[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 22 (Friday, February 11, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E207]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING PRESIDENT RONALD WILSON REAGAN

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. AARON SCHOCK

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 9, 2011

  Mr. SCHOCK. Mr. Speaker, it's a great honor to talk for a few minutes 
this afternoon about our 40th President--Ronald Reagan.
  I am sure many are asking how the youngest Member of Congress can 
relate to the oldest President. Well, the truth is while growing up in 
the 80's I can only admit knowing of the President by seeing him on TV, 
but it was the eight years of his presidency that helped define the 
principles I hold today.
  In my mind, President Reagan is still as relevant today as he was 
during his presidency. In fact, many of the issues we face today are 
eerily similar to those we faced in the 1980's--Tax Code reform, 
volatility in the Middle East, discussions about America's strength and 
role among the global community and our uniqueness, but most 
importantly the role of government in our lives.
  It was Reagan who took on the daunting task of Tax Code 
simplification, and he got it done. He helped America regain her 
economic footing again; and it's the same level ground we are seeking 
today.
  It was Reagan that always displayed that characteristic optimism of 
America's brilliance that was so vital to the American mindset back 
then. It's with that optimism that we found our strength especially 
during difficult times.
  Communism was plaguing the world--we defeated it.
  The tragedy of the Challenger--it was Reagan that comforted us, but 
reminded us that ``the future doesn't belong to the fainthearted; it 
belongs to the brave.''
  Today, we find ourselves facing a dangerous ideology that runs 
counter to ours, and we are constantly reminded that the future we 
strive towards is no less challenging and risky than that of previous 
generations. We are witnesses to new and vital democratic movements 
around the world, and yet again today we are going through the growing 
pains of what government means to us.
  As I conclude my remarks, I think it is only fitting to do so with a 
Reagan quote that encapsulated the final words of his third State of 
the Union, and that sums up the legacy he left behind, that we strive 
for again, and why my generation and I are able to stand before you 
today . . . .
  ``Let us be sure that those who come after will say of us in our 
time; that in our time we did everything that could be done. We 
finished the race; we kept them free; we kept the faith.''
  Well, Mr. President, job well done. We'll take it from here.

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