Proclamation 6270.
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105 STAT. 2516 Proclamation 6270 of April 15, 1991 National Farm Safety Week, 1991 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation The men and women who work in America’s agricultural sector make a vital contribution to our Nation’s well-being. By providing consumers with a variety of high-quality food and fiber at reasonable costs, they help to keep our work force strong and healthy and, in so doing, help to maintain the Nation’s economic productivity and competitiveness.
Because we count on farmers and ranchers for so much, both as individuals and as a Nation, it is fitting that we observe National Farm Safety Week—a concerted public awareness campaign aimed at promoting their health and safety. Over the years much has been done to improve the safety of agricultural production. Advances in science and technology and increased attention to avoiding safety risks have made farms and ranches safer places to work. Moreover, dedicated professionals and volunteers have been working together to promote health and safety in rural communities.
These efforts are reflected by a welcome downturn in farm accident rates. Unfortunately, however, while important strides have been made in reducing the risks of farming and ranching, agricultural production remains one of our most hazardous industries, with an accident death rate that is more than four times the average of all industries. More must be done to reduce the toll of farm-related accidents. Most accidents on the Nation’s farms and ranches can be prevented by sensible measures that involve little extra time, effort, or expense.
For example, farmers and ranchers can reduce their risk of serious injury and illness by following manufacturers’ instructions on the use of chemicals and machinery and by utilizing protective apparel and safety equipment when the job calls for it. Children should be kept away from hazardous machinery, and all family members and employees should be trained in safety procedures and first aid. For generations, the men and women who work on our Nation’s farms and ranches have endured long hours of tough, physical labor.
However, they have continually met the challenges of their vocation with determination and pride—and with unparalleled success. During National Farm Safety Week, let us resolve to make excellence in health and safety another one of America’s great farming traditions. 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 the week of September 15 through September 21, 1991, as National Farm Safety Week.
I urge all who live and work on our Nation’s farms and ranches to make the preservation of personal health and safety an integral part of their daily activities. I also urge them to protect their children, not only by instruction in safety habits, but also by setting an example of carefulness and by avoiding needless risks. I also call upon organizations that serve agricultural producers to strengthen their support for rural health 105 STAT. 2517and safety programs, and I encourage all Americans to observe this week with appropriate activities as we express our appreciation for the many contributions that men and women in agriculture make to our Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of April, 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 6271 April 17, 1991 Pan American Day and Pan American Week, 1991 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 6271 of April 17, 1991 Pan American Day and Pan American Week, 1991 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Just two months ago the Caribbean island nation of Haiti enjoyed, after decades of dictatorship, the inauguration of a President chosen in free, secure, and credible elections.
This milestone in the history of Haiti marked yet another significant stride toward a completely democratic Western Hemisphere. Indeed, with the principal exception of Castro’s Cuba, the nations of the Americas are experiencing a great resurgence of democracy. From Tierra del Fuego to Hudson Bay, from the Lesser Antilles to the Galapagos, courageous and determined peoples are reaping the blessings of liberty and self-government. Today, after several successive free elections in the vast majority of countries in the hemisphere, the nations of the Americas have an historic opportunity to set an example of sustained and effective representative democracy and economic development.
Indeed, it seems fitting that the hemisphere of George Washington and Toussaint L’Ouverture, of Thomas Jefferson and Simon Bolivar, of James Madison and Jose de San Martin, should help to lead the way to a freer, more prosperous future for all mankind. The devotion to democratic ideals shared by the peoples of the Americas forms the cornerstone of the unique international alliance whose anniversary we celebrate this week. Just over a century ago, the nations of this hemisphere established the International Union of American Republics, later known as the Pan American Union.
Today its successor, the Organization of American States, is working to promote transitions from dictatorship to democracy throughout the hemisphere. Signatories to the OAS Charter, adopted in 1948, expressed their conviction that “the true significance of American solidarity and good neighborliness can only mean the consolidation on this continent . . . of a system of individual liberty and social justice based on respect for the essential rights of man.” After a century of partnership, we know that the proudest days of the inter-American community have been those when it has faithfully upheld these ideals.
Accordingly, the United States will continue working to promote respect for human rights and the rule of law throughout the region. 105 STAT. 2518 Through the OAS Charter, members of the inter-American community also agreed to “promote, by cooperative action, their economic, social, and cultural development.” To help achieve this goal, I have proposed the Enterprise for the Americas Initiative, which will promote free and fair trade, investment, debt reduction, and growth, as well as environmental protection, in Latin America and the Caribbean.
In addition, we will implement the commitments of the Cartagena Declaration. Illicit drug trafficking and violence pose a grave threat to the stability of nations as well as to the freedom and safety of millions of individuals throughout the Americas. The United States remains firmly committed to working with other members of the inter-American community in the areas of interdiction, law enforcement, and crop substitution. 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, April 14, 1991, as Pan American Day and the week of April 14 through April 20, 1991, as Pan American Week.
I urge the Governors of the fifty States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and officials of other areas under the flag of the United States, to honor these observances with appropriate ceremonies and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of April, 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 6272 April 17, 1991 Jewish Heritage Week, 1991 and 1992 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 6272 of April 17, 1991 Jewish Heritage Week, 1991 and 1992 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation The Jewish people share a rich and vibrant heritage, one that has endured through the ages, even through exile and dark periods of systematic persecution.
That great and abiding heritage has had a profound influence on the character of the United States. Thus, it is with great pleasure that millions of Americans join with their Jewish friends and neighbors in celebrating Jewish Heritage Week. The American way of life—indeed, the development of all Western civilization—has been shaped, in large part, by the laws and teachings recorded in the Old Testament and Judaic tradition. Our forefathers’ declaration of the unalienable rights of individuals was rooted in the biblically supported belief that all people are created equal, in the image of the Almighty.
The principles of ethical and moral conduct that form the basis of American civil order and the foundation of any truly free and just society stem from the commandments given by God to Moses. Accordingly, through their efforts to preserve Judaic law and tradition, American Jews help to ensure that our Nation’s moral heritage is continually strengthened and renewed. For example, the traditional observance of Shavuot, which recalls the giving of the law on Mount Sinai, 105 STAT. 2519offers a powerful reminder of the relationship between respect for the word of God and the preservation of civil peace and liberty.
Through the observance of Shavuot and other special days, Jews affirm both their faith and their identity as a people. As the recent celebration of Passover reminds us, that faith has been tested, and proved, time and again in the history of the Jewish people. The Jewish people have been subjected to a number of great trials during this century alone. On Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Memorial Day, Jews recall the Nazi atrocities that claimed the lives of 6 million of their fellow Jews, as well as the lives of millions of other men, women, and children in Europe during World War II.
By joining in this commemoration, and in remembrance of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, we are reminded of the enduring faith and courage of the Jewish people. Jews have played a vital role in our country’s history since colonial times. Many were active in supporting the Revolutionary War and in the settling of new lands and cities during America’s westward expansion. Jewish men, women, and children also formed part of each great wave of immigration to these shores. Today, Jews continue to contribute in virtually every aspect of American life.
As we celebrate the many contributions that Jewish men and women have made to our Nation, we also reaffirm the deep friendship between the United States and Israel. The founding of the modem State of Israel following the Holocaust is further testimony to the faith, determination, and industry of the Jewish people. The Congress, by House Joint Resolution 134, has designated the week of April 14 through April 21, 1991, and the week of May 3 through May 10, 1992, as “Jewish Heritage Week” and has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of these occasions.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the weeks of April 14 through April 21, 1991, and May 3 through May 10, 1992 as Jewish Heritage Week. I encourage all Americans to join in observing these occasions with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, 1 have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of April, 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 6273 April 18, 1991 National Education First Week, 1991 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 6273 of April 18, 1991 National Education First Week, 1991 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Labor and learning precede every inch of human progress. That is why improving our Nation’s educational system must be a priority for all 105 STAT. 2520Americans. If our citizens are to have the knowledge and skills needed to enjoy full, productive lives, our schools must achieve excellence.
Recognizing our responsibility to nourish the young minds that enter the Nation’s classrooms, and knowing that this country cannot have a first-class economy without a world-class education system, the Nation’s Governors and I have established six National Education Goals for the year 2000. They include: ensuring that every child starts school ready to learn; raising the graduation rate to at least 90 percent; ensuring that our students demonstrate competency in five core subjects in grades 4, 8, and 12; ranking first in the world in science and math; ensuring that every American adult is literate and possesses the skills, including the technical skills, needed to compete in the global economy; and, finally, making all of our schools safe, disciplined, and drug free.
Achieving these goals will require the sustained cooperation of parents, educators, public officials, and the community at large. While the Federal Government can and will serve as a catalyst for excellence, pointing the way forward and helping schools to meet higher standards, success will require the concerted efforts of parents, educators, and local government leaders. Because competition breeds quality, we can begin by expanding choice and accountability in education. Parents have primary responsibility for the education of their children, and they should have a genuine say in what, where, and how their children learn.
Teachers should be able to enjoy greater flexibility in the classroom, and local school systems should act to utilize the talent and experience of persons who want to teach but are prohibited by cumbersome regulations. However, since the best measure of our schools is not how many resources we put into them but what outcomes are achieved, we must hold ourselves accountable for results, verifying what works and what does not. We must also work together to ensure that our children dwell in an environment that is conducive to learning.
Such an environment includes schools that are safe, disciplined, and drug free. However, because what goes on in school is only part of a child’s educational experience, we must also maintain in our homes and neighborhoods an atmosphere that encourages learning and rewards diligent effort. Parents are their children’s first and most influential teachers, and they can help to make ours a more literate Nation by reading to and with their little ones; by taking an active interest in their youngsters’ homework and academic progress; and by demonstrating through example the joys of lifelong learning.
Local libraries and museums, business and civic groups, and members of the media can assist parents by offering high-quality educational programs and activities designed to ignite the natural curiosity of children. Indeed, by sparking the imaginations of our students, by ensuring that our schools tend the light of learning with utmost care and expertise, we can build a brighter future for all Americans. The Congress, by House Joint Resolution 197, has designated the week of April 15 through April 21, 1991, as “National Education First 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 April 15 through April 21, 105 STAT. 25211991, as National Education First Week. I call upon all Americans to observe this week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of April, 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 6274 April 22, 1991 Earth Day, 1991 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 6274 of April 22, 1991 Earth Day, 1991 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation During the two decades that have passed since our Nation first observed Earth Day, we have made great strides in restoring and protecting our environment. Through our firm commitment and our substantial investment, we have improved significantly the quality of our air. land, and water resources.
The United States leads the world in environmental protection, and we intend to keep it that way. Our accomplishments during the past year are a special source of pride. During 1990 the United States was instrumental in strengthening the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer. A total phaseout of chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, was adopted in July as part of a package of amendments to the Protocol. The United States also signed the Basel Convention, which requires that transboundary shipments of hazardous wastes be conducted in an environmentally sound manner.
We expanded the world’s leading global climate change research program, and we took several domestic policy actions, including an ambitious reforestation initiative, that will reduce harmful emissions that can contribute to the “greenhouse effect.” In November, I signed into law important amendments to the Clean Air Act—amendments based, in large part, on a proposal that I submitted to the Congress in July 1969. That proposal helped to break a 13-year legislative logjam. The new Clean Air Act will reduce risks of cancer, respiratory disease, and other health problems; it will limit damage to crops, forests, parks, lakes, and streams; and it will help to reduce smog in our Nation’s cities.
On Earth Day 1990 and, indeed, throughout the year, millions of Americans participated in activities that underscore how individuals can make a difference in cleaning up and protecting the environment. Today countless Americans are changing their daily habits to reflect a renewed sense of environmental stewardship, and many businesses are working to apply new, environmentally conscious methods of operation. As we celebrate Earth Day 1991, we affirm, once again, the importance of public education and individual action to further progress in environmental protection.
This is a good opportunity to remind our-105 STAT. 2522selves and our neighbors of both our responsibilities toward the environment and the rewards of meeting them. Every American can make a difference at the grassroots level. For example, we can recycle bottles, paper, and used motor oil, and we can help to conserve energy by driving less and by adjusting the thermostats in our homes and offices. Observed in the glorious new light of spring, Earth Day should inspire us to treat this magnificent yet fragile planet with commensurate care and attention.
Recognizing our obligation toward future inhabitants of this earthly home, and knowing that global problems have local solutions, let us make a renewed personal commitment to protecting the environment and to using our resources wisely. To increase public awareness of the need for active participation in environmental protection, the Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 119, has designated April 22, 1991, as “Earth Day” and has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this day.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim April 22, 1991, as Earth Day. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities designed to promote greater understanding of ecological issues. I also ask all Americans to set an example of environmental stewardship in their daily activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-second day of April, 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 6275 April 22, 1991 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, 1991 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 6275 of April 22, 1991 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, 1991 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation In the Nation’s ongoing fight against crime, statistics tell only part of the story. More than a violation of the law, every crime is a violation of the rights, property, person, or trust of another human being.
Thus, behind every tally of offenses ranging from misdemeanors to aggravated felonies are innocent victims—individuals and families who must be recognized in the administration of justice. Almost 35 million Americans become victims of crime each year. In addition to the physical scars and the financial losses that many suffer, crime victims experience emotional trauma as well. Their self-confidence is shaken; their sense of security shattered. Since 1982, when the President’s Task Force on Victims of Crime helped to focus greater public attention on the rights and needs of these individuals, great progress has been made in efforts to assist 105 STAT. 2523crime victims and their families.
Indeed, a nationwide movement led by thousands of concerned citizens—many of them crime victims themselves—has helped to promote timely restitution and healing for victims of crime. Working at the grass-roots level to provide counseling and support, a wide range of professionals and volunteers are helping these individuals to recover what losses they can and to reclaim their sense of dignity and security. Nearly every State, as well as the Federal Government, has passed legislation to ensure the fair treatment of crime victims.
The Crime Control Act of 1990 set forth, for the first time, a Federal Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights. Forty-five States also have a Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights to ensure that victims’ needs are considered during criminal proceedings. Almost every State, as well as the Federal Government, also supports programs to compensate and to assist victims of crime. These programs are financed, for the most part, not by innocent taxpayers, but by convicted offenders through criminal fines and penalties.
Recognizing the suffering of victims and their families, we are also committed at the Federal level to crime prevention. Earlier this year I proposed the Comprehensive Violent Crime Control Act of 1991, which, if enacted, will strengthen our Nation’s criminal justice system and ensure that those who threaten the lives of others are held accountable for their actions. We must also continue to educate the public about ways to minimize their risk of victimization. Through public and private efforts at the national, State, and local level, we are making great strides in the fight against crime and in the effort to ensure fair, compassionate treatment of victims and their families.
This week, let us gratefully recognize all those who work, often as volunteers, in behalf of crime victims: law enforcement officers, health care professionals, attorneys, counselors, members of the clergy, and countless other concerned citizens. Let us also honor all those who are working to win the fight against crime and reaffirm our determination to uphold America’s promise of liberty and justice for all. The Congress, by Senate joint Resolution 16, has designated the week of April 21 through April 27, 1991, as “National Crime Victims’ Rights 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 April 21 through April 27, 1991, as National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. I urge all Americans to join in honoring those who work in behalf of crime victims and their families. I also encourage all Americans to learn about ways that they can help to prevent crime and to assist its victims in their communities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 22nd day of April, 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 6276 April 22, 1991 National Arbor Day, 1991 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation