[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 119 (Thursday, June 22, 2023)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 40677-40678]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-13407]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 88 , No. 119 / Thursday, June 22, 2023 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 40677]]

                Proclamation 10597 of June 16, 2023

                
Father's Day, 2023

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                On Father's Day, we celebrate the dads, stepdads, 
                grandfathers, and father figures in our lives, who 
                shape who we are and set an example for the kind of 
                people we aspire to be. They sacrifice so we can 
                succeed, they mentor us so we can reach our potential, 
                and they believe in us so we can learn to believe in 
                ourselves. Across America, fathers work tirelessly 
                every day to build a better future for their families, 
                devoting their lives to ensuring that their children 
                are safe, supported, and empowered to pursue their 
                dreams. Today, we honor these men who have showered us 
                with guidance, encouragement, and unconditional love.

                Fathers are critical to raising the next generation and 
                to teaching their daughters and sons about the values 
                that matter most. They demonstrate responsible 
                fatherhood and foster healthy perspectives on 
                masculinity. Along the way, dads help their children 
                navigate life's most difficult challenges, nurture 
                their confidence and character, and give them the tools 
                to develop a moral compass.

                My dad, Joseph Robinette Biden Sr., taught me values 
                early in life that continue to inspire me today. I can 
                still hear his voice at the dinner table explaining 
                that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and 
                respect. I remember him saying that the measure of a 
                person is not how many times or how hard we get knocked 
                down but how fast we get back up. And he taught me 
                that, above all, family is the beginning, middle, and 
                end--a lesson I have passed down to my children and 
                grandchildren.

                My father also used to say that a job is about a lot 
                more than just a paycheck--it's about dignity, pride, a 
                sense of self-worth, and your ability to look your 
                child in the eye and tell them everything will be okay. 
                That idea is at the heart of my commitment to building 
                our economy from the bottom up and the middle out, with 
                millions of good-paying jobs in manufacturing, 
                construction, clean energy, and more. It has also 
                guided our work to cut the cost of lifesaving 
                prescription drugs and slash health insurance premiums, 
                so no parent has to lie awake at night wondering how 
                they can afford to pay their monthly bills and provide 
                for their children. And as I said in my 2023 State of 
                the Union Address, we will ensure that we protect 
                Social Security and Medicare so that our fathers and 
                grandfathers can age with dignity.

                But we still have much more work to do, such as 
                delivering affordable child care, paid family leave, 
                and improved home care for seniors. I am confident that 
                our Nation can come together to build a brighter future 
                for all of our families.

                As we honor the fathers and father figures in our 
                lives, we also know this day falls hard on children 
                without their fathers and fathers without their 
                children. It is hard seeing that empty chair at the 
                kitchen table; experiencing birthdays, anniversaries, 
                and holidays without them; and remembering everyday 
                things--the small things, the details that matter the 
                most. We keep in our prayers all those who mark today 
                with a hole in their heart, missing a father figure 
                they love--whether by accident, illness, or another 
                cruel twist of fate. And as we pray, we remember that 
                no matter where

[[Page 40678]]

                they are, our dads' love for us and our love for them 
                is a gift that never goes away. It will always be with 
                us.

                Today, as we express our gratitude for the men who have 
                enriched our lives, let us remember that family is 
                life's greatest blessing and responsibility; that we 
                owe it to ourselves and our loved ones to make the most 
                of our precious time together; and that our Nation 
                would not be where it is today without our beloved 
                fathers and father figures.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of 
                the United States of America, in accordance with a 
                joint resolution of the Congress approved April 24, 
                1972, as amended (36 U.S.C. 109), do hereby proclaim 
                June 18, 2023, as Father's Day. I direct the 
                appropriate officials of the Government to display the 
                flag of the United States on all Government buildings 
                on this day. Let us honor our fathers, living and 
                deceased, and show them the love and gratitude they 
                deserve.

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

[FR Doc. 2023-13407
Filed 6-21-23; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F3-P