[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 196 (Thursday, October 12, 2023)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 70567-70568]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-22664]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 196 / Thursday, October 12, 2023 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 70567]]


                Proclamation 10646 of October 6, 2023

                
National School Lunch Week, 2023

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                I have often said that children are the kite strings 
                that keep our national ambitions aloft. During National 
                School Lunch Week, we recognize that the health and 
                well-being of children is a national priority and that 
                every student should have access to healthy meals. We 
                also reaffirm our support of the National School Lunch 
                Program and all school nutrition professionals 
                nationwide for the work they do to feed 30 million 
                children each school day.

                School lunches have long been a lifeline for so many 
                students across our country. For all families, 
                including those that qualify for free or reduced-price 
                school lunch, parents have the peace of mind of knowing 
                there is a healthy, balanced meal available to their 
                children. And children, fueled by their school lunches, 
                can more effectively focus and learn in the classroom. 
                In fact, studies show that nutritious school lunches 
                may increase academic performance and reduce the 
                likelihood of childhood obesity. And we know these 
                school lunches are especially important for lower-
                income children, children of color, and children living 
                in rural areas or territories, since they are less 
                likely to have access to food outlets that sell 
                healthier foods.

                In order to build a stronger and healthier Nation, my 
                Administration has made the well-being of American 
                families and our children a priority. Our American 
                Rescue Plan expanded the Child Tax Credit, which helped 
                keep food on the table for millions of families during 
                the pandemic, slashed child poverty by nearly 50 
                percent, and cut food insufficiency for families with 
                children by more than 25 percent. My Administration 
                also modernized the Thrifty Food Plan for the first 
                time since 1975, making sure that the millions of 
                families receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 
                Program benefits can afford a nutritious, practical, 
                cost-effective diet. And last year, I convened the 
                first White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and 
                Health in over 50 years, bringing together advocates, 
                food companies, health care providers, and leaders from 
                across the Government and Federal agencies. We also 
                released a national strategy to end hunger and reduce 
                diet-related diseases by 2030. This strategy includes 
                the goal of expanding access to healthy, free school 
                meals to 9 million more kids in the next decade, a 
                major step toward free healthy school meals for every 
                student.

                We have already made significant progress. By making 
                permanent the American Rescue Plan program that gives 
                families money to buy groceries in the summer months 
                when school is not in session, we are fulfilling our 
                commitment to ensure each American child has a 
                nutritious meal every day. We are also giving more 
                schools the option to make healthy school meals 
                available to all students at no cost to their families 
                during the school year. And we are continuing to 
                support schools so they can cook more meals from 
                scratch and purchase more food from local farmers and 
                ranchers. That means children will have healthier 
                meals, and farmers and ranchers will be able to 
                participate in reliable markets, strengthening rural 
                economies. I also continue to call on the Congress to 
                restore my enhanced Child Tax Credit, which helped 
                millions of families afford healthy food at home.

[[Page 70568]]

                In America, no child should ever go to bed hungry--
                without healthy food, our children cannot thrive. And 
                no child's future should be determined by where they 
                were born or their family's income. During National 
                School Lunch Week, we recognize that helping our 
                children fulfill their highest potential begins with 
                access to healthy and nutritious meals at school. And 
                we honor all the farmers, ranchers, teachers, school 
                nutrition professionals, and staff who make these 
                lunches possible and nourish the soul of America.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., 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 October 8 
                through October 14, 2023, as National School Lunch 
                Week. I call upon all Americans to recognize and 
                commemorate all those who operate the National School 
                Lunch Program with activities that raise awareness of 
                the steadfast efforts in supporting the health and 
                well-being of our Nation's children.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                sixth day of October, 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-
                eighth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2023-22664
Filed 10-11-23; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F4-P