    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 117, 108th Congress, 1st Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Proclamation 7697 of August 28, 2003

    Family Day, 2003

    By the President of the United States of America
    A Proclamation

    Children thrive in loving families where they are taught, nurtured, and
    comforted. By spending time with our children and stressing the
    importance of making the right choices, parents and other family members
    help them develop into confident, successful individuals.
    Families can help secure a healthy tomorrow for their children by
    providing guidance, staying involved, and serving as role models. I am
    committed to supporting strong families and strong marriages to help
    ensure that every child grows up in a safe, loving family. Statistics
    show that children from two-parent families are less likely to end up in
    poverty, drop out of school, become addicted to drugs, have a child out
    of wedlock, suffer abuse, or become a violent criminal. Because stable
    families should be the central goal of American welfare policy, I have
    proposed spending up to $300 million a year to find the most effective
    programs to strengthen marriage.
    Parents play a critical role in discouraging harmful behavior such as
    experimenting with alcohol, drugs, and tobacco. Research shows that
    teens often listen to their parents when it comes to decisions about
    harmful substances and risky behaviors. Regular family activities
    provide opportunities for parents to communicate important messages and
    enhance their relationships with their children. Recent studies from the
    National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University
    found that teens from families who eat dinner together were less likely
    to use illegal drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes, while teenagers who
    rarely eat dinner with their parents were more likely to engage in these
    unhealthy activities.
    Families and all Americans can act together to educate our youth about
    the dangers of drugs and alcohol and help them grow into healthy,
    responsible, compassionate citizens. In order to ensure a brighter
    future

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    for our Nation, and safe, healthy, and happy lives for our children, our
    children must learn that avoiding harmful substances is an ongoing
    responsibility. As we work to educate our next generation about making
    healthy choices, we renew our commitment to the American family.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of
    America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
    laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 22, 2003, as
    Family Day. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this
    day by engaging in activities to strengthen the relationships between
    parents and children and help fight against substance abuse and risky
    behaviors.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day
    of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand three, and of the
    Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
    eighth.
    GEORGE W. BUSH