HR0418

LRB096 12932 KXB 27024 r






1

HOUSE RESOLUTION



 
2
    WHEREAS, President Ronald Wilson Reagan, a man of  humble
 
3
background,  worked  throughout  his life serving freedom and 
4
advancing  the  public  good,  having  been  employed  as  an
 
5
entertainer, union leader, corporate spokesman,  Governor  of
 
6
California, and President of the United States; and
 
7
    WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan was born on February 6, 1911 in 
8
Tampico; he lived in many locations throughout Illinois, 
9
including his boyhood home in Dixon; he attended Eureka College 
10
in Eureka, graduating in 1932, and is a true son of Illinois; 
11
and
 
12
    WHEREAS,  Ronald Reagan served with honor and distinction
 
13
for two terms as the 40th President of the United  States  of
 
14
America,  the  second  of  which  he earned the confidence of

15
three-fifths of the electorate and was victorious  in  49  of
the  
16
50  states in the general election, a record that is unsurpassed    
17
in the history of American presidential elections; and
 

18
    WHEREAS, During Mr. Reagan's presidency, he  worked  in  a

19
bipartisan  manner  to  enact  his  bold  agenda of restoring

20
accountability and common sense to government, which led to an

21
unprecedented economic expansion and opportunity for millions

22
of Americans; and
 
 


 






HR0418
- 2 -
LRB096 12932 KXB 27024 r




1
    WHEREAS,  President  Reagan's  commitment  to  our  armed
forces 
2
contributed to the restoration of  pride  in  America,
her  values  
3
and  those  cherished  by  the  free  world, and
prepared America's 
4
Armed Forces to meet 21st century challenges; and
 
5
    WHEREAS, President  Reagan's  vision  of  "peace  through

6
strength"  helped lead  to  the  end of the Cold War and the 
7
ultimate
demise of the Soviet Union, guaranteeing basic  human  
8
rights
for millions of people; and
 
9
    WHEREAS,  The City of Dixon, Ronald Reagan's boyhood home, 
10
has established a 15-person Centennial Commission in order to 
11
plan the City's celebration of the 100th birthday of this  
12
dynamic and visionary leader in the year 2011; therefore, be it
 
13
    RESOLVED, BY  THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
14
NINETY-SIXTH   GENERAL
ASSEMBLY   OF   THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS, that 
15
there is created the Illinois Ronald Reagan Centennial 
16
Commission consisting of 8 members appointed as follows: 2 
17
members of the House appointed by the Speaker of the House, 2 
18
members of the House appointed by the Minority Leader of the 
19
House, 2 members  appointed by the Governor, the President of 
20
Eureka College or his designee, and the Mayor of the City of 
21
Dixon or his designee, all of whom shall serve without 
22
compensation but shall be reimbursed for their reasonable and 
 


 






HR0418
- 3 -
LRB096 12932 KXB 27024 r




1
necessary expenses from funds appropriated for that purpose; 
2
and be it further
 
3
    RESOLVED, That the Commission shall select a chairperson 
4
from among its members; the Commission shall meet as frequently 
5
as necessary, at the call of the chairperson; and be it further
 
6
    RESOLVED, That the Commission shall do the following:
7
        (1)   elevate the centennial of Ronald Reagan's birth to 
8
    a high profile bipartisan event;


9
        (2)   recognize Ronald Reagan as the only United States 
10
    President born and raised in the State of Illinois;


11
        (3)   stimulate and encourage the creation and growth of 
12
    programs about Ronald Reagan;


13
        (4)   highlight and publicize the institutions in the 
14
    State that are connected to Ronald Reagan and their impact 
15
    on his life; 
16
        (5)   work with and coordinate statewide organizations 
17
    and groups commemorating Ronald Reagan's 100th birthday; 
18
    and
19
        (6)   encourage communities and citizens to support and 
20
    get involved in the commemoration;

and be it further
 
21
    RESOLVED, That the Commission shall work with other state 
22
Reagan Memorial Commissions and the national Commission in 
23
developing a nationwide plan for the celebration of President 
 


 






HR0418
- 4 -
LRB096 12932 KXB 27024 r




1
Reagan's 100th birthday in 2011, including work with Illinois 
2
school districts on appropriate ceremonies to mark the 
3
successful conclusion of the Cold War and President Reagan's 
4
service to the United States; and be it further
 
5
    RESOLVED, That the Commission shall receive staff support 
6
from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency; and be it 
7
further
 
8
    RESOLVED, That the Commission make reports to the Governor 
9
and the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2009, on or 
10
before December 31, 2010, and on or before December 31, 2011.