[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 191 (Wednesday, October 6, 2021)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 55473-55474]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-21956]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 86 , No. 191 / Wednesday, October 6, 2021 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 55473]]


                Proclamation 10277 of October 1, 2021

                
Child Health Day, 2021

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Nothing is more vital to our country's future than our 
                children's health and well-being. Each year on Child 
                Health Day, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that 
                every child in America has equal access to quality and 
                affordable health care, child care, and education so 
                that they can thrive and reach their full potential.

                The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound negative 
                impact on the health and well-being of our Nation's 
                children. A year of isolation from friends, extended 
                family, and daily activities due to school closures and 
                remote learning, as well as the loss of loved ones to 
                the pandemic, has taken a tremendous toll on their 
                mental health--and caused significant learning loss 
                that may never be fully redressed. Families are also 
                finding it harder to support their children during the 
                pandemic, with many struggling to pay for expenses such 
                as food, rent, health care, and transportation. And as 
                scientists rigorously and independently review COVID-19 
                vaccines for children under age 12, too many of our 
                kids returning to school--and the families they return 
                to at the end of each school day--face unnecessary 
                risks because there are not universal masking policies.

                We owe it to our children to do everything in our power 
                to support their safe and healthy development. Because 
                our Nation's schools play a critical role in 
                safeguarding our children's health and well-being, my 
                Administration has made it a top priority to ensure 
                that all students can access full-time, in-person 
                instruction so that they can achieve their highest 
                aspirations. My American Rescue Plan continues to 
                deliver for schools--including $130 billion to ensure 
                that every child can safely access full-time, in-person 
                instruction and that schools can mitigate the risk of 
                COVID-19 in the classroom. My Administration is 
                committed to supporting school-based health programs, 
                which is why my American Rescue Plan also provides 
                States and school districts with billions of dollars 
                for schools to bring on additional nurses, counselors, 
                social workers, and more to address student needs, 
                allowing teachers to stay focused on teaching. To 
                further support children's success in school, I 
                strongly encourage families to visit their pediatric 
                providers for well-child visits and immunizations--
                including the COVID-19 vaccine for children age 12 and 
                up.

                My American Rescue Plan is also delivering critical 
                resources to address the mental health needs of 
                children, including $1.5 billion to support the 
                Community Mental Health Services Block Grant, which 
                provides much needed services to children with serious 
                emotional disturbances. The law also provides $20 
                million to support youth suicide prevention and $30 
                million to expand Project AWARE, which supports 
                wellness and resiliency programs in educational 
                settings. It has invested $80 million to expand the 
                Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program, which 
                provides telehealth services for children and 
                adolescents with mental health conditions identified 
                during routine visits, making mental health care more 
                accessible nationwide, including for young people in 
                Tribal and remote areas.

                Additionally, the American Rescue Plan continues to 
                deliver pandemic relief to families through a $150 
                million investment in the Maternal, Infant, and

[[Page 55474]]

                Early Childhood Home Visiting Program to improve 
                maternal and child health. The law also provides 
                funding to support families with essential emergency 
                supplies, including diapers, food, water, and hand 
                sanitizer. Finally, the American Rescue Plan is 
                lowering health insurance premiums for millions of 
                Americans--positioning us to cut child poverty in 
                America by nearly half.

                We need to invest in the healthy development of all our 
                children--and that means helping parents with the costs 
                of raising a family. That is why my Administration 
                worked hard to expand the Child Tax Credit, which is 
                putting money directly in the pockets of families with 
                children each month to help pay for food, rent, a new 
                pair of kids' shoes, or whatever else working parents 
                need.

                On Child Heath Day, we recommit ourselves to ensuring 
                that our children can live long and healthy lives. 
                Together, we can help all of our Nation's children stay 
                healthy and learn, develop, and grow up to reach their 
                full potential.

                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, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of 
                the United States of America, by the virtue of the 
                authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws 
                of the United States, do hereby proclaim Monday, 
                October 4, 2021, 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 
                first day of October, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                sixth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2021-21956
Filed 10-5-21; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F2-P