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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
 

 

 

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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, 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

 

 

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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

 

 

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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.