[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 20 (Monday, May 21, 2001)]
[Pages 755-756]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7438--National Biotechnology Week

 May 16, 2001

 By the President of the United States

 of America

 A Proclamation

    For thousands of years, man has been utilizing and modifying 
biological processes to improve man's quality of life. Scientific 
advances have enabled biotechnology to play an increasingly large role 
in the development of new products that enhance all areas of our lives.
    In the battle against disease, our ever-increasing knowledge of 
cellular and genetic processes continues to improve the quality of our 
health care. Biotechnology has contributed to the development of 
vaccines, antibiotics, and other drugs that have saved or prolonged the 
lives of millions of people. Insulin, which is vital in the treatment of 
diabetes, can now be produced inexpensively and in large quantities 
through the use of genetically engineered bacteria. In addition, 
exciting gains in the understanding of the human body's genetic code 
show significant promise in finding treatments and eventually a cure for 
many diseases. This technology is now central to the research being 
conducted on diseases such as cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, multiple 
sclerosis, heart and lung disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Acquired 
Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
    Consumers enjoy continual improvements to the quality and quantity 
of our Nation's food supply. Genetic engineering will enable farmers to 
modify crops so that they will grow on land that was previously 
considered infertile. In addition, it will enable farmers to grow 
produce with enhanced nutritional value. We also are benefiting from 
crops that resist plant diseases and insects, thus reducing the use of 
pesticides.
    The environmental benefits of biotechnology can be realized through 
the increased ability of manufacturers to produce their products with 
less energy, pollution, and waste. In addition, the development of new 
biotechnology promises to improve our ability to clean up toxic 
substances from soil

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and water and improve waste management techniques.
    Our Nation stands as a global leader in research and development, in 
large part because of our successes in understanding and utilizing the 
biological processes of life. The field of biotechnology is important to 
the quality of our lives, the protection of our environment, and the 
strength of our economy. We must continue to be leaders in the pursuit 
of knowledge and technology, and we must be vigilant to ensure that new 
technologies are regulated and used responsibly towards achieving noble 
goals.
    Now, Therefore, I, George W. Bush, 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 May 13 through May 19, 
2001, as National Biotechnology Week. I call upon the people of the 
United States to observe this week with appropriate programs, 
ceremonies, and activities.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day 
of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand one, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
fifth.
                                                George W. Bush

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., May 18, 
2001]

Note: This proclamation was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on May 17, and it was published in the Federal Register on May 
21.