[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 15 (Monday, April 17, 2000)]
[Pages 806-807]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

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Proclamation 7291--National D.A.R.E. Day, 2000

April 12, 2000

By the President of the United States

of America

A Proclamation

    Children face many challenges in today's complex society. Peer 
pressure to abuse drugs and alcohol; negative influences in films, 
music, television, and videos; school violence; gang activities; fear 
and low self-esteem--any or all of these pressures can lead young people 
to make unwise choices that can jeopardize their future and even their 
lives. Since 1983, however, there has been a strong positive influence 
in the lives of America's children that is helping them to navigate 
safely through these dangers and

[[Page 807]]

uncertainties: Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.).
    D.A.R.E. was developed jointly by the Los Angeles Police Department 
and the Los Angeles Unified School District and continues to draw its 
strength from partnerships among law enforcement officials, schools, 
parents, and communities. Under the program, specially trained police 
officers conduct classroom lessons designed to teach children from 
kindergarten through the 12th grade how to make healthy choices, 
overcome negative influences, avoid destructive behavior, and resist the 
lure of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.
    The D.A.R.E. curriculum has several components designed to meet the 
changing needs of students as they mature. From the visitation program 
for children in kindergarten and the early elementary school years to 
the core curriculum for highly vulnerable fifth and sixth graders to 
reinforcement programs for middle school, junior high, and senior high 
students, D.A.R.E. helps young people of all ages develop the skills and 
self-confidence to recognize and resist negative influences. And this 
year, D.A.R.E. has pledged to use a specialized curriculum to reach out 
to thousands of parents and help them talk to their children about 
drugs.
    My Administration is also taking forceful measures to help our young 
people make the decision to reject drugs. We are continuing to expand 
the unprecedented National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign in order to 
change the attitudes of an entire generation of young people; a campaign 
that is working across all race, gender, grade level, and income lines. 
The campaign is already paying dividends for American families: studies 
show that growing numbers of parents are talking to their children about 
the dangers of drug use, and youth drug use is down 13 percent in just 
one year. We have also expanded the Safe and Drug-Free Schools program 
and the Drug-Free Communities program.
    Through efforts like these and the commitment of programs like 
D.A.R.E., we can ensure that America's children have the skills, self-
esteem, and guidance they need to reject substance abuse and violence 
and to create for themselves a bright and healthy future.
     Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton,  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 April 13, 
2000, as National D.A.R.E. Day. I call upon our youth, parents, 
educators, and all the people of the United States to observe this day 
with appropriate programs and activities.
     In Witness Whereof,  I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day 
of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand, and of the Independence 
of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-fourth.
                                            William J. Clinton

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., April 19, 
2000]

 Note: This proclamation will be published in the Federal Register on 
April 20.