[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