National School Lunch Week, 2018

Proclamation 9806 of October 12, 2018

National School Lunch Week, 2018

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

School meals help ensure that our children receive the

nourishment they need to grow, develop, and learn.

During National School Lunch Week, we acknowledge the

benefits of school lunch programs, which provide

millions of children the opportunity to enjoy

nutritious meals, providing them with the fuel they

need to achieve their full physical and mental

potential.

The National School Lunch Program provides nearly 4.9

billion low-cost or free meals to approximately 30

million students each year. These meals are a

dependable and consistent source of nutrition for many

children in schools and childcare centers throughout

our country.

My Administration understands that we have a

responsibility to children and taxpayers alike to

ensure that school meals are nutritious and enjoyable.

The best way to do that is to return control back to

the people on the ground who make these programs work.

That is why we have lowered regulatory hurdles and

restored flexibility to schools and communities with

respect to the menus in their cafeterias. School

nutrition specialists and food service professionals

work tirelessly each day to provide students with the

nourishment they need to succeed in the classroom and

beyond. We are committed to supporting them, listening

to their feedback, and equipping them with the tools

and flexibility they need to serve our children well.

This week, we recognize the hard work of all the food

service professionals, school administrators, community

members, and parents across our Nation who help plan,

prepare, and serve the meals that sustain millions of

children. To emphasize the importance of the National

School Lunch Program to our youth's nutrition, the

Congress, by joint resolution of October 9, 1962

(Public Law 87-780), has designated the week beginning

on the second Sunday in October each year as ``National

School Lunch Week,'' and has requested the President to

issue a proclamation in observance of this week.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the

United States of America, by virtue of the authority

vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the

United States, do hereby proclaim October 14 through

October 20, 2018, as National School Lunch Week. I call

upon all Americans to join the countless individuals

who administer the National School Lunch Program in

activities that support and promote awareness of 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 eighteen, and of the Independence of the

United States of America the two hundred and forty-

third.