[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 210 (Wednesday, November 1, 2023)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 74877-74878]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-24246]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 88 , No. 210 / Wednesday, November 1, 2023 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 74877]]

                Proclamation 10659 of October 27, 2023

                
National First Responders Day, 2023

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Every day, Americans across the country witness the 
                absolute courage and selfless sacrifice of our first 
                responders. Whether they are police officers and 
                sheriff's deputies protecting our communities; 
                firefighters running into burning buildings; or 
                emergency medical technicians, paramedics, 911 
                dispatchers, 988 crisis responders, and other public 
                health workers providing emergency care, these heroes 
                are always there for us when we need them. On National 
                First Responders Day, we honor and celebrate these 
                extraordinarily brave women and men who put themselves 
                in harm's way to keep our Nation safe.

                Today we ask more of our first responders than ever 
                before. Law enforcement officers who serve and defend 
                communities across America are constantly confronted 
                with dangerous threats. Firefighters face growing 
                challenges as climate change makes deadly fires more 
                frequent and ferocious. Relief workers are responding 
                to public emergencies that have no precedent. Emergency 
                medical service providers are working longer hours 
                since the pandemic while taking on new roles and risks. 
                Yet every day, our first responders answer the call 
                while seldom seeking recognition in return, 
                irrespective of the personal toll.

                My Administration is committed to supporting and 
                protecting our Nation's first responders. That is why I 
                signed the American Rescue Plan, which provides States, 
                cities, and Tribes with billions of dollars to retain 
                and hire more law enforcement officers, firefighters, 
                and emergency health providers; pay overtime and 
                bonuses; and keep communities safe. Last year I was 
                proud to sign into law the most sweeping gun safety 
                bill in nearly 30 years to ensure our officers are not 
                out-gunned on the streets. We are also strengthening 
                background checks for gun purchasers, cracking down on 
                illegal gun sales, and reining in ghost guns that are 
                frequently used in violent crimes. In 2021, I signed 
                into law the Protecting America's First Responders Act, 
                expanding death, disability, and education benefits for 
                first responders killed or permanently disabled in the 
                line of duty as well as their families.

                In addition, I secured $600 million in my Bipartisan 
                Infrastructure Law package to boost Federal firefighter 
                pay and increased the minimum wage to $15 an hour--a 
                critical first step in giving these heroes the pay, 
                respect, and dignity they deserve. Meanwhile, we are 
                supporting crisis response efforts through my Investing 
                in America agenda, which includes funding to improve 
                community resilience to natural disasters. My 
                Administration also launched the National Firefighter 
                Registry for Cancer, the largest effort ever undertaken 
                to understand and reduce the risk of cancer among 
                firefighters. I was proud to sign the Federal 
                Firefighters Fairness Act of 2022 to provide access to 
                job-related disability benefits to firefighters 
                diagnosed with certain kinds of cancer or lung disease 
                as well as legislation funding research on mitigating 
                the risks firefighters face from toxic PFAS--so-called 
                ``forever chemicals''--while ensuring the Department of 
                Defense will no longer purchase gear that contains PFAS 
                as soon as an alternative is available.

[[Page 74878]]

                Today and every day, we thank our first responders for 
                their immeasurable service and recommit to giving them 
                the tools they need to succeed. We remember the 
                patriots who lost their lives running toward danger to 
                protect others. We honor the families of the first 
                responders who continue to sacrifice so their loved 
                ones can serve the rest of us and keep our communities 
                safe. These heroes possess a rare commitment to their 
                fellow Americans. They represent the best of who we 
                are, and they are a big reason why I have never been 
                more optimistic about our country's future.

                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 28, 
                2023, as National First Responders Day. I call upon all 
                the people of the United States to observe this day 
                with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities 
                to honor our brave first responders and to pay tribute 
                to those who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                twenty-seventh 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. 2023-24246
Filed 10-31-23; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F4-P