12 2 STA T .5 2 87PROCL A M AT I O N 82 30— APR. 1 , 2008 Proclam a ti o n8230 o fAp ril 1, 2008 Nation a lCh il dAbusePr e v ention M onth ,20 0 8BythePr e sid e n t of the U nited S t a tes of Am eri c a A Proc l amation Childrena re t heh op e and pro m i s eo f o u r N ation , and our so c iet y has a special duty to ensure youn gA mericans get the care and attention they need to succeed in life .D uring National Child A b use P re v ention M onth, w e underscore our commitment to preventing child abuse and neglect so that all children can live in safety and security. Parents have a responsibility to safeguard their children from danger and to provide the love, protection, and guidance youngsters need to grow into confident and caring adults. I n every community across the Nation, good and courageous citi z ens are improving the lives of our most vulnerable children with acts of compassion. T he strength of America lies in the ability of our citizens to ma k e a positive difference in the lives of our young people. My Administration is committed to the safety of our Nation ’ s youth. In 20 0 6 , I signed into law the Adam W alsh Child Protection and S afety Act, which was designed to protect children from se x ual and other vio - lent crimes, help prevent child pornography, and make the Internet safer for our children. This law expands sex offender registration and notification on a nationwide basis, provides a statutory basis for the Pro j ect Safe Childhood program, and gives communities and law en- forcement the tools necessary to keep children out of harm’s way. Ad- ditionally, with strengthened F ederal penalties, we will ensure that those who prey on our children will be caught, prosecuted, and pun- ished to the fullest extent of the law. As we observe National Child Abuse Prevention Month, we reaffirm our loving commitment to America’s youth and our dedication to building a society in which all children can realize their full potential. N O W,T HER EFORE, I, G EORGE W. BU SH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Con- stitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 200 8 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. I encourage all citizens to help protect our children from abuse and neglect and to take an active role in creating safe communities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of April, in the year of our L ord two thousand eight, and of the Inde- pendence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty- second. GEORGE W. BUSH
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