Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 123.djvu/3748

 123STA T . 3 7 2 8PROCL A M AT I O N 8 4 4 5— OCT. 3 0, 200 9Proclam a ti o n84 4 5 o fO cto be r 30,2 00 9Nation a lAd o p tion M ont h,20 0 9BythePr e sid e n t of the U nited S t a tes of Am eri c a A Proc l amation Al l chi l dren de s er v e a sa f e , l o vin g fa m il yt o p rotect and care for them .I n America, tho u sands of young people are w aiting for that oppor - tunity. D uring N ational Adoption M onth, we honor those families that have strengthened America through adoption, and we recommit to re- ducing the num b er of children awaiting adoption into loving families. America is a country rich in resources and filled with countless caring men and women who hope to adopt. T hese individuals come from all wal k s of life, united in their commitment to love a child who is in need of the protective arms of a parent. W e must do more to ensure that adoption is a viable option for them. B y continually opening up the doors to adoption, and supporting full e q uality in adoption laws for all American families, we allow more children to find the perma- nent homes they yearn for and deserve. This month, we also focus on children in foster care. These children are not in the system by their own choosing, but are forced into it by unfortunate or tragic circumstances. These young people have specific needs and require unique support. F ederal, S tate, and local govern- ments, communities, and individuals all have a role to play in ensur- ing that foster children have the resources and encouragement they need to reali z e their hopes and dreams. The course of our future will depend on what we do to help the ne x t generation of Americans succeed. This month, we celebrate those fami- lies brought together by adoption and renew our commitments to chil- dren in the foster care system. N O W,T HER EFORE, I, BARA CK OBAMA, P resident of the U nited States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Con- stitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Novem- ber 20 0 9 as National Adoption Month. I call upon all Americans to ob- serve this month by reaching out to support and honor adoptive fami- lies, as well as to participate actively in efforts to find permanent homes for waiting children. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of October, in the year of our L ord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth. BARACK OBAMA