Great Outdoors Month, 2007

Proclamation 8149 of May 25, 2007

Great Outdoors Month, 2007

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

During Great Outdoors Month, we celebrate the rich
blessings of our Nation's natural beauty, and we renew
our commitment to protecting our environment so that we
can leave our children and grandchildren a healthy and
flourishing land. This month is also an opportunity to
pay tribute to those whose hard work and dedication
keep our country's open spaces beautiful and accessible
to our citizens.

Through recreational activities such as fishing,
skiing, biking, and nature watching, we can teach our
young people about the wonders of our Nation's
landscapes. Experiencing our Nation's natural splendor
contributes to healthier lives for our citizens and a
deeper appreciation for the great outdoors.

My Administration is working to protect and conserve
our natural wonders for future generations. To keep our
National Park System vibrant, we requested the highest
increase ever in park operations funding in the FY 2008
Budget and launched the National Parks Centennial
Initiative. We are also promoting responsible
stewardship and conservation of our air, water, and
land. Harmful air pollutants are down more than 10
percent since 2001, but there is more work to be done.
Through the ``Twenty in Ten'' plan, my Administration
aims to limit greenhouse gas emissions from motor
vehicles and reduce America's dependence on oil by
cutting our gasoline usage by 20 percent over the next
10 years.

In addition, we have restored, improved, or protected
millions of acres of wetlands and enhanced our parks
and wildlife refuges. We are also encouraging
cooperative conservation, innovation, and new
technologies to help ensure America's outdoors remain
places where families and friends can learn, exercise,
and create meaningful memories.

Countless citizens volunteer their time and talents to
protect America's natural resources. By working
together with the private and non-profit sectors and
the general public, we can help preserve our local
parks, lakes, rivers, and working lands. I am grateful
for the efforts of all those who work to conserve our
Nation's natural wonders, and I encourage citizens to
visit takepride.gov to learn about more opportunities
to help keep our environment healthy and safe.

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 June 2007 as Great Outdoors
Month. I call on all Americans to observe this month
with appropriate programs and activities and to take
time to experience and enjoy the outdoors.

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