Barack Obama | USA President

A PROCLAMATION Working Americans are the foundation of our Nation’s continued economic success and prosperity.  From constructing the first transcontinental railroad to shaping our city skylines, they have built our country and propelled it forward.  Through great innovation and perseverance, our labor force has forged America as a land of limitless possibility and a leader in the global marketplace.  On Labor Day, we honor the enduring values and immeasurable contributions of working men and women today and throughout our history. As we recognize the contributions of the American workers who have built our country, we must continue to protect their vital role and that of organized labor in our national life.  Workers have not always possessed the same rights and benefits many enjoy today.  Over time, they have fought for and gained fairer pay, better benefits, and safer work environments.  From the factory floors during the Industrial Revolution to the shopping aisles of today’s superstores, organized labor has provided millions of hard-working men and women with a voice in the workplace and an unprecedented path into our strong middle class.  By advocating on behalf of our families, labor unions have helped advance the safe and equitable working conditions that every worker deserves. Today, as we emerge from the worst recession since the Great Depression, far too many American workers remain without a job.  With every work hour lost and every plant closure and layoff, families and communities struggle to make ends meet and face difficult decisions about how to stay afloat.  Yet, in the face of this tremendous challenge, our workers have renewed their commitment to achieving the American dream by training and educating themselves for careers crucial to our long-term competitiveness.  To rebuild our economy, my Administration is focusing on job training and investing in industries that cannot be outsourced.  By focusing on recovery at home, we are saving or creating millions of jobs in America and supporting the working men and women who will drive our 21st-century economy.  More remains to be done, but we have taken important steps forward toward recovery

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  One of the greatest responsibilities we have as a Nation is to safeguard the health and well-being of our children.  We now face a national childhood obesity crisis, with nearly one in every three of America’s children being overweight or obese.  There are concrete steps we can take right away as concerned parents, caregivers, educators, loved ones, and a Nation to ensure that our children are able to live full and active lives.

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While we have made great strides in the battle against ovarian cancer, this disease continues to claim more lives than any other gynecologic cancer.  During National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, we honor all those lost to and living with ovarian cancer, and we renew our commitment to developing effective screening methods, improving treatments, and ultimately defeating this disease. Each year, thousands of women are diagnosed with, and go on to battle valiantly against, this disease

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A PROCLAMATION Each day brings new opportunities for personal growth, renewal, and transformation to millions of Americans who have chosen to forge a path toward recovery from addiction to drugs or alcohol.  While addiction can destroy self confidence, family ties, and friendships, recovery can restore the promise of a brighter tomorrow.  During National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, we express support for those living healthy and productive lives in long term recovery, we applaud those working to help struggling Americans break the cycle of abuse, and we encourage those in need to seek help.

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A PROCLAMATION Although its mortality rate has steadily fallen in the last decade, prostate cancer is still the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the United States.  This year alone, nearly 218,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and more than 32,000 men will die from this disease.  National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month gives us the opportunity to renew our commitment to fight this disease by finding better ways to prevent, detect, and treat it. The exact causes of prostate cancer are not known, but awareness can help men make more informed choices about their health.  Researchers have identified several factors that may increase a man’s risk of developing prostate cancer, including age, race, and family history.  According to the National Cancer Institute, avoiding smoking, losing weight, maintaining a healthy diet, and exercising may all help prevent certain cancers.  We must ensure that more men are informed about all aspects of this disease, including early detection and possible treatment.  I encourage men to talk with their doctors about risk factors, prevention, and preventative screenings.  And I invite all Americans to visit Cancer.gov for more information and resources about the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of prostate and other cancers

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A PROCLAMATION For centuries, the American spirit of exploration and discovery has led us to experience the majesty of our Nation’s wilderness.  From raging rivers to serene prairies, from mountain peaks slicing the skyline to forests teeming with life, our Nation’s landscapes have provided wonder, inspiration, and strength to all Americans.  Many sites continue to hold historical, cultural, and religious significance for Indian tribes, the original stewards of this continent.  We must continue to preserve and protect these scenic places and the life that inhabits them so they may be rediscovered and appreciated by generations to come.  As we celebrate America’s abundance of diverse lands, remarkable wildlife, and untamed beauty during National Wilderness Month, we also look back on our rich history of conservation.  It was over 100 years ago that President Theodore Roosevelt marveled at the stark grandeur of the Grand Canyon and declared, "the ages have been at work on it, and man can only mar it."  Since that time, administrations have worked across party lines to defend America’s breathtaking natural sites.  President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Wilderness Act in 1964, and many Presidents have since added new places to this great network of protected lands so that millions of acres of forests, monuments, and parks will be preserved for our children and grandchildren

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A PROCLAMATION Throughout our history, whether in times of great joy and thanksgiving, or in times of great challenge and uncertainty, Americans have turned to prayer.  In prayer, we have expressed gratitude and humility, sought guidance and forgiveness, and received inspiration and assistance, both in good times and in bad.  On this day, let us give thanks for the many blessings God has bestowed upon our Nation.  Let us rejoice for the blessing of freedom both to believe and to live our beliefs, and for the many other freedoms and opportunities that bring us together as one Nation.  Let us ask for wisdom, compassion, and discernment of justice as we address the great challenges of our time.  We are blessed to live in a Nation that counts freedom of conscience and free exercise of religion among its most fundamental principles, thereby ensuring that all people of goodwill may hold and practice their beliefs according to the dictates of their consciences.  Prayer has been a sustaining way for many Americans of diverse faiths to express their most cherished beliefs, and thus we have long deemed it fitting and proper to publicly recognize the importance of prayer on this day across the Nation.

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A PROCLAMATION In 1883, the Jewish American poet Emma Lazarus composed a sonnet, entitled "The New Colossus," to help raise funds for erecting the Statue of Liberty.  Twenty years later, a plaque was affixed to the completed statue, inscribed with her words:  "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…."  These poignant words still speak to us today, reminding us of our Nation’s promise as a beacon to all who are denied freedom and opportunity in their native lands.

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A PROCLAMATION  For centuries, America’s story has been tied to the Pacific.  Generations of brave men and women have crossed this vast ocean, seeking better lives and opportunities, and weaving their rich heritage into our cultural tapestry.  During Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we celebrate the immeasurable contributions these diverse peoples have made to our Nation.

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A PROCLAMATION  For over two centuries, our Nation has adhered to the rule of law as the foundation for a safe, free, and just society.  President Eisenhower, seeking to formally recognize this tradition, established Law Day in 1958 as "a day of national dedication to the principles of government under law."  Each Law Day, we celebrate our commitment to the rule of law and to upholding the fundamental principles enshrined in our founding documents.  Today, we can travel, communicate, and conduct business around the world faster than ever before.  The theme of this year’s Law Day, "Law in the 21st Century:  Enduring Traditions and Emerging Challenges," reminds us to draw upon and adapt our time-honored legal traditions to meet the demands of a global era.  The prosperity we enjoy as a Nation of laws increasingly depends on preserving the rights and liberties not just in our own country but also in other nations

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