123STA T . 3 6 26 PROCL A M AT I O N8 36 0— APR. 9, 2009 tirel e s sl y t oh el pv i c ti m s cope w ith the tr au mao f se x ual assault a nd transition from ‘ ‘victim ’ ’ to ‘‘survivor . ’’ L andmar k le g islation has helped fund these critical services. T he V ic - tims of C rime A ct of 1984( V O CA ,P u b lic Law 98 – 4 73) established the Crime Victims F und to fund services such as forensic sexual assault examinations and compensation claims for both adult and child vic- tims. For example, since 1997, VOCA funding has supported the devel- opment of S exual Assault N urse E xaminer (SANE) programs and multi- disciplinary Sexual Assault R esponse Teams (SART). The Violence Against W omen Act of 20 0 5 (VAWA, Public Law 109–1 6 2) authori z ed the Sexual Assault Services Program, the first Federal funding dedi- cated exclusively to sexual assault services. The Program includes funding for culturally specific programs that serve victims who face uni q ue cultural and linguistic barriers. I n addition to helping victims, offenders must be held accountable for their crimes. Sexual assault forensic examinations and trained exam- iners can ensure that victims are treated with requisite sensitivity and that critical evidence is collected to facilitate a successful prosecution. To this end, VAWA mandates that all States that accept Federal grants to combat violence against women ensure that sexual assault victims receive forensic examinations free of charge, even if the victim chooses not to report the crime to the police. To make continued progress, my Administration supports efforts to help Americans better understand this issue. Working together, we can reduce the incidence of sexual assault and help all who have experi- enced this heinous crime. NOW, T H EREFORE, I, B ARAC K OBA M A, President of the U nited 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 2009, as National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. I urge all Americans to respond to sexual assault by creating policies at work and school, by engaging in discussions with family and friends, and by making the prevention of sexual assault a priority in their communities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Inde- pendence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty- third. BARACK OBAMA Proclam a ti o n8360 o fAp ril 9,2 009 Nation a lF o rme r P ri s oner o fW ar R e c o g nition D a y,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 American prisoners of war exemplify the courage and sacrifice that de- fine our men and women in uniform. These brave warriors have paid a massive share of the costs of freedom, and our Nation will be forever in their debt. Today we honor all prisoners of war by recognizing the
