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

Proclamation 7735 of November 14, 2003
 
National American Indian Heritage Month, 2003

By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation

During National American Indian Heritage Month, we honor the
accomplishments and culture of American Indians and Alaska Natives and
recognize their contributions to our country. To help educate Americans
and illustrate the important role of these native people to our Nation,
the new National Museum of the American Indian will open next year.
American Indians and Alaska Natives have a long tradition of serving
with pride and accomplishment in the United States Armed Forces. Today,
their patriotism is reflected in the more than 13,000 American Indians
and Alaska Natives serving on active duty and the more than 6,400
reservists. In Iraq, Specialist Lori Piestewa of the Army's 507th
Maintenance Company and a member of the Hopi tribe, was the first
American servicewoman killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the only
known American Indian woman killed in action in any conflict. Her
bravery, service, and sacrifice are an inspiration to our men and women
in uniform and to all Americans.
To ensure the future success of America's tribal communities, my
Administration is committed to improving education, increasing
employment and economic development, and ensuring better access to
health and human services for all American Indians and Alaska natives.
Government-wide, we proposed in the 2004 Budget to spend over $11
billion on Native American programs. The Department of Education's
Office of Indian Education is working to implement the No Child Left
Behind Act of 2001 within the Native American community. Indian tribes,
schools, and local education agencies that serve American Indian and
Native Alaska children will have access to nearly $122 million in grants
to improve education opportunities. In addition, the Department of the
Interior's 2004 program includes over $49 million for America's tribal
colleges and universities. This investment will help American Indian
students reach their full potential and achieve their dreams. We are
also working to address the healthcare needs of American Indians,
particularly the rising incidence of diabetes.
The United States has a strong relationship with American Indian tribes
and Alaska Native entities. By continuing to work on a government-to-
government basis with these tribal governments, we are fostering greater
understanding and promoting tribal self-determination and self-
governance.
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 November 2003 as National
American Indian Heritage Month. This month, I encourage citizens to
learn more about the rich heritage of American Indians and Alaska
Natives and the role they have played in building and sustaining our
Nation and to commemorate this month with appropriate programs and
activities.

[[Page 3115]]
117 STAT. 3115

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of
November, 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