[Federal Register: April 23, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 78)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Page 19929-19930]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23ap03-104]
Presidential Documents
___________________________________________________________________
Title 3--
The President
[[Page 19929]]
Proclamation 7665 of April 18, 2003
National Park Week, 2003
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
America is a land of majestic beauty, and we are
blessed with immeasurable natural wealth. Americans are
united in the belief that we must preserve this
treasured heritage and conserve these natural resources
for the benefit and enjoyment of the American people.
As a Nation, we can be proud of our diverse parklands,
ranging from the rugged wilderness of snow-capped
mountains, thick forests, sweeping desert sands, and
remote canyons to national symbols such as the Statue
of Liberty and the Lincoln Memorial. Our National Park
Service has a long and important history. In 1864, the
Federal Government ensured a grand natural landscape
for generations to come when it designated Yosemite
Valley and the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias to be
``held for public use, resort, and recreation . . .
inalienable for all time.'' Eight years later in 1872,
the Congress created the first national park in the
Yellowstone region of the Territories of Montana and
Wyoming. Finally, in 1916, the National Park Service
was established to efficiently administer our growing
number of parks, which today includes 388 national
parks on more than 84 million acres of public lands.
These lands continue to be cherished by all our
citizens.
The full and safe enjoyment of our national parks
depends on dedicated National Park Service employees
and thousands of people who volunteer their time to
conserve these sites. This year's theme for National
Park Week, ``Celebrating Volunteers,'' recognizes their
valuable contributions to conserving and maintaining
our natural, cultural, and historical heritage.
Across the country, my Administration is promoting
volunteer service, encouraging public-private
partnerships, and advocating community-based interest
in our national parks. We are committed to ensuring
that our land is conserved, our air is clean, our water
is pure, and our parks are open and accessible to all
Americans. Recently, my Administration re-launched Take
Pride in America, a national partnership that engages
volunteers from every corner of America to enhance our
parks and other public lands. As part of the USA
Freedom Corps initiative, Take Pride in America will
encourage more Americans to take part in volunteer
service opportunities available on public lands.
My Administration has also supported improvements in
park management and is working to reduce the park
maintenance backlog. My fiscal year 2004 budget
includes over $1 billion to reduce the maintenance
backlog, an increase of $180 million over last year's
request, along with $76 million, a $9 million increase
over last year's request, for the National Park Service
Natural Resource Challenge to monitor ``vital signs''
of conditions in our parks. This initiative will help
conserve native species and habitats, maintain our
natural resources, eradicate invasive species, and
provide the public with information about resources in
our parks. In addition, my Administration has developed
the website www.recreation.gov, which is a user-
friendly way to obtain information about recreational
opportunities in the national parks and other public
recreation sites.
[[Page 19930]]
As we observe National Park Week, I encourage all
citizens to explore our national parks and to commit to
the conservation and stewardship of these timeless
treasures. By working together, we can ensure that
these special places thrive for generations to come.
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 April 21 through April 27,
2003, as National Park Week. I call upon the people of
the United States to join me in recognizing the
importance of our national parks and to learn more
about these areas of beauty, their historical
significance, and the many ways citizens can volunteer
to help preserve these precious resources.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
eighteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord two
thousand three, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and twenty-seventh.
(Presidential Sig.)B
[FR Doc. 03-10195
Filed 4-22-03; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P