Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 117.djvu/3116

 PROCLAMATION 7717—OCT. 8, 2003

117 STAT. 3097

come responsible leaders in their communities, and make our Nation better. The Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 18, 1928, as amended (36 U.S.C. 105), has called for the designation of the first Monday in October as ‘‘Child Health Day’’ and has requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this day. NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Monday, October 6, 2003, as Child Health Day. I call upon families, schools, child health professionals, communities, and governments to help all our children discover the rewards of good health and wellness. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-eighth. GEORGE W. BUSH

Proclamation 7717 of October 8, 2003

National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, 2003 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Across our country, domestic violence traumatizes victims, endangers children, harms families, and threatens communities. According to the most recent report from the Department of Justice, there were almost 700,000 incidents of domestic violence in 2001. Approximately onethird of women who are murdered each year are killed by their current or former husband or partner. Children who are subjected to domestic violence too often grow up to inflict violence on others, creating a cycle of violence that must be stopped. During National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we renew our Nation’s commitment to prevent and punish the perpetrators of this despicable crime and bring hope and healing to those affected by it. In some communities across our country, law enforcement, medical, and legal services for domestic violence victims are fragmented, requiring victims to travel to several different places to receive the help and treatment they need. Comprehensive service centers for domestic violence victims and their dependents enable health and justice professionals to better serve those in need. My Administration supports efforts to provide a wide variety of victim services in one location, including medical care, counseling and social services, law enforcement and legal resources, faith-based services, employment assistance, and housing assistance. Local nonprofit and faith-based programs and their volunteers also offer critical assistance and support to victims in need—help that may not otherwise be available. In August of this year, the dedicated advocates at the Federally supported National Domestic Violence Hotline answered their one millionth call for help. Volunteers who want to help victims in the local community can find more information at the

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