Proclamations Proc. 7353 6, 2000, as German-American Day. I encourage all Americans to remember and celebrate the important contributions made to our country by our mil- lions of citizens of German descent and to celebrate our close ties to the people of Germany. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of Oc- tober, in the year of our Lord two thousand, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-fifth. WILLIAM J. CLINTON Proclamation 7353 of October 6, 2000 Afterschool Week, 2000 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Each weekday afternoon in America, the ringing of school bells signals not just the end of the school day, but also the beginning of a period when 8 to 15 million of our children are home alone. These so-called "latchkey" children can be found in every American community, whether urban, sub- urban, or rural; they are the children of working parents who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to arrange or afford a better alternative. Not surpris- ingly, most juvenile crimes are committed and most children are likely to become victims of crime during the 5 or 6 hours immediately after the school day ends. Providing appropriate supervision for children after school is one of the more difficult challenges that working parents face. Recognizing this, my Administration has worked hard to provide parents with alternative after- noon activities for their children. Through our 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, under the leadership of Education Secretary Richard Riley, we are providing schools and community organizations with funding to create and expand learning opportunities for children in a drug- free, supervised environment. This program enables schools to stay open longer so that students have places to do their homework, receive coun- seling about the dangers of substance abuse, and participate with mentors in a wide array of academic and recreational activities that challenge their imagination and broaden their horizons. In the 4 years since we created the 21st Century Community Learning Cen- ters program, hundreds of thousands of children across our country have enrolled in safe and smart afterschool programs. My proposed budget for fiscal 2001 will more than double the Federal commitment to this program, enabling us to reach as many as 2.5 million students next year. These com- munity learning centers provide America's parents with the comforting as- surance that, while they are out earning a living, their children are partici- pating in engaging and constructive afterschool activities. To highlight the growing need for afterschool programs, the Afterschool A1- liance--a partnership of public, private, and nonprofit organizations dedi- cated to raising awareness and expanding resources for afterschool pro- grams--has announced a nationwide project called "Lights On 171
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