123STA T . 3 6 32 PROCL A M AT I O N8 36 5— APR. 2 4, 2 0 0 9NOW,THER E F ORE, I , BA RA CK OBA M A, Presid e ntof t h e U nited S t a tesofA m eri c a, byv irt u e of the authority vested in me by the Con - stitution and l a w s of the United States, do hereby p roclaim April 2 2, 2 0 0 9 , as Earth D ay . I encoura g e all citi z ens to help protect our environ- ment and contribute to a healthy, sustainable world. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-sec- ond day of April, in the year of our L ord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third. BARACK OBAMA Proclam a ti o n8365 o fAp ril 24, 2 0 0 9Nation a lCr i meV i c tim s’R i gh ts W ee k,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 From violence in our neighborhoods to credit card fraud on the Inter- net, Americans fall victim to countless crimes every day. Our Nation has no higher responsibility than protecting the safety of our families. During National Crime V ictims ’ Rights Wee k , we honor crime victims by pledging to fight crime wherever it e x ists. This commitment begins by supporting the men and women working every day to reduce crime and assist crime victims. Often placing themselves in harm’s way and sacrificing personal interests, these indi- viduals are the backbone of the extensive efforts to protect Americans from crime. They have demonstrated a commitment to serve others, and their dedication is vital to implementing a successful strategy for crime reduction and victim assistance. Crime victims have benefited from the Victims of Crime Act of 1 9 84( Public Law 98 – 4 73) , one of the most significant achievements in crime victim assistance. This law created an innovative method for using fines and penalties from Federal criminals to fund services for victims. This Crime Victims Fund has already helped millions of victims across the country access basic assistance and financial compensation. This year marks the 2 5 th anniversary of the bill’s bipartisan passage. An effective approach to fighting crime must include programs that make sense and work. To that end, my Administration is building on past achievements to address the range of crimes that Americans may encounter. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which I signed in February, helps State and local law enforcement personnel perform critical work by providing $ 2 billion through the Edward Byrne J ustice Assistance G rant Program. A smart crime reduction strategy must also incorporate outreach to those who have paid their debt to society and have become responsible and contributing members of their communities. Prisoner reentry pro- grams have been tested and proven effective. Through a number of supportive services, including substance abuse and mental health counseling, prison-to-work incentives, j ob training, and transitional as- sistance, reentry programs help reduce crime recidivism and keep fam-
