[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 17]
[House]
[Pages 23829-23832]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



  HONORING MAUREEN REAGAN ON THE OCCASION OF HER DEATH AND EXPRESSING 
                       CONDOLENCES TO HER FAMILY

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
joint resolution (H.J. Res. 60) honoring Maureen Reagan on the occasion 
of her death and expressing condolences to her family, including her 
husband Dennis Revell and her daughter Rita Revell, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H.J. Res. 60

       Whereas the Congress is greatly saddened by the tragic 
     death of Maureen Reagan on August 8, 2001;
       Whereas Maureen Reagan's love of life and countless 
     contributions to family and the Nation serve as an 
     inspiration to millions;
       Whereas Maureen Reagan was a remarkable advocate for a 
     number of causes and had many passions, the greatest being 
     her dedication to addressing the scourge of Alzheimer's 
     disease;
       Whereas in 1994 when former President Ronald Reagan 
     announced that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's 
     disease, Maureen Reagan joined her father and Nancy Reagan in 
     the fight against Alzheimer's disease and became a national 
     spokesperson for the Alzheimer's Association;
       Whereas Maureen Reagan served as a tireless advocate to 
     raise public awareness about Alzheimer's disease, support 
     care givers, and substantially increase the Nation's 
     commitment to research on Alzheimer's disease;
       Whereas Maureen Reagan helped inspire the Congress to 
     increase Federal research funding for Alzheimer's disease by 
     amounts proportionate to increases in research funding for 
     other major diseases;
       Whereas Maureen Reagan went far beyond merely lending her 
     name to the work of the Alzheimer's Association: she was a 
     hands-on activist on the association's board of directors, a 
     masterful fund-raiser, a forceful advocate, and a selfless 
     and constant traveler to anywhere and everywhere Alzheimer's 
     advocates needed help;
       Whereas at every stop she made and every event she attended 
     in her efforts to eradicate Alzheimer's disease through 
     research, Maureen Reagan emphasized that researchers are in a 
     ``race against time before Alzheimer's reaches epidemic 
     levels'' with the aging of the Baby Boomers;
       Whereas Maureen Reagan stated before the Congress in 2000 
     that ``14 million Baby Boomers are living with a death 
     sentence of Alzheimer's today'';
       Whereas despite her declining health, Maureen Reagan never 
     decreased her efforts in her battle to eliminate Alzheimer's 
     disease;
       Whereas during the last six months of her life, from her 
     hospital bed and home, Maureen Reagan urged the Congress to 
     increase funding for Alzheimer's disease research at the 
     National Institutes of Health;
       Whereas Maureen Reagan said, ``The best scientific minds 
     have been brought into the race against Alzheimer's, a solid 
     infrastructure is in place, and the path for further 
     investigations is clear. What's missing is the money, 
     especially the Federal investment, to keep up the pace.''; 
     and
       Whereas Maureen Reagan's remarkable advocacy for the 
     millions affected and afflicted by Alzheimer's disease will 
     forever serve as an inspiration to continue and ultimately 
     win the battle against the illness: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled, That the 
     Congress, on the occasion of the tragic and untimely death of 
     Maureen Reagan--

[[Page 23830]]

       (1) recognizes Maureen Reagan as one of the Nation's most 
     beloved and forceful champions for action to cure Alzheimer's 
     disease and treat those suffering from the illness; and
       (2) expresses deep and heartfelt condolences to the family 
     of Maureen Reagan, including her husband Dennis Revell and 
     her daughter Rita Revell.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis).


                             General Leave

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on the joint resolution under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.J. Res. 60 honoring Maureen 
Reagan. I would like to thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. 
Markey) for sponsoring this resolution. Maureen Reagan was once 
described by one of her critics as one who was ``not schooled in the 
ways of holding her tongue.'' Thank goodness she was not because we are 
all better off as a result of her powerful words.
  Her desire to contribute to our Nation started at a young age when in 
1952 she knocked on doors for Dwight Eisenhower. That early enthusiasm 
stretched into her adult life. She promoted American businesses abroad 
in the early 1980s, represented the United States at the U.N. Decade 
for Women Conference in 1985, and chaired the Republican National 
Committee as well as the Republican Women's Political Action League.
  More than all of this impressive and important work, however, what 
stands out most as an inspiration to millions of Americans is her 
tireless dedication to addressing the plague of Alzheimer's disease. 
The chairman of the Alzheimer's Association board of directors called 
her the Joan of Arc of Alzheimer's. Anyone whose life has been touched 
or will be touched by the disease owes her a debt of gratitude. Even at 
the end of her life she disregarded her own failing health in order to 
educate people about Alzheimer's and speak in favor of increased 
funding for research. As Ms. Reagan said, ``We are in a race against 
time before Alzheimer's reaches epidemic levels.''
  Today, 4 million people are living with Alzheimer's; and this number 
will grow as the baby boomer population ages. Research is essential to 
a cure for Alzheimer's, and funding is essential to research. The 
experts are gaining ground, and the course for future science is clear. 
Before this disease puts an incredible strain on our Nation's public 
health system, we must take the initiative, Maureen Reagan's 
initiative, and confront this scourge with a commitment to finding a 
remedy.
  Mr. Speaker, the Secret Service agents who guarded Maureen Reagan in 
life and who carried her casket at her funeral had given her the code 
name ``Radiant.'' I believe there is not a more fitting description of 
her life, her work and her memory. Mr. Speaker, I hope all of my 
colleagues will join me in supporting H.J. Res. 60 in honoring Maureen 
Reagan, her work and her courageous spirit.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey), 
for his work on this resolution, H.J. Res. 60, recognizing Maureen 
Reagan as one of the country's most effective advocates on behalf of 
Alzheimer's disease and expresses the House condolences to her family.
  Maureen Reagan is the daughter of former President Ronald Reagan and 
his first wife, actress Jane Wyman. She died in August of this year 
after a courageous 5-year battle with malignant melanoma. She was 60 at 
the time. Since her father's diagnosis of Alzheimer's in 1994, Maureen 
Reagan was committed to raising awareness about Alzheimer's and the 
importance of family caregivers.
  She was elected a member of the Alzheimer's Association's national 
board 3 years ago. She testified on numerous occasions before this 
Congress and State legislatures in support of more funding for 
Alzheimer's research and caregivers' support.
  A year ago she received the Alzheimer's Association Distinguished 
Service Award for outstanding service to the national board and for 
helping to advance the mission of this organization. She was also 
active in raising awareness about melanoma, the deadliest form of skin 
cancer. In 1998, she received the president's Gold Triangle Award from 
the American Academy of Dermatology for her work in raising awareness 
of melanoma and for promoting the importance of skin examination. For 
that we recognize her.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts 
(Mr. Markey).
  Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for helping to make 
this resolution possible. The gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) and 
I introduced this resolution as a way of honoring this great woman. She 
died on August 8. She passed away after having waged a courageous 5-
year battle with cancer. With her passing, this country has lost a true 
leader in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. She was an 
extraordinary woman, a talented spokesperson, a tireless advocate.
  As a member of the Alzheimer's Association's national board of 
directors, she worked with Members of Congress to increase funding for 
Alzheimer's research. She provided compelling testimony before Congress 
warning that Alzheimer's was on the road to becoming the epidemic of 
the 21st century unless science could find a way to prevent millions of 
baby boomers from getting the disease.
  Just prior to her untimely death, she called on Congress to double 
the funding for Alzheimer's research at the NIH to $1 billion by 2003. 
As co-chair with the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) of the 
Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease, I always valued 
Maureen's sage advice on task force goals and legislative initiatives.
  In March 2000 when Maureen came to lobby Congress for increased 
Alzheimer's research funding, in between a busy schedule of press 
interviews and visits with congressional leaders, she spent several 
hours meeting with members of the Alzheimer's Task Force, including the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) and myself. In that meeting, 
Maureen expertly outlined the research breakthroughs of the 1990s and 
reiterated that scientists were in a race against time to find the 
answers to Alzheimer's disease.
  With grace and warmth and delightful wit, Maureen convinced lawmakers 
to pay attention to the scourge plaguing one in 10 Americans over the 
age of 65, and 50 percent of the seniors over the age of 85. She took 
the tragedy of her own father's illness and chose to fight not only for 
him, but also for the 4 million Americans who currently have 
Alzheimer's disease and for the 15 million Americans who are predicted 
to have this disease by the time all of the baby boomers have retired, 
a staggering number of Americans.
  Mr. Speaker, it takes tremendous courage to take on Alzheimer's 
disease in such a public way when a parent is still at home in a 
deteriorating condition from that same disease. She knew that there was 
no time to waste, and so she took on the challenge despite a heavy 
emotional burden. Even as her own health declined, she refused to let 
up in her advocacy role, continuing her fight for more Federal research 
dollars from her hospital bed, and later while recovering from cancer 
treatments at home in California.
  Mr. Speaker, I can think of no better way to pay tribute to Maureen's 
legacy than to continue her fight to create a world without Alzheimer's 
disease. Although we have lost her voice, Maureen's passion and energy 
live on

[[Page 23831]]

and continue to inspire us as we work to improve the quality of life 
for those affected by Alzheimer's disease.
  Mr. Speaker, I am deeply saddened by the loss of Maureen and miss her 
dearly. My thoughts and prayers are with her husband, Dennis, her 
daughter, Rita, and the entire Reagan family. May she rest in peace.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin).
  Mr. TAUZIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Joint Resolution 
60 honoring Maureen Reagan, and I recognize the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Markey) for his extraordinary thoughtfulness and 
consideration in offering this resolution. This resolution speaks as 
well of Maureen Reagan as it does of its author, the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Markey), for his fine work as co-chair of the 
Alzheimer's task force and for the great work the gentleman has done 
for bringing attention to this issue.
  Maureen Reagan was a vivacious woman with a passion for life and 
family and country. She had a contagious enthusiasm, an unshakeable 
will for all of the interests that she pursued. She actively campaigned 
for her father, former President Ronald Reagan, and spent much energy 
in the 1980s fund-raising for Republican women who were seeking office.
  Although she was nationally recognized for her political activities 
and her commentary, it was her work for victims of Alzheimer's that 
brought the most attention to her life and perhaps her greatest 
contribution. When the disease silenced the great communicator, Maureen 
Reagan, who shared her father's knack for public speaking, became the 
national spokeswoman for the Alzheimer's Association, and her advocacy 
raised awareness of not only her father's condition, but also the 4 
million Americans currently living with Alzheimer's.

                              {time}  1615

  In the final years of her life she traveled the Nation nearly 
nonstop, ignoring her own failing health, to gather support for 
Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers.
  She was unwavering in her enthusiasm and optimism that a cure was 
close at hand and she made several appearances here before Congress, 
calling for increased Federal spending. Although Ms. Reagan did not 
live to see a cure for Alzheimer's, the national recognition of the 
disease and the resulting progress and research have much to do with 
her efforts. Just last week a report was issued that a single 
ibuprophen tablet taken each day can literally limit the onset and, in 
fact, diminish and decrease the onset of Alzheimer's disease. That kind 
of research is possible today, those breakthroughs, because of much of 
the work that she did. Her tireless commitment and campaign against 
Alzheimer's will serve as an inspiration for those who continue to 
fight this ghastly disease.
  Again, I want to thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey), 
my dear friend, for his thoughtfulness and consideration in bringing 
this resolution forward, and I urge its adoption.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons).
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), my colleague and good friend. I am happy to be 
here today to come to the floor of the House to join with my colleagues 
in the House to commemorate the life and work of a dear friend, the 
strong and vibrant Maureen Reagan.
  Mr. Speaker, many things have been said on this House Floor today 
about Maureen Reagan, all of which I share, and I would like to join in 
and add my voice to the same great comments that have been made about 
Maureen Reagan and her life and her dedication to what she did. The 
numerous contributions that Maureen made to the causes and charities 
that she pursued would remind all of us of the person, the courage, and 
the passion and the leadership qualities that she shared with her 
father.
  Mr. Speaker, many times I have met with Maureen and her family, 
either at her home in California or mine in Nevada, and never once did 
Maureen, even though she was afflicted with cancer, ever complain about 
her status, her health, or the fact that she did have a terrible 
disease called cancer. She was always vibrant, she was always 
outspoken, always talking positively and passionately about the future 
and where she was going with her work in dealing with these charitable 
organizations and issues that she did deal with.
  In putting these great qualities to work, Maureen would go on to 
leave many of her own footsteps across this Nation for many to follow. 
She never once needed her name to prove both her effectiveness or her 
charm. Maureen's deep commitment to raising the awareness of 
Alzheimer's disease and the importance of research confirmed her status 
as a selfless, dedicated benefactor for millions of Americans. I extend 
my heartfelt prayers and deepest condolences to Maureen's husband, 
Dennis, and her lovely daughter, Rita. Indeed, the sense of loss that 
our Nation has felt is in no comparison to that, I am sure, of 
Maureen's own family.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Massachusetts 
(Mr. Markey), as well as the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) for 
bringing H.J. Res. 60 to the floor, and I urge my colleagues to join me 
in honoring this courageous and amazing woman. Maureen's contributions 
to her family and Nation will certainly never be forgotten.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding me this time.
  First of all, I want to thank, as did the gentleman from Louisiana 
(Mr. Tauzin) a few moments ago, our very distinguished colleague from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Markey) for his kindness in sponsoring this 
legislation. I think it shows a real sensitivity for Maureen Reagan who 
was a very courageous woman, wife and mother, and a tireless advocate, 
a champion, for research and medical assistance for Alzheimer's 
patients and, equally important, for their caregivers.
  As we all know, one of those victims includes her own father, 
President Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan was a fighter since his early 
days growing up during the Great Depression, but he turned his 
disclosure that he suffered from Alzheimer's Disease into a battle for 
more research money and more assistance for his fellow patients. When 
Ronald Reagan was unable to continue this fight because of his own 
deteriorating condition, his daughter, Maureen Reagan, stepped up to 
the plate and became one of the most tenacious advocates for 
Alzheimer's research and for trying to find a cure for this horrific 
disease. Her untimely death to cancer this past summer caused the 
Alzheimer's community to lose one of its best.
  Significantly, even while battling cancer during 5 tough years, 
Maureen never rested in her quest to try to procure more research money 
and to help more patients and their loved ones with this terrible 
disease. Not long before she died, as the gentleman from Massachusetts 
pointed out earlier, she called on Congress to double to $1 billion the 
amount of money allocated for Alzheimer's research by the National 
Institutes of Health.
  As was also pointed out, this disease afflicts so many of our 
families. Half of those over age 85 suffer to some degree from 
Alzheimer's, and 1 of every 10 Americans over the age of 65 also is in 
some stage of Alzheimer's disease. The current number of affected--4 
million--will grow to 14 million people if we do not take prompt action 
and do all that is humanly possible to mitigate and hopefully eradicate 
this terrible disease.
  Maureen Reagan was a great champion. She will be sorely missed in 
this battle. And we want to just, and I know this will be a unanimous 
vote on both

[[Page 23832]]

sides of the aisle, say to her loved ones, to her husband and to her 
daughter and to the entire family, how much we deeply care for them and 
how we miss Maureen Reagan.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.J. Res. 60 and to 
pay tribute to my friend Maureen Reagan, a loving wife and mother, a 
dedicated member of the Republican Party, and a crusader for 
Alzheimer's Disease sufferers. I also extend my deepest condolences to 
her husband, my friend and former constituent, Dennis Revell, and their 
daughter Rita.
  I had the privilege of knowing Maureen for over two decades. In 1980, 
she was a tireless volunteer in her father's campaign for the White 
House. Following his election, she became a vigorous activist for 
female Republicans, raising funds for over 100 candidates. She also 
served in an appointed position in the California Republican Party, and 
later ran to be a Member of this House.
  After President Reagan poignantly shared with the world his 
Alzheimer's diagnosis, Maureen continued to dedicate her life to 
another worthy cause: educating the American public about this 
debilitating and degenerative disease. Even as Maureen was personally 
battling cancer, her resolve in making Americans more aware of 
Alzheimer's disease was remarkable; her passion unyielding. Testifying 
in front of congressional committees, Ms. Reagan added her voice in 
promoting the worthy work of our federal medical research agencies. 
Until the very end, Maureen continually reminded all of us how public 
advocacy can be vibrant and how public service can be courageous.
  She will be missed by her family and friends, by the Alzheimer's 
patients for whom she worked so tirelessly, by the Republican party, 
and indeed by all Americans.
  Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, one of the best parts of seeking my seat in 
Congress was meeting Maureen Reagan in 1992, when she ran in the 
primary for her party's nomination. It was my good fortune that, after 
Maureen lost, her supporters became mine and she and I became great 
friends.
  Maureen brought an intelligence and vibrancy to the campaign and 
although she did not win her party's nomination, she continued to 
influence many policy debates, particularly in health care after her 
father revealed he was suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
  I am deeply saddened to lose a friend. California and the nation have 
lost a strong and active voice.
  I join my colleagues in honoring the life of Maureen Reagan.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Culberson). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) that the 
House suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution, H. J. Res. 60, 
as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the joint resolution, as amended, 
was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________