National School Lunch Week, 2001

Proclamation 7485 of October 15, 2001

National School Lunch Week, 2001

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Our Nation's future depends on fulfilling the promise
in our children. As parents, teachers, community
activists, governmental leaders, and concerned
citizens, we must strongly commit ourselves to ensuring
that our young people receive the care, education, and
resources they need to realize their potential.

Since 1946, the National School Lunch Program has
played an important part in pursuing that goal, by
serving schoolchildren nutritious, well-balanced meals.
Currently, the National School Lunch Program daily
provides more than 27 million lunches in more than
97,700 schools. Of the children who participate in this
program, 57 percent receive their meals for free or at
a reduced price. For many of them, lunch is their only
meal of the day that meets recommended nutritional
guidelines.

The National School Lunch Program contributes to the
development of healthy eating habits among our
children. The Program's Team Nutrition Initiative
focuses on teaching and motivating children to make
food choices that enhance their energy, growth, and
potential.

The Program is vitally important to achieving our
educational goals. Poorly fed children have more
difficulty learning, are less attentive in class, and
suffer more chronic problems, such as absenteeism and
tardiness, than children who are properly nourished. By
making nutritious meals available to all
schoolchildren, the National School Lunch Program will
help us ensure that we leave no child behind.

In recognition of the contributions of the National
School Lunch Program to the health, education, and
well-being of our Nation's children, the Congress, by
joint resolution of October 9, 1962 (Public Law 87-
780), has designated the week beginning on the second
Sunday in 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 14
through October 20, 2001, as National School Lunch
Week. I call upon all Americans to join the dedicated
individuals who lead child nutrition programs at the
State and local levels in appropriate activities and
celebrations that promote these programs.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
fifteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord two
thousand one, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and twenty-sixth.

(Presidential Sig.)B