National Child Abuse Prevention Month, 2008

Proclamation 8230 of April 1, 2008

National Child Abuse Prevention Month, 2008

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Children are the hope and promise of our Nation, and
our society has a special duty to ensure young
Americans get the care and attention they need to
succeed in life. During National Child Abuse Prevention
Month, we underscore our commitment to preventing child
abuse and neglect so that all children can live in
safety and security.

Parents have a responsibility to safeguard their
children from danger and to provide the love,
protection, and guidance youngsters need to grow into
confident and caring adults. In every community across
the Nation, good and courageous citizens are improving
the lives of our most vulnerable children with acts of
compassion. The strength of America lies in the ability
of our citizens to make a positive difference in the
lives of our young people.

My Administration is committed to the safety of our
Nation's youth. In 2006, I signed into law the Adam
Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, which was
designed to protect children from sexual and other
violent crimes, help prevent child pornography, and
make the Internet safer for our children. This law
expands sex offender registration and notification on a
nationwide basis, provides a statutory basis for the
Project Safe Childhood program, and gives communities
and law enforcement the tools necessary to keep
children out of harm's way. Additionally, with
strengthened Federal penalties, we will ensure that
those who prey on our children will be caught,
prosecuted, and punished to the fullest extent of the
law.

As we observe National Child Abuse Prevention Month, we
reaffirm our loving commitment to America's youth and
our dedication to building a society in which all
children can realize their full potential.

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 2008 as National Child
Abuse Prevention Month. I encourage all citizens to
help protect our children from abuse and neglect and to
take an active role in creating safe communities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
first day of April, in the year of our Lord two
thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.