[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 217 (Thursday, November 10, 2022)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 67763-67764]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-24735]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 217 / Thursday, November 10, 2022 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 67763]]

                Proclamation 10492 of November 7, 2022

                
Veterans Day, 2022

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Today, we honor generations of patriots who have earned 
                the title of ``American veteran''--a badge of courage 
                that unites the finest group of former service members 
                the world has ever known. With their selfless 
                sacrifice, our Armed Forces have forged and defended 
                the very idea of America--a promise of freedom and 
                equality, democracy and justice, possibility and hope. 
                We owe them an incredible debt that can never be fully 
                repaid.

                Veterans Day is personal to the Biden family. We have 
                felt the pride that comes with seeing your child wear 
                the uniform of the United States and the pain of long 
                deployments far from home. We know what it is like to 
                pray every day for the safe return of someone you love. 
                And we have stood in awe of our veterans who carry the 
                lasting wounds of war. We pledge to continue the work 
                to return our prisoners of war and those still missing 
                in action and commit to remember the sacrifice of the 
                families of those who have served. As both a father and 
                Commander in Chief, I firmly believe that our one truly 
                sacred obligation as a Nation is to properly prepare 
                and equip the brave women and men we send into harm's 
                way and to care for them and their loved ones when they 
                return home.

                That is why I was so proud to sign the Sergeant First 
                Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address 
                Comprehensive Toxics Act, or PACT Act--the most 
                significant expansion of benefits and services for our 
                veterans in more than 30 years. As the name suggests, 
                the PACT Act fulfills a promise to our veteran 
                community. By funding new facilities, enabling better 
                research, and expanding care and compensation for 
                veterans exposed to toxic substances during their 
                military service--as well as helping their survivors 
                access life insurance, home loan assistance, tuition 
                benefits, and monthly stipends--we are giving back to 
                those who have given so much for all of us. This law 
                bolsters other bills I have signed this year to improve 
                health care for veterans--from providing mammograms and 
                screenings for service members exposed to toxins to 
                compensating veterans who developed cancer and other 
                medical conditions from our World War II nuclear 
                program. And to ensure we continue to meet our sacred 
                obligation to our veteran families, caregivers, and 
                survivors, the First Lady's Joining Forces initiative 
                is helping military spouses find jobs, supporting 
                children of service members in classrooms, and 
                extending physical, mental, and emotional services to 
                families.

                The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and other 
                Federal agencies are also working around the clock to 
                end veteran suicide and veteran homelessness. As part 
                of a comprehensive public health strategy that we 
                released last year, the VA is funding community-led 
                suicide prevention programs that meet veterans where 
                they are, increasing public awareness about the 
                importance of firearm storage in preventing suicides, 
                and requesting billions more from the Congress to 
                improve mental health care services for patients across 
                the country. At the same time, with funding from my 
                American Rescue Plan, the VA is on track to permanently 
                house 38,000 homeless veterans this year alone.

[[Page 67764]]

                Fulfilling our Nation's promise to our veterans and 
                military families also means ensuring that everyone who 
                serves--no matter their gender identity, sexual 
                orientation, race, or religious background--feels safe 
                and valued in the ranks. Since coming into office, I 
                have made historic reforms to the military justice 
                system that enhance safety and protections for service 
                members and veterans who have experienced sexual 
                assault or harassment. Secretary McDonough issued a 
                zero-tolerance policy and announced that harassment and 
                sexual assault, including sexual harassment and gender-
                based harassment, will not be tolerated within the 
                Department of Veterans Affairs. This is also a priority 
                for Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who has made 
                preventing sexual assault and restoring the trust in 
                the military justice processes a constant focus. 
                Additionally, we reversed the discriminatory ban on 
                transgender service and directed a review of all 
                policies and practices to ensure greater inclusivity of 
                LGBTQ+ veterans.

                In every generation, America's veterans have been 
                willing to give all for that which we hold sacred--
                freedom, justice, and democracy. They have served 
                selflessly, sacrificed greatly, and shouldered the 
                burden of freedom quietly, asking no glory for 
                themselves. Today, let us honor them by living up to 
                their example--putting service before self, caring for 
                our neighbors, and working passionately to build a more 
                perfect Union worthy of all those who protect our lives 
                and liberty.

                In respect and recognition of the contributions our 
                veterans and their families, caregivers, and survivors 
                have made to the cause of peace and freedom around the 
                world, the Congress has provided (5 U.S.C. 6103(a)) 
                that November 11 of each year shall be set aside as a 
                legal public holiday to honor our Nation's veterans.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of 
                the United States of America, do hereby proclaim 
                November 11, 2022, as Veterans Day. I encourage all 
                Americans to recognize the valor, courage, and 
                sacrifice of these patriots through appropriate 
                ceremonies and private prayers, and by observing two 
                minutes of silence for our Nation's veterans. I also 
                call upon Federal, State, and local officials to 
                display the flag of the United States of America and to 
                participate in patriotic activities in their 
                communities.

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

[FR Doc. 2022-24735
Filed 11-9-22; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F3-P