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

 
Proclamation 9315 of August 31, 2015

National Wilderness Month, 2015

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

The beauty of America's wilderness has always been central to our
character as a Nation. Our untrammeled lands and waters are part of a
rich legacy that is carried forward from one generation to the next,
reflecting a spirit of conservation deeply rooted in the quintessential
American belief that each of us has an equal share in these special
places and an equal responsibility to protect them. Every day,
individuals across our country embody this idea by maintaining our
trails and parks, working to restore cherished sites, and inspiring
communities to preserve the areas they treasure.
Since I took office, I have been committed to protecting the pristine
areas that enrich our lives and our country. That is why I have set
aside more lands and waters than any other President in our history,
including by designating more than 2 million new acres of wilderness.
And to ensure our children have the chance to experience the wonder
within our protected lands, my Administration launched the Every Kid in
a Park initiative, which provides free admission to public lands for all
fourth graders and their families--enabling more young Americans to
discover the land with which our Nation has been blessed.
For more than a half-century, the Land and Water Conservation Fund has
helped to protect these iconic places and make it easier for families to
spend time outside. The Fund has advanced over 40,000 local projects by
making critical investments, including in National Parks, baseball
fields, battlefields, and community green spaces. I continue to call on
the Congress to act to ensure this vital tool of environmental
stewardship and community development does not expire by fully and
permanently funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and as
President, I will keep working to make it easier for all families to
enjoy our great outdoors no matter where they live.
Our National Parks, wildlife refuges, forests, and public lands are also
essential for expanding economic opportunity, creating jobs, and fueling
local economies. My Administration is committed to partnering with
cities and States to make sure they have the resources they need

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to protect these outdoor spaces in the face of extreme weather events
that imperil our security and the livelihood of our communities. Climate
change threatens our lands and waters, as well as the health and well-
being of future generations. That is why we have taken commonsense
actions to combat climate change, ensure the resilience of our
neighborhoods, and protect our natural resources for our children and
grandchildren.
During National Wilderness Month, let us recommit to preserving the
places that remind us of who we are and of all that our Nation is. Let
us renew our resolve to protect America's incomparable natural splendor
in our time so it can endure as a birthright of every citizen and shape
the lives and dreams of generations to come.
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 September 2015 as
National Wilderness Month. I invite all Americans to visit and enjoy our
wilderness areas, to learn about their vast history, and to aid in the
protection of our precious national treasures.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of
August, in the year of our Lord two thousand fifteen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
fortieth.
BARACK OBAMA