109 HRES 785 IH: Honoring the lives and achievements of U.S. House of Representatives 2006-04-27 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV 109th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 785 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 27, 2006 Mr. Langevin (for himself and Mr. Barton of Texas) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce RESOLUTION Honoring the lives and achievements of Christopher and Dana Reeve.

Whereas Christopher Reeve was born on September 25, 1952; Whereas Christopher Reeve graduated from Cornell University in 1974, then pursued his dream of acting by studying at Juilliard; Whereas Christopher Reeve went on to become an accomplished actor on stage, screen, and television, and he secured his place in American history with his role in “Superman” and its subsequent sequels; Whereas Christopher Reeve later distinguished himself as an author, a director, and a producer; Whereas Dana Morisini was born on March 17, 1961; Whereas Dana Morisini graduated from Middlebury College, where she later received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, and she pursued graduate studies in Acting at the California Institute of the Arts; Whereas Dana Morisini was an accomplished singer and actress, with numerous appearances as an actor on television, performances in plays on Broadway, off-Broadway, and at numerous regional theaters, and performances as a singer on television and at various New York venues; Whereas Christopher Reeve and Dana Morisini married on April 11, 1992; Whereas their family included Christopher’s two children Matthew and Alexandra Reeve, and, in 1992, they celebrated the birth of their son, Will; Whereas, in 1995, Christopher Reeve was paralyzed in an accident in an equestrian competition; Whereas, following the accident, Christopher Reeve dedicated himself to raising public awareness about the significance of medical research and the challenges faced by those with disabilities; Whereas Dana Reeve displayed a remarkable commitment to improving the quality of life for individuals with paralysis and other disabilities, as well as their families; Whereas, together, Christopher and Dana Reeve became role models for patients and their caregivers, inspiring many Americans to rise above obstacles; Whereas Christopher and Dana Reeve worked together to establish the Christopher Reeve Foundation, with Christopher Reeve serving as chairman from 1999 to 2004 and Dana Reeve succeeding him as chair in 2004; Whereas the Christopher Reeve Foundation has tremendously improved the quality of life for people with paralysis by establishing a Paralysis Resource Center with the Centers for Disease Control, raising the visibility of the condition and offering information and support to patients and caregivers; Whereas the Christopher Reeve Foundation has helped make great strides in treating and finding a cure for paralysis; Whereas the contributions that Christopher and Dana Reeve made to their family, their community, and the Nation will not be forgotten, including inspiring groundbreaking medical research, breaking down barriers faced by people with disabilities, and educating families about the importance of having adequate health and disability coverage; and Whereas the deaths of Christopher Reeve from heart failure on October 10, 2004, and Dana Reeve from lung cancer on March 6, 2006, marked the loss of two great and generous Americans: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1)honors the lives, achievements, and contributions of Christopher and Dana Reeve; (2)recognizes the contributions of the Christopher Reeve Foundation to improving the health of people living with spinal cord injuries, and other types of paralysis, through research, rehabilitation, and quality of life programs; (3)encourages the Christopher Reeve Foundation to Go Forward inspired by the determination, courage, and vision exemplified by Christopher and Dana Reeve; and (4)extends its deepest sympathies to the Reeve and Morisini families for the loss of two truly inspiring individuals.