Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act
Floor Speech
RONALD REAGAN CENTENNIAL COMMISSION ACT -- (House of Representatives - March 09, 2009)
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. LYNCH. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 131, the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act, creates a Federal commission to honor and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Ronald Reagan. The measure has been properly vetted and amended accordingly by the House Oversight Committee and is nearly identical to the bill approved by the House in the last Congress. However, in line with calls for a more fiscally responsible government, the only real change to this year's bill is the inclusion of amending language to prevent the expenditure of Federal funds to carry out the work of the commission.
Ronald Reagan was born in Illinois in 1911. He later moved to California, where he became a successful Hollywood actor and later the president of the Screen Actors Guild. On the screen, he was best known for portraying George Gipp, a famous player who, on his deathbed, famously urged his teammates to ``go out there with all they've got and win just one for the Gipper.'' President Reagan would carry the nickname Gipper and the boundless optimism that he epitomized in that quote for the remainder of his life.
After serving two terms as the 33rd Governor of the State of California, in January, 1981, Ronald Reagan was sworn in as our Nation's 40th President. As we are all aware, Mr. Reagan would hold and serve as the Commander in Chief of our country for two terms, between 1980-1988.
Known as the ``Great Communicator,'' President Reagan spoke ably and directly to the American people about the pressing issues of his time. He positioned the United States as a strong counterpoint and a beacon of freedom and hope in the face of an oppressive Soviet Communist regime. Whether urging Premier Gorbachev to ``Tear down this wall,'' or declaring it ``Morning in America,'' President Reagan, through his words and deeds, embodied the eternal optimism that is at the core of our American spirit.
Early in his Presidency, President Reagan is said to have remarked that, ``What I'd really like to do is to go down in history as the President who caused the American people to believe in themselves again.''
Mr. Speaker, I am sure that most people will agree that President Reagan's optimism in the face of great difficulty has great relevance today, as they are in harmony with President Obama's current message of hope and renewal for our country in the midst of our current challenges.
I am confident that upon enactment of H.R. 131, the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission will be able to find ways to respectfully and appropriately honor and pay tribute to the accomplishments of one of America's recent and notable leaders, the late President Ronald Reagan.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I stand in support of H.R. 131, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.
I reserve the balance of my time.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. LYNCH. I would simply urge my colleagues to join us in the support of H.R. 131. We urge its adoption.
I yield back the balance of my time.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source