National Character Counts Week, 2023
| Citation | 88 FR 71725 |
| Published date | 18 October 2023 |
| Record Number | 2023-23097 |
| Court | Executive Office Of The President |
| Section | Presidential Documents |
Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 200 (Wednesday, October 18, 2023)
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 200 (Wednesday, October 18, 2023)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 71725-71726]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-23097] Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 200 / Wednesday, October 18, 2023 /
Presidential Documents
___________________________________________________________________
Title 3--
The President
[[Page 71725]]
Proclamation 10653 of October 13, 2023
National Character Counts Week, 2023
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Whenever the First Lady and I travel across America, we
witness both the incredible diversity of our country
and the essential qualities that hold us all together.
Americans possess an optimism that is tested yet
resolute; a courage that digs deep when we need it the
most; and an unshakable faith in one another, our
Nation, and the future we can build together. During
National Character Counts Week, we recognize the
extraordinary character that resides in the soul of
every American and the collective power we wield when
we embrace one of our country's most fundamental
principles: E pluribus unum--Out of many, one.
Every day, Americans prove that we are a good Nation
because we are good people. I have seen firsthand the
incredible character of firefighters, police officers,
service members, and their families, each of whom
sacrifice every day to protect the rest of us. I have
seen that very character in nurses and doctors, who are
a source of light and hope for so many enduring hard
times. I have seen it in artists, scholars, and
journalists, who dare to tell the truth of our Nation.
I have seen it in the union workers, who fight to make
sure all of us get the dignity and respect we deserve.
I have seen it in mothers, fathers, and caregivers, who
work hard to build a future worthy of their children's
greatest dreams. I have seen it in all the teachers who
go above and beyond to help students believe in
themselves. I have seen it in our country's young
people--the most talented, tolerant, and educated
generation in history.
Americans with exemplary character abound in our
Nation. That is why I have never doubted that America
can do great things when we work together. In my first
State of the Union Address, I proposed a Unity Agenda
that outlined four problems we can solve together as a
Nation: beating the opioid epidemic, tackling the
mental health crisis, supporting our veterans and their
families, and ending cancer as we know it. We have made
real progress. Together, we passed a law making it
easier for doctors to prescribe effective treatments
for opioid use disorder. We passed the Bipartisan Safer
Communities Act, making historic changes to gun safety
laws and key investments in mental health services. We
launched Advanced Research Project Agencies for Health
(ARPA-H) to drive breakthroughs in the fight against
cancer, Alzheimer's, diabetes, and so much more. We
passed the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring
our PACT Act to ensure that veterans exposed to toxic
substances during their military service get the
benefits and care they deserve and never have to fight
alone.
While we have made strides to unite the Nation around
common causes, we have also made it a priority to fight
back against forces that divide us and to remove
obstacles that limit Americans' ability to realize
their full potential. We hosted the ``United We Stand''
Summit at the White House, where we reaffirmed our
commitment to fighting hate and racism and announced
new measures to make sure hate has no safe harbor in
America. We released a national strategy to end hunger
and reduce diet-related disease by 2030, a moral duty
we all share. No matter what we are working toward--
whether it is addressing the climate crisis, reducing
[[Page 71726]]
the cost of health care, or rebuilding our economy--
respecting the character and dignity of the American
people is at the heart of everything we do.
I have often said that America is the only Nation in
the world founded on an idea: that we are all created
equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our
lives. Though we have never fully lived up to this
promise, our national character has ensured we have
never fully walked away from it either. Today of all
days, let us remember that character is destiny--in our
lives and in the life of the Nation--and that the soul
of America depends on the souls of all Americans. As we
reflect on the very best of our Nation's character, may
we recommit to lifting each other up and working
together to form a more perfect Union.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of
the United States of America, by virtue of the
authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws
of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 15
through October 21, 2023, as National Character Counts
Week. Now and throughout the year, I encourage all
Americans to engage in efforts that honor and express
the best attributes of our character, extend the hand
of fellowship to their neighbors, and unite in service
to their communities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
thirteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord two
thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and forty-
eighth.
(Presidential Sig.)
[FR Doc. 2023-23097
Filed 10-17-23; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F4-P
