 
                through her BE BEST initiative to promote childhood 
                health and well-being by encouraging healthy living, 
                kindness, compassion, and respect. This remarkable 
                program is helping children build a solid foundation to 
                navigate life's many challenges and to develop positive 
                social, emotional, and physical habits that will help 
                them become future leaders of our great country.

                Parents play a critical role in raising healthy and 
                happy children, and their important work is bolstered 
                by the love and support of extended family, community 
                members, caregivers, mentors, educators, faith leaders,

[[Page 53990]]

                and respectable role models. On Child Health Day, we 
                urge all citizens to reaffirm their commitment to 
                ensuring the physical, spiritual, and emotional health 
                of our Nation's most precious resource.

                The Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 18, 
                1928, as amended (36 U.S.C. 105), has called for the 
                designation of the first Monday in October as Child 
                Health Day and has requested that the President issue a 
                proclamation in observance of this day.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, 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 7, 
                2019, 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.

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

[FR Doc. 2019-22220
Filed 10-8-19; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3295-F0-P