Presidential Documents

61141

Federal Register 

Vol. 69, No. 198

Thursday, October 14, 2004

Title 3— 

The President 

Proclamation 7831 of October 12, 2004

National School Lunch Week, 2004

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation

The National School Lunch Program has provided healthy, affordable lunches 

to our Nation’s children for almost 60 years. The program now serves more 

than 28 million children each day, many of whom might not otherwise 

eat nutritious lunches. During National School Lunch Week, we recognize 

the program’s contributions to the health, well-being, and education of our 

Nation’s youth. 

In addition to providing the good nutrition that helps young people succeed 

in school, healthy school lunches and after-school snacks can help alleviate 

childhood obesity and lower children’s risk of developing health problems. 

The National School Lunch Program also shares information about healthy 

eating habits with children, families, and communities; works to provide 

our children with the best possible school meals; and offers technical training 

and assistance to school food-service staff. To support this program and 

other important child nutrition programs, earlier this year I signed into 

law the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004. This bill 

expands access to programs for children of Armed Services personnel, promotes healthy food choices, and makes it easier for parents to enroll their 

eligible children. 

The National School Lunch Program has accomplished a great deal in providing children with nutritious meals, and we must continue working to 

ensure that every child is well-nourished, healthy, and active. While children 

who participate in the school lunch program consume more fruits, vegetables, 

milk, and protein than students who obtain lunch elsewhere, over 60 percent 

of our Nation’s young people still eat more than the daily recommended 

serving of fat, and less than 20 percent eat the recommended daily servings 

of fruits and vegetables. To promote the right choices, the Department of 

Agriculture’s HealthierUS School Challenge is encouraging schools and local 

communities to create an environment that supports healthy lifestyles for 

our Nation’s children. 

The success of the National School Lunch Program stems from the hardworking Americans who plan, prepare, and serve meals to millions of children every day. In recognition of the contributions of the National School 

Lunch Program to the health, education, and well-being of America’s children, the Congress, by joint resolution of October 9, 1962 (Public Law 

87–780), as amended, has designated the week beginning on the second 

Sunday of 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 10 through October 16, 2004, as 

National School Lunch Week. I call upon all Americans to join the dedicated 

individuals who administer the National School Lunch Program in appropriate activities that support the health and well-being of our Nation’s children. 

61142 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 198 / Thursday, October 14, 2004 / Presidential Documents 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day 

of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand four, and of the IndependBilling code 3195

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ence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-ninth.

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