2374 Oct. 7 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000

Over the past 7–1/2 years, my Administra- programs, children can learn and thrive with tion has worked with families and commu- the right care, attention, and education. We nities across the country to meet the needs owe them no less. of America’s children, and we can be proud As we observe National Children’s Day of what we have accomplished together. We this year, let us recommit ourselves to using have made education one of our highest pri- every resource in this time of unprecedented orities, to ensure that every child is empow- prosperity to build a bright future for all our ered with the knowledge and skills necessary children. Let us show our love for them not to achieve personal fulfillment and success. only through our words, but also by making By expanding Head Start and Early Head the tough decisions and important invest- Start for preschoolers; promoting high aca- ments necessary to give them the opportunity demic standards, smaller class sizes, teacher to achieve their dreams. quality, and charter schools for primary and Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, secondary school students; and providing President of the United States of America, loans, scholarships, and tax credits so that by virtue of the authority vested in me by millions of young Americans can attend col- the Constitution and laws of the United lege, we are building a world-class education States, do hereby proclaim October 8, 2000, system that will serve our children well. as National Children’s Day. I urge all Ameri- We have achieved other important legisla- cans to express their love and appreciation tive victories for children and families, in- for children on this day and every day cluding a $500 child tax credit, a $1 per hour throughout the year, and to work within their increase in the minimum wage, expanding communities to nurture, love, and teach all the Earned Income Tax Credit, passing the our children. I invite Federal officials, State Family and Medical Leave Act, enacting the and local governments, and particularly all largest expansion of health insurance for chil- American families to join together in observ- dren ever, and creating incentives to move ing this day with appropriate programs, cere- more children from foster care to safe, lov- monies, and activities to honor our Nation’s ing, and permanent homes. As a result of children. these victories, the child poverty rate in our In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set country has dropped by 22 percent since my hand this sixth day of October, in the 1993; millions of working parents have taken year of our Lord two thousand, and of the time off to care for a new child or sick rel- Independence of the United States of Amer- ative; child immunization rates are at an all- ica the two hundred and twenty-fifth. time high, with 90 percent of toddlers receiv- William J. Clinton ing crucial vaccinations; and adoptions in- creased nearly 65 percent between 1996 and [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 1999. 8:45 a.m., October 11, 2000] We have shown our commitment to ensur- ing that every child grows up in a safe and NOTE: This proclamation was released by the Of- fice of the Press Secretary on October 7, and it nurturing environment through additional was published in the Federal Register on October measures such as teen pregnancy prevention 12. efforts, welfare reform that moves families from economic dependency to self-suffi- ciency, expanded access to affordable hous- Proclamation 7357—Columbus Day, ing and homeownership, and responsible fa- 2000 therhood initiatives to ensure that fathers October 6, 2000 provide both the financial and emotional sup- port their children need. And, to help work- By the President of the United States ing families provide for their children, we are of America continuing our efforts to improve access to high-quality, safe, and affordable child care. A Proclamation We know that from infancy through adoles- During this first year of the new century, cence, in child-care settings and after-school the American people have devoted time and Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Oct. 7 2375 thought to the people and events of our Na- these shores, the lessons of his voyage are tion’s past so that we might better prepare still with us. Brave, determined, open to new for the challenges of the future. While Chris- ideas and new experiences, in many ways he topher Columbus’ epic voyage took place al- foreshadowed the character of the American most three centuries before the founding of people who honor him today. our democracy, his journey helped shape our In tribute to Columbus’ many achieve- national experience and offers important les- ments, the Congress, by joint resolution of sons as we chart our own course for the 21st April 30, 1934 (48 Stat. 657), and an Act of century. June 28, 1968 (82 Stat. 250), has requested One of the most valuable of those lessons the President to proclaim the second Mon- is the importance of sustaining our spirit of day in October of each year as ‘‘Columbus adventure, our willingness to explore new Day.’’ concepts and new horizons. Columbus, after Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, careful study and planning, rejected the con- President of the United States of America, ventional thinking of his time, sailed for the do hereby proclaim October 9, 2000, as Co- open seas, and succeeded in opening up a lumbus Day. I call upon the people of the New World for the people of Europe. Like United States to observe this day with appro- Columbus, our founders rejected the familiar priate ceremonies and activities. I also direct paths of the past and ventured boldly to cre- that the flag of the United States be displayed ate a new form of government that has pro- on all public buildings on the appointed day foundly shaped world history. Explorers, pio- in honor of Christopher Columbus. neers, inventors, artists, entrepreneurs—all In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set have found a refuge in America and a chance my hand this sixth day of October, in the to achieve their dreams. year of our Lord two thousand, and of the Today we have other worlds to explore— Independence of the United States of Amer- from the deepest oceans to the outermost ica the two hundred and twenty-fifth. reaches of space to the genetic code of William J. Clinton human life. The same adventurous spirit that propelled Columbus’ explorations will enable [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, us to challenge old assumptions, acquire new 8:45 a.m., October 11, 2000] knowledge, and broaden the horizons of hu- mankind. NOTE: This proclamation was released by the Of- fice of the Press Secretary on October 7, and it Columbus’ story illustrates the importance was published in the Federal Register on October of diversity. Columbus was born and raised 12. in Italy; he learned much of his seafaring knowledge and experience from Portuguese sailors and navigators; and he put those skills The President’s Radio Address in service to the King and Queen of Spain, October 7, 2000 who funded his explorations. By establishing a safe, reliable route between Europe and Good morning. Every year more than the New World, Columbus opened the door 56,000 Americans die from colorectal cancer, for subsequent explorers from Spain, France, and another 130,000 are diagnosed with the and England and for the millions of immi- disease. These are people we know and love, grants who would be welcomed by America our families, friends, and neighbors. Today in later centuries. But the encounters be- I want to talk about our common fight against tween Columbus and other European explor- this quiet killer and what we can do as a Na- ers and the native peoples of the Western tion to save more lives. Hemisphere also underscore what can hap- Many people are uncomfortable talking pen when cultures clash and when we are about cancer, especially colorectal cancer. unable to understand and respect people And while all of us may be able to appreciate who are different from us. this reluctance, our silence protects no one, While more than 500 years have passed least of all those we love most. That’s why since Christopher Columbus first sailed to so many Americans, tens of thousands of