123STA T . 3 6 21 PROCL A M AT I O N8 3 5 5 — APR. 1 , 2 0 0 9ofal la ges s h o u l d see kr egular a n da p propr i a t e c heck - ups .T hese check-ups should include screening , such as m ammograms, the P ap test, and tests for colorectal cancer, all of w hich can help detect cancer during its earl y stages. H ealthy personal ha b its can also reduce the risk of cancer. S moking ac- counts for thousands of cancer deaths e v ery year, and q uitting — even after many years—can greatly reduce the risk of cancer. Physical inac- tivity and obesity may cause a substantial proportion of colon, breast, endometrial, kidney, and esophageal cancers in the U nited States, so maintaining physical activity and a healthy diet can help prevent can- cer, among other diseases. F inally, moderating alcohol intake and sun e x posure can help protect A mericans. Too many American families have been touched by cancer. As we ob- serve N ational C ancer Control M onth, I call upon all courageous cancer patients and survivors, health care providers, researchers, advocates, and others involved in this struggle to work together in support of our Nation ’ s goal to control, and ultimately defeat, this devastating disease. N OW ,TH ER EFORE, I, B ARAC K OBAMA, President of the United 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 20 0 9 as National Cancer Control Month. I encourage citi z ens, medical insti- tutions, government and social service agencies, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other interested groups to j oin in activities that help control cancer. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of April, in the year of our L ord 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 n835 5o fAp ril 1,20 0 9Nation a lCh il dAbusePr e v ention M onth ,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 When the child next door is maltreated, we all suffer. Every American has a stake in the well-being of our Nation’s children. They are mem- bers of our communities, and they are our future. National Child Abuse Prevention Month provides the opportunity to underscore our commit- ment to preventing and responding appropriately to child abuse. This month, we emphasize the importance of understanding child abuse and the need for all Americans to help families overcome this dev- astating problem. The tragedy of child abuse may afflict American children in different ways. Abuse may occur physically, sexually, and emotionally. Child neglect, another form of child maltreatment, may occur physically and emotionally. Understanding the forms of child abuse is critical to pre- venting and responding to maltreatment.
