[Federal Register: April 11, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 70)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Page 17875-17876]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11ap03-131]
Presidential Documents
[[Page 17875]]
Proclamation 7661 of April 9, 2003
National D.A.R.E. Day, 2003
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Drugs destroy the hopes, dreams, and the health of our
children, and we must continue to work to reduce drug
use among America's young people. Today we honor Drug
Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.), the most widely
recognized substance abuse and violence prevention
curriculum in America. As we celebrate the 20th
anniversary of this important program, we recognize
D.A.R.E.'s proud record of helping millions of young
people lead productive, drug-free, and violence-free
lives, and reaffirm our commitment to end illegal drug
use among our youth.
D.A.R.E. was founded in 1983 by the Los Angeles Police
Department (LAPD), which faced an overwhelming drug use
problem among juveniles and saw the need for a program
to educate children and young adults about the
destructive realities of substance abuse. Teaming with
the Los Angeles Unified School District, the LAPD sent
specially trained police officers into classrooms to
teach middle school students how to resist peer
pressure and make positive decisions. Since that
beginning 20 years ago, D.A.R.E. has grown to reach 36
million students in more than 300,000 classrooms in the
United States and around the world. Today, D.A.R.E.
programs are taught in 80 percent of our Nation's
school districts.
D.A.R.E.'s in-school curriculum focuses on giving
children practical skills to avoid becoming involved in
drugs, gangs, and violence. D.A.R.E. officers serve as
supportive role models and encourage young people to
develop healthy self-esteem. D.A.R.E. also helps young
people in the critical after-school hours through
D.A.R.E. P.L.U.S. (Play and Learn Under Supervision), a
follow-up program that serves as a safe and fun
alternative to the local streets. D.A.R.E. P.L.U.S. is
designed to encourage middle school students to start
taking responsibility for their actions and to engage
in activities other than drug use.
One of the core principles of my National Drug Control
Strategy is to stop drug use before it starts, and
D.A.R.E. and D.A.R.E. P.L.U.S. play an important role
in my community-based approach. Through these programs,
parents, educators, law enforcement officials, and
other caring citizens are joining together in a
collaborative fight against illegal drugs. However, we
have more to do to reduce illegal drug use among
America's youth. The most effective way to reduce the
supply of drugs is to reduce the demand, and I am
confident that we can help accomplish this goal through
a focus on effective, family-centered education and
prevention.
Toward this end, I have proposed the creation of a
Parents Drug Corps to educate and train parents to lead
the effort in preventing drug use among children and
teens. In addition, I have asked the Congress to
support millions of parents and concerned citizens in
communities nationwide by doubling funding for the
Drug-Free Communities Support Program. These new
efforts will complement our ongoing work to surround
our most vulnerable children with caring adults who can
offer support, guidance, and encouragement.
As we honor the dedicated individuals whose
extraordinary efforts make D.A.R.E. work, we resolve to
continue to help young people avoid the
[[Page 17876]]
dangers of drug use and violence. By helping to ensure
that all our children are educated and supported by
positive and caring role models, we contribute to a
promising future that offers hope and opportunity for
all.
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 10, 2003, as National
D.A.R.E. Day. I call upon all the people of the United
States, particularly our youth, parents, and educators,
to observe this day by joining the fight against drugs
in our communities. I also encourage our citizens to
express appreciation for the law enforcement officers,
volunteers, and others who work to help young people
avoid the dangers of drug use.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
ninth 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. 03-9172
Filed 4-10-03; 11:24 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P