National School Lunch Week, 2013

Proclamation 9040 of October 11, 2013

National School Lunch Week, 2013

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

In 1946, when American communities bore the weight of
endemic malnutrition, and parents struggled to provide
their children with decent meals for the long school
day, President Harry Truman signed the National School
Lunch Act. The law is based on a simple conviction--
that in the most powerful Nation on earth, no child
should go hungry. And today, with more than 32 million
children participating in the National School Lunch
Program, strong nutrition at school remains as
important as ever. During National School Lunch Week,
we recommit to the basic promise that every American
child should have a chance to succeed, and we recognize
the role nutrition plays in giving our children the
opportunity to reach for their dreams.

My Administration is working to fulfill our essential
commitment to America's sons and daughters. For too
many of our children, food served at school may be
their only regular meals, providing the sustenance they
need to focus and excel. With the Healthy, Hunger-Free
Kids Act, we expanded access to school meals while
taking action to combat childhood obesity. Obesity now
affects 17 percent of all children and adolescents in
the United States--triple the rate from just one
generation ago--and that means more of our children are
at risk for preventable health problems including
diabetes and heart disease. We updated nutritional
standards for school meals, balancing calories and
limiting fat and sodium while increasing servings of
fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. First Lady
Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative works with
elected officials, parents, schools, and communities to
help young people and their parents access healthy
foods and make healthy choices, empowering students to
be engaged in the classroom and active throughout their
lives.

As he signed the National School Lunch Act into law,
President Truman reminded us that ``In the long view,
no nation is any healthier than its children.'' This
week, as we look to a healthy future, we give our
thanks to the food program administrators, educators,
parents, and communities who are doing their part to
get us there.

The Congress, by joint resolution of October 9, 1962
(Public Law 87-780), as amended, has designated the
week beginning on the second Sunday in October each
year as ``National School Lunch Week'' and has
requested the President to issue a proclamation in
observance of this week.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim the week
of October 13 through October 19, 2013, as National
School Lunch Week. I call upon all Americans to join
the dedicated individuals who administer the National
School Lunch Program in appropriate activities that
support the health and well-being of our Nation's
children.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
eleventh day of October, in the year of our Lord two
thousand thirteen, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
eighth.