[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 42 (Monday, October 22, 2001)]
[Pages 1482-1483]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7485--National School Lunch Week, 2001

October 15, 2001

By the President of the United States

of America

A Proclamation

    Our Nation's future depends on fulfilling the promise in our 
children. As parents, teachers, community activists, governmental 
leaders, and concerned citizens, we must strongly commit ourselves to 
ensuring that our young people receive the care, education, and 
resources they need to realize their potential.
    Since 1946, the National School Lunch Program has played an 
important part in pursuing that goal, by serving schoolchildren 
nutritious, well-balanced meals. Currently, the National School Lunch 
Program daily provides more than 27 million lunches in more than 97,700 
schools. Of the children who participate in this program, 57 percent 
receive their meals for free or at a reduced price. For many of them, 
lunch is their only meal of the day that meets recommended nutritional 
guidelines.
    The National School Lunch Program contributes to the development of 
healthy eating habits among our children. The Program's Team Nutrition 
Initiative focuses on teaching and motivating children to make food 
choices that enhance their energy, growth, and potential.
    The Program is vitally important to achieving our educational goals. 
Poorly fed children have more difficulty learning, are less attentive in 
class, and suffer more chronic problems, such as absenteeism and 
tardiness, than children who are properly nourished. By making 
nutritious meals available to all schoolchildren, the National School 
Lunch Program will help us ensure that we leave no child behind.
    In recognition of the contributions of the National School Lunch 
Program to the health, education, and well-being of our Nation's 
children, the Congress, by joint resolution of October 9, 1962 (Public 
Law 87-780), has designated the week beginning on the second Sunday in 
October of each year as ``National School Lunch Week'' and has requested 
the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this week.
    Now, Therefore, I, George W. Bush, President of the United States of 
America, do hereby proclaim October 14 through October 20, 2001, as 
National School Lunch Week. I call upon all Americans to join the 
dedicated individuals who lead child nutrition programs at the State and 
local levels in appropriate activities and celebrations that promote 
these programs.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day 
of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand one, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
sixth.
                                                George W. Bush

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., October 16, 
2001]

Note: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on October 
17.

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