[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 11803]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
              TRIBUTE TO FORMER PRESIDENT RONALD W. REAGAN

  (Mr. HEFLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, as so many others have, to pay 
tribute to one of our Nation's finest sons and political leaders. 
Former President Ronald Reagan is worthy of respect and admiration both 
as a man and world leader, and his passing this weekend leaves each of 
us with a sense of loss and sadness.
  His lasting mark on American politics is unquestionable. At a time 
when it was fashionable to declare one's political moderation, Reagan 
fearlessly changed the face of American politics by standing up and 
boldly declaring himself to be a conservative. He fought for principles 
and causes that, before his Presidency, were considered heresy. 
Balanced budgets, tax cuts, smaller government, and a robust national 
defense were the hallmarks of his ideology, and he never shied away 
from articulating and fighting for those views.
  He proudly became the father of political conservatism and made it 
possible for people like me to become a Member of Congress. In the late 
1970s and early 1980s, those who espoused conservative political views 
had few outlets from which to share their philosophies, but Reagan 
ushered in an era of conservatism whose tide has yet to wane. The 
makeup of today's political world is due, in large part, to the legacy 
of Ronald Reagan.

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