National American Indian Heritage Month, 2003

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 7735 of November 14, 2003

National American Indian Heritage Month, 2003

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

During National American Indian Heritage Month, we
honor the accomplishments and culture of American
Indians and Alaska Natives and recognize their
contributions to our country. To help educate Americans
and illustrate the important role of these native
people to our Nation, the new National Museum of the
American Indian will open next year.

American Indians and Alaska Natives have a long
tradition of serving with pride and accomplishment in
the United States Armed Forces. Today, their patriotism
is reflected in the more than 13,000 American Indians
and Alaska Natives serving on active duty and the more
than 6,400 reservists. In Iraq, Specialist Lori
Piestewa of the Army's 507th Maintenance Company and a
member of the Hopi tribe, was the first American
servicewoman killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the
only known American Indian woman killed in action in
any conflict. Her bravery, service, and sacrifice are
an inspiration to our men and women in uniform and to
all Americans.

To ensure the future success of America's tribal
communities, my Administration is committed to
improving education, increasing employment and economic
development, and ensuring better access to health and
human services for all American Indians and Alaska
natives. Government-wide, we proposed in the 2004
Budget to spend over $11 billion on Native American
programs. The Department of Education's Office of
Indian Education is working to implement the No Child
Left Behind Act of 2001 within the Native American
community. Indian tribes, schools, and local education
agencies that serve American Indian and Native Alaska
children will have access to nearly $122 million in
grants to improve education opportunities. In addition,
the Department of the Interior's 2004 program includes
over $49 million for America's tribal colleges and
universities. This investment will help American Indian
students reach their full potential and achieve their
dreams. We are also working to address the healthcare
needs of American Indians, particularly the rising
incidence of diabetes.

The United States has a strong relationship with
American Indian tribes and Alaska Native entities. By
continuing to work on a government-to-government basis
with these tribal governments, we are fostering greater
understanding and promoting tribal self-determination
and self-governance.

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 November 2003 as National
American Indian Heritage Month. This month, I encourage
citizens to learn more about the rich heritage of
American Indians and Alaska Natives and the role they
have played in building and sustaining our Nation and
to commemorate this month with appropriate programs and
activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
fourteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord two
thousand three, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and twenty-eighth.

(Presidential Sig.)B