Proclamation 6234.
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/statutes-at-large/vol-105/proclamation-6234·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
105 STAT. 2470 Proclamation 6234 of November 20, 1990 National Adoption Week, 1990 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation During the holiday season that begins on Thanksgiving, our thoughts turn toward home and family. At this special time of year, most of us can recall warm memories of past family gatherings as we look forward to being reunited once again with our dearest relatives and other loved ones. Tragically, however, thousands of American youngsters will not be able to enjoy this festive and holy season with a family of their own—these are children waiting to be adopted.
Each year, some 60,000 waiting children do find permanent, loving homes in the United States. Each year, many infants are given the chance for full and happy lives when their biological mothers choose adoption over abortion. Nevertheless, an estimated 30,000 children who are legally available for adoption still wait in foster care for permanent families. Many of these children have special needs—they are children with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities; they are older or minority children; and they are children with siblings who need to be adopted by the same family.
Regardless of the individual needs they may have, all of these waiting children are eager to love and to be loved by a family of their own. An act of faith, courage, and generosity, adoption benefits everyone it touches: the youngster who needs and desires a lasting home and loving family; the expectant mother who, for whatever reason, cannot keep her child; and the prospective parents who long to open their hearts and their homes to adoptive children. However, despite the many benefits of adoption, thousands of children continue to wait.
In both the public and private sectors, we must continue working to eliminate daunting legal, financial, and attitudinal barriers to adoption. Toward that end, my Administration has developed proposals to help individuals meet the financial commitment involved in adopting children with special needs. We are also taking steps to encourage interested Federal employees to adopt. During National Adoption Week, we gratefully recognize all those Americans who have joined in the effort to find permanent homes for waiting children—the counselors, social workers, attorneys, legislators, volunteers, employers, media professionals, and members of the clergy who devote their time, skills, and resources to encouraging adoption.
This week let us also express our admiration and pledge our support for those courageous and selfless women who choose life for their unborn children. Finally, let us also remember those precious youngsters who, on this very day, wait to be adopted—let us renew our determination to help them gain the sense of security and belonging that they so desperately need and deserve. To promote public awareness of adoption, the Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 362, has designated the period commencing on November 18, 1990, and ending on November 24, 1990, as “National Adoption 105 STAT. 2471Week” and has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this week.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the week of November 18 through November 24, 1990, as National Adoption Week. I urge all Americans to observe this week with appropriate ceremonies and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fifteenth. GEORGE BUSH 6235 November 20, 1990 National Family Caregivers Week, 1990 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 6235 of November 20, 1990 National Family Caregivers Week, 1990 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Traditionally, the American family has both symbolized and fostered the values that are at the heart of any truly strong and caring society— values such as faithfulness, commitment, and respect and concern for others.
During National Family Caregivers Week, as we celebrate the American family and its ability to care for its members, we also reaffirm the importance of those values to us as individuals and as a Nation. Each day millions of Americans provide various forms of assistance to relatives incapacitated by age, illness, or disability. In addition to home nursing care and companionship, these family caregivers may provide physically impaired loved ones with financial support, transportation, and help with shopping, cooking, and daily household maintenance.
Their generous and devoted labors are invaluable to the relative who might otherwise be forced to live in an institutional setting. Through their dedicated efforts, family caregivers not only help ill and elderly loved ones to maintain their dignity and independence but also provide wonderful examples of the love and commitment that are the essence of family life. This week we proudly salute these hardworking men and women. The Congress, by House Joint Resolution 525, has designated the week of November 18 through November 24, 1990, as “National Family Caregivers Week” and has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this week.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the week of November 18 through November 24, 1990, as National Family Caregivers Week, I encourage the people of the United States to observe this week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety, 105 STAT. 2472and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fifteenth.
GEORGE BUSH 6236 December 6, 1990 National Poison Prevention Week, 1991 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 6236 of December 6, 1990 National Poison Prevention Week, 1991 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation As we mark the 30th observance of National Poison Prevention Week, we can take pride in the success of this important annual public awareness campaign. Since our first observance of National Poison Prevention Week in 1962, the number of deaths by poisoning among children under the age of five has declined significantly.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that in 1961, poisoning claimed the lives of 450 youngsters. By 1987, that number had dropped to 31. Nevertheless, because the death of even one child by accidental poisoning is intolerable, we must continue efforts aimed at education and prevention. The Poison Prevention Week Council, a coalition of 36 national organizations that are determined to stop accidental poisonings, coordinates National Poison Prevention Week activities.
In addition to distributing valuable information, the Council encourages local poison control centers, pharmacies, public health departments, and other concerned parties to conduct poison prevention programs in their communities. The Consumer Product Safety Commission, which each year provides a member to serve as Secretary of the Poison Prevention Week Council, helps to lead this important public health campaign. Thus, it is a truly national campaign, enlisting the combined energy and resources of government officials, health care professionals, educators, business and industry leaders, media representatives, and members of private voluntary organizations.
Poison prevention activities such as those highlighted this week have helped to save lives, but there is more to do. Each year more than half a million children are exposed to potentially poisonous medicines or household chemicals. It is therefore vital that we continue to remind parents, grandparents, and other adults about the risks of childhood poisoning and the ways tragic accidents can be prevented. Simple safety measures—such as using child-resistant closures and keeping potentially harmful substances out of the reach of children—can save lives.
To encourage the American people to learn more about the dangers of accidental poisonings and to take more preventative measures, the Congress, by joint resolution approved September 26, 1961 (75 Stat 681), has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation designating the third week of March of each year as “National Poison Prevention Week.” NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the week beginning March 17, 1991, as 105 STAT. 2473National Poison Prevention Week.
I call upon all Americans to observe this week by participating in appropriate ceremonies and activities and by learning how to prevent accidental poisonings among children. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of December, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fifteenth. GEORGE BUSH 6237 December 7, 1990 Wright Brothers Day, 1990 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 6237 of December 7, 1990 Wright Brothers Day, 1990 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation When Orville and Wilbur Wright’s hand-crafted airplane lifted off the windswept beach near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903, only a handful of men and perhaps a few startled sea gulls witnessed the world’s first controlled, manned flight in a heavier-than-air, mechanically propelled aircraft.
Nevertheless, this brief bold flight changed the course of history. With the success of their daring experiment, Orville and Wilbur Wright ushered in the age of aviation. From the time they experimented with airplane models and wind tunnels at their small workshop in Dayton, Ohio, until the end of their celebrated careers, the Wright brothers demonstrated qualities shared by all great pioneers and inventors. Eager to learn and determined to succeed, they engaged in hours of intense study and painstaking trial, calculation, and design.
As individuals they were confident, methodical, and brilliantly intuitive engineers. Shortly after the Wrights began their experiments, they found that the small amount of data previously collected by others was unreliable. Consequently, they conducted their own basic research, literally writing the book on fundamental aerodynamics. Eventually, the Wrights used their carefully acquired knowledge to build a machine so far ahead of its day that they even had to design and build their own motor, one that was both powerful and lightweight.
The Wrights’ diligent and enlightened approach to their work was the key to their success. Wilbur once remarked: “If a man is in too big a hurry to give up an error, he is liable to give up some truth with it, and in accepting the arguments of the other man, he is sure to get some error with it . . . . After I get a hold of a truth I hate to lose it again, and I like to sift all the truth out before I give up an error.” Such intellectual openness and tenacity—coupled with courage, creativity, and perseverance—enabled the Wright brothers to defy both the skepticism of friends and the force of gravity as they launched the age of controlled human flight.
We live in a world transformed by the work of the Wright brothers, and in this age of sophisticated air and space travel, their first flight still stands as one of the most extraordinary achievements of the 20th 105 STAT. 2474century. With optimism and daring, restless ingenuity and hard work, Orville and Wilbur Wright broke the tethers binding man to Earth and joined the ranks of those great pioneers and inventors who have helped to make the United States a mighty and prosperous Nation.
As we recall the Wrights’ seminal contributions to aviation, each of us can take inspiration from their example. The Congress, by a joint resolution approved December 17, 1963 (77 Stat. 402; 36 U.S.C. 169), has designated the 17th day of December of each year as “Wright Brothers Day” and requested the President to issue annually a proclamation commemorating this day. NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim December 17, 1990, as Wright Brothers Day.
I call upon the people of the United States to observe that day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of December, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fifteenth. GEORGE BUSH 6238 December 10, 1990 Human Rights Day, Bill of Rights Day, and Human Rights Week, 1990 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 6238 of December 10, 1990 Human Rights Day, Bill of Rights Day, and Human Rights Week, 1990 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation The first ten amendments to our Constitution, collectively known as the Bill of Rights, were intended as an additional safeguard to the liberty of Americans, which the Constitution already afforded great protection through its ingenious structure.
As we enter the bicentennial year of our Bill of Rights, we celebrate more than the great freedom and security this document symbolizes for the American people—we also celebrate its seminal role in the advancement of respect for human dignity and individual liberty around the world. In its Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted on December 10, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly affirmed to all mankind the noble ideals enshrined in our Bill of Rights. Noting that “recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and unalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world,” signatories to the Declaration agreed to respect freedom of thought, freedom of association, as well as freedom of religion and belief.
They also recognized an individual’s right to own property, either alone or in association with others, and declared that “everyone has the right to participate in his government, directly or through freely chosen representatives.” Stating that “human rights should be protected by the rule of law,” signatories to the Declaration proclaimed this historic document “a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations.” 105 STAT. 2475 That standard was reaffirmed and strengthened in 1975, when the United States, Canada, and 33 European states joined in adopting the Helsinki Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE).
Participating states also recognized the right of self-determination and agreed to grant ethnic minorities equality before the law. Recent events testify to the CSCE’s effectiveness in advancing our goal of universal compliance with the human rights and humanitarian provisions of the Helsinki Final Act. The elimination of physical and ideological barriers that once divided postwar Europe dramatically illustrates the progress that has been made in promoting respect for human rights, building mutual trust, reducing the risk of conflict, and encouraging the development of democracy.
Last month, the signing of the Charter of Paris—which added to existing CSCE principles new and sweeping commitments to political pluralism, free elections, free enterprise, and the rule of law—underscored its signatories’ determination to consolidate and to build upon recent gains. Indeed, with the Charter of Paris we welcomed the emergence of a new transatlantic partnership of nations based on a mutual commitment to upholding human rights and the rule of law. However, while we celebrate the remarkable developments reflected in the recent Charter of Paris, we must resist the notion that our work is now virtually finished.
Tragically, in some countries, persecution of ethnic minorities, religious oppression, and restrictions on freedom of speech, information, and travel violate fundamental standards of morality and the letter and spirit of international human rights agreements. The United States will continue to denounce contraventions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and will press for constructive change. And, at times, it is necessary to take a stand against aggression. Iraq’s brutal subjugation and despoiling of Kuwait constitute an assault on the basic human values and freedoms we commemorate this week; thus the United States and other members of the world community are coalesced in an effort to achieve the complete and unconditional withdrawal of Iraqi forces from Kuwait.
The United States also continues to assist the world’s emerging democracies, not only in Europe, but also in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The documents we celebrate this week—the Bill of Rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the more recent Helsinki accords—derive their value and promise from the timeless, immutable truths they contain and our solemn commitment to upholding them. As we reflect on the historic significance of these documents, let us vow to ensure that they remain meaningful guarantees of individual dignity and liberty.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE 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 December 10, 1990, as Human Rights Day and December 15, 1990, as Bill of Rights Day and call upon all Americans to observe the week beginning December 10, 1990, as Human Rights Week. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of December, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety, and 105 STAT. 2476of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fifteenth.
GEORGE BUSH Warren E. Burger 6239 December 10, 1990 American Red Cross Month, 1991 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 6239 of December 10, 1990 American Red Cross Month, 1991 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Millions of people around the Nation and the world take comfort in knowing that, wherever the bright banner of the American Red Cross flies, help is close at hand. For well over a century, this respected humanitarian organization has enabled individuals and their communities to cope with crisis.
While the Red Cross is most often associated with major emergencies such as those caused by floods, earthquakes, and military conflict, it also brings aid to those whose plight may never make the headlines— such as victims of industrial accidents, hunger, and house fires. The lifesaving activities of the Red Cross may vary, but in every case its staff and volunteers bring swift, compassionate assistance to needy persons without regard to race, religion, or national origin. During a typical year, the Red Cross may respond to some 50,000 disastrous incidents, helping people not only to survive but also to rebuild.
While the work of the Red Cross in the face of disaster has been outstanding, its day-to-day efforts aimed at emergency prevention and preparedness have been equally remarkable. Today some 1.1 million trained Red Cross volunteers work at more than 2,700 chapters throughout the United States. These dedicated men and women help to instruct youths and adults alike in first aid. cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and water safety. In addition, the Red Cross is a leader in the campaign to stop the spread of AIDS.
Across the country, trained Red Cross volunteers are teaching the public about this deadly disease and how it is prevented. The Red Cross is also helping to prevent the spread of AIDS by ensuring the safety of our blood supply. Each year the Red Cross collects more than 6 million units of blood—half of the Nation’s blood supply. Every unit of blood must pass seven tests to ensure its safety for transfusion. As a result of such careful screening, the Nation’s blood supply is safer now than it has ever been.
The Red Cross, which formed the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry in 1986, also maintains a national registry of more than 20,000 volunteer donors of rare blood types and conducts vital research on blood at its Holland laboratory. The Red Cross also renders vital tissue transplantation services to help some 49,000 Americans a year live longer, fuller lives. 105 STAT. 2477 With so many American service men and women currently stationed abroad, the importance of the Red Cross’ work in behalf of U.S. military personnel is more apparent than ever.
For members of the Armed Services at both domestic and overseas military installations, the Red Cross provides valuable information, referral services, and emergency communications. Through its outstanding humanitarian services, the American Red Cross has earned the respect and appreciation of millions of people throughout the United States and around the world. This month we gratefully salute its dedicated staff and volunteers. NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States of America and Honorary Chairman of the American Red Cross, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim the month of March 1991 as American Red Cross Month.
I urge all Americans to continue their generous support of the Red Cross and its chapters nationwide. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of December, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fifteenth. GEORGE BUSH 6240 December 18, 1990 National Law Enforcement Training Week, 1991 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 6240 of December 18, 1990 National Law Enforcement Training Week, 1991 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation The duty of law enforcement officers to protect the lives and property of their fellow Americans and to maintain civil order while upholding the constitutional rights of individuals is one that requires continuing, high-quality professional training.
Imparting the knowledge and skills that officers need to fulfill their duties safely and effectively, training constitutes an essential part of law enforcement. Law enforcement officers often face complex crimes and violent criminals. Meeting the challenges posed by drug trafficking, organized crime, and other forms of illicit activity therefore demands ongoing, comprehensive training. This training must be multidisciplinary, encompassing not only law. self-defense, and the use of firearms but also first aid, forensics, and the physical and social sciences.
Because law enforcement training covers such diverse and interesting fields of study, it underscores the many rewarding career opportunities available to Americans who would like to contribute to their communities through police work or related disciplines. This week we gratefully salute the dedicated, hardworking men and women who conduct and participate in law enforcement training. Their commitment to excellence and their determination to uphold the law help to ensure the preservation of our freedom and security. 105 STAT. 2478 The Congress, by Public Law 101–372, has designated the week of January 6 through January 12, 1991, as “National Law Enforcement Training Week” and has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this week.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the week of January 6 through January 12, 1991, as National Law Enforcement Training Week. I urge all Americans to observe this week with appropriate exhibits, ceremonies, and activities, including programs designed to heighten the awareness of young people of career opportunities in law enforcement and related disciplines. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fifteenth.
GEORGE BUSH 6241 January 11, 1991 National Sanctity of Human Life Day, 1991 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 6241 of January 11, 1991 National Sanctity of Human Life Day, 1991 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation On January 21, the United States will observe a Federal holiday honoring the birth of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In his efforts to end legal segregation in America, Dr.
King believed that achieving peace and goodwill among all peoples depends on obedience to the will of God and the affirmation of the sacredness of all human life. “Every man is somebody,” Dr. King said, “because he is a child of God.” It is this conviction—the recognition that all people are made in the image of their Creator—which guides our observance of National Sanctity of Human Life Day and our efforts to reaffirm in our Nation the sanctity of human life in all its stages.
For more than two hundred years, America has been the home of freedom. Our national commitment to fundamental human rights—the “unalienable Rights” of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”—was eloquently proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence and has been reaffirmed countless times in legislative halls; in a free and unfettered press: on battlefields around the world: and, most important, in our hearts. Despite this deep national commitment, however, there have been times when realities have not lived up to our ideals.
The United States was once a land of slavery and racial segregation. For far too long, many persons with disabilities have not been able to participate fully in the mainstream of American life. And the prevalence of abortion on demand in America calls into question our respect for the fundamental right to life. 105 STAT. 2479 The tragedy of abortion in America affects two persons, mother and child. While sincere persons may disagree, my position is that the lives of both must be cherished and protected.
We must recognize the dignity and worth of every human being in our laws, as well as in our hearts. Abortion robs America of a portion of its future and denies preborn children the chance to grow, to contribute, and to enjoy a full life with all its challenges and opportunities. Scientific advances reinforce the belief that unborn children are persons, entitled to medical care and legal protection. We must turn from abortion to loving alternatives such as adoption. All levels of government and all sectors of society should promote policies that encourage alternatives such as adoption and make adopting easier for families who want children and will give them loving homes, particularly children with special needs.
Across America, many people are involved in efforts to protect unborn children and to assist pregnant women in need. Through their compassion, generosity, and hard work, they are helping to ensure that the value of every human life is never forgotten. We hope and pray for the day when the principle of life’s sanctity will guide both private thought and public policy on this question throughout our Nation. On this occasion we also recall with gratitude and thanks to Almighty God the millions of Americans whose work in many and various ways likewise upholds our fundamental belief in the sanctity of human life.
Members of the health professions and scientists work for cures to dread diseases and to alleviate the suffering of the ill and infirm. Parents, teachers, and community leaders work together towards ending the scourge of drugs. And volunteers throughout our Nation visit the sick, the elderly, and the lonely; care for the dying; help children in need; and bring joy to the lives of many of our fellow citizens. In affirming the sanctity of life, we realize the highest ideals of our country.
We deny our very heritage when we do not. Today, mindful of our heritage and our convictions, let us not only resolve to uphold the sanctity of human life but also work to promote policies that affirm our highest ideals as a Nation. All stages of human life are precious; all demand recognition of their sanctity. NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE 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 Sunday, January 20, 1991, as National Sanctity of Human Life Day.
I call on all Americans to reflect on the sanctity of human life in all its stages and to gather in homes and places of worship to give thanks for the gift of life and to reaffirm our commitment to respect the life and the dignity of every human being. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eleventh day of January, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fifteenth. GEORGE BUSH 6242 January 14, 1991 Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday, 1991 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation
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- 36 USC 169
- Pub. L. 101-372
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