[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 127, 113th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
PROCLAMATION 9040--OCT. 11, 2013

Proclamation 9040 of October 11, 2013

National School Lunch Week, 2013
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
In 1946, when American communities bore the weight of endemic
malnutrition, and parents struggled to provide their children with
decent meals for the long school day, President Harry Truman signed the
National School Lunch Act. The law is based on a simple conviction--that
in the most powerful Nation on earth, no child should go hungry. And
today, with more than 32 million children participating in the National
School Lunch Program, strong nutrition at school remains as important as
ever. During National School Lunch Week, we recommit to the basic
promise that every American child should have a chance to succeed, and
we recognize the role nutrition plays in giving our children the
opportunity to reach for their dreams.
My Administration is working to fulfill our essential commitment to
America's sons and daughters. For too many of our children, food served
at school may be their only regular meals, providing the suste-


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nance they
need to focus and excel. With the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, we
expanded access to school meals while taking action to combat childhood
obesity. Obesity now affects 17 percent of all children and adolescents
in the United States--triple the rate from just one generation ago--and
that means more of our children are at risk for preventable health
problems including diabetes and heart disease. We updated nutritional
standards for school meals, balancing calories and limiting fat and
sodium while increasing servings of fruits, vegetables, and whole
grains. First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative works with
elected officials, parents, schools, and communities to help young
people and their parents access healthy foods and make healthy choices,
empowering students to be engaged in the classroom and active throughout
their lives.
As he signed the National School Lunch Act into law, President Truman
reminded us that ``In the long view, no nation is any healthier than its
children.'' This week, as we look to a healthy future, we give our
thanks to the food program administrators, educators, parents, and
communities who are doing their part to get us there.
The Congress, by joint resolution of October 9, 1962 (Public Law 87-
780), as amended, has designated the week beginning on the second Sunday
in October each year as ``National School Lunch Week'' and has requested
the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this week.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim the week of October 13 through October 19,
2013, as National School Lunch Week. I call upon all Americans to join
the dedicated individuals who administer the National School Lunch
Program in appropriate activities that support the health and well-being
of our Nation's children.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eleventh day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand thirteen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
eighth.
BARACK OBAMA