[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 29, Number 41 (Monday, October 18, 1993)]
[Pages 2045-2046]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 6609--National School Lunch Week, 1993

 October 8, 1993

By the President of the United States

of America

A Proclamation

    Since 1946, the National School Lunch Program has demonstrated a 
partnership between Federal, State, and local officials in providing 
nutritious low-cost and free meals to America's schoolchildren. Our 
commitment to the National School Lunch Program reflects our recognition 
of the importance of nutrition to our children's health and to our 
Nation's future.
    Currently, the National School Lunch Program operates in more than 
90 percent of the Nation's public schools and serves about 25 million 
lunches a day. Many of our children receive their only nutritious meal 
of the day at school. These school meals not only increase students' 
attention span and learning capabilities, but also improve their overall 
health. School lunches also teach children good dietary habits. 
Cafeterias become learning laboratories, putting into practice the 
classroom lessons learned by the students on the importance of nutrition 
to health and well-being.
    There is no longer any question that diet is related to good health, 
and school meal programs should meet the Dietary Guidelines for 
Americans so that children get nutritious meals. Like preventive 
medicine, the value of school lunches will multiply and the benefits 
will last a lifetime. National School Lunch Week affords us the 
opportunity to take a fresh look at the National School Lunch Program to 
determine what changes are necessary in order to meet these dietary 
guidelines. We also can recognize health professionals, school food 
service personnel, teachers, principals, parents, community leaders, and 
others for their commitment to ensuring that the lunches served in their 
schools will provide the nutrition so important to young students.
    In recognition of the contributions of the National School Lunch 
Program to the nutritional well-being of children, the Congress, by 
joint resolution of October 9, 1962 (Public

[[Page 2046]]

Law No. 87-780), has designated the week beginning the second Sunday in 
October in each year as ``National School Lunch Week'' and has requested 
the President to issue a proclamation in observance of that week.
    Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, President of the United 
States of America, do hereby proclaim the week beginning October 10, 
1993, as National School Lunch Week. I call upon all Americans to 
recognize those individuals whose efforts contribute to the success of 
this valuable program.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of 
October, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-three, and 
of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and 
eighteenth.
                                            William J. Clinton

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 4:09 p.m., October 12, 
1993]

Note: This proclamation was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on October 9, and it was published in the Federal Register on 
October 14.