National School Lunch Week, 2004

Proclamation 7831 of October 12, 2004

National School Lunch Week, 2004

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

The National School Lunch Program has provided healthy,
affordable lunches to our Nation's children for almost
60 years. The program now serves more than 28 million
children each day, many of whom might not otherwise eat
nutritious lunches. During National School Lunch Week,
we recognize the program's contributions to the health,
well-being, and education of our Nation's youth.

In addition to providing the good nutrition that helps
young people succeed in school, healthy school lunches
and after-school snacks can help alleviate childhood
obesity and lower children's risk of developing health
problems. The National School Lunch Program also shares
information about healthy eating habits with children,
families, and communities; works to provide our
children with the best possible school meals; and
offers technical training and assistance to school
food-service staff. To support this program and other
important child nutrition programs, earlier this year I
signed into law the Child Nutrition and WIC
Reauthorization Act of 2004. This bill expands access
to programs for children of Armed Services personnel,
promotes healthy food choices, and makes it easier for
parents to enroll their eligible children.

The National School Lunch Program has accomplished a
great deal in providing children with nutritious meals,
and we must continue working to ensure that every child
is well-nourished, healthy, and active. While children
who participate in the school lunch program consume
more fruits, vegetables, milk, and protein than
students who obtain lunch elsewhere, over 60 percent of
our Nation's young people still eat more than the daily
recommended serving of fat, and less than 20 percent
eat the recommended daily servings of fruits and
vegetables. To promote the right choices, the
Department of Agriculture's HealthierUS School
Challenge is encouraging schools and local communities
to create an environment that supports healthy
lifestyles for our Nation's children.

The success of the National School Lunch Program stems
from the hard-working Americans who plan, prepare, and
serve meals to millions of children every day. In
recognition of the contributions of the National School
Lunch Program to the health, education, and well-being
of America's children, the Congress, by joint
resolution of October 9, 1962 (Public Law 87-780), as
amended, has designated the week beginning on the
second Sunday of 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 10
through October 16, 2004, 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
twelfth day of October, in the year of our Lord two
thousand four, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and twenty-ninth.

(Presidential Sig.)B