[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 17 (Monday, April 26, 2004)]
[Pages 621-622]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7772--National Park Week, 2004

 April 16, 2004

 By the President of the United States

 of America

 A Proclamation

    Our system of national parks is entrusted to each generation of 
Americans. By practicing good management and being faithful stewards of 
the land, our generation can show that we are worthy of that trust. 
During National Park Week, we renew our commitment to caring for these 
treasured natural resources.
    God designed our lands to be beautiful, but we must ensure God's 
beauty is maintained and conserved. Our citizens depend on our dedicated 
National Park Service employees and their volunteer partners to fulfill 
this important mission. In 2001 and 2002, volunteers contributed 
millions of hours of service to our parks by clearing trails, repairing 
facilities, leading education programs, and assisting visitors. This 
year's National Park Week theme, ``Partners in Stewardship,'' encourages 
all Americans to join these volunteer partners in helping to look after 
our nearly 400 national park areas.
    The Federal Government is investing more in its national parks now 
than at any time in its history. To help restore our national parks, my 
Administration proposed $4.9 billion in funding over 5 years on needed 
maintenance and repairs. We have undertaken hundreds of vital park 
maintenance projects and are planning and executing hundreds more. We 
are also using a new system of inventory and assessment to identify 
facilities needing improvements and to measure those improvements as 
they are implemented.
    Our citizens own America's parks, historic sites, battlefields, 
recreation areas, monuments, and shores, and we want these lands to be 
accessible and enjoyable for them to visit. We must respect our natural, 
cultural, and recreational heritage and conserve our parks for future 
generations. Park maintenance is critical to achieving each of these 
goals. By modernizing trail systems, we make it possible for people to 
fully appreciate these remarkable places. By maintaining buildings, 
roads, and campsites, we ensure our parks remain sources of pride for 
our citizens, our communities, and our Nation.
    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 18 through April 25, 
2004, as National Park Week. I call upon the people of the United States 
to join me in recognizing the importance of our national parks and to 
learn more about these areas of beauty, their cultural and historical 
significance, and the many ways citizens can volunteer to conserve these 
precious resources.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth 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, 9:43 a.m., April 20, 
2004]

Note: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on April 
21. This item was not received in time for publication in the 
appropriate issue.

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