Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 123.djvu/3759

 123STA T . 3 7 3 9PROCL A M AT I O N8456— NO V .2 0, 2009 Proclam a ti o n8456 o fN o ve m b er 20, 200 9Nation a lF a m il yWe e k,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 Americanf ami l ie s are th ef ou n d ation on w hich our N ation is b uilt .T heir e xp ressions of unconditional lo v e and dedication sustain famil y members and support our Nation ’ s communities. D urin g National F am - ily W ee k, we celebrate the inclusive spirit of American families and applaud the commitment of those family members who encourage us to reach new heights. M y Administration is committed to helping American families meet the demands of modern life, increase their self-sufficiency, and achieve their full potential. Ten days after taking office, I established the White H ouse Task Force on Middle C lass Working Families, led by V ice P resident B iden. This Task Force is focused on raising the living stand- ards of working families across the country. In addition, the American R ecovery and Reinvestment Act provides a broad spectrum of support to families experiencing difficult times. It boosts child care and Head S tart programs, essential not only to a child’s future but also a parent’s peace of mind in the workplace. Health care reform will provide secu- rity and stability for American families with insurance and affordable options for uninsured Americans. As we continue to grow as a Nation, we must also be engaged members of our larger family, composed of our neighbors, our colleagues, and the community where we live. We must appreciate the diversity of other families’ traditions we must reach out to help families in need; and we must take more responsibility for the care and development of all children, not j ust our own. In this season of Thanksgiving, we are grateful that, at our best, Amer- ica is a collection of strong families, standing united to make our Na- tion a place of hope and opportunity for future generations. N O W, TH E REFORE, I, BARAC K OBAMA, President 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 2 2 through November 2 8 ,2 0 0 9, as National Family Week. I invite States, local communities, and individuals to join together in observing this week with appropriate ceremonies and activities to honor our Na- tion’s families.