[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 129, 114th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9251 of April 6, 2015

National Public Health Week, 2015

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Last year, as Ebola spread in West Africa--overwhelming public health
systems and threatening to cross more borders--American women and men
responded with extraordinary courage and dedication, traveling to the
front lines of the outbreak and leading preparedness efforts here at
home. Driven by their sense of duty and a commitment to serving a cause
greater than themselves, public health professionals rose to the
challenge at home and abroad and turned the tide of an epidemic. They
demonstrated what is possible when America leads and when we make policy
based on sound science and good judgment. Their efforts represent what
is best about our national character and embody the most basic human
instinct: to leave our children a safer, healthier, more prosperous
world.
As a Nation, we must continue to support public health with the same
sense of purpose and fierce determination. This week, we join together
to declare our intent to rise to the challenges of a changing world and
meet our moral obligations to protect the health of our country and the
well-being of the next generation.
America's public health is deeply tied to the health of our environment.
As our planet becomes more interconnected and our climate continues to
warm, we face new threats to our safety and well-being. In the past
three decades, the percentage of Americans with asthma has more than
doubled, and climate change is putting these individuals and many other
vulnerable populations at greater risk of landing in the hospital.
Rising temperatures can lead to more smog, longer allergy seasons, and
an increased incidence of extreme-weather-related injuries and
illnesses.
My Administration is dedicated to combating the health impacts of
climate change. As part of my Climate Action Plan, we have proposed the
first-ever carbon pollution limits for existing power plants--standards
that would help Americans live longer, healthier lives. And as we
continue to ensure the resilience of our health care system, we are
working to prepare our health care facilities to handle the effects of a
changing planet. Climate change is no longer a distant threat. Its
effects are felt

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today, and its costs can be measured in human lives. Every person, every
community, and every nation has a duty to protect the health of all our
children and grandchildren, and my Administration is committed to
leading this effort.
The United States has faced challenges before, and each time we have
boldly taken responsibility for our destiny and reached for the future
we knew was possible. Today, vaccines prevent diseases that once
devastated nations--and we should do more to spread the facts about
their benefits. After 5 years of the Affordable Care Act, more than 16
million uninsured Americans have gained health insurance coverage, and
this achievement has cut the ranks of the uninsured by nearly one-third.
We are shifting the focus of our country's health care system from
sickness and disease to wellness and prevention. First Lady Michelle
Obama's Let's Move! initiative is working to make it easier for parents
and children to make healthy choices about the food they eat and the
exercise they get every day. With partners around the world, the United
States launched the Global Health Security Agenda to help prevent,
detect, and respond to outbreaks before they become epidemics. And my
Administration is taking aggressive, coordinated actions to slow the
emergence and prevent the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Public health is the foundation for a brighter tomorrow. When we invest
in the safety and well-being of all Americans, we enrich our
communities, bolster our economy, and strengthen our Nation. During
National Public Health Week, we recognize public health professionals
and all who care for the welfare of others, and we recommit to doing
everything within our power to build a world where every child can enjoy
the limitless possibilities of a healthy life.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, 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 April 6 through April
12, 2015, as National Public Health Week. I call on all citizens,
government agencies, private businesses, non-profit organizations, and
other groups to join in activities and take action to improve the health
of our Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of April,
in the year of our Lord two thousand fifteen, and of the Independence of
the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-ninth.
BARACK OBAMA