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HOUSE JOINT 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
 

 

 

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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, THE
15 SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created the Illinois
16 Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission consisting of 10 members
17 appointed as follows: 2 members of the House appointed by the
18 Speaker of the House, 2 members of the House appointed by the
19 Minority Leader of the House, 2 members of the Senate appointed
20 by the President of the Senate, 2 members of the Senate
21 appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, the President
22 of Eureka College or his designee, and (ex-officio) the Mayor

 

 

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1 of the City of Dixon, all of whom shall serve without
2 compensation but shall be reimbursed for their reasonable and
3 necessary expenses from funds appropriated for that purpose;
4 and be it further
 
5     RESOLVED, That the Commission shall select a chairperson
6 from among its members; the Commission shall meet as frequently
7 as necessary, at the call of the chairperson; and be it further
 
8     RESOLVED, That the Commission shall do the following:
9         (1) elevate the centennial of Ronald Reagan's birth to
10     a high profile bipartisan event;
11         (2) recognize Ronald Reagan as the only United States
12     President born and raised in the State of Illinois;
13         (3) stimulate and encourage the creation and growth of
14     programs about Ronald Reagan;
15         (4) highlight and publicize the institutions in the
16     State that are connected to Ronald Reagan and their impact
17     on his life;
18         (5) work with and coordinate statewide organizations
19     and groups commemorating Ronald Reagan's 100th birthday;
20     and
21         (6) encourage communities and citizens to support and
22     get involved in the commemoration; and be it further
 
23     RESOLVED, That the Commission shall work with other state

 

 

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