Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 113 Part 3.djvu/647

 PROCLAMATION 7241—OCT. 15, 1999 113 STAT. 2165 We can be heartened today that many barriesrs to full inclusion for blind Americans have been dismantled. But the greatest barrier still remains: the attitude of too many sighted people that those who are blind or visually impaired are incapable of holding their own in the working world. On White Cane Safety Day, let us reaffirm our national commitment to providing equal opportunity for all Americans, regardless of disability. To honor the many achievements of blind and visually impaired citizens and to recognize the white cane's significance in advancing independence, the Congress, by joint resolution approved October 6, 1964, has designated October 15 of each year as "White Cane Safety Day." NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim October 15, 1999, as White Cane Safety Day. I call upon the people of the United States, government of- ficials, educators, and business leaders to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety- nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-fourth. WILLIAM J. CLINTON Proclamation 7241 of October 15, 1999 ^ National Forest Products Week, 1999 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation From our earliest days as a Nation, America's forests have played a vital role in fostering our country's economic; strength and enhancing the quality of our lives. American hidians and European settlers alike foiuid in our forests the fuel and material for shelter to sustain their families and communities. From those same forests came timber for our fleets of sailing ships and the ties for our railroads that span the continent. Whether working in Imnber mills or paper mills, for furniture manufacturers or the building industry, generations of Americans have earned their livelihood from the boimty of our forests. Forests bring more, however, to our lives tiian economic prosperity. They provide invaluable habitat for a variety of pleints and animals, help to keep our air and water clean, and promote soil stability. They also renew our spirits by offering us a place to experience the beauty, peace, and diversity of the natm-al world. As our Nation has grown and developed, so too have our demeinds on our forests. We can be grateful that, despite decades of exploitation, forests still comprise as much as one-third of our country's land area today. Thanks to innovative management techniques, individual and corporate commitment to recycling, and close cooperation between Federal, State, and private land owners, we are succeeding in sustaining the health and productivity of these precious natural resources. Through continued wise stewardship, we caji ensure that future gen-

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