[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 15 (Monday, April 12, 2004)]
[Page 562]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7768--National D.A.R.E. Day, 2004

 April 7, 2004

 By the President of the United States

 of America

 A Proclamation

    Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) is one of the most widely 
recognized substance abuse and violence prevention programs in America. 
For more than 20 years, D.A.R.E. has brought specially trained police 
officers into classrooms to teach students about the importance of 
making healthy choices. These efforts have helped reduce illegal drug 
use in our country, but there remains work to be done.
    Drug abuse costs people their health and robs them of their promise. 
A critical component of stopping illegal drug use is cutting the demand 
for drugs, and D.A.R.E. is an important part of expanding these efforts. 
By introducing students to local police officers and teaching them to 
become good citizens, D.A.R.E. also strengthens communities.
    To help prevent illegal drug use, my National Drug Control Strategy 
includes the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign; support for drug-
free community coalitions; and $25 million for student drug testing. Our 
hard work is showing results. Youth drug use declined 11 percent between 
2001 and 2003, meaning that 400,000 fewer young people used drugs.
    As we educate young people about the dangers of illegal drugs, we 
are also helping to heal those who have fallen into addiction and 
working to disrupt the market for illegal drugs. The collaborative 
efforts of concerned citizens and officials at the Federal, State, and 
local levels are making our neighborhoods safer and our children 
healthier.
    We will continue to work toward a society in which all citizens are 
free from the devastating influence of drugs. Law enforcement officials, 
community leaders, faith-based groups, parents, teachers, and programs 
like D.A.R.E. are all working to achieve this goal.
    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 April 8, 2004, as National 
D.A.R.E. Day. I call upon our youth, parents, educators, and all 
Americans to join in the effort to reduce drug use by expressing 
appreciation for the health care professionals, law enforcement 
officials, volunteers, teachers, and all those who help young people 
avoid the dangers of illegal drugs and violence.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of 
April, in the year of our Lord two thousand four, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
eighth.
                                                George W. Bush

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., April 9, 
2004]

Note: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on April 
12.