[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 11808-11850]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1045
            MOURNING THE PASSING OF PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN

  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the previous order of the House, I 
call up the resolution (H. Res. 664) mourning the passing of President 
Ronald Reagan and celebrating his service to the people of the United 
States and his leadership in promoting the cause of freedom for all the 
people of the world, and ask for its immediate further consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Radanovich). The Clerk will report the 
title of the resolution.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Time for debate on the resolution on the 
legislative day of June 8 had expired.
  Pursuant to the order of the House of that day, it is now in order to 
conduct a further period of debate on the resolution.
  The gentleman from California (Mr. Cox) and the gentleman from Utah 
(Mr. Matheson) each will control 1\1/2\ hours.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox).
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the Land of Lincoln and the birthplace of Ronald 
Reagan, and the chairman of the Committee on International Relations.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  I have given much thought to what I might usefully contribute to the 
chorus of those thousands who will be called upon or be moved to voice 
their respect and their sadness at the death of President Reagan. His 
accomplishments will be rightly celebrated, his humanity and character 
justly praised, his passing mourned in words of elegance and emotion. 
How large a stone can one hope to add to this touring mountain?
  President Reagan was the oldest person to be elected President in our 
history, and this is proof that you get the sweetest music from the 
oldest violins.
  In the play Camelot, King Arthur says, ``We are all of us tiny drops 
in a vast ocean, but some of them sparkle.'' President Reagan was never 
a tiny drop in a vast ocean, but he did indeed sparkle.
  By his life and service he put the ``sacred'' back in honor. Not 
through exhortation, but by example, Reagan's gentle leadership 
reminded a country disoriented by doubt of its enduring beliefs. In 
this, his guiding principle was

[[Page 11809]]

that of George Washington's, ``Let us raise a standard in which the 
wise and honest can repair. The event is in the hand of God.''
  He was a rare and subtly powerful speaker, able to instill in others 
a confident belief in their own capacities and goodness. And he could 
also inspire oppressed millions to demolish empires.
  His eloquence reminds me of the story of ancient Greeks who, when 
Pericles spoke, said, ``How well he speaks.'' But when Demosthenes 
spoke, they said, ``Let us march.''
  Among his many virtues was his defense of the powerless unborn. 
President Reagan understood that the precious gift of life was not 
confined to the privileged, the planned, and the perfect. Some have 
said that the most fearful aspect of dying is the terrible aloneness 
you must endure at the particular judgment; no advocate, no relative, 
no spouse, no child, just you, your sins and God. But I am sure 
President Reagan is not alone. I believe the silence was broken by the 
voices of thousands of little children, voices that were never heard in 
this world but are heard in the next, all pleading, ``Dear Lord, spare 
him, for he loved us very much.''
  And then I can imagine Mr. Reagan heard a gentle voice, ``Come, 
beloved of my father, and enter the kingdom which has been prepared for 
you since the beginning of time.''
  Mr. President, ``The shadows have lengthened, evening has come, and 
the busy world is hushed. The fever of life is over, and your work is 
done. May God in his mercy give you a safe lodging and a holy rest and 
peace at the last.''
  Mr. MATHESON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor President Ronald Reagan. We can 
all admire the journey of his life. It was a life built on love of 
family and a profound love of our country.
  In this time of mourning, I offer my sincere condolences and prayers 
to the President's family, especially to his wife Nancy. I hope that 
the sincere good wishes of all of their fellow countrymen can help to 
bring them some comfort at this time.
  Above all else, the President was a leader who had strong opinions, 
yet he always respected the institution of government and worked within 
both parties to provide enduring success to millions of Americans.
  Before he was President, Ronald Reagan was the Governor of a Western 
State and a leader who understood issues important to the West. As a 
Member of Congress from the Rocky Mountain West, I hold a deep 
appreciation for President Reagan's efforts to protect the Western way 
of life.
  One issue that stands out is that of the MX missile. In the 1970s and 
1980s, the Department of Defense was working to build the massive MX 
missile racetrack system in Utah's west desert, despite Utah's 
opposition. President Reagan was a strong advocate for national 
defense, and the military initially thought he would be a supporter of 
this proposal. As a fellow Westerner, President Reagan understood 
Utah's desire to protect its ranching and farming heritage. He 
understood why the State and its citizens adamantly opposed the 
project.
  My father was Governor of Utah at that time. He found an open door in 
the Reagan administration, and he worked in a bipartisan manner with 
the administration to put an end to this plan. Thankfully for my State, 
President Reagan came into the situation with an open mind, and he was 
willing to listen to local stakeholders about their concerns with the 
MX proposal.
  President Reagan established a process by which affected people could 
actually make their feelings known, which even now is a testament to 
the importance of a responsive Federal Government.
  That was Reagan's approach. While he was a man of strong convictions, 
he was known for his civility and kindness in a business that is often 
abrasive. Ever the gentleman, his example is a good reminder to all of 
us in elected office of what it takes to truly serve our constituency.
  I honor President Reagan's service to this great Nation. He will be 
missed.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), the distinguished chairman of the 
Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me 
this time.
  I first met Ronald Reagan over 40 years ago when I was an 
undergraduate student at Stanford University in California. He and I 
and some others were involved in a primary election campaign for a 
United States Senator from California which proved to be very 
unsuccessful. But in the meetings that I attended that Mr. Reagan 
chaired, I recognized him as being a unique person with an uncanny 
knack to bring out the best in everybody.
  He certainly proved that during his subsequent career: two successful 
terms as Governor of California and two successful terms as President 
of the United States, leaving office with the highest approval rating 
of any departing President since Franklin Roosevelt.
  Look at the shape America was in when Ronald Reagan was elected in 
1980. We went through a horrible decade of the 1970s. There was a 
Vietnam War, there was Watergate, there was Nixon's resignation, Gerald 
Ford's unsuccessful Whip Inflation Now campaign, Jimmy Carter's 
malaise, and long lines at the gas pump to buy 5 gallons of gas.
  When President Reagan took office, he got us out of our national 
funk. His Morning in America speech and his philosophy gave us as a 
Nation and as individual Americans the self-confidence to do what 
America has always done; that is, to achieve the ultimate dream, to 
overcome the impossible, and to have each and every one of us reach our 
highest and best.
  Much is said about Reagan turning around the economy and winning the 
Cold War, and some of the debate on the Cold War was about the so-
called Strategic Defense Initiative, but there was a decision that 
Ronald Reagan made earlier that laid the groundwork for the collapse of 
communism. He persuaded then German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt to deploy 
Pershing II and cruise missiles in West Germany. That was extremely 
controversial at the time both in Europe and the United States. People 
said putting more missiles would encourage an arms race.
  Well, Mr. Schmidt agreed to deploy them. He might have lost his job 
as a result of it, but he was able to see the fall of the Berlin Wall 
and the unification of Germany during his lifetime, and we have got to 
give credit to Ronald Reagan's international skills for doing that.
  God bless you President Reagan, may you rest in peace.
  Mr. MATHESON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Hill).
  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, this past weekend Americans learned of 
President Ronald Reagan's death. The President was an honorable and 
decent man whose legacy forever will be linked with the great love and 
optimism he had for his country. Unfortunately, his long and courageous 
struggle with Alzheimer's disease took him from us long before his 
death.
  As a fellow Midwesterner, I appreciated the traditional American 
values he brought to Washington: his good humor, his love for his 
family, and belief in America. At a time when Americans had lost 
confidence in themselves, President Reagan reminded us we could achieve 
any goal, no matter how lofty.
  When President Reagan addressed a grieving Nation after the 
Challenger explosion, he honored the astronauts for the way in which 
they lived their lives and affirmed that we would never forget them. 
Eloquently, he quoted the poem ``High Flight,'' declaring the 
astronauts had ``slipped the surly bonds of Earth to touch the face of 
God.''
  Mr. Speaker, today in this House, we are honoring President Reagan 
for the way in which he lived his life and led our Nation. And as he 
takes his own journey to touch the face of God, I am confident in this 
statement: That his

[[Page 11810]]

life and achievements will forever be remembered by this grateful 
Nation.
  As the country and the world mourn his death, we will remember 
President Reagan as a great American who was a beacon of freedom for 
people everywhere. I think I speak for all of the Hoosiers in offering 
my condolences to his wife Nancy and the children.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona 
(Mr. Hayworth).
  Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Cox) for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise with the formidable challenge in 2 minutes to 
convey the thoughts and prayers of Arizonans and Americans as we 
remember our 40th President. While it is true that Ronald Reagan was a 
son of Illinois and a Governor of California before becoming the 
President of us all, it is also true that Arizona played an important 
part in his life.
  Arizona was the place where Ronald and Nancy Reagan honeymooned. 
Arizona was the place where some of their children attended high 
school. Arizona was the place where Nancy's parents lived; and Arizona 
was the site of one of President Reagan's final political appearances. 
Even as our favorite son, Barry Goldwater, gave birth to then Ronald 
Reagan's political career in that epic speech A Time For Choosing in 
1964, telecast nationally, which really put Ronald Reagan on the 
political stage, it was former President Reagan who arrived in downtown 
Phoenix 5 days before the 1992 election to offer words of support to 
candidates of our party.

                              {time}  1100

  I had the privilege of emceeing this gathering, and I was offstage 
with the former President as our now senior Senator offered remarks of 
introduction, and those remarks included the statement from Margaret 
Thatcher that the Cold War was won by one man, Ronald Wilson Reagan, 
and that victory came without a single shot being fired.
  Mr. Speaker, I was in a unique position to hear the words of my 
friend from Arizona and to look at the reaction on the face of our 
former President.
  Mr. Speaker, it is well known that many of us who enter the public 
arena suffer from no lack of self-esteem.
  Mr. Speaker, I can tell you that President Reagan was incredibly 
humble, and that humility was expressed on his face as he offered a 
characteristic shrug of the shoulders before going out to offer his 
words to the assembly.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, and to my colleagues, let me simply say 
this. In observation from one of my constituents whose daughter-in-law 
escaped from behind the Iron Curtain, she said, ``President Lincoln 
freed the slaves of America. President Reagan freed the enslaved 
millions of Eastern Europe.''
  God bless America. God bless Ronald Reagan.
  Mr. MATHESON. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Gutknecht).
  Mr. GUTKNECHT. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues today in paying 
tribute to a man who influenced my life personally, and I think I speak 
for many of my colleagues when I say that we would not be in politics, 
I indeed would not be in Congress, if it were not for Ronald Reagan.
  President Reagan embodied the values that made America the shining 
city on the Hill: faith, family, freedom, and personal responsibility. 
Born to humble beginnings, he never lost the common touch. Few public 
officials had more empathy for the common people. He could make us 
laugh or cry, depending on what the situation called for. Most of all, 
he made us proud, proud to be Americans.
  Ronald Reagan came into office during a great malaise. He made us 
believe again in ourselves, in our capacity to achieve great things. He 
ignored his critics and the cynics. He shouldered on with unstoppable 
optimism. He consigned Communism to the ash heap of history. As 
Margaret Thatcher said, he won the Cold War without firing a shot. He 
changed our party. He changed the way Americans see themselves; and in 
the end, he changed the world.
  Borrowing from the song, I said to my wife, Mary, when he left 
office, he was a long time coming. He will be a long time gone. I thank 
God for giving us such men.
  Mr. MATHESON. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Royce), the home State of our dearly departed 
President.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, first, both personally and on behalf of my 
constituents in Orange County, let me offer my condolences to Mrs. 
Reagan and the Reagan family. I, like so many of my colleagues, 
probably would not be standing here today if it were not for Ronald 
Reagan.
  He was an inspiration for a whole generation of young Americans, and 
his message of limited government and unlimited freedom, as well as his 
boundless optimism about America's future, motivated me and so many 
others to get involved in the affairs of our Nation. I first met Ronald 
Reagan as a student in California. That experience led me to become 
involved in the Youth For Reagan movement.
  Over the years, I was privileged to meet him many more times. It was 
one of the most memorable meetings in 1986. I was visiting the White 
House as a State senator on the day that President Reagan ordered the 
bombing of Libya because of their open support for international 
terrorism. The President told me what a difficult decision it was, but 
how the future of our Nation and the safety of our citizens depended on 
firm action.
  President Reagan was never afraid to take a stand, never afraid to do 
what was right, even if it was not popular at the moment.
  In 1964 Ronald Reagan spoke these words to a generation of Americans: 
``You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. Will we preserve for our 
children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or will we sentence 
them to take the last step into a thousand years of darkness?''
  President Reagan understood the evil of communism. He knew the Cold 
War would end. He knew that there would be winners and there would be 
losers. Thanks to his resolve, freedom won. Thanks to his resolve, 
millions of people were set free.
  President Reagan also understood that free markets go hand in hand 
with individual liberties. In 1981 he said:
  ``We who live in free market societies believe that growth, 
prosperity and ultimately human fulfillment are created from the bottom 
up, not the government down. Only when the human spirit is allowed to 
invent and create, only when individuals are given a personal stake in 
deciding economic policies and benefiting from their success, only then 
can societies remain economically alive, dynamic, progressive and 
free.''
  At his second inauguration, speaking inside the rotunda of this 
Capitol building, President Reagan said:
  ``Our Nation is poised for greatness. We must do what we know is 
right, and do it with all our might. Let history say of us, these were 
golden years, when the American revolution was reborn, when freedom 
gained new life and America reached for her best.''
  Throughout his career, Ronald Reagan was always helping America reach 
for her best. He inspired us with his spirit, with his optimism; and he 
led us with his commitment to principle and unwavering resolve. America 
and the rest of the world are better, safer, and freer places today 
because
of Ronald Reagan. We will miss him
dearly.
  Mr. MATHESON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sandlin).
  Mr. SANDLIN. I thank my colleague for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with a profound sense of loss and sadness that I 
rise today to honor the memory of one of our Nation's most influential 
leaders, former President Ronald Reagan. Much has been said, and 
rightfully so, about President Reagan's infectious love of

[[Page 11811]]

this great Nation. Ronald Wilson Reagan firmly believed that the United 
States of America had a unique role to play in the world and a singular 
place in history. In his first inaugural address he reflected on this 
faith in country in attributing the unparalleled prosperity and 
opportunity of this great land to the fact that ``freedom and the 
dignity of the individual have been made more available and assured 
here than in any other place on Earth.''
  Mr. Speaker, his singular commitment to the inherent worth of the 
individual is a hallmark of Ronald Reagan's personal and political 
legacy. His sincere devotion to that core idea defined his personality, 
and it defined his Presidency. President Reagan defied then 
conventional wisdom that American heroes were a thing of the past. He 
said, ``Those who say that we are in a time when there are no heroes 
just don't know where to look. You can see heroes every day going in 
and out of factory gates. Others, a handful in number, produce enough 
food to feed all of us and then the world beyond. You meet heroes 
across a counter, and they are on both sides of that counter.'' 
President Reagan's heroes were, in his words, ``the citizens of this 
blessed land.''
  Mr. Speaker, President Reagan has often been called the Great 
Communicator, but President Reagan told us himself that he preferred to 
think of himself as a communicator of great things. However, to reduce 
Ronald Reagan to the words he spoke would be a tremendous disservice to 
his legacy, just as it would be wrong to reduce Abraham Lincoln's 
legacy to the Gettysburg Address or FDR's to the eloquent power of his 
fireside chats. President Reagan truly believed the ideas he 
communicated, and that faith drove in many ways a shift in the course 
of American politics.
  Mr. Speaker, President Reagan was a unique figure in our politics. 
His devotion to principle, his commitment to the American people, his 
singular faith in the power of one were infectious. Yet despite his 
unrepentant drive to achieve what has been appropriately called the 
Reagan Revolution, he pushed his agenda with a smile and he relished 
open and honest debate. Notwithstanding sometimes profound 
disagreements, President Reagan understood that at the end of the day, 
we were not Democrats and Republicans but, rather, Americans and 
friends. He truly understood that there is a tremendous difference 
between strong beliefs and bitter partisanship.
  Mr. Speaker, President Reagan was an eternal optimist who changed the 
world with hope and taught Americans that, even in the face of trials 
and tragedy, ``nothing ends here; our hopes and journeys continue.'' It 
has been said of President Reagan that although he was our oldest 
President, he made America young again.
  And so, Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my deepest sympathies to 
Mrs. Reagan and to the President's children and their families and to 
honor the memory of a great American who loved America at least as much 
as she loved him.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from the 
great State of our former, President, the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Radanovich).
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of the 
resolution paying tribute to President Ronald Reagan who once said, 
``America is too great for small dreams.'' Whether through his faith in 
God's providence, his deep love for his wife, Nancy, his career as an 
actor, his service as Governor of the State of California and 
ultimately as our Commander in Chief, President Ronald Reagan 
envisioned and achieved big dreams. These dreams included lowering the 
tax burden on citizens through his advocacy of smaller government and 
striving for peace in the tenuous times of the Cold War.
  As a boy in the fourth grade, I had the honor of shaking Mr. Reagan's 
hand at the Mariposa airport when he was on his way to Yosemite after 
he became the Governor of the great State of California. He is the very 
reason that I later became a Republican and devoted my life to public 
service.
  President Reagan died on the very weekend of the commemoration of D-
Day where just 20 years ago he heralded the heroes that lay before him 
in Normandy as those who ``helped end a war.'' Fittingly, we now herald 
this American hero for his unmatched achievements, including ending the 
Cold War. History will forever remember him for removing this threat of 
nuclear holocaust.
  There are good men in the world, and there are great men. Great men 
employ their power humbly and create peace quietly. President Reagan 
embodied these traits and reminded us to believe in ourselves as the 
greatest country in the world.
  Mr. MATHESON. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood).
  Mr. NORWOOD. I thank the gentleman from California for yielding me 
this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise on the floor today to join my colleagues and the 
legions of Americans and freedom-loving people around the world in 
honoring the memory and the legacy of President Ronald Wilson Reagan. 
In the days that have passed since President Reagan slipped the surly 
bonds of this world, much has been said about our Nation's 40th 
President, of his boundless energy, eternal optimism, strong character, 
good judgment and, most important of all, his unmatched ability to lead 
and to deliver hope to America and the world at a time when it was 
needed most. Despite those who would suggest otherwise, the 
accomplishments and good fortune that befell this Nation and ultimately 
those behind the Iron Curtain on President Reagan's watch did not 
happen accidentally or through luck or simply being in the right place 
at the right time.

                              {time}  1115

  No, Mr. Speaker. Providing unfailing hope and guidance to a grateful 
Nation and all the world in a time of much despair is not luck. It is 
called leadership. And President Reagan will be remembered as a leader 
without peer, period.
  Winston Churchill once said, ``The price of greatness is 
responsibility.'' President Reagan understood and accepted that 
responsibility like no one else, and he left greatness in his wake.
  Mr. Speaker, if the measure of a man is the difference that he makes, 
then history will record that President Ronald Reagan was nothing less 
than a giant. He will be missed, but his legacy of leadership will live 
on in the history of this Nation.
  Mr. MATHESON. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana 
(Mr. Pence), a distinguished Member of this body, a true Reaganite.
  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman, my favorite Reagan 
protege in the Congress, for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, Ronald Reagan will be remembered as a great man and a 
great American leader, who personified the highest ideals of the 
American people at home and abroad. After 8 years of his Presidency, 
the communism of Soviet Russia was collapsing, the American military 
was rebuilt, the Nation's economy restored, and its moral fabric 
renewed.
  Many remember him as the ``Great Communicator,'' but as the President 
said many times, he was not a great communicator, he communicated great 
things. Those were the traditional American values of this Midwesterner 
turned national leader. They came from the profound Christian faith 
inculcated in a young Dutch Reagan by his beloved mother Nelle and from 
his heart. And, as the President said, ``They came from the heart of a 
great Nation.''
  Those ideas were simple, straightforward, and distinctly American. 
President Reagan believed that freedom depended on limited government. 
He fiercely advanced the principles of less government, less taxes, a 
strong military, and a commitment to traditional moral values.
  And President Reagan changed the course of my life. While youthful 
ambition led me to politics, it was the voice

[[Page 11812]]

and the values of Ronald Reagan that made me a Republican. The Bible 
says, ``If the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready 
for battle?'' Ronald Reagan's great gift was to sound a clear call to 
return our Nation to the ideals of its Founders, and it was said that 
when he spoke, people just did not just agree. From coffee shops to 
tractor seats to high offices in tall buildings, when the American 
people heard Reagan speak, they said, ``Darn right.''
  I had the privilege in 1988 as a candidate for Congress to sit with 
the President in the Blue Room of the White House and speak to him 
personally, and on that occasion, that great privilege of my life, I 
was able to look the President in the eye as he asked me how my 
campaign was going. I said, ``Mr. President, it is going fine, but I 
just want to thank you for everything you have done for our country and 
to encourage my generation of Americans to believe in this country 
again.''
  I said then, and I say again, thank you, Mr. President. May God bless 
you, as, through you, God most certainly blessed the United States of 
America.
  Mr. MATHESON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost).
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor President Reagan's 
legacy to our country. I was elected in 1978, 2 years before Ronald 
Reagan assumed the Presidency. I served in Congress the entire 8 years 
of his Presidency and had the opportunity to observe him at close 
range. We often disagreed on domestic policy; however, we were largely 
in agreement on foreign policy, and Reagan, indeed, left an indelible 
mark in the field of foreign affairs. He correctly understood the 
economic vulnerability of the Soviet Union and exploited this to win 
the Cold War without firing a shot. He increased U.S. defense spending, 
an effort which I supported, and when the Soviet Union tried to keep 
pace, it fell apart from the economic strain.
  The watchword of his administration was peace through strength. 
President Reagan brought hope and optimism to our country at a time 
when it was sorely needed. Also, he demonstrated through word and deed 
that one could disagree with their domestic political adversaries and 
still be friends at the end of the day. This is an element that is 
sorely missing from today's highly charged partisan atmosphere in 
Washington.
  Ronald Reagan won his share of battles in Congress, but he did it 
without lasting rancor. That was perhaps his greatest legacy. We could 
use a little bit of that spirit today.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished 
gentlewoman from the State of Wyoming (Mrs. Cubin).
  Mrs. CUBIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great man, 
a great President, and a true friend to the people of Wyoming.
  We all probably have our way of remembering President Reagan, but for 
me I will always see him atop his big white horse, pointing out to the 
distance as if to say, ``The future is that way, and we must ride into 
it.'' Here is the picture that I remember so well.
  Today we are lucky enough to live in that future. The millions once 
enslaved behind the Iron Curtain are free, and the Cold War is over, 
with freedom the victor.
  They say that fortune favors the brave, and fortune favored President 
Reagan. He helped us to believe in ourselves again and to believe in 
common dreams that bind us together as Americans.
  When President Reagan took office, we were gripped with the fear that 
perhaps America's greatest days were behind us. Eight years later when 
he walked out of the Oval Office and into the sunset of his life, we 
knew that in America our best days will always be on the horizon.
  Mr. Speaker, the people of Wyoming will be eternally thankful to 
Ronald Reagan. We will be eternally thankful that he was there on that 
white horse to point the way not into the sunset, but instead into a 
shining new morning in America.
  Mr. MATHESON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Davis).
  Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, the death of President Reagan, 
given his publicly known battle with Alzheimer's, did not come as a 
surprise to many. Still, those of us in the United States and around 
the world are greatly saddened by his departure and by our loss.
  He was an indelible figure, known not only in American history, but 
known throughout world history. The man that helped bring about the end 
of the Cold War will always be praised for his eternal optimism, love 
of country, principle stance on issues, the eloquence in which he 
communicated with the Nation, and his abundant faith.
  It is my firm belief that President Reagan saw the best in everyone. 
As with most Americans, Reagan understood America's greatness lies 
within its people. It is the character of the American people that has 
guided us through all the obstacles we have had to overcome. And we 
recently celebrated the American spirit during the 60th anniversary of 
D-Day.
  President Reagan was perceived as a man guided by principles. No 
matter what side of the aisle we were on, we always knew where he 
stood. His legacy will be the challenge that he opened to bring about 
peace between two superpowers. His work can be best summed up by the 
English author Richard Adams: ``The thinker dies, but his thoughts are 
beyond the reach of destruction. Men are mortal, but ideas are 
immortal.''
  The man of abundant faith in country, family, and God, Reagan 
embodied the American spirit. Even in knowing his time on Earth was 
nearing, he wrote: ``When the Lord calls me home, whenever that may be, 
I will leave with the greatest love for this country of ours and 
eternal optimism for its future.''
  Our thoughts and prayers are with Mrs. Reagan and their children at 
this difficult time. May God bless them, and may God bless the United 
States of America.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller).
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding 
me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, most Presidents have been defined by the events of their 
day. Whether it is war, the economy, or domestic policy, these leaders 
have all been forced to react to the issues. Ronald Wilson Reagan, 
however, did not fit this mold. His Presidency defined the events of 
his day, which boldly resembles the world that we each live in.
  Taking office in a relatively peaceful period in our history, where 
the Cold War was in an assumed perpetual state, rather than a quid pro 
quo acceptance of an evil empire on the other side of the globe, 
President Reagan challenged the conventional wisdom of appeasing the 
Soviet Union and challenged them directly, helmet to helmet, on the 
field of ideology.
  President Reagan's administration had an exceptional consistency 
through his 8 years, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, words 
we often take for granted while denying ourselves a conscious thought 
that there are many who are denied these God-given, inalienable 
unalienable rights.
  On June 12, 1987, what from what was West Germany's Brandenburg Gate, 
President Reagan spoke directly to Communist states, telling them what 
was painfully obvious to the Western world: A totalitarian system just 
did not work.
  ``We see failure, technological backwardness, declining standards of 
health, even want of the most basic kind: too little food. After four 
decades there stands before the entire world one great and inescapable 
conclusion: Freedom leads to prosperity. Freedom replaces the ancient 
hatreds among the nations with comity and peace. Freedom is the 
victor.''
  This, of course, was the famous speech where President Reagan asked 
Mr. Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall and to let men and women be 
free. President Reagan pledged cooperation in reducing nuclear weapons, 
maintaining peace, but doing so in a setting befitting civilized 
nations. This declaration, while a defining moment in his

[[Page 11813]]

Presidency, was consistent of a President who believed, truly believed, 
in a free-market economy and in a world that called on personal 
responsibility and a hand up rather than a handout; limited government; 
the right of men and women to live free, and children to grow up in a 
world that did not require them to know the duck-and-cover routine.
  Mr. Speaker, God bless the Gipper, and may God rest his soul.
  Mr. MATHESON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to 
the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hooley).
  Ms. HOOLEY of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
life of President Ronald Wilson Reagan, a man whose legacy will be 
remembered for generations to come.
  I remember President Reagan as an optimistic leader who stood up for 
what he believed in and who led our Nation with passion, grace, and 
wit. President Reagan believed in the resourcefulness of the American 
people and believed that their ingenuity, courage, and hard work could 
build a better America and a better world.
  President Reagan envisioned America as a can-do country, and he was 
devoted and unwavering in his commitment to the American people. His 
message of optimism provided hope for many Americans during challenging 
times for our Nation and for the world.
  Today we remember his service and his leadership and join the rest of 
the country in mourning his passing. My thoughts and prayers are with 
his devoted wife Nancy and his entire family.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Platts).
  Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me this 
time for an opportunity to speak about a great American, a great 
statesman, a great leader for our Nation and for all of the free world.
  I will submit my written statement for the Record, but I am honored 
to state just briefly how much I admired and how grateful I am for the 
service of President Ronald Reagan.
  I am honored to say that the first vote I cast in a Presidential 
election as an 18-year-old freshman in college was in 1980 on behalf of 
Ronald Reagan. He turned the tide for our Nation at a difficult time in 
our Nation's history. He taught us to again believe in our Nation and 
believe in the principles for which our Nation stood and continues to 
stand this very day. He also reminded us to be grateful for the 
blessings we have as Americans.
  My mom and dad showed me by example the importance of caring about 
our fellow citizens, and they taught me about community service and led 
me to an interest in public service.

                              {time}  1130

  Ronald Reagan furthered that interest and further inspired my desire 
to serve, first in the statehouse and now here in Congress.
  On behalf of all of the people in the 19th Congressional District, I 
am honored to say, Mr. President, thank you on a job well done and on a 
life well lived. My deepest sympathies go to your family at this time 
of great loss. May God bless you and your family, and may God continue 
to bless the country which you so deeply loved, the United States of 
America.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Ronald Wilson Reagan, our 
Nation's 40th President, a true statesman and patriot, a husband and 
father, and a Great American. I offer my sincerest condolences to Mrs. 
Reagan and the entire Reagan family. My prayers are with them in this 
time of mourning and remembrance.
  When Ronald Reagan was elected President in 1980, America was facing 
a crisis. The crisis went deeper than the economic problems of double-
digit inflation, rising unemployment, long gas lines, and threatening 
military actions of the Soviet Union. After Vietnam, Watergate, and the 
hostage situation in Iran, America actually began to experience a 
crisis of faith in itself. More than any other person, President Reagan 
helped us to overcome our doubts and remind us that America is, in 
fact, a ``shining city on a hill.''
  Ronald Reagan was the eternal optimist, a believer in America's 
abilities, ideals, and innate goodness. His faith in the greatness of 
our Nation was perhaps best expressed when he said, ``In this land of 
dreams fulfilled where greater dreams may be imagined, nothing is 
impossible, no victory is beyond our reach, and no glory will ever be 
too great.'' Through his outlook and conviction, President Reagan 
restored America's confidence in itself.
  As a result of Ronald Reagan's inspiring leadership as our President, 
the world changed dramatically. Economic stagnation was replaced with a 
dynamic economy. President Reagan challenged the Soviet Union to ``tear 
down this wall,'' and the Berlin wall came down. He saw a day when 
Eastern Europe would join the Free World, and it did. He stayed firm at 
Reykjavik and, for the first time, Russia and America stopped building, 
and started destroying, nuclear weapons.
  Ronald Reagan understood the price of freedom. Forty years after D-
day, and 19 years and 364 days before he passed away, President Reagan 
commemorated ``the boys of Pointe du Hoc'' who took the cliffs at 
Normandy for the Allies during World War II. He said:

       The men of Normandy had faith that what they were doing was 
     right, faith that they fought for all humanity, faith that a 
     just God would grant them mercy on this beachhead or on the 
     next. It was the deep knowledge--and pray God we have not 
     lost it--that there is a profound moral difference between 
     the use of force for liberation and the use of force for 
     conquest. You were here to liberate, not to conquer, and so 
     you and those others did not doubt your cause. And you were 
     right not to doubt.
       You all knew that some things are worth dying for. One's 
     country is worth dying for, and democracy is worth dying for, 
     because it's the most deeply honorable form of government 
     ever devised by man. All of you loved liberty. All of you 
     were willing to fight tyranny, and you knew the people of 
     your countries were behind you.

  It is this understanding of history, this moral clarity, that helped 
Ronald Reagan to lead us to the freer world we have today. It is what 
helps to make President Reagan one of the giants of the 20th Century, 
along with his personal hero, Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
  Six years ago, in commemoration of Ronald Reagan's 87th birthday, I 
had the pleasure of joining First Lady Nancy Reagan and Ambassador 
Jeane Kirkpatrick at the Reagan Library in California. I was there as 
an elected member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. But I was 
there, most importantly, as an American citizen who was honored to pay 
tribute to and to express my deep gratitude to President Reagan for his 
tremendous service to our Nation. In my conversation with Mrs. Reagan 
that day, my message was simply one of thanks. Thanks to her and, 
through her, to President Reagan for their dedicated, hard-working and 
outstanding service to our great Nation and its citizens.
  Ronald Reagan's service to others, his statesmanship, his love of 
country, and his unwavering commitment to the principles of freedom, 
liberty, and justice for which our Nation stands, were great examples 
for all of us fellow citizens to emulate. President Reagan was truly 
inspiring to countless citizens. His example helped to affirm my own 
commitment to the ideals of public service, to the ideals of giving 
back to one's Nation, and certainly helped to affirm my interest in 
serving the public office, including here in Congress.
  I am greatly honored to join with fellow Americans in saying: Mr. 
President, thank you for a job well done and a life well lived. You 
will long be missed and never forgotten. God bless you and God bless 
this great Nation you loved so dearly, the United States of America.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Missouri (Mrs. Emerson).
  Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, as we mourn the passing of President 
Ronald Reagan, I remember one experience in 1985 that to me defines 
President Reagan best. It was my daughter Katharine's first visit to 
the White House with the Emerson family. As we approached the Oval 
Office, outside of which we were to wait for the President, the door 
swung open. Katharine had been obediently holding my hand, but at that 
moment she broke away from me and she ran towards President Reagan. The 
Secret Servicemen standing between us and the President moved to stop 
her. ``No, no,'' President Reagan calmly said to them. Katharine flew 
past the Secret Servicemen and jumped into the President's arms, and he 
lifted her up high.
  The genuine joy on both of their faces struck me then. Today the 
memory reminds me that as strong a man as he was, President Reagan 
could easily match the enthusiastic happiness of a 2-year-old.
  Even before she met him, Ronald Reagan was my daughter's hero. It was 
not the President's rhetoric that won

[[Page 11814]]

her. It was not his stalwart countenance under the distress of terror 
in the Middle East, his unwavering courage in the face of communism, or 
his passionate leadership in the shadow of a nuclear threat. Not even 
the lure of the jelly bean jar on his desk made Reagan a great man to 
Katharine.
  Plainly put, the quality that won her was the same one that won us 
all: his sincerity.
  He was quintessentially American. He was a Midwesterner. He was a 
success story. He was a visionary. And finally, Ronald Reagan was not 
just a leader whom we believed in; he was a leader who believed in us.
  But when I remember Ronald Reagan, I think of him calling off the 
Secret Service agents and happily sweeping Katharine up into his arms. 
He swept us all up that same way, and the tide of sincerity on which he 
carried us is the same one welling up in the eyes of our Nation right 
now.
  A photo of Katharine in President Reagan's arms, taken seconds after 
she defied us to pursue a hug from her hero, today hangs in the front 
room of my Washington office. Every time I walk through that door, I 
see the photo and think of him as millions of us do: as a member of our 
family.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Calvert). The gentleman from Kansas (Mr. 
Moore) is recognized as the designee of the minority leader.
  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the United States of America lost one of our giants with 
the passing last Saturday of our 40th President, Ronald Wilson Reagan.
  We come together today and this week in Congress, Democrats and 
Republicans, to pay tribute to the man who played a primary role in 
ending our Cold War with the Soviet Union and who, as the Center for 
American Progress said earlier this week, projected ``a never-failing 
sense of optimism which restored faith in the American Presidency in a 
Nation still scarred by Vietnam and Watergate.''
  The Los Angeles Times said this week, ``His sunny self-assurance, his 
insistence that there really were simple answers to difficult problems, 
his knack for actually making things happen, all were soothing changes 
for a country that had endured Vietnam, Watergate, a Presidential 
resignation, an energy crisis, double-digit inflation, and the seizing 
of American hostages in Iran in the course of one tumultuous decade.''
  In particular, Mr. Speaker, we remember Ronald Reagan for standing 
firmly with Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker in the early 1980s to 
drive down inflation and revive the economy, thus setting the stage for 
the prolonged American economic expansion of the early 1990s.
  While President Reagan had deeply held core convictions, as a 
national leader he was also able to compromise and change directions 
when policies were not working. After instigating a large tax cut in 
1981, for example, he later asked for tax increases to fight an 
exploding Federal deficit and tight monetary conditions. Without 
President Reagan's active support, the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act, which 
ultimately led to deficit reductions through imposition of pay-as-you-
go rules, would never have become law.
  President Reagan signed into law bills protecting 1.9 billion acres 
of wilderness in Washington State and Oregon. Known as a lifelong 
crusader against Communism, President Reagan combined military and 
diplomatic strength to develop a relationship with Soviet leader 
Mikhail Gorbachev that ultimately led to limits on nuclear weapons and 
the end of the Cold War.
  The Washington Post recently said, President Reagan was able to win 
the respect of Europeans through his ``commitment to winning the Cold 
War and his willingness to work peacefully to bring about the demise of 
the Soviet Union.''
  Even in times of failure and disappointment, President Reagan stood 
tall, and he won the respect of all. Following the disaster at the 
Marine barracks in Lebanon and the Iran contra scandal, President 
Reagan accepted responsibility saying, ``This happened on my watch'' 
and ``if there is to be blame, it properly rests here in this office 
and with this President. And I accept responsibility for the bad as 
well as the good.'' That was a quote from President Reagan, and I think 
that shows the measure of the man that President Reagan was.
  In the twilight of his life, President Reagan again provided hope and 
inspiration for millions of Americans with his valiant battle, with the 
devoted support of his wife, Nancy, against the ravages of Alzheimer's 
disease. Mr. Speaker, my father is afflicted with this cruel and 
debilitating condition. I share the hope of Nancy Reagan and millions 
of others that expanded stem cell research will some day unlock new 
discoveries needed to treat successfully Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, 
Parkinson's disease, and cancer.
  I respect, I greatly respect the religious convictions of those 
people who are concerned about the expansion of stem cell research, but 
I hope soon we will find some middle ground between the two extremes 
and enable us to go forward with this research which one day may save 
the lives of millions of Americans. One of the legacies of our 40th 
President will be that we worked together to find a way to join in 
harnessing this technology and promise. The potential human health and 
scientific benefits of stem cell research are simply staggering, and I 
hope that we can join and leave a legacy for President Reagan and for 
Nancy Reagan as well.
  In conclusion, I reflect back on Ronald Reagan's last major public 
address, his speech to the 1992 Republican National Convention. He 
could have been speaking, though, to all Americans, Mr. Speaker, 
because he said, he closed with these words: ``My fellow citizens, I 
want you to know that I have always had the highest respect for you, 
for your common sense and intelligence, and for your decency. I have 
always believed in you and in what you could accomplish for yourselves 
and for others. And whatever else history may say about me when I am 
gone, I hope it will record that I appealed to your best hopes, not 
your worst fears; to your confidence rather than your doubts. My dream 
is that you will travel the road ahead with liberty's lamp guiding your 
steps and opportunity's arm steadying your way.''
  I hope that we in Congress, Mr. Speaker, can come together for the 
American people for an agenda; and I truly believe that even though we 
have honest, good-faith differences between the parties, we can put 
aside some of the rancor, some of the partisanship, and work on the 
American agenda the way that Ronald Reagan wanted us all to do.
  Mr. Speaker, I could think of no better way to remember the legacy of 
President Ronald Reagan than by those words that he gave.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Thornberry).
  Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Speaker, like many Americans, I feel a real and 
personal sense of loss with the death of President Ronald Reagan. He 
was a great man and a great President, ranking in the top tier of all 
of our chief executives. He will be remembered as a pivotal historical 
figure; but, at the same time, many Americans feel as though they have 
lost a member of their family. Such was the unique character and legacy 
of Ronald Reagan, the President and the man.
  My wife, Sally, and I each had the honor of serving as political 
appointees during the second term of the Reagan administration. We were 
down in the bowels of the bureaucracy, but proud to be working for and 
certainly inspired by President Reagan. With his optimism and his 
confidence in America, he inspired at least a generation of 
conservatives to be involved in public life and to advance the ideals 
for which he stood.
  As important as his accomplishments domestically and internationally 
were, perhaps his most important success was to help the American 
people believe in themselves again. After the tumult of assassinations, 
Vietnam, Watergate, and malaise, Ronald Reagan came to remind us of the 
core values of the Founding Fathers and the special

[[Page 11815]]

place that the United States has in the history of the world, that 
``shining city on a hill.''
  President Reagan was called The Great Communicator, but he said that 
what was truly great were the ideas he communicated. Those ideas were 
fundamental in the creation of the United States. As he noted in his 
farewell address, he communicated ``great things that came from the 
heart of a nation, from our experience, our wisdom, and our belief in 
the principles that have guided us for 2 centuries.'' Ronald Reagan 
brought out the best in us because he knew the best of us.
  Our Nation was blessed to have been given Ronald Reagan, the 
President and the man.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe that the accomplishments which cause Ronald 
Reagan to stand among our greatest Presidents can be traced to a set of 
fundamental beliefs to which he adhered throughout his political 
career.
  One of them was strong, steadfast confidence in the American people. 
President Reagan knew that government must be limited so that the 
unlimited potential of individual Americans could be unleashed. He knew 
that when families were able to keep more of the money they earned, not 
just the family but the whole country would benefit. The result of his 
tax relief and restraint of government was the longest period of 
economic growth in the nation's history.
  President Reagan also believed, with the signers of the Declaration 
of Independence, that freedom is a gift of God, intended for all 
peoples. In his speech to the British Parliament in 1982, which he 
viewed as among his most important, he said:

       We must be staunch in our conviction that freedom is not 
     the sole prerogative of a lucky few, but the inalienable and 
     universal right of all human beings.

  President Reagan was often underestimated. But, his clear words 
required clear thoughts, and those clear thoughts came from a clear 
vision and clear values, the articulation of which was refined over a 
lifetime of work. The amount of work and thought Ronald Reagan put into 
developing and expressing his views are only now becoming known, with 
the publication of some of the thousands of articles and letters 
written with his own hand.
  He clearly believed that one must not be afraid to speak the truth, 
sometimes to the discomfort of his advisors. In the well-known speech 
in which he called the Soviet Union the ``focus of evil in the modern 
world'' he went on to urge his listeners and the country to

       [S]peak out against those who would place the United States 
     in a position of military and moral inferiority. . . . I urge 
     you to beware the temptation of pride--the temptation of 
     blithely declaring yourselves above it all and label both 
     sides equally at fault, to ignore the facts of history and 
     the aggressive impulses of an evil empire, to simply call the 
     arms race a giant misunderstanding and thereby remove 
     yourself from the struggle between right and wrong and good 
     and evil.

  Throughout his career of public service, Ronald Reagan did not remove 
himself from the struggle between right and wrong, good and evil. He 
engaged in that struggle, and he changed the course of history.
  Before the British Parliament, President Reagan repeated the question 
asked by Winston Churchill in one of his wartime speeches: ``What kind 
of people do they think we are?'' President Reagan answered, ``Free 
people, worthy of freedom and determined not only to remain so but to 
help others gain their freedom as well.''
  Being a ``free people, worthy of freedom'' and help[ing] others gain 
their freedom as well'' remains America's challenge. My hope is that we 
pursue those aims with the determination and spirit that Ronald Reagan 
displayed throughout his career.
  A President whose basic political philosophy about the role of 
government continues to occupy center stage in our domestic debates 
more than a decade after he left office; a President who changed the 
course of world history and helped free millions of people from 
totalitarian bondage; a man who restored a nation's confidence in 
itself and continues to inspire defenders of freedom everywhere--
  Quite a record. Quite a life.
  Again, our Nation was blessed to have been given Ronald Reagan.
  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cardin).
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the people I represent 
in the Third Congressional District to express my sincere condolences 
to the Reagan family and to memorialize our 40th President, Ronald 
Wilson Reagan.
  I had the opportunity to serve for 2 years in the Congress when 
Ronald Reagan was President of the United States, and I also had the 
opportunity when I was Speaker of the State legislature to work with 
President Reagan on behalf of the National Conference of State 
Legislators.
  Mr. Speaker, Ronald Reagan was one of the most effective Presidents 
in the history of our Nation. He brought an agenda of change to 
Washington, and he developed public support for that change and then 
congressional support for that change. He did it using the process, to 
bring about a change of policy and expectation of our country. He also 
established America as a world leader, proud of our commitment to 
democracy and willing to get involved in international events to bring 
about change for the good. He laid the foundation for the end of the 
Cold War.
  As I said, Mr. Speaker, he was a remarkable President and will be 
missed by all.
  On January 20, 1981, President Reagan spoke of his abiding commitment 
to a special interest group that has too long been neglected. It knows 
no sectional boundaries or ethnic and racial divisions, and it crosses 
political party lines. It is made up of men and women who raise our 
food, patrol our streets, man our mines and our factories, teach our 
children, keep our homes, and heal us when we are sick; professionals, 
industrialists, shopkeepers, clerks, cabbies, and truck drivers. They 
are, in short, ``we the people,'' this breed called Americans.
  Mr. Speaker, he will be missed by all.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest).
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me 
this time.
  America mourns these past few days the passing of a true American, 
one who reflects not only the values of the country in the 21st century 
or the 20th century, but Ronald Reagan had inherent in his body and his 
soul and his mind and his heart the idea that each of us has a passion 
for freedom, that each of us has a sense of urgency for justice.
  Jefferson will be remembered for many, many things; but we will all 
remember those words, ``We hold these truths to be self-evident, that 
all men are created equal.''
  And Lincoln will be remembered for many, many things, but we will all 
remember those words after the Civil War: ``With malice toward none, 
with charity for all, let us work together to bind up the Nation's 
wounds.''
  And a century later, another American that reflected the true values 
of our country said that ``you will not be judged by the color of your 
skin, but by the content of your character.''
  These men through the centuries brought America together. They united 
America. They had a vision for America.
  Ronald Reagan will be remembered for many, many things, but we will 
all remember with a sense of seriousness and joy when he said, ``Mr. 
Gorbachev, tear down that wall.''
  So what Mr. Reagan was trying to do was to impart that passion for 
freedom, that urgency for justice, not only for Americans and the vast 
array of cultures that we have here but for the rest of the world.
  Mrs. Reagan, the Reagan family, America, President Ronald Reagan will 
be missed, but always remembered.

                              {time}  1145

  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of our time.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Green).
  Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I entered college in the late 
1970s, and so I remember well those times and the challenges that we 
faced: soaring inflation, soaring interest rates, soaring unemployment, 
gas prices that were sky high, on the world stage hostages in Iran, and 
the Cold War loomed large.
  I remember that as President Reagan took office some pundits, some 
experts out there arguing that the office of the Presidency had become 
too big for one

[[Page 11816]]

man. And they said maybe it was time to look at a different 
institution, co-Presidency or something like that. And then on to the 
stage came Ronald Reagan.
  Through shear force of character, through his inspirational 
leadership, I am proud to say that he shaped the modern Republican 
Party, he shaped the office of the Presidency, he shaped a new America, 
indeed he shaped a new world, a new world that offered hope for 
freedom-loving people all around the world.
  Mr. Speaker, not a bad accomplishment for one man.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess).
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, it has been said that Ronald Reagan loved 
Texas and Texas loved Ronald Reagan right back. So it was especially 
poignant that news of his passing occurred during our State Republican 
convention this past weekend. Indeed, State Senator Jane Nelson from my 
district in north Texas was quoted in the newspaper as saying, ``We 
stopped at that point. We had a preacher on hand that gave him a 
beautiful tribute. We were able to come up with a picture, and we all 
sang `Amazing Grace.' There were a lot of tears, mine included.''
  County judge Mary Horn was quoted in my local paper as saying, ``He 
was the same up close as you perceived him to be on television. He was 
very sincere and very nice. When he talked to you, he talked to you. He 
didn't pay attention to things going on around him. You had his full 
attention.''
  State representative Myra Crownover said, ``I remember that while 
Reagan was the oldest elected President, what sticks in my mind was the 
way he connected to young people. We had been through a decade of young 
people being disconnected with taking pride in America, and he lit that 
spark again.'' Representative Crownover went on to say, ``You have to 
be appreciative of what his family is living through.'' Someone 
described it once as being halfway to heaven. I am so glad he has been 
released so he could go the rest of the way.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Feeney).
  Mr. FEENEY. Mr. Speaker, for all Americans, Ronald Reagan was a happy 
warrior who fought all of his life for freedom with a gracefulness and 
a confidence that inspired all of America. But for American 
contemporary conservatives like myself, Ronald Reagan was more than 
that. He was our Plato, laying the philosophical groundwork for limited 
government, freedom, and self-responsibility.
  He was our Moses. After Lincoln, republicanism had been adrift in 
fighting our way out of a desert filled with statist tendencies and the 
march towards bigger government and welfare dependency, something 
Frederick Hayek described as ``The Road to Serfdom.'' Reagan reminded 
conservatives that America had a great rendezvous with destiny ahead.
  Reagan was our Washington, the first contemporary President to 
consistently lay out conservative principles and steadfastly, calmly, 
and timely lead us during threats to freedom from big government and 
taxation at home, threats from tyrannical hegemony from abroad, to 
secure what our first President called the ``sacred fire of liberty.''
  Finally, Ronald Reagan was a Churchill, warning of external threats 
not only to our homeland's freedom but of gathering storms building 
globally which endangered the aspirations of freedom fighters across 
the globe. And like Churchill, he then led us and led the free world in 
refusing to appease or coexist with totalitarian threats but instead 
insisting, like King Henry at Agincourt, that we wade into the enemy 
and win.
  Finally, to quote Senator Benjamin Hill when he was speaking of the 
death of Robert E. Lee, I would like to quote him with respect to 
Ronald Reagan: ``He was a foe without hate; a friend without treachery; 
a soldier without cruelty; a victor without oppression; and a victim 
without murmuring. He was a public officer without vices; a private 
citizen without wrong; a neighbor without reproach; a Christian without 
hypocrisy; and a man without guile. He was a Caesar, without his 
ambition; Frederick, without his tyranny; Napoleon, without his 
selfishness, and Washington, without his reward.''
  This week America gives President Reagan his very just reward.
  By 1980, America's leaders were presiding over a self described 
``national malaise'' domestically, 12 percent interest rates, 20 
percent mortgage rates, and a rising misery index across the land.
  Internationally, America seemed resigned to coexistence with an Evil 
Empire that had enslaved and killed tens of millions, and drawn down 
upon two-thirds of the world's people an ``iron curtain'' of suffering 
and hopelessness.
  A decade later, it was morning again in America. Tax rates were cut 
from 70 percent to 25 percent, Gross Domestic Product rising at the 
fastest rates since World War II, stock markets booming and the 
American spirit transcending long forgotten malaise.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Garrett).
  Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as we pay our 
respects to one of the greatest leaders that this Nation has ever 
known, a man who will forever be held as a model for what is great 
about America.
  As we take this time to mourn the loss of one of our Nation's 
greatest leaders, we should also celebrate his heroic and historic life 
that he lived. Ronald Reagan exemplified the best qualities that you 
would ever want in a leader. He was compassionate, he was caring, he 
was visionary, and he was strong. He took our Nation from a crisis in 
confidence to a country the entire world would view as a standard 
bearer of justice and liberty.
  Americans, they put their trust in Ronald Reagan and, in turn, Ronald 
Reagan put his trust in each one of us. He had faith in the American 
individual, in one's ability to care for one's self. Ronald Reagan knew 
that we could do more for ourselves than any oversized bureaucratic 
burdensome Federal Government could ever do. Ronald Reagan believed 
that doing more for ourselves was really the best way that we could 
regain that long missing self-confidence in our American pride again.
  So today, in the wake of the President's death, we must continue to 
learn from his teachings. And we must long remember after today the 
contributions that Ronald Reagan made to this Nation both for this 
Nation, and his actions, and their meanings.
  So may the legacy of Ronald Reagan live on as long as we are all 
proud to raise up the Stars and Stripes and call ourselves the United 
States of America.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Kline).
  Mr. KLINE. Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to rise and join my colleagues 
in expressing my love and admiration and respect for President Ronald 
Reagan. I very much appreciate that here on the House floor last night 
and today colleagues from both sides of the aisle have stepped up to 
express their respects. I think that is an important thing. It is an 
indicator of what a truly great man, a great President, a great leader 
we had in Ronald Reagan.
  Those of us who had the privilege and honor of working closely with 
President Reagan, and I was very fortunate that in his first months in 
office I had the position of being his Marine Corps aid and carrying 
the nuclear football, the codes, traveling with him, and having the 
opportunity to share some thoughts, it usually was him sharing the 
thoughts and me listening in rapt attention, but what a wonderful man.
  When you were with and near Ronald Reagan, it really was morning in 
America. I never knew any one of us who worked with him or anyone who 
was in his presence that could not feel his love for life, his love for 
our country, his unstoppable optimism. And on the one hand he was, as 
we have heard many of our colleagues say, friendly, loveable, affable, 
ready with the joke; and on the other hand he was truly a man of steel.
  He had a wonderful vision for America, a vision as he articulated of 
a city on the hill, a beacon of hope and opportunity for the world. And 
his resolute

[[Page 11817]]

determination that we would not continue in the impossible impasse of 
the Cold War, the very Cold War that necessitated me and my colleagues 
to carry those nuclear codes; he refused to accept that as inevitable 
and he set out with the determination that is hard to imagine today, to 
end that impasse, to win the war, to defeat the Evil Empire. I was 
proud to serve with him.
  I just want to express my love to him and my love to his family.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield for the purpose of making a unanimous 
consent request to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Everett).
  Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Speaker, I insert at this point in the Record my 
celebration of President Ronald Reagan's life, truly a man that made a 
great difference in this country and this world.
  Mr. Speaker, I join this House and all the American people in 
mourning the loss of former President Ronald Wilson Reagan. His passing 
is not only a sad time for America, but for all nations.
  President Reagan gave hope and optimism to a world fearful of an 
uncertain future. He stirred forgotten emotions of patriotism at home 
while evoking courage in millions abroad struggling under the yolk of 
communism.
  He helped to end the Cold War and his legacy is much in evidence 
today as once again a strong and patriotic America leads the world 
against the evil of tyranny.
  Another legacy of President Reagan--one for which he was attacked by 
the shortsighted--was his vision of a strategic missile defense for our 
Nation and our allies. Thank God Ronald Reagan did not waiver in his 
resolve to pursue research into a missile defense for America. His 
unbridled determination to protect America from nuclear annihilation 
ultimately brought the Soviet Union to its knees.
  Today, 20 years later, President Bush is leading the launch of a 
long-awaited missile defense system that will make America more secure 
from the threat of nuclear attack by a rogue nation or terrorist 
organization. The groundwork research and development of this vital 
defense program, the Strategic Defense Initiative, was begun under 
President Reagan.
  I am honored to chair the House Armed Services Subcommittee on 
Strategic Forces which has a direct role in the funding and oversight 
of this landmark missile defense system. And, I am proud to know that 
my subcommittee's efforts are the continuation of the promise made by 
Ronald Reagan to bring about a safer future for our families.
  On a personal note, the people of the Second District of Alabama have 
a special love for Ronald Reagan. On July 10, 1986, Air Force One 
landed at Dothan Airport and President Reagan joined hundreds of our 
citizens of the Wiregrass for fried chicken and a discussion of his tax 
cut plan. His charm and conservative message were very warmly received. 
It was clear to everyone there that he hated to leave, and we hated to 
give him up.
  Now Alabama and America must say a final farewell to our beloved 
former President. Frankly, I can't imagine an America without Ronald 
Reagan. He symbolized more completely than anyone else in modern 
history what we loved so much about our country. He made America 
`America' again and for that we will always be grateful.
  On behalf of the people of the Second District of Alabama, I send my 
condolences to Nancy Reagan and her family. We join with the nation and 
the world in sharing in your grief.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from the State of Washington (Mr. Hastings).
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, Ronald Reagan is a large 
part of why I have the honor of standing here today. I am from 
Washington State but in the mid-1960s I lived in California. In 1966 I 
had the privilege of casting my first vote for Ronald Reagan in the 
gubernatorial primary and subsequently in the general election when he 
was elected Governor.
  I moved back to Washington in 1976, and I served as a Reagan delegate 
to the Presidential Convention in Kansas City. He inspired me to get 
involved in public service. And 2 years later, I was elected to the 
Washington State legislature.
  Reagan viewed the government as a servant of the people, not their 
master. Throughout his career, he worked for less government control 
over our lives. During his first inaugural address he said, and I 
quote, ``It is not my intent to do away with government. It is rather 
to make it work, work with us, not over us; stand by our side, not ride 
on our back. Government can and must provide opportunity, not smother 
it, foster productivity, not stifle it.''
  While he made no apologies for what he believed, he was a pragmatist, 
not willing to sacrifice the good for the perfect. He has been quoted 
as saying, and I quote, ``Die-hard conservatives thought that if I 
could not get everything that I asked for, I should jump off the cliff 
with the flag flying, go down in flames. No,'' he said, ``if I can get 
70 or 80 percent of what I am trying to get, I will take that and then 
continue to try to get the rest in the future.''
  We can all point to a handful of people who shaped us into what we 
are today. My list certainly includes Ronald Reagan, who helped shape 
both my political ideology and the day-to-day manner in which I try to 
govern: without acrimony, with a touch of humor, and with an unwavering 
faith in the American people.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished 
gentlewoman from the State of Florida (Ms. Harris).

                              {time}  1200

  Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, tonight we join Americans from all walks of 
life and every political persuasion in mourning a President whose 
courage, vision, optimism and resolve renewed the Nation he loved.
  As we look back with the clarity and assuredness that history 
affords, how easily we forget the staggering challenges that Ronald 
Reagan inherited January 20, 1981.
  Haunted by the ghost of Vietnam, America seemed in retreat as Soviet 
aggression either enslaved or threatened significant regions of four 
continents. Meanwhile, the American people struggled as stagnant 
economic growth, double-digit inflation, and 20 percent interest rates 
ate away their life savings and crushed their hopes for the future. 
Most ominously, our leaders spoke of a crisis in the American spirit, 
of a pervasive malaise that appeared to have infected our hopes, our 
dreams and our will to persevere.
  These problems seemed so severe and so insoluble that pundits and 
politicos wondered if the burdens of the Presidency had become too 
large, too complex and too demanding for any one person to handle, but 
not Ronald Reagan.
  They also believed that the United States could only hope to become 
comfortable in its prison of mutually assured destruction with the 
Soviet Union and that the era of nuclear tyranny was with us forever, 
but not Ronald Reagan.
  These so-called experts were even convinced that a vibrant economy 
was impossible without double-digit inflation, but not Ronald Reagan.
  Rising from the humblest of beginnings, Ronald Reagan taught us once 
again how to embrace the extraordinary. His historic Presidency 
restored our spirit, revitalized our economy and transformed 
yesterday's garrisons of tyranny into today's arsenals of liberty.
  Mr. Speaker, Ronald Reagan brought us together by reminding us of the 
unique blessings that we enjoy as a Nation, and as we grieve his 
passing this week, let us celebrate a life that exemplified the 
strength, the character and the resiliency of the American spirit
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Isakson).
  Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for the time.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to stand here today on behalf of myself and 
the citizens of the 6th District of Georgia and express my deep 
sympathy to the family of Ronald Reagan and my grateful appreciation 
for the life of Ronald Reagan.
  I had the occasion to meet Mr. Reagan for the first time in 1970 when 
he began his pursuit on the national political stage, and I watched in 
amazement as this man transformed a decade of dissent and discord into 
a decade of hope and prosperity through the power of his positive 
attitude and to his great patriotism to his country.
  As a young man in the 1950s, I remember crawling under the bomb 
shelters and under my desk when we prepared for the Cold War and the 
worst of

[[Page 11818]]

the tyranny of communism, and I watched 35 years later as, through his 
powerful persuasiveness, Ronald Reagan broke down the Berlin Wall, 
broke down the Soviet Union and brought peace and prosperity to more of 
the world.
  On this day on behalf of all of my constituents, my children and my 
grandchildren, I give thanks for the life of Ronald Reagan, and I thank 
God that Ronald Reagan came America's way.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons).
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I want to add my thanks to the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Cox) for granting me the time to speak this 
afternoon.
  I rise today to express my most sincere and heartfelt condolences to 
the family of Ronald Wilson Reagan and to the millions of Americans, 
Mr. Speaker, who join me and all of us in mourning the passing of this 
great leader this week.
  I also rise to voice a great sense of loss and bereavement felt by a 
multitude of my fellow Nevadans who are now reflecting upon and 
celebrating the tremendous impact that our Nation's 40th and arguably 
most influential President has had on all of our lives.
  Reagan's political accomplishments alone could fill volumes; yet his 
political goals would have been far more difficult to come by if not 
for his eternally honorable character and personality. This week, as 
Americans mourn this great loss together, we will reflect not only on 
his political legacy, but also upon Reagan's personal contributions to 
America and to our culture.
  Ronald Reagan was more than a President or a Commander-in-Chief. 
President Reagan was a small-town boy who mastered his own destiny to 
become an inspiration and great motivating force for the principles and 
policies that many of us continue to fight for every day in the House 
of Representatives.
  During my tenure in Congress, it has been one of my most 
distinguished honors and personal joys to lead my colleagues on 
multiple measures designed to pay homage to Mr. Reagan. Most notably, 
in May of 2002, legislation I sponsored to grant Ronald and Nancy 
Reagan the Congressional Gold Medal became a reality when President 
Bush presented Nancy Reagan with this award, the highest honor Congress 
can bestow, in the Capitol rotunda.
  Ironically, in light of the tremendous impression his life has left 
upon the American public, even the Congressional Gold Medal seems a 
tiny token of appreciation that can only be overshadowed by the 
monumental outpouring of respect, reverence and appreciation flowing 
from all corners of our great Nation this week.
  So as we contemplate the magnificent life of President Ronald Reagan 
and mourn his passing, we are reassured by the fact that this body can 
and should keep his legacy alive. Congress can best honor President 
Reagan by continuing progress along a path of conservative policies 
that Reagan himself would be proud of, and with that, I once again send 
my warmest regards to the Reagan family.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter).
  Mr. CARTER. Mr. Speaker, today our Nation weeps in a very sad week 
when we recognize that we have lost a President who changed the Nation 
and acted upon a policy that created positive change not only for this 
Nation, but for the entire world.
  Those of us who went into politics in the 1980s, as I did, many of us 
went in because we were inspired by Ronald Reagan. I actually ran for 
office the first time in 1980, and something that I will never forget 
is that Ronald Reagan took the time for a young, just-getting-started 
fellow who is running for the State representative in Texas, to drop me 
a personal note of encouragement. Here was a man who was going to lead 
the Nation, and yet he took the time for one small elected official. I 
will never forget that.
  Ronald Reagan believed in America. He knew America to be the most 
noble Nation on the face of the Earth, and he absolutely trusted the 
American people, that they would do the right thing, because he knew 
them to be the noble people who created this Nation. That message, as 
he inspired our country with that message, brought us out of malaise 
and started us on the path of glory to know that we are doing the right 
thing.
  We have missed Ronald Reagan. We will miss him tremendously because 
he inspired us to the greatness that we have, and for that reason, he 
has been a blessing upon this Nation. We will not forget.
  Back in Williamson County, where I come from, we celebrate Ronald 
Reagan's birthday every year, and that is our big birthday celebration 
because we know Ronald Reagan is the modern founder of the Republican 
Party today, and that inspiration causes us to celebrate his birthday.
  Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, and we hope that they 
get through this with not too much crisis for all the blessings they 
have bestowed upon our Nation.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Forbes).
  Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor one 
of America's greatest statesmen, President Ronald Reagan.
  As Ronald Reagan makes his final trip to Washington, we remember this 
truly humble American hero. We remember a man with an ordinary 
beginning who went on to do extraordinary things, to chart the course 
for a generation, for a Nation and for the world.
  Mr. Speaker, Washington is a town of leaders, and each of us who 
comes to Washington has a vision for the direction of our Nation. 
Rarely is there a man like Ronald Reagan who cannot only lead leaders, 
but who can do so with such integrity, principle and honesty.
  In the midst of a Nation whose spirit had been crushed with war and 
economic burden, in the midst of people gripped with fear from the 
spread of communism, Ronald Reagan picked us up and breathed hope into 
our hearts. He reminded us of what we were fighting for. He said, ``The 
ultimate determinant in the struggle now going on for the world will 
not be bombs and rockets but a test of wills and ideas, a trial of 
spiritual resolve: the values we hold, the beliefs we cherish and the 
ideals to which we are dedicated.''
  He reminded us that as Americans we have a responsibility to help 
those in need: ``We cannot turn away from them,'' he said, ``for the 
struggle here is not right versus left; it is right versus wrong.'' How 
true his words still ring today.
  Ronald Reagan reminded us that government is not the answer to our 
problems, people are. ``The government's view of the economy could be 
summed up in a few short phrases,'' he said. ``If it moves, tax it. If 
it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.''
  By exposing and destroying burdensome and oppressive regulation and 
taxes, he restored the spirit that America's built upon: optimism, 
opportunity and self-reliance. In doing so, he not only energized the 
economy, but he rejuvenated the pride and self-worth of Americans.
  Finally, Ronald Reagan reminded us of the importance of faith in our 
democracy. He said, ``Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the 
rule of law under God is acknowledged.'' He will be missed, but his 
words and spirit will continue on.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Barrett).
  Mr. BARRETT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding me the time.
  Mr. Speaker, President Reagan changed our hearts with his optimistic 
outlook on life, the world and our place in it. He came to office at a 
time in our history when we were a little bruised and battered, and, 
simply said, he pulled us up by our bootstraps and taught us how to get 
back on the horse that knocked us off.
  ``America is too great for small dreams,'' he once said, but to 
Ronald Reagan these were not merely words

[[Page 11819]]

that were used in a 30-second sound bite. These were words that went to 
the core of the man.
  He reminded us that even though we may have our differences, our 
common bond as Americans sets us apart from the rest of the world. He 
believed in all that is good in America because he believed there is 
good in every American.
  Ronald Reagan was a hero to me and a hero to an entire generation. He 
leaves a legacy of hope and prosperity that will last for generations 
to come.
  I know there is a special place in heaven for Ronald Reagan, and I 
know in my heart he heard the words, ``Well done.''
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart).
  Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Cox) for the time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a man who I believe to be the 
greatest American President of the 20th century. President Ronald 
Reagan defeated the most powerful and dangerous military empire in the 
history of the world without firing a single shot. President Reagan 
knew instinctively that America represents good, and he knew that 
communism represents evil. He never wavered in his conviction that 
freedom is the birthright of all mankind.
  The enemies of the United States never forgave him for his firmness, 
for his character, for his faith in the people of the United States and 
his faith in the cause of liberty. Even in his death, they continue to 
attack him. His hatred is evidenced by the declaration made by the 
tyrannical regime in Havana a few hours ago: ``He, who never should 
have been born, has died.'' That monstrous statement illustrates the 
ultimate evil of the tyrant who has enslaved the Cuban people for over 
45 years. President Reagan knew that the Cuban tyrant and that 
Communist tyrants everywhere have represented and represent the 
antithesis of liberty, freedom and human dignity.
  I think he was an extraordinary leader, Mr. Speaker, someone who 
inspired us all, changed America for the better and saved the world 
from tyranny.
  May Ronald Wilson Reagan, apostle of freedom, democracy and human 
rights, rest in peace.

                              {time}  1215

  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton).
  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I am one of those fortunate to have worked and served in 
the Reagan administration for 4\1/2\ years. I started off as a 
legislative aid, and I ended up being in charge of congressional 
affairs at OMB under Director Stockman and then under Director Jim 
Miller. Ronald Reagan had a vision, an agenda; and he knew how to get 
things done. He surrounded himself with good people that were smart, 
who shared his vision, and in fact knew the political process to get 
things done.
  Back then, times were tough. We had the Cold War, we had double-digit 
inflation, double-digit unemployment, double-digit interest rates; and 
yet he was still able to get his agenda through and move the country 
forward. The odds were stacked against him. Man, Republicans did not 
control the Senate; and in this body, in the House, they did not 
control the House either. In fact, the margin was 70 or 80 votes short 
in the House. Yet he was still able to get his agenda through.
  On the minority side, the Republican side, we had two terrific 
dynamic leaders, John Rhodes and Bob Michel, two Republicans that were 
minority leaders, never Speaker. They were both good, decent, honest 
people; but they never had the votes, or not the Republican votes. So 
Ronald Reagan appealed to the American people for his support. 
``Reaganesque'' is a word today that you will find in the dictionary, a 
powerful word; and in fact he put policy over politics, and look at the 
results.
  He beat an incumbent President, a good honest, decent guy, Jimmy 
Carter, who has done wonderful things since his Presidency; but the 
real test is your reelection, and Ronald Reagan won 49 of the 50 
States. If that was not a mandate in terms of his agenda, I do not know 
what is. That mandate, winning 49 States, I think will serve as the 
record for any President running for reelection.
  Yes, history will judge where he stands, rightfully so. But in large 
part it already has. Ronald Reagan was a great American President, a 
wonderful man who touched tens of millions of lives across this country 
in every respect of their life. I was proud to serve a wonderful 
President for those years.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  The first time I met Ronald Reagan was the day I began work for him 
in the White House. We shook hands and exchanged pleasantries in the 
Oval Office. Of course, it is difficult to forget one's first meeting 
with the President of the United States, but what I particularly 
remember is how quickly he put me at ease. Of course, he told a joke.
  Learning that I was a Harvard graduate, he told me the story of a 
friend of his who had graduated from Harvard Law School, had become a 
partner in a large firm but had lost his position due to a problem with 
drinking and drugs, and consequentially, in succession, he lost his 
wife, his family, his income, and even ran afoul of the law, being put 
in jail for shoplifting. But now he was out of jail. He had cleaned up 
his life and, most importantly, he had met a wonderful woman to whom he 
wished to propose marriage. But, and it was on this point that he asked 
the President's advice, he had not told this woman about his background 
for fear of losing her. So he asked the President, should I tell her 
that I went to Harvard?
  I knew immediately where I stood. Two years later, I was with the 
President in the Oval Office, and I have a picture hanging on my desk 
of this moment, and I am sitting across from his desk, across from him, 
just the two of us. He has a big smile on his face, and I am about to 
burst out laughing because he was, of course, telling another joke.
  It was a special privilege to travel with the President on Air Force 
1, and what I particularly remember is the way the President came back 
to cheer up the staff, to regale us with stories and jokes. I was 
particularly fond of his amazingly authentic Irish brogue.
  But I will not forget especially the last time I saw him as 
President. It was here in this Capitol. He had summoned us, the 
Republican Members, just days before the inauguration to give us a 
private valediction. No press, no public, just us. And he spoke from 
the Democratic sides of the aisle, from the rostrum on the left, a 
mistake I attributed to his lack of familiarity with House procedure. 
It was a mistake of mine, however. He knew exactly what he was doing. 
And as he described his political career, he described how I did not 
leave the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party left me; and he strode 
purposefully to this other rostrum to the delight of the Republican 
Members.
  But what he told us that day rose far above party and partisanship. 
Because, of course, he saw a consistent thread throughout his career in 
his support for FDR, his campaigning for Harry Truman, his support and 
campaigning for Ike, and of course his own administration. A few 
moments after he finished here on the floor, we went to Statuary Hall 
and he mingled with the Members and we had a few private moments there. 
This was, of course, just a few feet from where in the rotunda later 
today his body will lie in repose. He did not tell me a joke at that 
time. Instead, after congratulating me on my recent election to 
Congress, something we had had the chance more exuberantly to celebrate 
after me and my new colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Rohrabacher), visited with him in the Oval Office in June, he told me 
never forget to trust the people who sent you here and always fight for 
the principles that you and I share.
  It was the serious side of him because he was all about ideas. And 
while his humor, his gregariousness, his

[[Page 11820]]

avuncularity has been much remarked upon in recent days, that was an 
important aspect of his leadership; but it does not tell us about the 
substance of his leadership, where he was taking the country. And it 
was the ideas that President Reagan brought to Washington that mattered 
most of all.
  It is well known and much remarked upon that Ronald Reagan won the 
Cold War without firing a shot. He led the global movement to tear down 
the Berlin Wall. He led an economic renaissance at home by dramatically 
reducing the burden of taxes across the board, from a marginal rate of 
70 percent down to 28 percent. But it is just as important to recognize 
the leading role that President Reagan played in supporting our 
country, such issues as the civil rights of women and men here at home.
  President Reagan, of course, appointed the first woman to be 
ambassador of the United Nations. He appointed the first woman to be a 
Justice of the United States Supreme Court. He appointed the first 
woman to be Secretary of Transportation, the first Latina to be 
Treasurer of the United States.
  On November 2, 1983, he made Martin Luther King's birthday a national 
holiday. He appointed the first African American chairman of the U.S. 
Civil Rights Commission, my good friend and great American, the late 
Clarence Pendleton. He extended the Voting Rights Act for a quarter 
century. He named the first Hispanic to the Cabinet, Lauro Cavasos, as 
Secretary of Education.
  On August 10, 1988, he provided compensation to Japanese Americans 
who had been deprived of their civil liberties and their property 
during the infamous internment of World War II ordered by FDR.
  Today, we can see the wisdom of President Reagan's policies from a 
distance. He appointed the first-ever Presidential Commission on AIDS 
and gave national direction to the effort to stop the spread of this 
terrible disease.
  His was the statesmanship of a true leader. While fighting Soviet 
expansion in Africa, he fought apartheid and imposed sanctions on the 
racist Government of South Africa by executive order. He demanded as a 
condition of lifting those sanctions the release of Nelson Mandela. And 
yet he refused to declare economic warfare against the civilian 
population of that country, black, white, and all races as the United 
Nations had done in imposing its sanctions on Zimbabwe. So today, 
whereas Zimbabwe has become a living hell, an autocracy that has 
stripped away all pretense of law or property or personal safety, South 
Africa has a real democracy where all men and women can vote and where 
all are equal before the law.
  In Central America, he prevented the Soviet Union from establishing a 
beachhead in our own hemisphere, and likewise in Nicaragua. And 
throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean, just as in 
Central Europe and Asia, democracy grew and prospered.
  Mr. Speaker, from that day in January of 1981, when President Reagan 
was sworn in, until last Saturday, the American people always knew 
where to look for a hero. President Reagan did great things not only 
for our country but for our world. Today, more than 1 billion people 
live in freedom because of his global leadership. In fact, all of the 
people of the world, those who enjoy the sweet blessings of liberty and 
those who still yearn for freedom, will always know where to look for a 
hero.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan).
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me 
this time, this opportunity to share a few words about President 
Reagan.
  Mr. Speaker, when our country was confronted with a terrible menace 
of dangerous ideology, Reagan rallied America and united the world to 
decisively defeat the threat of Communism. We are grateful for that 
leadership.
  Ronald Reagan elevated the office of President. When mistakes were 
made, Ronald Reagan personally accepted responsibility. It did not 
matter what focus groups, polls, his advisers, political consultants 
said, he understood that the buck stopped with him and him alone.
  He was an American icon, forever remembered for his warmth and the 
respect he afforded to others, and our thoughts and prayers today are 
with Nancy and his children and his family at this very difficult time.
  Even when President Reagan broke the hearts of the Democrats, he was 
respected for his honesty, his beliefs, and the dedication he displayed 
in pursuing them.
  As a young elementary student during the Challenger disaster, it was 
enormous comfort to those of us who were all watching, because there 
was a teacher on the Challenger at that time, to listen to President 
Reagan as we began to question why America was sending these astronauts 
up into space; why was there a teacher on the Challenger at that time. 
And President Reagan said to us that the future does not belong to the 
faint-hearted, it belongs to the brave, and communicating to us what 
America was all about.
  I also remember as a young man President Reagan interacting with 
then-Speaker Tip O'Neill, in the way they got along, and they laughed 
and they talked and they joked. And that was a great example for those 
of us who were beginning to get acquainted with the political system.
  I remember the courage and the humor that President Reagan showed 
when he was shot, hoping that the doctors were all Republican and 
telling his wife, who was terrified, that he forgot to duck.
  I also cannot help but remember President Reagan, during the 
Washington Redskins ceremony at the Rose Garden after winning the Super 
Bowl, hitting Gary Sanders on the money as he ran a drag pattern across 
the Rose Garden.
  The differences then, despite our disagreements, were real; but 
because of the way President Reagan led, he taught us that there is a 
big difference between strong beliefs and bitter partisanship. Strong 
beliefs and a love of country are the only way to bring this country 
forward as we face the enormous challenges that we have before this 
body today.
  Ronald Reagan always stressed that we are a can-do country. Democrats 
and Republicans both believe this. And I believe it is that sense of 
optimism, as we look back on history, that the Presidents that moved 
the Nation forward were optimistic and believed the best and the 
brightest in this country would continue to move us forward.

                              {time}  1230

  Mr. Speaker, I believe we can get back on the right track with strong 
leadership and a real commitment to confronting the problems that face 
American families today. In the words of Ronald Reagan, we can do 
better. With tolerance and inclusion, uniting rather than dividing, we 
can continue the legacy of Ronald Reagan.
  So when we return to work next week, I hope this House will be 
inspired by the leadership of Ronald Reagan instead of mired in the 
partisan politics that have too often affected our work as of late. We 
should be inspired by his patriotism and devotion to our country, and 
we should remember his faith, his optimism, and his unwavering 
commitment to his convictions as we do the work of the American people.
  In the words of President Reagan, those comforting words he gave us 
some 18 years, and we will never forget Ronald Reagan, nor the last 
time we saw him, for now he has slipped the surly bonds of Earth to 
touch the face of God. We will miss him.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from South 
Carolina (Mr. Brown).
  Mr. BROWN of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, like so many Americans, 
President Reagan was not only my President, but also my inspiration. My 
own calling to public service in 1981 was in no small part as a result 
of President Reagan's example. Without his leadership and passion for 
our great Nation, I would not be standing in this great Chamber before 
Members today.
  He was a shining light and a beacon of hope not only for our Nation, 
but

[[Page 11821]]

also for the world. At a time in history when it was desperately 
needed, he sought peace in our world and was a champion of democracy 
and freedom. We are all better as a result of his contributions, and 
his legacy will live forever.
  If I had to describe President Reagan with just one adjective, it 
would not be courageous, optimistic or kind, or any number of other 
fitting adjectives for such a great man, it would be American. Above 
all things, President Reagan was an American. He so embodied the 
spirit, courage and hope of America that he was able to reach out and 
touch his fellow citizens. He trusted the American people to be able to 
make decisions for themselves, and in turn they trusted him. He had a 
dream to make America stronger by putting more responsibility back into 
the hands of the people. He understood that Americans could manage 
their hard-earned dollars better than any government agency. He 
empowered the citizens to work harder and to improve our Nation from 
the ground up.
  I am proud to model my views on government after one of our great 
Presidents, President Reagan. Even those who have never met him or who 
disagree with him politically felt a special connection with President 
Reagan. He was a people's President, arguably unlike any others before 
or after.
  He invigorated and inspired those young men for the battle ahead, 
just as he invigorated and inspired a Nation while he was in office. 
President Reagan always celebrated life, and he loved every day of it. 
I am honored to be celebrating the life of such a great American with 
Members today. We were blessed and honored as a Nation to have 
President Reagan as both our leader and as our friend.
  Mr. President, you were not just marking time. You made a tremendous 
difference in the lives of all Americans. You made the Nation stronger 
and the world a safer place for democracy. Today we still enjoy the 
fruits of the Reagan revolution. You fought for freedom, and today it 
does not waver. You were the inspiration of so many, including myself, 
and today we remember and say thanks to you. On behalf of the entire 
First Congressional District of South Carolina, a grateful Nation and 
myself, thank you, Mr. President, and may God bless you and your 
family.
  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Arkansas (Mr. Ross).
  Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, the great communicator, an all-American 
patriot, relentless pursuer of freedom, these qualities describe 
America's 40th President, Ronald Reagan.
  We can all agree that President Reagan's enduring love for his 
country and his idealistic outlook renewed faith and hope to a 
generation of Americans. My fond memories of President Reagan will 
include, among others, that defining moment nearly 14 years ago as I 
watched with pride as he, as a former President, chiseled away at the 
Berlin Wall. I was truly moved by the immense joy and pride that he 
radiated and that radiated on the faces around him. You see, it had not 
been that many years before that in his famous speech he said, ``Mr. 
Gorbachev, tear down this wall.''
  President Reagan's commitment and service to our country and the 
world will be forever remembered in the hearts and minds of people 
around the globe. I join millions of others throughout the world who 
continue to keep Mrs. Reagan and their family in my heart and in my 
prayers as we pay tribute to the 40th President of the United States of 
America, former President Ronald Reagan.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Oklahoma (Mr. Cole).
  Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, there are few men in our history whose lives 
can be said to have changed the world. Ronald Reagan was one of those 
men.
  Ronald Reagan was an inspiration to me personally and politically. In 
1984, I was honored to head his reelection campaign in Oklahoma. I also 
served as chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party during his 
Presidency. A favorite memory of mine is of a meeting with the 
President and Republican State party chairmen from the South at the 
White House in 1988. A 15-minute meeting turned into an hour-long 
treasure as he regaled us with one hilarious political story after 
another. Ronald Reagan loved politicians, he loved politics, and he 
loved public service.
  I cannot claim to have known Ronald Reagan well. I was privileged to 
be with him on more than a few occasions. All the same, he changed my 
life and the lives of millions of others. He was a voice of faith, 
faith in America, faith in her people, faith in their future, and, most 
profoundly, faith in freedom.
  Ronald Reagan inspired us to do great things. With him we 
accomplished much. It is for us to continue to build that shining city 
on a hill to which he so often referred. There is much yet to do. 
Ronald Reagan was my hero; but more importantly, he was an American 
hero. We mourn his passing, but we celebrate his life of achievement 
and patriotism.
  Mr. Speaker, there are few men in our history and there will be few 
men in our future who live their lives in such a way that the world 
will be changed because of their existence. Ronald Reagan is one of 
those men. His dignity, character, strength and convictions will 
distinguish him in the pages of history and define him as one of the 
greatest presidents of the twentieth century. President Reagan was an 
inspiration to many and his optimism for America's future encouraged 
those across all party lines. He knew there was a brighter tomorrow 
through the path of strong values, hard work, tough decisions and 
perseverance. His leadership pulled America through the end of the Cold 
War, pushed the Soviet Union and the eastern Bloc onto the ``ash heap 
of history'' and restored the virtues of idealism and optimism to our 
country. He was a visionary who instigated the rebirth of conservatism 
and shaped the Republican Party into the governing national majority we 
see today.
  Ronald Reagan was a source of inspiration to me both personally and 
politically. I was serving as Executive Director of the Oklahoma State 
Party when Reagan was elected. In 1984, I was honored to head his re-
election efforts in Oklahoma. I also served as Oklahoma GOP Chairman 
during his presidency, so I had opportunities to meet and work with 
him.
  Ronald Reagan had a magic that really appealed to people. A favorite 
memory is of a meeting with the president and Republican state party 
chairmen from the South in 1988. A 15 minute meeting turned into an 
hour-long treasure as he regaled us with one hilarious political story 
after another. His wit and humor are as fresh in my memory today as 
they were 20 years ago. I was privileged to see up close what so many 
Americans intuitively felt when watching him on television. He was an 
extraordinary man who lived life and enjoyed being with people. It is 
no wonder he was able to move thousands of people and mobilize them to 
support his efforts. It's a gift few of us have--and he had that magic 
in abundance.
  Not only is Ronald Reagan a personal hero to me, his influence has 
shaped a generation of politicians. And by doing that he instilled the 
values that the Republican Party embraces today. Countless Republican 
officeholders got into elective politics because he fired their 
imagination. More profoundly, he showed that the institution of the 
presidency does work. We seldom remember that after the trials of 
Watergate and twenty years of failed or shortened administrations, some 
thought our country was too big for one man to govern, inspire and 
shape. No one, particularly those who worked with Ronald Reagan, 
question that today.
  And let us not forget that he was a very effective politician whose 
drive to succeed and will to win were intense. He lost primary after 
primary in 1976 before coming back from the political graveyard in 
North Carolina, Texas and Oklahoma. Former Republican National Chairman 
Frank Farenkopf tells the story that on election day in 1984, the 
president was so far ahead in the polls that he and Ed Rollins 
cancelled a rally in Minnesota. He did not need to be bothered, they 
reasoned. After he won 49 states and only lost Minnesota by about 2,500 
votes, the president liked to tease both of his advisors about their 
election day gaffe. It became a joke, but the president wanted 
Minnesota in his column.
  Much has been made in recent days of Ronald Reagan's courage. We saw 
his physical courage when an assassin sought to take his life in early 
1981. We saw it again when he confronted the ravages of Alzheimer's 
with grace, candor and sensitivity. But President Reagan also had the 
courage of his ideas and an ability to see the right path for his party 
and for is country.

[[Page 11822]]

  One of Ronald Reagan's biographers, Edmund Morris, tells of his 
astonishment when he read the president's diaries from his time in 
office. He learned how many of the major and complex decisions of the 
Reagan Administration were made by the president, alone and in private. 
Ronald Reagan did not care, Morris recounts, who got the credit as long 
as his decisions were implemented and his goals for America came closer 
to realization. Recently Kiron K. Skinner and Marty Anderson's fine 
works detailed the depth and breath of Reagan's view of the world--a 
view he implemented in office.
  In describing another great man at another time in history, Winston 
Churchill writes in his History of the English Speaking Peoples that 
Robert Peel was `` . . . the dominating force and personality in 
English politics . . .'' who ``whether in Opposition or in office . . . 
towered above the scene. He was not a man of broad and ranging modes of 
thoughts, but he understood better than any of his contemporaries the 
needs of the country and he had the outstanding courage to change his 
views in order to meet them.'' Robert Peel, Mr. Churchill added, saw 
the industrial revolution in Britain that made her the pre-eminent 
world power in the nineteenth century was driven not by the government 
but by private enterprise, by capital, by entrepreneurs, by a free 
people willing to take risks.
  There are many differences between Robert Peel and Ronald Reagan. Mr. 
Peel split his party and destroyed a governing coalition to support 
Free Trade--a decision validated by history. As a governor and then as 
a president, Ronald Reagan united a party badly divided over ideas and 
led it out of the political wilderness. The Republican ascendancy in 
national government today is a direct result of his leadership. But in 
reading Winston Churchill's appraisal of Robert Peel's political 
biography. He was the dominating personality in American politics for a 
generation.
  From the vantage of the early twenty-first century, it is hard to 
recall the mood of the country and its troubles at his election in 
1980. Watergate, defeat in Vietnam, unrestrained Soviet adventurism, 
double digit inflation and interest rates, massive unemployment, an 
energy crisis, American hostages in Tehran, the end of the post-War 
U.S. domination of the global economy--all these combined to give some 
a sense America's best days were behind her; that perhaps free 
enterprise and freedom were not the answer; that we had to accept 
totalitarian communism as a legitimate and equally plausible 
alternative to our own way of life. Ronald Reagan rejected these ideas. 
He was optimistic about America, he believed the United States was ``a 
shining city on the hill'', a beacon of hope and freedom to the world. 
He understood communism was evil and free peoples must defend 
themselves against the darkness of tyranny and oppression. He saw a 
bright and prosperous future for all Americans, one where their work 
could carry them as far as they dared to dream. Looking back, we take 
all these things for granted, but Ronald Reagan was ridiculed by the 
intellectuals and so-called realists of his day. It took real courage 
to stand up for his beliefs to put them into practice, and to defend 
them from the faint of heart while they took root and blossomed. To 
paraphrase Mr. Churchill's assessment of Mr. Peel, Ronald Reagan 
understood his countrymen better than anyone else on the political 
stage. They needed leadership, he gave it and they loved him for it.
  Like Mr. Peel, Ronald Reagan also had the courage to change his 
views. A New Deal Democrat, his partisan affiliation and ideological 
vantage point slowly shifted over time from a liberal Democrat who 
believed in government intervention to a conservative Republican who 
trusted Americans and the people of the world to solve their own 
problems. As anyone who has even a passing understanding of Hollywood 
and it's cultural and political outlook knows, this was not an easy 
thing to do. Ronald Reagan learned about communists first hand when he 
battled to keep them out of the entertainment industry. Much of his 
later political success was based on a willingness to stand up to 
Soviet aggression. Yet, when a glimmer of light came through the 
darkness behind the Iron Curtain, President Reagan saw America's chance 
for victory through negotiation and began to talk to the Soviets and 
their leader, Mikhail Gorbachev. Many of his longtime supporters 
decried his decision and they did so with good reason because the 
Soviets historically did not negotiate in good faith. But the president 
had the courage and the vision to see the great opening and he took it. 
And, like so many times in the past, he was right. And we are better 
for it.
  Mr. Speaker, like many Americans I cannot claim to have known Ronald 
Reagan well. I was privileged to be with him on more than a few 
occasions, but more often I watched him on television or read about him 
in the morning's newspapers with the rest of the country. All the same, 
he changed my life. And he changed the lives of millions around the 
world. His was a voice of faith. Faith in America, in her people, and 
in freedom. He inspired us to do great things. With him we accomplished 
much. Though he has gone to a better place, it is for us to continue to 
build that shining city on the hill. There is much yet to do. But 
Ronald Reagan's legacy and memory will inspire us in our task.
  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. Wu).
  Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moore) 
and the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox) for their bipartisan 
leadership in this tribute to President Ronald Reagan.
  I would like to share a personal story, one little vignette about my 
experience with President Reagan. It was during my student days, during 
my college senior year. Then-Governor Reagan came to Stanford to speak. 
The speech was organized. It was sometime between his 1976 Presidential 
campaign and his 1980 Presidential campaign. He had been Governor of 
California.
  His speech at Stanford was organized by the Young College Republicans 
or the Young College Conservatives. Whoever organized it, they 
carefully screened the audience, and a lot of folks were screened out. 
But for whatever reason, I was screened in.
  Then-Governor Reagan gave a very good speech, after which he took 
questions. I was one of the ones who rose to ask a question. Of course, 
it was a challenging question. As I was going into the question, 
members of the audience started to boo me, and the moderator rose to 
cut off my question. It was at that point that Mr. Reagan stepped up 
and said, ``No, no, no, I want to hear the young man out, and I want to 
answer his question.'' I had my say, he answered the question, and of 
course he got a standing ovation.
  But I think it is that moment, that image of Mr. Reagan, that I 
remember, his graciousness, his openness, his generosity of spirit, the 
willingness to hear folks out and hear debate. That is a sign of 
greatness in any individual, and there were lessons for that day almost 
30 years ago, and they are perhaps lessons today for the Washington in 
which we work today.
  My best wishes to the family, and God bless Ronald Reagan.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana 
(Mr. Burton).
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I, like all of my colleagues, 
would like to extol the wonderful accomplishments of President Reagan, 
the economy coming back from the doldrums, the destruction of the 
Berlin Wall, and the Communist menace that we faced so much back in the 
1960s, 1970s and 1980s. But what I want to talk about today are 
personal experiences I had with Ronald Reagan.
  When I was running for office over a period of 10 or 12 years, I 
promised my mother, who was a waitress for many, many years at L.S. 
Harris & Company, that if I ever got elected to the Congress of the 
United States, the first thing I would do is take her in the front door 
of the White House and introduce her to the President of the United 
States.
  I got elected in 1983. I called the White House and they said, yes, 
we can give you a couple of minutes with the President. I called my 
mom, and I took her in the front door of the White House expecting a 
very perfunctory kind of meeting where he would shake hands and take a 
picture, and that would be it. Unbeknownst to me, he contacted my 
office and tried to find out everything he could about me. When we 
walked in, he put his arm around me and said to my mother, ``This is 
one of the finest young Congressmen in the Congress. I want you to know 
that I really appreciate all of the things he has done,'' and he reeled 
off three or four things I had accomplished that I did not think he had 
any idea about.
  I could see my mother's chest expanding, expanding, and expanding. 
Here is a little lady from the Midwest who had a very tough life, was 
abused as a wife, and protected me and my sister from abuse from my 
father. She had

[[Page 11823]]

nothing but a tough life, and here was the President of the United 
States telling her what a great guy her son was. I will never forget 
that as long as I live. She walked out of that office with my 
stepfather and me, and she was so proud. She carried a picture of the 
President and us together for the rest of her life. She was so proud to 
the day she died. He was that kind of a guy.
  I remember another time I debated Al Gore when he was in the House 
and Tom Downey of New York on the Strategic Defense Initiative when the 
President first started talking about defending this country from an 
incoming missile attack. I debated Al Gore and Tom Downey on a Special 
Order for probably 30 or 40 minutes, and I thought that was the end of 
it. And 2 days later, I got a personal handwritten letter from the 
President thanking me for sticking up for him. Who would believe the 
President of the United States would take the time to write a 
handwritten note to a new Congressman just because he took a position 
that paralleled the President's? He was a wonderful, down-to-Earth man.
  One more little anecdote, and then I will let the rest of my 
colleagues talk. When I first got elected, they had a dinner for all of 
the freshmen Congressmen. After the dinner, we were walking around the 
Green Room, and everybody was patting the President on the back and 
saying what a great job he had done with the tax cuts. As he walked by 
me, I thought I better talk about something besides tax cuts because he 
is just walking past everybody, and I really wanted to talk to the guy.
  As he walked by, I said, ``President Reagan, one of my favorite 
movies was King's Row.'' He said, thank you very much, took two steps 
past me, stopped, turned around and came back, and talked for 10 
minutes about that movie. It was one of the greatest thrills of my life 
to get a real insight into what he did as a movie actor. He really 
enjoyed it as well. All my colleagues gathered around. It was one of 
the highlights of the evening.
  That is the kind of guy Ronald Reagan was. He cared about people in 
addition to being a great President.
  I would like to say to his family, God bless you, all of you. Mrs. 
Reagan, you were great to us when you were First Lady. God bless you 
and your family. The good Lord, I am sure, has a very high place in 
heaven for Ronald Reagan.
  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Emanuel).
  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I do not have stories like the gentleman 
from Indiana (Mr. Burton), personal interaction with former President 
Reagan, but as somebody growing up and loving politics, I obviously 
watched his Presidency as a student of politics.
  Here was a guy known as a great communicator, an eternal optimist. It 
makes sense when one thinks about it: A guy who grew up in Dixon, 
Illinois, a troubled home, faced a series of disadvantages, and one day 
wakes up in the White House.

                              {time}  1245

  What is there not to be optimistic about? And he had that sense of 
optimism, and everybody can talk about different skills or techniques 
or tactics as a communicator; but the truth is he never left Dixon, 
Illinois. He had that common touch. He knew about walking-around folk, 
and he understood their lives, and he could tell a great story that 
gave people a sense of his ideas. So he spoke of our common wisdom and 
our common sense.
  One of the other things that I very much admired on the policy, 
although I do have differences obviously, was President Reagan's 
commitment to the earned income tax credit. In 1986, he greatly 
expanded the earned income tax credit; and if I can quote him, ``This 
is the best antipoverty, the best profamily, the best job creation 
measure to come out of Congress.''
  That was President Reagan on the earned income tax credit; and he 
understood that through a tax credit we can help create jobs, help be 
profamily, did not have to have a government bureaucrat to do it, but 
it was something we could do through the Tax Code to reward work, 
reward responsibility, and fight poverty at the same time.
  I think that was a tremendous program. We expanded it in 1993 and 
again later on in 1997, but Ronald Reagan in 1986 really put the muscle 
behind the earned income tax credit, a great program that I think 
lifted millions of American families and children out of poverty and 
did it by rewarding work, not dependency.
  Lastly, Ronald Reagan spoke to our patriotism and our sense of love. 
He came into office at a time when people did not think you could do 
the job of the Presidency. It was just so overwhelming. And with his 
ease, his grace and his confidence, he restored people's confidence in 
that office.
  Mr. Speaker, he has a legacy of patriotism and confidence in America 
and the American people, and it will endure. Our hearts go out to Mrs. 
Reagan and his entire family, to a great, great patriot.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana 
(Mr. Buyer).
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, Ronald Reagan's belief in the ideals of 
individual liberty reassured America to believe in itself and inspired 
people all over the world.
  Like a flower perfect in its bud and as it is in its bloom, it 
spreads its seeds before it dies. So did Ronald Reagan as he spread the 
seeds of liberty and its attributes to the people of the world through 
the pursuits of freedom.
  His critics viewed him as a throwback in time, almost antediluvian; 
but what Ronald Reagan possessed were principles and ideals that were 
ageless. They served as guideposts for our country in time.
  I will always remember his courage to take a stand in the face of 
adversity, especially the evils of tyranny. He understood that liberty 
is protected by the vigilant who must be ready to prepare and defend 
freedom, thereby preserving peace.
  I will always remember his charm and smile. They were infectious. He 
was always able to stay above the fray, undetracted and undeterred with 
his calm demeanor and balanced temperament. I believe his optimism 
inspired people in more ways than this body could ever articulate. To 
Ronald Reagan, one cannot believe impossible things, for it oppresses 
the soul and forks hope.
  He dared Americans to dream big and made it fashionable to be a 
dreamer of dreams. His sentimentality reflected his care and concern 
for people. I thank the Reagan family for permitting the state funeral 
so that people can mourn their President.
  On behalf of my constituents in Indiana, I extend their thoughts and 
prayers of many Hoosiers to the Reagan family.
  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentlewoman from South Dakota (Ms. Herseth), the newest 
Member of this body.
  Ms. HERSETH. Mr. Speaker, many Members of this House worked closely 
with President Reagan and were fortunate to call him their friend. Many 
were inspired to service by his example and point to his Presidency as 
a turning point in their lives. For many in my generation, he is the 
first President we really remember from the beginning of his Presidency 
to the end. He is the first President who inspired us with his 
confidence and optimism as well as his humility.
  He is the first President in our memory to truly embody that graceful 
strength that we seek from our leaders in times of crisis and 
uncertainty. We will all remember President Ronald Reagan in our own 
way, shaped by our own perspective. What I will always remember most is 
the respect, the dignity, and the sincerity with which he treated 
others, as will all America for generations to come. My thoughts and 
prayers are with his wife, Nancy Reagan, his family, and his many 
friends.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Kennedy).
  Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, our country had suffered its 
fair share of lumps in the 1970s, and in 1980 we were looking for a 
leader who would draw a line in the sand and say

[[Page 11824]]

``no more.'' We found that rare man in Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan 
succeeded where others failed because throughout his public life he 
concerned himself with getting things done, not winning applause. In 
fact, one of Reagan's hallmarks was the plaque he kept on his desk that 
said: ``There is no limit to what you can accomplish if you don't care 
who gets the credit.''
  As a businessman, I admired Ronald Reagan's dedication to this 
seemingly modest goal. Putting success ahead of personal accolades is a 
difficult lesson for many to learn, but a talent all great men seem to 
instinctively possess. It is an axiom that turns productive individuals 
into innovative leaders, and it turned Ronald Reagan into one of the 
greatest leaders and greatest Presidents we have had. Ironically, the 
more Reagan sought to distance himself from the successes he knew grew 
from the sweat and tears of the American people, the more it turned out 
that those people admired him for his principled leadership. That 
leadership earned Ronald Reagan widespread respect and helped Reagan 
form broad bipartisan coalitions to renew America. The results were 
immediate, winning historic legislative victories on providing tax 
relief and strengthening our military. The economy flourished as our 
national pride returned.
  I can recall what a difference Ronald Reagan made in my own life, 
from the depressed job market I entered after graduating from college 
in 1978 to the vastly improved job opportunities I found after 
graduating from business school in 1983. The world was a wholly 
different place in those 5 years because the Reagan Era had become the 
Reagan Revolution.
  The impact that Ronald Reagan had on our world is immeasurable. When 
he took office, our collective national spirit had been lulled to sleep 
in the morass of the 1960s and the 1970s. Reagan seized the sleeping 
giant and shook it wide awake with a jolt of optimism and patriotism 
and a reminder of our destiny as Americans that our best days lay 
ahead.
  May God bless the spirit and family of Ronald Reagan, our 40th 
President, and one of our true national heroes.
  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge).
  Mr. ETHERIDGE. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of the Second District of North 
Carolina, I rise to pay my respects to the late Ronald Reagan, the 40th 
President of the United States of America. My wife, Faye, and I join 
all North Carolinians and all Americans in expressing our condolences 
to former First Lady Nancy Reagan and the entire Reagan family.
  Ronald W. Reagan served two terms in our Nation's highest office 
after winning overwhelming margins of victory in the Presidential 
elections of 1980 and 1984. His time in office was marked by renewed 
pride in America, and he is to be commended for his steadfast devotion 
to liberalization from the oppression of communism and that vicious 
rule in nations throughout the world.
  Regardless of one's position on President Reagan's policies and 
politics, all Americans remember his warmth of spirit and the 
respectful manner in which he engaged in public debate. This approach 
kept acrimony to a healthy minimum even when conflicting views on 
vitally important issues were debated in this House and in this city. 
That example stands in marked contrast to the divisiveness and bitter 
partisanship we have too often witnessed since his Presidency.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, all Americans stand in solidarity and salute 
Nancy Reagan and the whole Reagan family for the dignity and grace that 
they have displayed through the former President's long and difficult 
struggle with Alzheimer's disease. Their struggle has been our 
struggle, for it reminds us of the afflictions millions of Americans 
face in anonymity every day. The Federal Government must act to ease 
this needless suffering by increasing research funding and modernizing 
regulations to allow for potentially lifesaving research using stem 
cells and other medical techniques. The pain on Mrs. Reagan's face 
should prod the conscience of this country to end the cruel 
victimization of stricken patients who require potentially lifesaving 
research.
  In conclusion, the passing of President Reagan closes an important 
chapter in American history. As the leaders of the 20th century pass 
from the scene, we must endeavor to carry on their legacy of progress 
at home and American leadership in the world. On behalf of the people 
of North Carolina, I rise today to say, rest in peace, Mr. President.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Ferguson).
  Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of the Seventh 
District of New Jersey, I rise to pay tribute to the life and legacy of 
one of the great Presidents in the history of the United States, Ronald 
Reagan. In a farewell address at the end of his second term, President 
Reagan said that those in his generation ``were taught very directly 
what it means to be an American. And we absorbed, almost in the air, a 
love of country and an appreciation for its institutions.''
  In many ways, President Reagan was my first President. His presence 
was the dominant force in America and in politics when I first started 
thinking about policy issues, the role of government, and America's 
unique place of leadership in the world. And I believe, for my 
generation and for so many more, President Reagan enabled us to do just 
what he had been taught in his generation: to absorb, almost in the 
air, a love of country and an appreciation for its institutions.
  After the turmoil and tumult of the 1960s and the 1970s, President 
Reagan helped America regain its confidence. He helped us to remember 
who we were, what being an American meant, and the greatness which 
would allow America to play a pivotal role on the world stage. Ronald 
Reagan believed in peace through strength, and he won the Cold War. He 
believed in the dignity and the value of every human person, and he 
believed in an optimistic vision for the future of America which 
resulted in one of the golden ages of American patriotism, prosperity, 
and progress. He was able to be a tough leader and a formidable 
adversary; and he did it with his own human touch, with a warm sense of 
humor, and his ever-present humility.
  Future generations will teach their children just as we are teaching 
ours that the life and legacy of President Ronald Reagan will take its 
rightful place alongside the greatest leaders in our Nation's history 
and as one of the pivotal figures of the 20th century who quite 
literally changed our world for the better. For this, we will forever 
be in his debt. May he rest in peace.
  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Davis).
  Mr. DAVIS of Alabama. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, it is probably somewhat appropriate that I follow my 
friend from New Jersey (Mr. Ferguson) because, like some other Members 
in this body, I passed from being a child to being a grown man under 
the Reagan Presidency during those 8 years. And it is appropriate and I 
am honored to stand here today as part of the great bipartisan 
tradition in this country to express my condolences to the Reagan 
family.
  This is not a moment for party. It is a moment for solemn reflection 
about America and about someone who cared very deeply about America. 
Make no mistake, there are some on my side of the aisle who, including 
myself, have profound disagreements with the direction of what has been 
called the Reagan Revolution.

                              {time}  1300

  All of us in this Chamber do not share the same vision or the same 
viewpoints on a number of the President's policies during the 1980s, 
but this is a time to give him his due, and this is a time to remember 
what the best tradition of Ronald Reagan's conservatism meant.
  One of my strongest memories of Ronald Reagan was one of his last 
great speeches when he went to the

[[Page 11825]]

Berlin Wall about 24 years after John F. Kennedy went there, and he 
said symbolically to Mikhail Gorbachev, then the leader of the Soviet 
Union, Mr. Gorbachev, if you are serious about reform, if you are 
serious about freedom, come to this place, open this gate, and tear 
down this wall. And somehow 15 months later the wall was gone.
  Ronald Reagan was fortunate that he lived to see successes on his own 
terms, he lived to see the wall come down in Berlin. And I have to 
believe this: We can debate as historians what caused the Soviet empire 
to fall without a shot being fired. We can debate as people who follow 
history what caused the Soviet Union to implode. But we ought to be 
generous enough this week to say that Ronald Reagan's courage was a 
part of that. His willingness to stand up to the Iron Curtain was no 
small part in the dismantling.
  How do we honor Ronald Reagan? There are different opinions in this 
Chamber about how we do that. Let me close my time today by giving just 
one Member's opinion. President Reagan spoke very eloquently of a 
shining city on a hill. If we are to ever build a shining city on a 
hill that is America, we have to recognize that a shining city has no 
hollows, a shining city has no walls, and a shining city is one where 
all of our people somehow have a foundation and a chance for growth.
  Ronald Reagan's conservatism, properly understood, oriented to the 
needs of our times, ought to mean at least this: It ought to mean that 
we believe in one community in America. It ought to mean that we 
believe in a community that is strong enough to raise up all of our 
people and strong enough to reconcile all of our differences.
  So I end today by saying that whatever our differences with our 
friends on the other side of the aisle, whatever our differences with 
the direction of the 1980s, we ought to be secure in the sense that we 
are all Americans, and we ought to be secure in the sense of freedom 
that Ronald Reagan spoke about that day in Berlin, because there are 
all kinds of walls that still need to come down, and to truly salute 
this man's legacy, that ought to be our business today.
  Mr. COX. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon).
  Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend and 
colleague for yielding me this time.
  Madam Speaker, I first met Ronald Reagan through a local leader in 
our State, Faith Whittlesey, who was one of Ronald Reagan's earliest 
supporters in the eastern part of America for the Presidency. And it 
was a glorious day in 1984 when Ronald Reagan came to my home county, 
stood on the steps of the courthouse where I was then the vice 
chairman, and held my hand up alongside of another famous American, Tug 
McGraw, and endorsed me for the congressional seat. I did not win that 
year, Madam Speaker, but I came within 412 votes of unseating a 10-
year, very popular incumbent. I won the seat 2 years later and have 
been here ever since.
  But I took up two of Ronald Reagan's key issues: his work with the 
Soviet Union, now Russia, and his work on missile defense. And over the 
past 18 years that I have been in Congress, it has been my pleasure to 
try to live up to the expectations and to the role model that Ronald 
Reagan established for all of us.
  Madam Speaker, he was someone who understood the Russian people, and 
he was someone who taught us in America that in the end, if we would 
simply trust but verify, if we would simply stand up and be candid with 
them, that in the end they would respect us. On the issue of missile 
defense, it was Ronald Reagan who said that we should not leave America 
unprotected and vulnerable.
  How amazing it is 18 years later, Madam Speaker, that one of the most 
popular officials in Russia today is Ronald Reagan. In polls that have 
been conducted in Russia, they look to Ronald Reagan because he was a 
leader of stature and because he was someone who the Russian people 
respected, because he saw through the Communist leadership and held 
fast with the Russian people for a better time. So it was appropriate 
that when I last traveled to Russia 3 weeks ago for my 37th trip that 
we discussed a new initiative with the Russian people, in honor of 
Ronald Reagan, taking their radar systems and using them with our radar 
systems to develop a joint missile defense system. How proud Ronald 
Reagan would be.
  But for all of his work in helping us defeat communism, in helping us 
move toward missile defense, and helping to reinvigorate our economy, I 
will remember Ronald Reagan, Madam Speaker, most for what he was as an 
individual person. He was a very humble man. He would take the time to 
meet with anyone regardless of their stature in life.
  As a first-term Republican, I had the honor of being invited to the 
Oval Office with my family. I took my five kids down to the Oval Office 
with my wife, and my youngest was then 4 years old, and he was more 
concerned with the inside furnishings of the Oval Office than he was 
with the stature of the President. That did not matter to Ronald 
Reagan. In fact, I would later find out that in the book of the 
favorite photographs of Ronald Reagan, this photograph would appear, 
which is also on the wall of the Reagan Presidential Library in 
California. How proud I am that my family had the chance to meet Ronald 
Reagan and that my 4-year-old son, who is now 21 years old, who is here 
making faces at the camera, received a signed personal photograph from 
Ronald Reagan and received words of encouragement back then that are 
still important to each of my five kids today.
  I remember Ronald Reagan most for not just what he did for the world, 
but what he was as a role model for everyone that met him. He was 
someone who genuinely cared about people. He was someone who would take 
the time to reach out to a 4-year-old or a 6-year-old and give them 
words of encouragement.
  Ronald Reagan is a role model for all of us, and for that we give 
thanks, and we thank his wife and send our sympathies to the entire 
Reagan family.
  Mr. MOORE. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from New York (Mr. McNulty).
  Mr. McNULTY. Madam Speaker, President Reagan's long struggle with 
Alzheimer's disease has ended, but the legacy of his extraordinary life 
remains.
  In 1998, my mother died as a result of the impact of Alzheimer's 
disease; so I know what families go through during times like that. And 
I will always be inspired by Nancy Reagan and the other members of the 
family for their tender caregiving to the former President over that 
very long period of time.
  Many people today have mentioned the occasion of the tearing down of 
the Berlin Wall by the people, and I recently looked at those pictures 
of the former President when he participated in chipping away at the 
wall. I was on the Committee on Armed Services at the time, and I had a 
chance to do that, too. As I was standing there watching people 
chipping away at the wall, tearing it down piece by piece, I noticed as 
the pieces were falling off the wall, some of them would catch the 
pieces and put them in their pockets. I said to myself, aha, they are 
taking souvenirs of the Berlin Wall, and I thought I might like to do 
that.
  And already capitalism being in evidence, I looked down, and there 
were vendors selling pieces of the wall. They were in little cellophane 
wrappers marked with the date they were taken off the wall. But ever 
the skeptic, I said to myself, how do I know that those pieces came off 
the wall?
  So I further looked around, and I saw this guy walking back and forth 
with hammers and chisels, renting them out. So I went over with my 
translator and made the deal and gave him some money, and I did what 
President Reagan did, and I chipped off some pieces of the wall. I 
brought them back home, and I gave them to veterans as a thank you to 
them for their dedication through the years and for the fact that they 
were responsible for what was happening on that particular day and at 
that particular time in history.
  President Reagan was a proud and patriotic American whose persistent

[[Page 11826]]

advocacy for democracy led in part to the breakup of the Soviet Union 
and its devolution into 15 individual democratic republics. And I was 
in one of those republics as a member of a delegation from Congress on 
their independence day. In Armenia, and I watched in awe as 95 percent 
of all of the people in that country went out and voted. I watched them 
stand in long lines for the privilege of voting in a free election for 
the first time in their lives. I noticed they brought covered dishes 
with them, and after they voted, they held little celebrations and 
banquets in each of the polling places.
  And what a thrill it was to be with them the next day in the streets 
of Yerevan, their capital, as they danced and shouted and sang, ``Ketze 
asat ankakh Hayastan,'' which means ``Long live free and independent 
Armenia.'' Then they pointed to the United States of America as their 
example of what they wanted to be as a democracy.
  So I thank all of the men and women who served in the uniform of the 
United States military through the years for helping to make that 
happen, and I also thank the Commander-in-Chief for 8 years, Ronald 
Reagan, for helping to make that happen.
  Today I join with all Americans in mourning his passing and in 
expressing deep gratitude for his tremendous public service as both 
Governor and as President.
  Mr. MOORE. Madam Speaker, for purposes of debate, I yield 25 minutes, 
about half of my time, to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox).
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). Without objection, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Cox) now controls an additional 25 
minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. COX. Madam Speaker, I sincerely thank the gentleman for yielding 
me this time.
  Madam Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished gentleman 
from Minnesota (Mr. Ramstad).
  Mr. RAMSTAD. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for 
yielding me this time.
  Madam Speaker, I rise to proudly pay tribute to the greatest 
President of the 20th century, Ronald Wilson Reagan, whose suffering 
has ended and heavenly life begun.
  My fellow Minnesotans join me in mourning the loss of America's 40th 
President and celebrating the life of a man who personified both the 
greatness and goodness of America. All Americans and freedom-loving 
people around the world owe President Reagan our deepest gratitude for 
his strong, principled leadership that ended the Cold War and brought 
freedom to millions of people.
  As we celebrate President Reagan's remarkable career and historic 
legacy, we also celebrate a man of strong character, deep conviction, 
unforgettable charm, and wonderful wit. No Minnesotan will ever forget 
President Reagan braving the below-zero windchill to ride in a 
convertible in St. Paul's Winter Carnival Parade and proclaim, ``I 
thought my ears would fall off.'' It was that cold.
  Madam Speaker, as America honors our beloved 40th President, we also 
thank God for a leader who restored pride and made the American people 
believe in themselves again. Always the eternal optimist, President 
Reagan instilled confidence and optimism at a time both were in short 
supply in our country.
  Thanks to President Reagan's strong leadership and undying belief in 
free-market capitalism, the great entrepreneurial spirit of the 
American people was unleashed, and prosperity was restored here at 
home.
  Madam Speaker, our hearts go out to Nancy Reagan and the Reagan 
family on their great loss. Mrs. Reagan has showed the whole world the 
true meaning of love and loyalty these past 10 very painful years as 
her beloved husband suffered from cruel Alzheimer's disease, the same 
deadly, debilitating disease that took the life of my own mother just 
months ago.
  So today, Madam Speaker, as we celebrate the life and legacy of 
Ronald Reagan, let us honor this great President by keeping his legacy 
alive, a legacy of love for his faith, family, friends, and country; a 
legacy of freedom, liberty, and opportunity for all people; a legacy of 
public service deeply rooted in faith, principle, character, and 
conviction. And let us always remember President Reagan's warm, 
infectious, kind smile that lit up every audience, inspired us and gave 
us hope, just as we remember our ``rendezvous with destiny.''
  Rest in peace, Mr. President, in the loving embrace of our Lord and 
Savior.
  Mr. MOORE. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. COX. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Putnam).

                              {time}  1315

  Mr. PUTNAM. Madam Speaker, I was in grade school when President 
Reagan was elected, so my thoughts and observations are not based on 
any particular policy, but on the man, on the spirit himself.
  We took great courage as a Nation in watching him as he dealt with an 
attempt on his own life. We watched in awe at his unwavering commitment 
to freedom everywhere around the world and his commitment to peace 
through strength, which allowed him to win the Cold War without a shot 
being fired.
  He moved an entire generation of young people to that same cry for 
freedom, the battle to spread liberty and democracy and freedom and 
equality around the world, and he did it with a sunny, hopeful, 
cheerful, optimistic demeanor. He appealed to the very best in us, 
never preying on our worst fears, but backed up by a steely resolve, 
backed up by principle, backed up by the notion that it was better to 
be right than to be popular. In doing so, he succeeded with an 
understanding, a very clear understanding, of the power of the American 
spirit when it is unencumbered, when it is let loose to achieve its own 
potential and carve out its piece of the American dream. He always 
believed in the goodness of the American spirit and the human spirit 
around the world. He understood that the strength of America, the 
resilience of America is in her people. He inspired in us all of those 
great factors without preying on the worst.
  Madam Speaker, may we ever be vigilant gatekeepers of his shining 
city on the hill. God bless the Reagan family, God bless America, and 
God bless this institution to whom President Reagan has given so much.
  Mr. COX. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner).
  Mr. BOEHNER. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from 
California for yielding me this time, and I rise today in tribute to a 
great American, Ronald Reagan.
  We have heard extensive remarks this morning about his two major 
accomplishments, I believe: the end of the Soviet Union as we know it, 
and setting in place employer tax rates leading to an economic 
recovery. If we think about what happened, he was the first to call for 
the end of the Soviet Union and, frankly, the first to predict the end 
of the Soviet Union as we knew it. No one in my lifetime has done more 
to spread freedom around the world than Ronald Reagan, and we all owe 
him a great debt not only here in our country, but around the world.
  His tax policies of the early 1980s led to an economic recovery in 
the 1980s, and I believe the entire expansion of the 1990s can be 
traced back to the lower tax rates set in the early 1980s, giving 
investors a reason to invest in our economy.
  But I think Ronald Reagan's greatest contribution to our country was 
his optimism, his hope, and his belief in the strength of the American 
people. One only has to look at what we went through in the 1960s and 
the 1970s and what Ronald Reagan inherited when he took office. 
America, to say the least, was on its heels. We had gone through the 
problems of the Vietnam era; we had gone through problems with the 
Presidency; we had gone through the problems of the energy crisis; and 
this new animal that came upon our economy called inflation.
  America was beginning to wonder about itself, and it was Ronald 
Reagan who talked about the shining city on

[[Page 11827]]

the hill and all that America could be. It was Ronald Reagan that knew 
and said that our best days lie ahead, not in the past, and he was 
right. The hope that he brought, the enthusiasm he brought, and the 
belief in the American people was something that did, in fact, renew 
the American spirit.
  His patriotism and the patriotism he brought to our country was 
something that we have not seen for some time. I know in my case, I and 
my entire family grew up in the Democrat Party, and it was Ronald 
Reagan, it was Ronald Reagan, who showed me that I was a Republican. It 
was Ronald Reagan who encouraged me to take a more active role in my 
community. I was proud to be a volunteer on his campaign in 1980. And, 
Mr. President, let me say this: You were my hero then; you continue to 
be my hero.
  It was Ronald Reagan who inspired me to make a commitment to public 
service and to do my share on behalf of the American people, and 
forever I will be grateful.
  Mr. President, we still love you.
  Mr. COX. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Flake).
  Mr. FLAKE. Madam Speaker, those of us who have had the good fortune 
to be born and raised in Arizona have always had the words and life of 
Barry Goldwater to shape our political philosophy. It was during the 
Goldwater campaign of 1964 that Ronald Reagan came to national 
prominence. During that campaign, Reagan delivered a speech so 
memorable that it was known thereafter simply as ``The Speech.'' It 
was, in my opinion, the greatest political speech ever delivered.
  In it, Reagan included the words, ``You and I are told that we must 
choose between a left or right, but I would suggest that there is no 
such thing as a left or right. There is only an up or down: up to a 
man's age-old dream, the maximum in individual freedom consistent with 
law and order, or down to the antheap of totalitarianism.''
  Equally memorable was the line: ``This is the issue of this election. 
Whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we 
abandon the American revolution and confess that a little intellectual 
elite in a far-distant capital can plan our lives for us better than we 
can plan them ourselves.''
  Madam Speaker, having now spent 4 years in the far distant capital, I 
can attest that this insight from Ronald Reagan still bears 
remembering.
  I was never able to meet President Reagan personally. It is one of my 
great regrets in life. But like all Americans, I am well acquainted 
with his goodness. I will always be grateful that he was my President.
  Mr. COX. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished 
gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. Capito).
  Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Speaker, America has lost a great patriot with the 
passing of President Ronald Reagan. My fellow West Virginians join me 
in mourning his death.
  As our President, he shepherded America through tough times, cutting 
taxes and invigorating our Nation's economy. President Reagan's service 
as a statesman reflected the good freedom could do when waged against 
tyranny.
  In June of 1987, President Reagan stood in front of the Brandenburg 
Gate in Germany, calling upon Mikhail Gorbachev to ``tear down this 
wall.''
  Reagan aimed to replace the instability brought by fear of nuclear 
war with the firm backing of freedom.
  When the wall fell, a wave of sovereignty rolled through Eastern 
Europe, washing away suppressive governments and leaving in its wake 
democracies firmly backed by individual liberty.
  Americans will always measure their President against the high bar 
Ronald Reagan has set for the Presidency. But along with being a 
statesman, a peacemaker, and a leader, Ronald Reagan was a kind man who 
I was very honored to have met, a loving husband and father, and a 
compassionate human being.
  I will always remember Ronald Reagan for his ability to lift up the 
American people, inspiring us to rely on ourselves, not on our 
government, to overcome challenges in our lives. His legacies will be 
remembered for years to come. Freedom over fear, the individual before 
its government, and the strength of America overall.
  May God bless America, and may God bless our President, Ronald 
Reagan.
  Mr. COX. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Michigan (Mrs. Miller).
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, as we mourn the loss of 
President Ronald Reagan, let us also celebrate the absolutely 
incredible life that he lived, a life that had such a positive impact 
certainly on our Nation and, in fact, the entire world.
  Madam Speaker, I live in Macomb County, Michigan. That is the home of 
the so-called ``Reagan Democrats.'' That term really had its genesis in 
Macomb County and has become certainly part of our nomenclature. It 
describes a huge block of citizens, average Americans, principally 
ethnic, blue collar, who had voted Democratic for literally 
generations.
  And then along came Ronald Reagan, and he captured their hearts and 
he captured their minds with the power of his ideas and the vision for 
America, ideas that were powerful, yet very, very simple: that freedom 
is a universal right of every human being; ideas about personal 
responsibility and the fundamental values that built our Nation, and 
the eternally optimistic idea that America is a great Nation whose best 
days continually lie in our future.
  President Reagan never wavered, never backed down from his defense of 
freedom, of his belief that we could achieve peace through strength. Of 
course, his strong stand created countless critics, and yet today those 
critics must recognize the rightness of his cause and his methods. 
History has certainly proven him to be right.
  Because of the leadership of President Reagan, Soviet communism 
collapsed and hundreds of millions of people who lived under Soviet 
domination now live as free people.
  Because of the leadership of President Reagan, our national spirit 
and the spirit of free enterprise rose up and has spread across the 
entire globe.
  Because of his leadership, the world continues to look to America to 
continue to export liberty and freedom and democracy.
  Our Nation and the world owe a debt to President Reagan that can 
really only be repaid in one way: We must continue to fight for 
democracy, for freedom, and for liberty, and so we shall.
  God bless President Ronald Wilson Reagan. May he rest in peace.
  Mr. MOORE. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Kind).
  Mr. KIND. Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend from the great State 
of Kansas for yielding me this time.
  Madam Speaker, I, too, rise today to mark the death of President 
Ronald Reagan and to pay tribute to a great American. I extend my 
deepest sympathies and prayers to Mrs. Reagan and the entire Reagan 
family. With President Reagan's death, our country lost yet another 
member of the greatest generation, a member who typified his generation 
with his work ethic, his optimism, and his patriotism.
  I believe that all of us, regardless of political affiliation, were 
impressed by how much President Reagan loved America, how much he 
believed in its basic goodness and the decency of this great country. 
He was so proud to represent a country that stood for freedom and 
equality, and he worked for many years to help spread freedom across 
the globe.
  I was fortunate enough to witness firsthand the effect of freedom 
spreading across the world. After graduating from college, I had the 
privilege of traveling to Europe and spending time in the countries 
that were formerly part of the Soviet Union that were struggling to 
gain a place in the world as free nations. My travels included a stop 
in Berlin to celebrate the reunification of Germany. I hammered away 
with a sledgehammer at the Berlin Wall with thousands of people from 
all over the world. I still have a piece of that wall, which sits on my 
desk.

[[Page 11828]]

  It was inspiring to be a part of history in this way, and I can only 
imagine how wonderful it must have been for President Reagan to have 
played such a seminal role in the transformation of the Soviet Union 
and the Eastern Bloc nations. With the end of the Cold War, we face an 
exciting new world of independent nations throughout Eastern and 
Central Europe.
  As we face current challenges throughout the world, I look back to 
the patriotism and optimism with which President Reagan approached 
international and domestic issues, and I feel grateful that we have his 
example.
  Aside from his leadership on issues of international importance, I 
also appreciate President Reagan's willingness to find bipartisan 
compromise in order to achieve results. To him, politics was not a 
blood sport; it was the art of the possible. Coming to Congress several 
years after both President Reagan and Speaker Tip O'Neill had retired, 
I always enjoyed listening to my colleagues tell of the two men 
swapping stories and jokes as they negotiated important pieces of 
legislation.
  President Reagan's bipartisan spirit and constant optimism are 
testament to his leadership skills and his love for his country. It is 
an approach to governing and it is an approach to leadership that we 
need to restore.
  May God bless his soul.
  Mr. COX. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Crane).
  Mr. CRANE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  Madam Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to and express my sympathy 
on the passing of one of Illinois' greatest sons, Ronald Reagan.

                              {time}  1330

  I was inspired by Ronald Reagan some 40 years ago when he, the Great 
Communicator, first outlined his vision for America. His vision was one 
of free enterprise, strong defense, and limited government. I was so 
drawn to these principles that I worked with fellow conservatives to 
nominate him for President in 1968 and again in 1976.
  The biggest heartbreak in my political career came in 1976 when we 
were unable to secure Reagan the nomination. But we stayed at it. 
Ronnie stayed true to his principles; and, finally, in 1980 we had a 
man in the White House who I knew would turn this country around. 
Reagan did just that. He turned around our economy, he ended the Cold 
War, and he renewed hope for Americans.
  Reagan was able to accomplish so much in his years as President 
because he approached everything as a gentleman. He never allowed 
politics to become personal. He treated everyone with respect even when 
he disagreed with you. And always his wit and humor won you over.
  I am proud to say that I knew Ronald Reagan not so much for his 
accomplishments, and there were many, but I am more proud to have known 
him for the man he was. As President, Reagan brought his hometown-
Illinois values with him to the White House. And these are the same 
values we all share in Illinois, the value of hard work, of faith, 
family, and unlimited opportunity.
  Reagan was, as history will bear, one of America's greatest 
Presidents. And I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering his 
family and this Nation during our season of mourning. And may God bless 
us all.
  Mr. MOORE. Madam Speaker, I yield 10 minutes to the other side. I 
understand they have a number of speakers who would like to address the 
House.
  Mr. COX. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman very much for his 
kindness.
  Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. 
Aderholt).
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Madam Speaker, what do you say about a man like Ronald 
Reagan that has not already been said? Ronald Reagan took the oath of 
office here in Washington D.C. in 1981 and, actually, just a short 
distance from where we are standing here this afternoon. At that time 
that he took office, I was 15 years old. I did not realize at that time 
the impact that this new President would have on this Nation and the 
world. I did not realize the moral and strong leadership that he would 
provide this Nation.
  Ronald Reagan served in the highest office of our land throughout my 
time in high school, college, and my first couple of years of law 
school. And with most of America, I listened to the tributes as they 
started pouring in over this past weekend. During the weekend and since 
that time, President Reagan's speeches, his remarks and comments have 
been played and reviewed time and time again.
  However, over the weekend I heard one speech that I had never heard 
before. It was a speech that President Reagan delivered at a prayer 
breakfast in Dallas, Texas, on the morning of August 23, 1984. It is so 
relevant to our situation today that if you did not know better, you 
would think he delivered the speech just a few days ago.
  He discussed religion and its role in the political life of our 
Nation. He made clear from the beginning of his speech that he was not 
speaking as a theologian or as a scholar, but rather as someone who had 
been around for quite a few years.
  He talked about the critical role in the political life of this 
Nation that faith and religion had played and, furthermore, how that 
had worked to benefit our Nation.
  He went on to say that the Founders understood that there was a 
divine order which transcends the human order. He then eloquently 
stated that he believed George Washington knew the city of man cannot 
survive without the city of God, and that the visible city will perish 
without the invisible city.
  While time will not permit me to discuss all of his remarks today, I 
would like to include his remarks in the Record that President Reagan 
made at that prayer breakfast in Dallas in 1984. Of course, it would 
not be appropriate to talk about Ronald Reagan without talking about 
how much he loved life and how much he valued life. He was a man of 
compassion, and people of all ages would do well to emulate Ronald 
Wilson Reagan.

Remarks at an Ecumenical Prayer Breakfast in Dallas, Texas, August 23, 
                                  1984

       Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, very much. And, Martha 
     Weisend, thank you very much. And I could say that if the 
     morning ended with the music we have just heard from that 
     magnificent choir, it would indeed be a holy day for all of 
     us.
       It's wonderful to be here this morning. The past few days 
     have been pretty busy for all of us, but I've wanted to be 
     with you today to share some of my own thoughts.
       These past few weeks it seems that we've all been hearing a 
     lot of talk about religion and its role in politics, religion 
     and its place in the political life of the Nation. And I 
     think it's appropriate today, at a prayer breakfast for 
     17,000 citizens in the State of Texas during a great 
     political convention, that this issue be addressed.
       I don't speak as a theologian or a scholar, only as one 
     who's lived a little more than his threescore ten--which has 
     been a source of annoyance to some--[laughter]--and as one 
     who has been active in the political life of the Nation for 
     roughly four decades and now who's served the past 3\1/2\ 
     years in our highest office. I speak, I think I can say, as 
     one who has seen much, who has loved his country, and who's 
     seen it change in many ways.
       I believe that faith and religion play a critical role in 
     the political life of our nation--and always has--and that 
     the church--and by that I mean all churches, all 
     denominations--has had a strong influence on the state. And 
     this has worked to our benefit as a nation.
       Those who created our country--the Founding Fathers and 
     Mothers--understood that there is a divine order which 
     transcends the human order. They saw the state, in fact, as a 
     form of moral order and felt that the bedrock of moral order 
     is religion.
       The Mayflower Compact began with the words, ``In the name 
     of God, amen.'' The Declaration of Independence appeals to 
     ``Nature's God'' and the ``Creator'' and ``the Supreme Judge 
     of the world.'' Congress was given a chaplain, and the oaths 
     of office are oaths before God.
       James Madison in the Federalist Papers admitted that in the 
     creation of our Republic he perceived the hand of the 
     Almighty. John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the Supreme 
     Court, warned that we must never forget the God from whom our 
     blessings flowed.
       George Washington referred to religion's profound and 
     unsurpassed place in the heart of our nation quite directly 
     in his Farewell Address in 1796. Seven years earlier, France

[[Page 11829]]

     has erected a government that was intended to be purely 
     secular. This new government would be grounded on reason 
     rather than the law of God. By 1796 the French Revolution had 
     know the Reign of Terror.
       And Washington voiced reservations about the idea that 
     there could be a wise policy without a firm moral and 
     religious foundation. He said, ``Of all the dispositions and 
     habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and 
     morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man 
     (call himself a patriot) who (would) labour to subvert these 
     . . . finest [firmest]\1\ props of the duties of men and 
     citizens. The mere Politician . . . (and) the pious man ought 
     to respect and to cherish (religion and morality).'' And he 
     added, ``. . . let us with caution indulge the supposition, 
     that morality can be maintained without religion.''

     \1\White House correction.

       I believe that George Washington knew the City of Man 
     cannot survive without the City of God, that the Visible City 
     will perish without the Invisible City.
       Religion played not only a strong role in our national 
     life; it played a positive role. The abolitionist movement 
     was at heart a moral and religious movement; so was the 
     modern civil rights struggle. And throughout this time, the 
     state was tolerant of religious belief, expression, and 
     practice. Society, too, was tolerant.
       But in the 1960's this began to change. We began to make 
     great steps toward secularizing our nation and removing 
     religion from its honored place.
       In 1962 the Supreme Court in the New York prayer case 
     banned the compulsory saying of prayers. In 1963 the Court 
     banned the reading of the Bible in our public schools. From 
     that point on, the courts pushed the meaning of the ruling 
     ever outward, so that now our children are not allowed 
     voluntary prayer. We even had to pass a law--we passed a 
     special law in the Congress just a few weeks ago to allow 
     student prayer groups the same access to schoolrooms after 
     classes that a young Marxist society, for example, would 
     already enjoy with no opposition.
       The 1962 decision opened the way to a flood of similar 
     suits. Once religion had been made vulnerable, a series of 
     assaults were made in one court after another, on one issue 
     after another. Cases were started to argue against tax-exempt 
     status for churches. Suits were brought to abolish the words 
     ``under God'' from the Pledge of Allegiance and to remove 
     ``In God We Trust'' from public documents and from our 
     currency.
       Today there are those who are fighting to make sure 
     voluntary prayer is not returned to the classrooms. And the 
     frustrating thing for the great majority of Americans who 
     support and understand the special importance of religion in 
     the national life--the frustrating thing is that those who 
     are attacking religion claim they are doing it in the name of 
     tolerance, freedom, and openmindedness. Question: Isn't the 
     real truth that they are intolerant of religion? [Applause] 
     They refuse to tolerate its importance in our lives.
       If all the children of our country studied together all of 
     the many religions in our country, wouldn't they learn 
     greater tolerance of each other's beliefs? If children prayed 
     together, would they not understand what they have in common, 
     and would this not, indeed, bring them closer, and is this 
     not to be desired? So, I submit to you that those who claim 
     to be fighting for tolerance on this issue may not be 
     tolerant at all.
       When John Kennedy was running for President in 1960, he 
     said that his church would not dictate his Presidency any 
     more than he would speak for his church. Just so, and proper. 
     But John Kennedy was speaking in an America in which the role 
     of religion--and by that I mean the role of all churches--was 
     secure. Abortion was not a political issue. Prayer was not a 
     political issue. The right of church schools to operate was 
     not a political issue. And it was broadly acknowledged that 
     religious leaders had a right and a duty to speak out on the 
     issues of the day. They held a place of respect, and a 
     politician who spoke to or of them with a lack of respect 
     would not long survive in the political arena.
       It was acknowledged then that religion held a special 
     place, occupied a special territory in the hearts of the 
     citizenry. The climate has changed greatly since then. And 
     since it has, it logically follows that religion needs 
     defenders against those who care only for the interests of 
     the state.
       There are, these days, many questions on which religious 
     leaders are obliged to offer their moral and theological 
     guidance, and such guidance is a good and necessary thing. To 
     know how a church and its members feel on a public issue 
     expands the parameters of debate. It does not narrow the 
     debate; it expands it.
       The truth is, politics and morality are inseparable. And as 
     morality's foundation is religion, religion and politics are 
     necessarily related. We need religion as a guide. We need it 
     because we are imperfect, and our government needs the 
     church, because only those humble enough to admit they're 
     sinners can bring to democracy the tolerance it requires in 
     order to survive.
       A state is nothing more than a reflection of its citizens; 
     the more decent the citizens, the more decent the state. If 
     you practice a religion, whether you're Catholic, Protestant 
     Jewish, or guided by some other faith, then your private life 
     will be influenced by a sense of moral obligation, and so, 
     too, will your public life. One affects the other. The 
     churches of America do not exist by the grace of the state; 
     the churches of America are not mere citizens of the state. 
     The churches of America exist apart; they have their own 
     vantage point, their own authority. Religion is its own 
     realm; it makes its own claims.
       We establish no religion in this country, nor will we ever. 
     We command no worship. We mandate no belief. But we poison 
     our society when we remove its theological underpinnings. We 
     court corruption when we leave it bereft of belief. All are 
     free to believe or not believe; all are free to practice a 
     faith or not. But those who believe must be free to speak of 
     and act on their belief, to apply moral teaching to public 
     questions.
       I submit to you that the tolerant society is open to and 
     encouraging of all religious. And this does not weaken us; it 
     strengthens us, it makes us strong. You know, if we look back 
     through history to all those great civilizations, those great 
     nations that rose up to even world dominance and then 
     deteriorated, declined, and fell, we find they all had one 
     thing in common. One of the significant forerunners of their 
     fall was their turning away from their God or gods.
       Without God, there is no virtue, because there's no 
     prompting of the conscience. Without God, we're mired in the 
     material, that flat world that tells us only what the senses 
     perceive. Without God, there is a coarsening of the society. 
     And without God, democracy will not and cannot long endure. 
     If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we 
     will be a nation gone under.
       If I could just make a personal statement of my own--in 
     these 3\1/2\ years I have understood and known better than 
     ever before the words of Lincoln, when he said that he would 
     be the greatest fool on this footstool called Earth if he 
     ever thought that for one moment he could perform the duties 
     of that office without help from One who is stronger then 
     all.
       I thank you, thank you for inviting us here today. Thank 
     you for your kindness and your patience. May God keep you, 
     and may we, all of us, keep God.
       Thank you.

  Mr. COX. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murphy).
  Mr. MURPHY. Madam Speaker, the people of Pennsylvania join me in 
offering their sympathies and prayers to Nancy Reagan and all the 
members of the Reagan family. But more so, we offer our gratitude for 
sharing this great man.
  In his memory, I humbly offer these words: While flags fly low we 
gather here to offer words of praise. With tributes to our leader gone, 
reflect, remember, pray. Our Nation's forests, oceans, plains, majestic 
mountain skies where some saw only clouds above, he saw hopes spirit 
rise.
  While enemies in shadows crept where evil's hatred stood, some 
brooded and in weakness slept. He saw strength in our good. America, 
your song shall soar over this Nation blessed, though some will turn to 
doubt and fear, his hope shall never rest. The sun shall set and 
darkness fall, yet stars their beacons give. Do not ye grieve that he 
is gone, rejoice that he has lived.
  Mr. COX. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. McCotter).
  Mr. McCOTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise to offer a long delayed thank you 
to President Reagan for his help with a personal matter of mine. By the 
time I turned 15 in 1980, I had grown acutely aware of a quadrennial 
rift between my parents. My father was a Truman Democrat, my mother was 
an Eisenhower Republican, and my brother and myself were, of course, 
KISS fans.
  Then one cold November night, there was a thaw. My father walked in 
the door, sat my mother down and, in a hushed, tremulous tone, as if 
every fellow Irish Catholic Democrat he had known from his days in the 
St. Francis Home for Boys Orphanage, every worker in a Detroit Labor 
Day parade, and everybody on every St. Patrick's Day pub crawl might 
somehow overhear him, Dennis Vincent Patrick Mullen McCotter admitted 
to his wife, quote, ``I cannot believe I went and did it, Joan, I voted 
for him.'' Him was Ronald Wilson Reagan.
  This vignette of American democracy's unifying force occurred in 
millions of homes across our Nation in 1980. The resulting national 
unity,

[[Page 11830]]

which was brought about through the thawing of so many families' 
political Cold Wars, ultimately led to the end of the global Cold War.
  Madam Speaker, today the words of Albert Camus ring true: ``A man 
does not show his greatness by being at one extremity or the other, but 
rather by touching both at once.'' Truly, President Reagan was a 
unifying force for moral good in our Nation and our world. And thus his 
great humility would have precluded him from ever agreeing, Ronald 
Reagan was a great man. He will be mourned and missed and forever 
remembered.
  I offer my perpetual gratitude to the man, and my profound 
condolences to his family.
  Mr. COX. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Ohio (Ms. Pryce), the chairman of the Republican conference.
  Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Madam Speaker, the citizens of Ohio join me in my 
sincere condolences to Mrs. Reagan and her family during these very 
difficult times and to express my humble thoughts on the legacy of 
Ronald Reagan. While we have all heard him called the Great 
Communicator, he was so much more. He had a commanding presence. He 
captivated all who listened by his simple and eloquent demeanor, but he 
was so much more. He was great at communicating, yes, but, more 
importantly, he communicated great things.
  His ideas resonated with the American people because they were the 
people's ideas. His vision for America made sense to us all because we 
had those same dreams in our very own hearts. His principles were clear 
because they were the very values we all held so dearly then as we do 
now: freedom, responsibility, peace through strength.
  The irony is that Ronald Reagan did not speak to the people; we 
somehow spoke through him. We saw ourselves and we heard our own hearts 
in the words that he spoke. He was one of us, and that is why this 
Nation truly mourns his loss this week.
  May we all seek to promote the principles that Ronald Reagan 
embodied, lived and enunciated so courageously over the course of his 
magnificent life.
  Mr. COX. Madam Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Burr).
  Mr. BURR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues and the 
rest of the Nation to mourn the passing of one of our Nation's greatest 
Presidents, but also to celebrate his legacy. While Ronald Reagan is 
considered by almost everyone as an extraordinary leader and one of the 
greatest Americans, it was not Ronald Reagan's vision, his confidence, 
his charm or his strength that truly set him apart.
  It was his boundless optimism and his overflowing love and concern 
for his fellow men that made Reagan who he was and which were his 
underlying source of everything he accomplished. Reagan saw himself as 
an ordinary man, called to serve his country to the best of his 
ability, and serve he did.
  He inspired a Nation to rediscover the principles of freedom that 
have made our country great. We remember Ronald Reagan as a man who 
maximized his gifts from an unknown to an actor to a Governor to the 
leader of the Free World. Our President was one who never stopped 
growing and giving.
  President Reagan's life provides a witness to how we should all live, 
stirring up whatever gifts and potentials we have so that the world is 
a better place when we leave, more so than when we arrived. We remember 
President Reagan as one who named bad leadership for what it was, and 
turned his people towards a nobler path. He said the only places 
communism would work are in heaven because they do not need it and in 
hell because they already have it.
  Today, we are enjoying a world where communism is de-fanged and 
former communist nations rank among our closest allies, much of which 
is due to President Reagan's unflinching commitment and resolve to 
seeing peace and freedom flourish throughout the world.
  President Reagan was a true man of the people. What Reagan did more 
than anything else, and it will be his lasting legacy, is replace 
despair with hope. Most people, even his detractors, admired and 
respected his integrity. He never thought that he had all the answers 
or that he was put on Earth to reveal and implement God's plan for the 
rest of us.
  Madam Speaker, he has now, and as he noted in the eulogy of the crew 
of the Challenger shuttle, and I quote, ``slipped the surely bonds of 
Earth and put out his hand and touched the face of God.''
  The days of this week will be remembered for many, many years. Let 
them be remembered well. Let them be the passing of the torch. A new 
day is dawning. Leadership, vision, optimism, and faith most of all are 
needed at every level in our great country and in our homes. Reagan 
used to say that America's greatest days are ahead of it. Now it can be 
said so are his.
  Mr. COX. Madam Speaker, I yield 2\1/4\ minutes to the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Portman).
  Mr. PORTMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in 
expressing condolences to the family of President Ronald Reagan but 
also, of course, to celebrate the life of one of America's true heroes.
  President Reagan once announced America is too great for small 
dreams. It was this optimism about America and his confidence in the 
American people that I remember most vividly when I first met him in 
1981. He had an infectious optimism that, like so many, I was infected 
with. It had a lasting impression on me.
  Shortly after taking office, President Reagan acted on his optimism 
and his certain beliefs launching the boldest economic plan since 
Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal.

                              {time}  1345

  His program for economic recovery called for the largest tax cuts in 
American history. Think about this. Over his tenure, our Federal tax 
system went from 14 income tax brackets with a top rate of 70 percent 
to a much simpler 2 brackets with a top rate of 28 percent. This 
unleashed growth and brought America's economy roaring back.
  He also acted on his strong beliefs in dramatically strengthening our 
Armed Forces. He chose to go toe to toe with the Soviet Union in the 
Cold War and confront the failure of communism, leading to the freedom 
of millions of citizens in Eastern Europe and what was to become the 
former Soviet Union.
  I see that legacy of Ronald Reagan today. I see it in our approach to 
the economy that this body has undertaken to try to strengthen the 
economy and grow jobs, and I see it in our effort to win another global 
war, this one against terrorism.
  For all of his accomplishments, one of Ronald Reagan's traits I most 
admired was his humility. He was a regular guy. His Midwestern modesty 
and intuitive understanding of the role of leadership in an America 
founded on equality and democracy made him a natural leader and a 
beloved figure.
  One also had to appreciate President Reagan's humor. He once said, 
``Politics is a very rewarding profession. If you succeed, there are 
many rewards. If you disgrace yourself, you can always write a book.'' 
Well, fortunately for our country and the world, he was a very 
successful politician, and we all, all of us, continue to share in the 
rewards.
  In his 8 years as President, so much of his ambitious vision for 
American and the world was accomplished. And for his optimism, his 
ideas, his humility, his humor and public service, our Nation and the 
world are better off today. May God bless him and his family and 
continue to bless the country he so loved.
  Mr. COX. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Nethercutt).
  Mr. NETHERCUTT. Madam Speaker, last Saturday our Nation lost one of 
its greatest leaders. As we mourn Ronald Reagan's passing, we celebrate 
his life of service as a lifeguard, an entertainer, a union leader, a 
spokesman, a Governor and a President.

[[Page 11831]]

  As leader of the free world, he not only defended liberty, he 
expanded the realm of freedom. He liberated millions with the power of 
his ideas.
  As President, he revitalized the American political system. The 
bipartisan celebration of his life here is a tribute to his greatness. 
Let us remember Mr. Reagan's example and work to improve civility and 
public discourse in American politics.
  President Ronald Reagan was an American hero and a personal hero of 
mine. I met him 18 years ago, but it feels like yesterday. We all feel 
we knew Ronald Reagan. When he stepped off Air Force One in Spokane, we 
realized that he was a big man. He was larger than life. He was very 
personal. He was gracious. He wowed the crowd, and he touched each 
individual.
  Having met Mr. Reagan, I know firsthand how his unwavering vision for 
our shining city willed the Nation to new heights. Even after his 
passing, his vision must and will continue to guide us.
  God bless Ronald Reagan and his family and his lasting legacy of 
freedom.
  Mr. COX. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Akin).
  Mr. AKIN. Madam Speaker, I rise, as my colleagues before me, to 
recognize this great President, Ronald Reagan. He was a visionary 
leader who challenged the entire political order of his day. He had the 
courage to call evil evil; the Soviet empire the evil empire. For that, 
and for his conviction that freedom would prevail, he was bitterly 
criticized by his detractors.
  Along the same lines, he pioneered a concept of economics that said 
if we have lower taxes, that it would energize the economy and 
ultimately that the government would raise more revenue. That was also 
bitterly criticized. It was called Reaganomics, and yet it worked, and 
it has worked again to bring us out of the last recession, the same 
principles.
  He believed in the concept of defending America. It was the idea of a 
missile defense. They called it Star Wars, his detractors, and yet we 
are building those very things.
  He was a man who challenged the political order of his day and 
redefined an entire political movement and advanced the cause of 
freedom around the entire world, and for that we all need to say to 
God, thank you for this great President.
  Mr. COX. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor), the chief deputy whip.
  Mr. CANTOR. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for 
the time.
  I rise today to proudly stand with my friends and colleagues to pay 
tribute to President Ronald Reagan. President Reagan had the courage to 
lead America to greatness again after so many others had written us off 
as a country whose best days had passed. He was a lone voice who dared 
to believe that the Cold War could be won and communism could be 
conquered peacefully through strength.
  He led United States from double-digit inflation, skyrocketing 
interest rates and recession to unprecedented economic growth and 
prosperity. His commonsense ideas of lower taxes and limited government 
brought us out of those troubling times. His ability to inspire and 
effect change was truly unique.
  I remember fondly my parents' pride in being delegates to the 1980 
Republican convention and casting votes to nominate Ronald Reagan to be 
President. While in high school and college during his Presidential 
term, I was dramatically impacted by his moral clarity and courage.
  President Ronald Reagan had the positive spirit and courage of his 
convictions that inspired our generation and future generations to 
enter public service and make a difference in our country.
  My family and I send our condolences to Mrs. Reagan and the Reagan 
family. Nancy Reagan deserves our steadfast support at this time and 
has earned our respect alongside her husband for her faithful service 
to our country.
  Religion played a crucial role in his life. Ronald Reagan knew he 
could set out and accomplish his goals because of his strong faith in 
God. His mother Nelle taught her son to believe in a loving and 
merciful God. Her teaching helped guide her son throughout his life as 
actor, Governor, and President.
  Having spent several decades battling the evils of Communism as 
president of the Screen Actors Guild and as Governor of California for 
two terms, Reagan held strong convictions that were based on his faith 
in God and led him to run for President in 1980. He would win in a 
landslide and become our nation's 40th President.
  Reagan's religious convictions would immediately be put to the test. 
After surviving an assassin's bullet in the third month of his 
Presidency, Reagan believed God saved his life. He wrote, ``I've always 
believed that we were, each of us, put here for a reason, that there is 
a divine plan for all of us. I know now that whatever days are left me 
belong to Him [God].''
  He believed God saved his life for a reason, and he set out to ensure 
that he fulfilled God's plan for him in the White House. In an era when 
people tried to diminish the role that faith and religion play in the 
political life of the United States, Reagan knew that the United States 
was ``richly blessed with His [God's] love and generosity.'' Reagan 
also knew that if we failed to remember that the United States is a 
Nation under God, then the United States would be a ``Nation gone 
under.''
  During the 1980s, Reagan's religious convictions allowed him to set 
an agenda that was new and optimistic. His strong faith enabled him to 
preserve and never waiver when opponents called his economic and 
foreign policy plans ``radical'' and ``dangerous.'' As a result, Reagan 
played an integral role in winning the Cold War, in restoring economic 
prosperity to the United States, and in helping liberate millions of 
people from the evils of Communism. He entered the White House with a 
goal to change the country--he ended up changing the world. He led his 
life with a mission to fulfill God's plan and, in turn, accomplished so 
much for all of us.
  My family and I send our condolences to Nancy Reagan and her family. 
Nancy Reagan deserves our steadfast support at this time and has earned 
our respect alongside her husband for her faithful service to our 
country.
  Mr. COX. Madam Speaker, I yield 2\1/4\ minutes to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Weller).
  Mr. WELLER. Madam Speaker, today we come before this House in a 
saddened state. A man of unquestioned integrity and strong character 
has passed from our Nation's midst into the hands of God. Ronald Reagan 
was a man with a good heart, and he had more of an impact on the world 
than any living American today.
  We express our condolences to Mrs. Reagan and the Reagan family.
  Many of us are very grateful because of how Ronald Reagan inspired 
us, encouraged our activity in public service, and I know he encouraged 
my involvement in public service. I cast my first vote in 1976 for 
Ronald Reagan in the Republican primary, and I had the privilege just 5 
years later to serve in the Reagan administration. I have many fond 
memories of Ronald Reagan.
  Man is not measured by what we say, but by what we do. President 
Reagan believed in the right of freedom for individuals and nations. He 
spoke honestly of the need for government reform in the United States 
and publicly hoped for a brighter future for the citizens of the Soviet 
empire.
  Yet his words were not empty and did not ring hollow. President 
Reagan backed up these beliefs by reducing the government's burden of 
taxes on individuals. He committed himself to rebuilding our American 
military. He inspired Americans to believe in themselves and their 
country, and, through almost sheer will, defeated communism without 
firing a single shot. As he spoke, the world listened because the force 
of America was behind his voice.
  When President Reagan uttered those fateful words, ``Mr. Gorbachev, 
tear down this wall,'' a collective shiver shot down the spine of the 
Soviet Union, as if communism's death knell was being rung for all the 
world to hear. Even President Reagan's opponents concede that he 
defeated the Soviet empire.
  Under President Reagan's leadership, America experienced an unmatched 
period of economic growth. Under President Reagan's legacy, hundreds of 
millions of people around the world now

[[Page 11832]]

live safe from the fear of the threat of communism, free from the 
threat of Marxist-Leninism, and eager to extend an open hand to our 
former enemy and now our friend, Russia and the former Soviet states.
  The spirit Ronald Reagan embodied was of a special sort. Whether it 
was reinvigorating the American economy or comforting the loved ones of 
those lost on the Challenger space shuttle, President Reagan never 
forgot who he worked for and what cause he was dedicated to. Ronald 
Reagan was committed to the American citizen, the American dream and 
the American spirit.
  Madam Speaker, as a man, a patriot, a fellow Illinoisan and United 
States President, Ronald Reagan will be greatly missed, and I deeply 
mourn his passing, but I cannot help but think that long after the pain 
and sorrow of his departure has diminished, the legacy that President 
Reagan left with us of commitment to one's country, of faith in one's 
resolve, of hope for a better tomorrow will be remembered and live on 
in the hearts and minds of Americans for generations to come.
  Mr. MOORE. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern).
  Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman, my 
colleague, for yielding me the time.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to join with my colleagues in marking 
with sadness the passing of President Ronald Reagan. I send my deepest 
condolences to Mrs. Reagan and the entire Reagan family and to those 
friends who knew the President best.
  Ronald Reagan was a man of principle, deep patriotism and great 
humor. He loved his country, and he loved the American people. His was, 
in many ways, the quintessential American life: moving from a small 
town to chase the American dream in California, achieving success 
through hard work and determination, and finally giving back through 
public service.
  One of the things I most admired about President Reagan was his 
ability to disagree without being disagreeable. During the 1980s, I was 
a staff member for the late Congressman Joe Moakley from Massachusetts. 
We had a front row seat to the great political battles between the 
Reagan White House and the House of Representatives under Speaker Tip 
O'Neill. While President Reagan and Tip O'Neill had sharp political 
differences, they never had sharp words. Their arguments were never 
nasty. They were never personal. At the end of the day, their battles 
shifted from policy to who could tell the most outlandish story or the 
funniest Irish joke. It is an example that I believe all of us should 
try to do a better job of following.
  Madam Speaker, I would also like to take a moment to say just how 
much respect and admiration I have for Nancy Reagan. These last several 
years have been extremely difficult for her as President Reagan battled 
Alzheimer's disease. Mrs. Reagan has faced this tremendous adversity 
with strength, dignity and class, and she serves as an inspiration to 
us all.
  Again, my wife Lisa and I send our sympathy and our prayers to the 
Reagan family during this sad time, and I thank the gentleman for 
yielding me the time.
  Mr. COX. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished 
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Lewis).
  Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I rise today to mourn the death 
of President Ronald Reagan and to pass along the thoughts and prayers 
of the people of the Second District of Kentucky to the Reagan family.
  So much of President Reagan's life was dedicated to public service. 
From the summer shores of his Illinois hometown to the silver screens 
of Hollywood, to Sacramento, Washington, D.C., and his final heroic 
battle with Alzheimer's disease, President Reagan's vision and 
confident leadership continues to inspire national spirit, improving 
quality of life in the United States and extending freedom and 
democracy across the globe.

                              {time}  1400

  During his inaugural address in 1981, President Reagan remarked, ``We 
are too great a Nation to limit ourselves to a small dream.'' His 
dream, family, work, neighborhood, peace, and freedom embodied the 
hopes of millions of Americans, shepherding the Nation into economic 
recovery and renewed national pride while demonstrating an 
uncompromising moral leadership abroad that brought communism to its 
knees.
  He was a man whose love for his country stirred the spirit of his 
countrymen to a new age of patriotism and pride in America. His keen 
understanding of right and wrong, good and evil provided the leadership 
needed to defeat an Evil Empire.
  His was an exemplary life, uniquely American, and worthy of the love 
and admiration of so many men and women across the world. May he rest 
in peace.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Graves).
  Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise with my friends and 
colleagues today to pay tribute to a man who inspired a Nation and a 
generation. His America was a strong Nation, where opportunities were 
limitless.
  His list of accomplishments is long and distinguished. He won the 
Cold War, he brought back our confidence, he cut taxes and grew the 
economy. He was an outstanding leader throughout the world.
  I did not have the pleasure of knowing President Reagan personally; 
but like millions of Americans, I marveled at his abilities. He 
comforted us after the Challenger disaster, he stood tall against 
communism, and he made it morning again in America.
  Ronald Reagan's enduring legacy, though, will be that he was a 
people's President. His concern for every American was genuine. He 
spoke with a twinkle in his eye and always had a story that illustrated 
his point perfectly. He was for us, because he was one of us.
  America will soon say goodbye to one of our greatest Presidents. Mr. 
Speaker, his courage, humor, and grace will be missed by all of 
America. The shining city on the hill will continue, but for now with a 
heavy heart.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman 
from Georgia (Mr. Burns).
  Mr. BURNS. Mr. Speaker, once or twice a century we are given a 
President who stands above the rest. President Reagan was such a 
leader. He united this country in a way that we have not been united 
since. He did so by simply speaking out for what the vast majority of 
the people of this country knew to be the truth: President Reagan 
declared that there is a God and that we, as a Nation, are under his 
authority.
  Like President Washington before him, he made no apology to anyone's 
sensibilities. He called the Evil Empire of communism exactly what it 
was and committed this Nation to defeating it. He was the first 
President to begin the battle to reverse the overreach of Federal 
bureaucracy in the lives of our citizens.
  Let us truly honor the memory of Ronald Reagan by never ending the 
fight he so nobly waged for God and for country.
  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time remains.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hastings of Washington). The gentleman 
from Kansas (Mr. Moore) has 11\1/2\ minutes remaining, and the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Cox) has 9 minutes remaining.
  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Indiana 
(Mr. Hostettler).
  Mr. HOSTETTLER. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the citizens of Indiana's 
Eighth Congressional District, I rise not only to pay tribute to Ronald 
Wilson Reagan but to also thank him for a Commander in Chief we could 
always be proud of.
  The most important role of any American President is that of 
Commander in Chief of our Armed Forces; and I, for one, do not need to 
wait for history to conclude that he was one of the greatest Commanders 
in Chief this Nation has ever had.

[[Page 11833]]

  Last year, my son Matthew and I were honored to attend the 
commissioning of the newest U.S. Super Carrier, CVN-76. I could not 
think of a better namesake for CVN-76 than Ronald Wilson Reagan. The 
ship's motto is appropriately, ``Peace Through Strength.'' While he is 
rejoicing in heaven, the American people should feel comforted in 
knowing that his legacy lives on in a mighty U.S. warship that bears 
his name and will provide firepower for freedom for another 50 years.
  So Communists and terrorists and other enemies of freedom, you have 
been forewarned. You have not heard the last from Ronald Reagan. And as 
he used to say when he was President, ``You can run, but you cannot 
hide.''
  In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, may the prayers and thoughts of a loving 
free world comfort his wife, Nancy, and their children during their 
time of supreme sorrow and unimaginable loss.
  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I think it is truly unfortunate that it takes a time of 
crisis or tragedy to bring our Nation together. This week, for example, 
we have seen and heard from Members of both sides of the aisle a 
tribute to a great President, Ronald Reagan. He was a humble man; he 
was a gracious man and kind. We may have had differences of opinion on 
policy, but I think we all concede he was a good, good, decent man.
  I never presume to speak for my friends on the other side of the 
aisle, but I think all of us would agree that we have the greatest 
Nation in the whole world, and one of the things that makes us so great 
as a Nation are the personal liberties and individual freedoms that we 
all share here in this country. The Bill of Rights of our Constitution 
gives us more economic and personal freedoms than people almost 
anywhere in the world, and we are a better Nation for that. And I think 
that is something Ronald Reagan would say if he were here right now.
  I think we can learn a lot of important things, and a lot of speakers 
on both sides of the aisle have annunciated some of those things this 
morning. We should try harder to disagree without being disagreeable. 
We should always treat each other with respect. And we should 
understand that we are all Americans and we are all in this together. 
We all want basically the same thing for our country and for our 
people.
  If we can do that, I think we are going to be better as a Nation and 
stronger as a people. We need to find ways to bring us together and not 
to divide us. I think 85 to 90 percent of the people in this body are 
good, decent, honorable people who want to do the right thing for our 
country, Republicans and Democrats.
  We need to understand that even when we have honest good-faith 
differences on policy issues, such as the $7 trillion debt we have 
right now, and the $500-plus billion deficit, this should not be about 
Republicans and Democrats; this should be about what is right for our 
country, and this should be about what is right for our children and 
our grandchildren and future generations in this country.
  I hope that we will take this occasion, the passing of a great 
President, Ronald Reagan, to come together and again dedicate ourselves 
to doing what is right for our country and putting aside partisan 
politics.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite).
  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to add my 
voice to the chorus extolling the life of President Ronald Reagan. On a 
similar occasion, over a century ago, Lincoln said of Washington, ``How 
do you add glory to the sun?''
  I was at President Reagan's inauguration, and when he said, ``It is 
time for us to realize that we are too great a Nation to limit 
ourselves to small dreams,'' my spine stiffened, and so did that of so 
many people in the crowd. I got goosebumps when he called out that 
``peace is the highest aspiration of the American people. We will 
negotiate for it, sacrifice for it; we will not surrender for it, now 
or ever.''
  From that day on, I knew America was back. You see, many people speak 
of the Reagan Revolution. I like to think of it as the Reagan 
restoration. Reagan restored our optimism, our belief in our ability to 
create, and the belief that God put man on this Earth to be free and 
that he made America to prove it.
  President Ronald Reagan changed the paradigm. He changed America's 
foreign policy from one of benign containment to active confrontation. 
And for the first time since communism began extending its sinister 
reach, we saw its hand pushed back.
  Our sympathies certainly go to the entire Reagan family.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New 
Mexico (Mr. Pearce).
  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, as we consider world history, we know that 
each generation will be faced with its own challenges. And though I am 
certain that the human race will survive; for a Nation to survive these 
challenges, each generation must continually produce men and women who 
are sufficient to the moment and equal to the task. It needs to 
generate men and women who see without limits, who work without tiring, 
and who sacrifice without restraint. A nation must find within itself 
in these times of trouble those who will forego comfort and give up the 
beaten paths of certainty to find new courses of action and overcome 
all obstacles in pursuing the truth. Mr. Reagan was sufficient for the 
moment and equal to the task.
  Mr. Speaker, we are here to mourn the passing of a President, but we 
are here to celebrate the life of leadership and sufficiency that Mr. 
Reagan represented.
  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt).
  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time, and I am pleased to join with my colleagues in recognizing the 
lessons of the life of Ronald Reagan and his legacy. Among those 
lessons would be a sense of civility in debate. Among those lessons 
would be disagreeing without being disagreeable. Among those lessons 
would be the ability to recognize the humanity of our opponents, and 
they are lessons that we should all take to heart.
  Another part of the legacy, and I think the lasting legacy of 
President Reagan, will derive from the painful period as we watched 
Alzheimer's take this vibrant and warm and really great person into, as 
Mrs. Reagan said, a different place, a different world. And I hope we 
will use this to rededicate ourselves to research in Alzheimer's and 
stem cell research so that others will not follow the former President 
in this path that was really painful for all of us to watch.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Kingston).
  Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  I first heard about Ronald Reagan in probably 1970, when Joan Baez, 
on my Woodstock album, referred to the Governor of California as Ron 
Ray Gun. And this was a young person, so I thought if Joan Baez is 
against him, it is probably a good thing. Yet as I went through my 
years and got in college, I had an opportunity to hear Mr. Reagan speak 
at the Kansas City Republican convention in 1976. And in his concession 
speech on the nomination going to Gerald Ford, he gave a great speech 
and he talked about what we have to do as Americans to preserve the 
great life-style that we live. I was very impressed with that speech. 
So in 1980, when he ran for President and was the nominee, certainly I 
was very enthusiastically in support of him.
  He was elected in a year when we had hostages in Iran, the economy 
was in the tank, and the spirit of America was in the doldrums. He won 
by a landslide, with great expectations, though, and a great mandate. 
He needed to cut taxes, and he did. He moved along and created an 
economy that gave 19 million new jobs over the next 8 years. Inflation 
was reduced, as well as interest rates. He built defense to the extent 
that we

[[Page 11834]]

got over, finally, Vietnam. He talked about things like the Evil Empire 
of the Soviet Union and peace through strength. And he said things that 
were politically incorrect at the time, like ``Mr. Gorbachev, tear down 
that wall,'' even though people in our own party did not like him 
saying those things.
  He was very basic. Nancy Reagan led the Just Say No to Drugs 
campaigns, and I think it was very effective in getting young people to 
think twice about it.
  He had that Irish twinkle in his eye. And when he got shot, even 
though it was a very serious wound, he said, gee, I hope you are all 
Republicans. He had that kind of calmness and happiness about him as he 
went through things. And I, as so many young people, were inspired by 
him. So when I ran for the State legislature in 1984, I pulled out a 
photograph that Libby, my wife, and I had taken with Ronald Reagan in 
1980, and I ran an ad that said, ``Reagan/Kingston: Face it, we need 
conservatives at all levels of government.''

                              {time}  1415

  But I believe that was a key factor in helping me. He had those kind 
of coattails. He believed in family, America. He loved Nancy. He showed 
us a husband-and-wife relationship at its finest. He was kind. The 
Carter-Reagan, Mondale-Reagan campaigns were not nasty, mean or 
vicious. In fact, he would say to Jimmy Carter if he disagreed with 
some of Mr. Carter's facts, ``There you go again.''
  He liked joke-telling and told the jokes about the Soviet Union and 
got his point across, but when he was in the Oval Office, he always 
wore his coat out of respect for the Oval Office and the office of the 
Presidency.
  In his final speech as he left Washington, D.C., he said, and I 
quote, ``As I walk off the city streets, my final words to the men and 
women of the Reagan revolution: My friends, we did it. We were not just 
marking time. We made a difference. We made the city freer and left her 
in good hands.''
  The lights of this city shine, but the future will burn brightly 
because of men and the leadership of Ronald Reagan.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hastings of Washington). The Chair would 
remind Members that the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moore) has 8 minutes 
remaining, and the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox) has 3\1/2\ 
minutes remaining and the right to close.
  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to my friend, the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Cox).
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Cox) controls 6 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from California (Mr. Cox) has 
6\1/2\ minutes remaining.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman 
from Connecticut (Mr. Shays).
  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I count my blessings for President Ronald 
Reagan. I count my blessings for this man because he spoke from his 
heart and he spoke the truth. Obviously he was an exceptional 
communicator, but he was also extraordinarily honest. You did not have 
to wonder where Ronald Reagan was coming from. He had core principles: 
confronting tyranny, expressing strength to the world, believing in our 
market economy, reducing the size of government.
  The bottom line is, he had extraordinary faith in our country, in the 
promise of America that the best of America is yet to come. And the 
best generations of Americans are yet to come. He trusted Americans to 
spend their own money and lead their own lives. In the process he knew 
our country and the world would benefit.
  I am absolutely convinced President Reagan totally changed the 
debate. He helped our country recognize that people have their own 
sense of self-worth and that we trust them to do the right thing.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, when President Reagan took office on that cold day in 
1981, the world needed a hero, and on that day President Reagan sent a 
message to every American and to every human being enslaved by the 
Soviet empire. Confronting not the armies of Saddam Hussein or Slobodan 
Milosevic, but the largest military machine in the history of the 
world, President Reagan simply said, ``No weapon in the arsenals of the 
world is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and 
women.''
  Then he led a worldwide movement for individual liberty and the human 
rights of all people. Today the Soviet Union sits on the ash heap of 
history, and the Reagan legacy can be measured in lives liberated and 
dreams fulfilled.
  Before Ronald Reagan became President in 1981, there were 56 
electoral democracies on Earth. Today there are 117. Today more than a 
billion more people are living in freedom than on the day that he took 
office.
  President Reagan also liberated America, the land that he called the 
last best hope of mankind. Many Washington pundits at the time believed 
that the United States was suffering from an inevitable decline. 
President Reagan had a different view. He believed that America's 
greatest days were ahead, if only we could free our people from the 
shackles of big government. He knew that people, not governments, 
create prosperity, and that markets are the dynamic expression of 
individual freedom reinforced by property rights and the rule of law.
  He believed that the government management of an economy, whether in 
the form of wage controls, price controls, or regulation of production, 
produced growth and misery in direct proportion to the loss of freedom. 
Upon assuming the Presidency, he immediately ended price controls on 
oil, and within 4 months the price of oil fell over 60 cents per 
gallon.
  When a government union broke the law and mounted an illegal strike 
against the taxpayers, President Reagan upheld the rule of law, and 
even the Soviet Union noticed. Secretary of State George Schultz said 
this may have been the best foreign policy decision Ronald Reagan ever 
made.
  Ronald Reagan and a Democratic Congress cut marginal income tax rates 
from 70 percent to 28 percent and ushered in the longest peacetime 
economic expansion in American history. Inflation fell from over 12 
percent to 1 percent, and interest rates dropped dramatically. People 
were free to work and keep most of what they earned and to save for 
their family's future instead of relying on the state.
  In 1981, Ronald Reagan was the first President to take the oath of 
office on the west front of the Capitol. He said he wanted to be 
looking west to symbolize the pioneer vision and spirit that he knew 
still lived in America. Later today his body will be carried up those 
same western steps of the Capitol. In just a few hours, President 
Reagan will lie in State a few feet from where we are now gathered.
  As we imagine him looking up at the monumental artwork in the dome, 
at the Apotheosis of George Washington, perhaps we will hear him again 
speaking to us in the words he once used in this very place: Now we are 
standing inside the symbol of our democracy. Now we hear again the 
echoes of our past. A general falls to his knees in the hard snow of 
Valley Forge; a lonely President paces the darkened halls and ponders 
his struggle to save the Union; the men of the Alamo call out 
encouragement to each other; a settler pushes West and sings a song, 
and the song echoes out forever and fills the unknowing air.
  As we gather in the rotunda and gaze upon the flag-draped vault that 
holds the mortal remains of our 40th President, I know that if we 
listen, we will hear those echoes of the past. We will hear that 
pioneer song because it is the American sound. Like Ronald Reagan, it 
is hopeful, big-hearted, idealistic, daring, decent and fair.
  Mr. President, we loved you in life because you helped us love 
America, and you so nobly represented the country we love. As we lay 
you to rest, we will always respect and honor your leadership, your 
humility, your strength, your humor and your character. You told us 
that those who say we are in a time when there are no heroes just do 
not know where to look.

[[Page 11835]]

Mr. President, all of America now knows where to look. You and our 
beloved First Lady, Nancy Reagan, will be our heroes for as long as 
there is an America and as long as love of freedom is carried in human 
hearts.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Cox) for his very cogent remarks, and I really appreciate the civility 
with which this has been conducted today.
  The gentleman from California mentioned the fact that President 
Reagan and a Democratic Congress presided over large tax cuts back 
during President Reagan's term, and I grant that. But at the same time, 
President Reagan was not a strict ideologue and he understood that when 
large deficits appeared, that we as a Nation needed to do something to 
deal with those large deficits and not put our country deeper and 
deeper in debt.
  He agreed to actions to correct that course, and I think we as 
Democrats and Republicans hopefully can come together here and 
recognize that a $7 trillion debt and deficits of over half a trillion 
dollars cannot go on, and our kids and grandkids and the future 
generations of this Nation cannot sustain that kind of problem if it 
continues.
  I hope we will come together with an attitude of civility that was 
characterized by President Reagan and work on these problems together 
because we have a lot more in common than we have differences. We are 
all Americans. We all love our country, and we want to do what is right 
by our country.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to conclude by saying that I think if we work 
together and understand that we are all in this together, we will do 
the very best we can for the Nation we love, the United States of 
America.
  May God bless Mrs. Reagan and the Reagan family, and may God hold 
Ronald Wilson Reagan in His loving arms.
  Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, heaven is a little sunnier and 
little more optimistic with the arrival of one of the greatest American 
patriots and Presidents of the 20th Century, President Ronald Reagan.
  He inspired me, as he did many others. Across the country and around 
the world, millions are mourning the death and remembering the life of 
this man, patriot, and President. There is a sense of profound loss, 
and rightly so, in a the hearts of all Americans. This week we will all 
search for a way to pay our respects to a man who made it ``morning in 
America'' again.
  President Reagan's message of hope restored America's faith in what 
we could become. He loved this country, and he believed in the people 
that called it home. His optimism was infectious and at the end of his 
term as President--Americans had caught his vision and understood their 
place in the world.
  Reagan's stewardship ushered in an era of peace and economic 
prosperity. Reaganomics--reducing the size of government, allowing 
Americans to keep more of their own hard earned money instead of having 
it taxed away--brought about an economic revival in our nation.
  Reagan's leadership ended the Cold War, brought down the Berlin Wall, 
and charted a new course for both America's and the world's future. A 
future that was secure--made possible by ``peace through strength.'' We 
would do well to bear this wisdom in mind as we continue to defend 
America against the threats posed by adversaries.
  It is very difficult for one person or a single nation to pay tribute 
to a life as big, as bold, and as heroic as Ronald Reagan's. His own 
words are perhaps the best testament of his convictions. His actions 
are the most sincere depictions of the character that defined his life. 
His humility and grace endeared him to all American's hearts.
  In announcing to the world that he had been diagnosed with 
Alzheimer's disease, Mr. Reagan wrote, ``Let me thank you, the American 
people, for giving me the great honor of allowing me to serve as your 
president. When the Lord calls me home, whenever that day may be, I 
will leave with the greatest love for this country of ours and eternal 
optimism for its future. I now begin the journey that will lead me into 
the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a 
bright dawn ahead.''
  President Reagan's legacy will live on in the hearts and memories of 
all Americans. His integrity, dignity and wisdom are immortal and will 
challenge us each day to `act worthy of ourselves'--worthy of America.
  Thanks to Ronald Reagan--there are bright days ahead for America.
  Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ronald Wilson Reagan, 
the 40th President of the United States, Great American Patriot, and 
conservative stalwart.
  This past weekend, I joined a delegation of Members from this body in 
honoring the veterans--both living and fallen--who brought freedom to 
Europe by storming the beaches of Normandy. Unfortunately, 
transportation problems have prevented me from participating more fully 
in commemorating the passing of a truly great president. Had I been 
able, I would have certainly joined my colleagues in unanimously voting 
to mourn the passage of Ronald Reagan.
  Ronald Reagan was born in Tampico, Illinois, a small town in the 
heart of America. His Midwest Christian upbringing helped to mold 
Reagan into the conservative icon that he has become. When I was 14 
years old, living in a small rural Midwest town, I heard Ronald 
Reagan's ``A Time for Choosing'' speech for Barry Goldwater. That 
speech and many of his other speeches, which I would listen to on 
records, inspired me to get involved in politics and to fight for 
conservative values. I know Reagan did not inspire me alone.
  Ronald Reagan did not just speak about conservative ideals. He lived 
them and led with them. At a time when conservatives and conservatism 
were derided and ridiculed, he showed young politicians a new way to be 
a conservative.
  In 1981, President Reagan became the President of the United States. 
A boy from a small town had proven the American dream was still alive. 
At a time when a belief in America and freedom seemed to be at an all 
time low, Reagan's optimism renewed the confidence of a Nation. 
Reagan's plans for economic revitalization, smaller government, and a 
strong military moved the United States toward a brighter future.
  Over the course of two terms, he turned the United States and the 
world around. He was not content with the status quo domestically or 
internationally. Today, the world and the country are better for it. 
Our current prosperity is based on the course he charted. The freedom 
that millions of people enjoy can be attributed in part to him.
  This past weekend was the 20th anniversary of Reagan's moving D-Day 
speech. This Saturday marks the 17th anniversary of his Berlin Wall 
speech. Both of these speeches were devoted to freedom. As one of the 
20th Centuries greatest advocates of freedom--both political and 
economic--Ronald Reagan has few equals.
  As Ronald Reagan ends his journey, I mourn his passing, but I am 
overwhelmed with gratitude that he was able to accomplish so many 
things for the United States of America.
  Mr. SHADEGG. Mr. Speaker, Ronald Reagan ran for President to change 
America. In the end, he had changed the world. As Arizonans, we can be 
proud that our state played a vital role in the ``Reagan Revolution''.
  Barry Goldwater started what became the Reagan Revolution with his 
own run for the Presidency. For the first time since Calvin Coolidge, 
conservatives had a champion. Some dismissed Goldwater's loss as the 
end of the nascent conservative movement, but they were wrong: it was 
just the beginning.
  Reagan took to the national political stage during the Goldwater 
campaign 40 years ago with his seminal speech ``A Time for Choosing.''
  In losing the battle for the White House, Goldwater passed the 
conservative torch to Ronald Reagan to continue the war of ideas. 
Together they nurtured the conservative movement and helped it grow. In 
1966, Reagan's campaign for Governor of California struck the same 
themes as Goldwater's presidential campaign. He won in a landside. It 
was the biggest political victory of the conservative movement since 
Goldwater had defeated the sitting U.S. Senate Majority leader in 1952.
  My father, Stephen Shadegg, was Goldwater's campaign manager, 
speechwriter and a close friend. Growing up in Goldwater's shadow and 
being a part of the conservative movement from birth gave me a special 
appreciation for who Reagan was. Just as Goldwater, Reagan's greatest 
tool was the truth. When Ronald Reagan said something, you knew it came 
from the heart.
  Reagan was one of the few politicians who had deeply held beliefs and 
never strayed from fundamental principles. The rarest commodity in 
Washington, D.C. is courage, yet Reagan was nothing if not courageous.
  He also touched people's lives. Just look at the hundreds of 
thousands of people who stood in line for hours this week to pay their 
last respects. A telling tribute to a man who had done so much for his 
country and whose citizens admired and loved him in return.

[[Page 11836]]

  President Reagan is rightly remembered for numerous accomplishments. 
We are all better off today thanks to the economic revolution that 
brought double-digit interest rates and inflation to its knees. His tax 
policy proved that ``a rising tide'' of economic recovery ``lifts all 
boats.''
  Reagan is best known as the aggressive opponent of communism, the 
strong cold warrior that stood up to the Soviets and their allies 
across the globe. Less known is that this doctrine of ``peace through 
strength'' allowed President Reagan to sign the largest arms reduction 
treaty at the time.
  Ronald Reagan was a normal citizen who used his charm and steadfast 
beliefs to shape the United States into the Country it is today. He 
provided great optimism, sparked economic growth, gained military 
superiority, and bridged international relations.
  We all have a special memory of Reagan. Obviously for me, the 1964 
speech was a formative part of my political life. In the speech he 
outlined his dedication to limited government and personal 
responsibility, ideals that guide me as I serve the people of my 
district and Arizona.

       This idea that government was beholden to the people, that 
     it had no other source of power is still the newest, most 
     unique idea in all the long history of man's relation to man. 
     This is the issue of this nation: Whether we believe in our 
     capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the 
     American Revolution and confess that a little intellectual 
     elite in a far-distant capital can plan our lives for us 
     better than we can plan them ourselves.

  He had a simple vision. He knew that individual choice and freedom 
was essential for people to feel pride in themselves, instead of 
dependence on the government. Reagan knew that the true American dream 
was to be free to live your life and achieve your goals without 
government interference or regulation.
  President Reagan was one of the towering figures of the 20th century 
and one of the greatest defenders of freedom that America and the world 
has ever known. Ronald Reagan was an heir to Barry Goldwater's vision 
that the greatness of America lies not in its government but in its 
people. His faith in the individual, belief in free enterprise, and 
unending conviction in providing freedom of choice in everyday 
decisions, helped to restore ``the great, confident roar of American 
progress, growth, and optimism.''
  Rather than mourn our loss following the passing of President Ronald 
Reagan, we should instead celebrate his life and his countless 
contributions to our country. And, we should renew the promise to keep 
America ``that shining city upon the hill.''
  Mrs. BONO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of our 
Nation's greatest Presidents and a fellow Californian, President Ronald 
W. Reagan.
  A child of America's heartland, he became a man of the west. A 
towering presence, he gained fame as a movie star and entertainer 
before turning his considerable gifts to public service. A man of great 
wit, faith, optimism, conviction and conscience, he believed fervently 
in the good of all men but especially the American people.
  It was from his unwavering faith and from the people, first in his 
adopted state of California and later throughout the nation, that he 
drew his great strength. A natural leader, he commanded respect and 
loyalty from all who had the honor of serving with him. President 
Reagan brought grace and dignity to the high office he held, always 
treating those around him with respect and kindness. He never lost his 
connection to the working people and spoke to all Americans with such 
clarity and honesty that he will be forever known as ``the great 
communicator.''
  Along with his beloved wife, Nancy, President Reagan was a frequent 
visitor to the Palm Springs area which I have the honor of representing 
in Congress. The Reagans frequently spent New Year's Eve with their 
dear friends, Ambassador and Mrs. Walter Annenberg, enjoying the 
relaxing desert environment and a friendly round of golf. A playground 
for movie stars and Presidents, the Palm Springs community was a 
welcome haven from the hectic world of celebrity and politics. The 
Reagans had many local friends and contacts, and the Palm Springs area 
was and still remains Reagan country.
  As someone who has always said that it is perhaps harder to be the 
spouse than the individual holding elected office, First Lady Nancy 
Reagan was a reservoir of strength for the President throughout their 
remarkable life together. His most fervent supporter and staunchest 
defender, Nancy deserves our recognition and thanks for her role in 
this most American story.
  President Reagan's many achievements are now part of our Nation's 
proud history, and the contributions he made ensured a safer world and 
a brighter future for the American people. History will recall that his 
words helped bring down the walls that kept the people of the Soviet 
Union oppressed and isolated from the freedom of the west. His economic 
policies and the strength of his convictions laid the foundation for 
the greatest economic boom in America in the ``American century.'' But, 
the history lessons will never be able to convey the sense of purpose 
and pride he instilled in our nation through the sheer strength of his 
spirit and the optimism of his words.
  We owe this remarkable American a tremendous debt of gratitude. His 
leadership redefined the political landscape in our country and 
energized our people with purpose and hope. To paraphrase the poet, 
``we shall not soon see his like again.''
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of California's 45th district, I 
extend my deepest sympathy and condolences to First Lady Nancy Reagan, 
their children and the entire Reagan family. I have no doubt that 
President Reagan has seen his faith rewarded as he goes to his rest. 
May God Bless President Ronald Reagan.
  Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to join my 
colleagues and remember the vision and achievements of our 40th 
President, Ronald Wilson Reagan. Ronald Reagan came to Washington with 
a core set of values that guided him through his two terms as our 
Nation's leader. President Reagan fought to reduce taxes, diminish the 
role of an intrusive Federal bureaucracy, and to end forever the 
oppressive Communist regime in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.
  The times during which Reagan sought to achieve these goals could not 
have been more daunting. America in 1981 was a land of broken spirit. 
Many citizens could not live the American dream due to interest rates 
in the double digits. The Soviet Union had surpassed the United States 
in military capability. But Ronald Reagan achieved what he set out to 
do through a combination of ideology, pragmatism, charm, self-effacing 
humor, and, yes, hard work.
  When the President left office in 1989, the Nation was in the midst 
of an economic renaissance. The Reagan tax cuts led to 96 straight 
months of economic growth. Record numbers of Americans were 
experiencing the pride that goes along with home ownership and economic 
self sufficiency. The Communist bloc would soon be a memory due to 
Reagan's determination. Ending communism was a stand upon which Reagan 
absolutely would not compromise. To him, the Soviet Union was truly an 
``evil empire'' which was morally at odds with the United States and 
the principles of human dignity. Reagan battled head-to-head with 
Gorbachev at five peace summits and at home secured more money for our 
Nation's defense. Thanks to this combination, millions upon millions 
now live in freedom and Russia is a valued ally in America's quest for 
global freedom.
  Perhaps the most enduring legacy of Ronald Reagan was his ability to 
make us proud to be Americans. Reagan gently lifted our spirits with 
his cheery optimism and geniality. He soothed our fears with a good 
joke or a funny story. He could have been our friendly neighbor or our 
favorite uncle. A reporter once asked Reagan what Americans saw in him, 
to which he replied ``Would you laugh if I told you that I think, 
maybe, they see themselves, and that I'm one of them? I've never been 
able to detach myself or think that I, somehow, am apart from them.''
  On a personal note, I cannot forget the warmth and kindness that I 
was shown by this great man. I first met Reagan in 1976 and later 
visited him at the Oval Office. He provided me with invaluable advice 
during my first run for Congress. During this meeting, he spoke of the 
beauty of our mountains and the kindness of the people of North 
Carolina. He remembered fondly his visits to Western North Carolina 
before he was a candidate and afterwards. During every meeting with 
Ronald Reagan I was treated with kindness, grace, and great humility.
  Few political leaders have had the vision and integrity of Ronald 
Reagan. He had the guts and the courage to tackle the toughest problems 
of 1980s America. He left his office with a stronger and prouder nation 
than he inherited. He made us want to believe in ourselves and he made 
us a better people. Mr. Speaker, I and my constituents in Western North 
Carolina will always be grateful for Ronald Reagan's service to our 
Nation.
  Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, this week our Nation lost an individual 
who had an enormous impact on our country and the world. Ronald Wilson 
Reagan, our Nation's 40th President, had a great and positive impact on 
our economy, our security, and our national pride. I believe that just 
as his achievements will remain with us for many decades, so too will 
his legacy of exercising sincerity and consistency in all actions, both 
inconsequential and monumental.

[[Page 11837]]

  President Reagan was an ordinary man who became an extraordinary 
leader. I will remember him most for his sense of optimism and hope. In 
the most difficult of times, it was President Reagan who had the power 
to allay our worries, raise our spirits, and guide this Nation to 
prosperity.
  Working on Ronald Reagan's first campaign in Jacksonville in 1980, I 
saw first hand his strength of character and his sense of optimism and 
hope. Ronald Reagan lifted this Nation up at the time when we needed it 
the most. He made us feel good about being American. Ronald W. Reagan 
knew who he was and he knew what he believed. These are the qualities 
of a great leader.
  President Reagan's strength of character and firm beliefs led to 
revolutionary policies in dealing with the economy, national security, 
and federal taxation.
  Under the presidency of Ronald W. Reagan, our Nation experienced a 
lengthy period of economic revival where inflation was brought under 
control, employment grew, and a stifling federal tax burden was lifted 
from millions of hard working Americans.
  President Reagan's defense policies were pivotal in the collapse of 
the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War. His commitment to a 
strong national defense and a safe and secure world is personified 
through the phrases, ``Trust but verify,'' ``Peace through strength,'' 
and most of all, ``Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!''
  At the end of his two terms in office, the Reagan Revolution had 
succeeded in giving the Nation its longest recorded period of peacetime 
prosperity without recession or depression. President Reagan succeeded 
in keeping his campaign promise of restoring the great, confident roar 
of American progress and growth and optimism.
  Mr. Speaker, I am so very pleased to have known this man. I am even 
more pleased that Ronald Reagan answered the call to public service and 
contributed all that he did. His leadership blessed our great Nation. 
Our country will never forget his awesome contributions. For now and 
years to come, may the people of the United States examine the life of 
our 40th President, and reflect upon his great achievements. Ronald 
Wilson Reagan lifted this Nation, and changed the world.
  Mr. ISTOOK. Mr. Speaker, like millions of Americans, I want to pay 
tribute to President Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United 
States. I have shed many tears this week, because I loved Ronald 
Reagan, and I know how much he loved this country and the American 
people.
  President Reagan inherited a country disillusioned and with serious 
economic problems, yet when he left office eight years later, it was 
truly ``Morning in America.'' This was more than an economic boom. 
President Reagan restored pride and dignity to the United States and to 
the office of the presidency. He advocated personal responsibility and 
limited government--government that gives a hand up, not a hand out.
  He deserves more credit than anyone else for the collapse of 
communism and the fall of the Iron Curtain, bringing freedom to many 
millions of people. He spoke proudly and freely of morals and 
principles, of right and wrong, of good and evil. He believed in the 
goodness of the American people, and he helped us believe in ourselves.
  Recently, my wife and I made a special trip to visit the Reagan ranch 
near Santa Barbara, California. The humble and simple nature of his 
beloved ranch home reflects the genuine basic values that he cherished 
and lived by. America is a better place because of Ronald Wilson 
Reagan, who greatly loved our country and who championed our ideals.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I was honored to have served in 
Congress for the last 2 years of President Reagan's second term.
  President Reagan devoted his life to the preservation of freedom. He 
believed that ``no weapon in the arsenals of the world is so formidable 
as the will and moral courage of free men and women.''
  His global fight against communism is one of the most significant 
events in world history. Many said this enemy of freedom could not be 
conquered. But the Berlin Wall fell because President Reagan made it 
fall.
  Since the president's death last Saturday we have heard all or parts 
of the speeches that inspired so many for so long. They earned him the 
nickname ``The Great Communicator.''
  Mr. Speaker, President Reagan will always be The Great Communicator 
because of what he said and did. But his public remarks were also 
notable for what he did not say and what he did not do.
  He did not pound the podium. He did not flail his arms, or yell. He 
did not substitute manufactured emotion for reason. He did not exploit 
human suffering.
  The style and manner of his speech combined with the power of his 
ideas made verbal and physical gimmicks completely unnecessary.
  Mr. Speaker, there are many ways to judge a president's place in 
history. I believe a question we must ask is: What kind of impact on 
world and national events does a President have after he leaves office? 
By that standard President Reagan is a historical giant. Consider two 
examples:
  First, President Reagan initiated the largest peacetime expansion of 
our military ever. It gave him the strength to win the Cold War without 
firing a shot.
  But would our soldiers, sailors and airmen have achieved such rapid 
success in the first Gulf War if we sent our 1980 forces and weapons to 
fight? Would we have won the ground war in 100 hours without President 
Reagan's military build-up? Of course not. I believe we would have 
prevailed, but not with such stunning success.
  And our modern, 21st Century military that is fighting the war on 
terror in Iraq today would be years, if not decades away, without 
President Reagan's ``Peace Through Strength'' doctrine.
  Second, President Reagan launched the boldest economic growth plan 
since the New Deal. When he came to office 14 income tax brackets, with 
the top rate a suffocating 70 percent. After he left office there were 
only two income tax brackets existed, with a top rate of 28 percent. 
Yes, we know this created the longest economic boom in history 
throughout the 1980's. But what about the 1990's?
  Mr. Speaker, without President Reagan's three-year across-the-board 
tax reduction plan in 1981, and without the fundamental restructuring 
of the nation's income tax code in 1986, we would not have experienced 
the job creation machine of the 1990's. We would not have created a new 
class in America--the Investor Class. And our economy certainly would 
not have survived and rebounded as it did after the 9-11 terrorist 
attacks and corporate scandals.
  President Reagan left office with a united America, a strong America, 
and a prosperous America. His America is the country every president--
every American--aspires to live in.
  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, Ronald Reagan forever changed the 
landscape of American politics. He will be remembered as a President 
who loved his country and inspired us all to be better Americans.
  President Reagan was a principled leader, and many times his beliefs 
put him at odds with Democrats. Despite these disagreements, he taught 
us that there is a big difference between bitter partisanship and 
strong beliefs.
  My thoughts and prayers are with Mrs. Reagan and her children at this 
difficult time.
  Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, on the passing of President Reagan it is 
right and good that our Nation gathers for mourning, prayer, and 
remembrance.
  As I inventory my memories of Ronald Reagan, I can't help but smile 
at the recollection of such a good and sensible man. The first time I 
voted for a President, I voted for Ronald Reagan. Each time since I 
cast my first ballot, I have compared every candidate to President 
Reagan.
  That's because Ronald Reagan set the standard, he personified 
leadership. He . . . was . . . America. He was our greatness, our 
promise, our free will, and our character.
  Ronald Reagan showed us love of family, even in the midst of 
challenges to our values and barbs to tradition.
  He and Nancy were unafraid to show their affection, to put their pure 
love for each other on display. When you saw the Reagans together, you 
couldn't help but feel part of their family. Their mutual fondness and 
love brought true meaning to the term ``first family.''
  Not only a defender of traditional values, Ronald Reagan brought 
common sense to bear on government. He reigned in the scope of the 
federal government, while spurring growth in the private sector.
  Ronald Reagan changed the world. He spread democracy to places where 
freedom was a term without meaning. President Reagan stood up to the 
rising tide of communism, instead presenting the future that liberty 
ensures.
  He changed the world by example, showing the power of a free people. 
He ended the cold war with fearless resolve, lifting our fears of 
imminent attack by soviet missiles and giving a future to nations 
ravaged by the ills of communism.
  Not only did Ronald Reagan change the world, he changed America. He 
led us back to prosperity. He made us proud to be Americans again. 
Ronald Reagan brought us closer to his image of a ``shining city on a 
hill,'' and showed us that we could be great again. Under Reagan's 
guidance the rest of the world came to look to us for our leadership 
again.

[[Page 11838]]

  And although we are saddened by his death, we are comforted by the 
promise he restored in America. President Reagan said ``For while I 
take inspiration from the past . . . I live for the future.'' So must 
we.
  Mr. REHBERG. Mr. Speaker, I remember working in Washington during 
Ronald Reagan's transition in 1980. It was heartening to see the change 
in attitude and renewed patriotism among the public and in Washington. 
You see, in those days so many Americans felt discouraged about their 
government and their future.
  And then the sheriff rode into town. He brought with him a wholesome, 
Western perspective. His optimism was contagious, and he had a love for 
this country and its people as big and as colorful as the Montana sky. 
His was a kind of hope that people hadn't seen in our Nation since well 
before Vietnam, Watergate, and the tough economic times that he came to 
vanquish.
  ``Sheriff'' Reagan's determination and infectious charm disarmed this 
town of its grip on the American taxpayer, in favor of limited 
government, free enterprise, and a renewed faith in the power of the 
American Dream. Abroad, our President's unwavering stand for liberty 
brought down the Iron Curtain, ended the Cold War, and helped restore 
freedom to millions of people around the world. He made us--made me--
proud to be an American.
  Several years ago, that sense of pride motivated me to successfully 
lead the effort in Montana to change the name of our annual Republican 
Lincoln Day Dinners to Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinners, in honor of the two 
greatest Republicans, Abraham Lincoln and, of course, Ronald Reagan.
  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my sorrow on the passing of 
President Ronald Reagan.
  I had the privilege of meeting President Reagan twice--once when I 
participated in a G.I. Forum event in El Paso, TX, honoring veterans, 
and the other time while I was in the Border Patrol providing security 
as the President visited Brownsville, TX.
  It was easy to see that President Reagan was blessed with a good 
nature and positive spirit. All Americans remember his abiding love of 
country and strong defense of freedom.
  President Reagan has left a lasting legacy in the way he confronted 
communism and helped to end the Cold War. He was the kind of leader we 
needed during those difficult years. For that, our Nation, and the 
world, will be forever grateful.
  On behalf of my constituents in El Paso, I extend heartfelt 
condolences to the Reagan family during this very sad time.
  Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, during our week of mourning for President 
Ronald Reagan, I want to take a moment to honor the life and memory of 
a great Reagan Republican, Jack Vaughan, who died June 11, 1994, at the 
age of 33. Jack campaigned for Ronald Reagan on both Presidential 
campaigns, worked for Newt Gingrich out of college, and served three 
terms in the Georgia General Assembly before falling victim to cancer 
10 years ago.
  Jack was a College Republican who really took Reagan's message of 
optimism to heart. His love for his country and State propelled him 
into public service and led him to three unopposed terms in the Georgia 
State House of Representatives. He was a leader to Cobb County, the 
State of Georgia, and served as inspiration for young Republicans 
seeking careers in public service.
  Since his death in 1994, the Georgia Republican party has named their 
young Republican of the year award after Jack Vaughan, for the most 
distinguished individual going above and beyond his or her means to 
serve party and country.
  Jack Vaughan was the son of Gretchen and Jack Vaughan; he is survived 
by his wife Diane Vaughan Rainey and son John Vaughan III.
  Although Mr. Vaughn is no longer with us, his spirit of hard work and 
dedication lives on in the hearts and memories of all those who wish to 
better our country and see the worth and value of the American people 
and citizens of Georgia.
  Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, former President Reagan's influence on the 
world was tremendous. He was bigger than life. Whether it was on the 
silver screen or before thousands of cheering Americans--he was, in so 
many ways, the American dream. His messages of hope and possibility 
touched so many people around the world.
  Many Iowans have a special place in their heart for Ronald Reagan or 
``Dutch'' as he was known to those who used to listen to him on the 
radio during the 1930s.
  In 1932, after graduating from college, Reagan began working as a 
temporary staff announcer for radio station WOC in Davenport, IA. In 
1933, WOC merged with radio station WHO in Des Moines, and Reagan was 
hired as chief sports announcer for the new station. Here, Reagan 
announced Chicago Cubs baseball games--reading them from teletype 
reports. I remember him recounting how he was forced to improvise games 
for as long as 15 minutes when the teletype machine would unexpectedly 
stop.
  At the time, radio personalities were treated as big stars and what a 
great place to start a career in entertainment--in Iowa. As we all 
know, Mr. Reagan went on to a career in movies but many Iowans 
remembered listening to his sportscasts and helped him in pursuit of 
higher office in the 1970s and 80s.
  I can remember ``Dutch's Dollies''--a group of ladies who were 
longtime fans cheering wildly at his campaign events. They were loyal 
supporters with very long memories of their man Dutch.
  There are many great stories about Ronald Reagan and his ties to 
Iowa, but I want to express my admiration for the entire Reagan family.
  Ronald Reagan touched me in a manner I could not anticipate--through 
Alzheimer's disease.
  For the better part of the last decade I shared the sadness of this 
disease with the Reagan family. Like all Americans, we read about the 
Reagan family's long goodbye to the President. During their painful 
days, the entire Latham family was saying their own long goodbye to my 
father Willard Latham, who succumbed to the disease in 2001.
  Ronald Reagan will be remembered for many things but for millions 
this week we are reminded of the ravages Alzheimer's disease has on its 
victims and their families. Let us all pray for those who are 
devastated by this affliction and let us keep the Reagan family in our 
thoughts and prayers.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, today is a day of reflection. We reflect on 
the life and leadership of former President Ronald Wilson Reagan. We 
remember all that is good in our country, and all our Nation has to 
offer its people. Ronald Reagan made a significant and lasting 
contribution to the strength of our economy, our military, and restored 
America's self-confidence.
  President Reagan was an inspiration to me as I embarked upon a 
political career in Boulder City, NV, more than 20 years ago. He 
instilled in me that America was indeed a place everyone can rise as 
high and as far as his ability will take him. His own humble beginnings 
are proof of that. He taught me the meaning of civility, and to respect 
your political adversaries despite your disagreements.
  President Reagan changed the course of history, for both the United 
States and the world. He implemented foreign policy that would later 
end the cold war and free many nations from the iron curtain.
  President Reagan strengthened our economy. His leadership taught us 
that the Federal Government is not the solution for our problems and 
set us on a course that would lessen taxes and decrease inflation, 
helping many Americans achieve the American dream.
  On behalf of the people of the Third Congressional District from the 
great State of Nevada, I offer my deepest sympathy to Mrs. Reagan and 
the entire Reagan family.
  To conclude, let me recap the final words of President Reagan's 
farewell address to the American people from the Oval Office--``My 
friends: We did it. We weren't just marking time. We made a difference. 
We made the city stronger. We made the city freer, and we left her in 
good hands. All in all, not bad, not bad at all.''
  Mr. President, thank you for all you've done for the Nation and the 
world. Americans will miss you.
  Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, we have lost a giant in American politics 
and world history. Ronald Wilson Reagan was not only a great President, 
he was a good man. He will be remembered fondly for his character and 
with great appreciation for his tremendous triumphs in spreading peace 
and freedom throughout the world.
  In addition to tearing down the iron curtain of communism, rebuilding 
America's military, presiding over the Nation's longest period of 
growth and prosperity, it was the little things that made him great. He 
cared about people, including the smallest among us. His heart of 
kindness reflected that of his Creator's in its compassion toward ``the 
least of these.''
  Ronald Reagan comforted us when we grieved. Whether to the families 
of the 101st Airborne Division or to a Nation in shock after losing the 
space shuttle Challenger, President Reagan knew what to say and how to 
say it. He also knew when to be silent and simply offer a reassuring 
embrace. He was the most powerful man in the world, yet he exuded the 
warmth and kindness of a gentle grandfather. We respected not just the 
office he held, but the man who held it.

[[Page 11839]]

  President Reagan earned his respect. He knew what he believed, 
established his goals upon those beliefs and committed to achieve his 
dreams. The world is a much improved place because he lived by his 
deeply held convictions.
  Ronald Reagan knew you shouldn't penalize people for working hard, so 
he fought to enact sweeping tax relief that spurred unparalleled 
economic growth. He knew there was a difference between good and evil, 
so he called out the ``evil empire,'' and it ultimately crumbled. 
Ronald Reagan knew people wanted to feel good about this country again, 
so he told us it was morning in America--and we saw that it was.
  He touched numerous lives in the Fourth Congressional District of 
Kansas. Every year I attend the Lincoln Day Celebration in 
Independence, KS, I am reminded by local residents of Ronald Reagan's 
visit there in 1966. They remember it as if it were yesterday. And they 
still love him.
  We love Ronald Reagan. We have named our national airport, 
Washington's largest government building and more than 50 other sites 
across this country in tribute to our Nation's 40th President. He 
captured our hearts with his next-door-neighbor kindness, rekindled our 
patriotism with his effusive and infectious love for this country, and 
he inspired us with his principled leadership.
  In his personal and moving letter disclosing his bout with 
Alzheimer's disease, the President conveyed the essence of his entire 
being. In that letter, he was optimistic about America, and he asked us 
to take care of his beloved Nancy because he was concerned about the 
burden she would bear. There was not a word of self pity or dread. 
Ronald Reagan wrote about the sunset of his life, but proclaimed for 
America, ``a bright dawn ahead.''
  Mr. Speaker, we too believe that America's future is bright, but it 
pales in comparison to the place where Ronald Reagan now lives.
  President Reagan had a strong faith in God and spoke of his reliance 
on prayer in both good and difficult times. During his address at the 
National Prayer Breakfast in 1982, President Reagan said he believed 
the United States was a blessed land that had been set apart in a 
special way. But, he also had the following warning:

       Sometimes, it seems we've strayed from that noble 
     beginning, from our conviction that standards of right and 
     wrong do exist and must be lived up to. God, the source of 
     our knowledge, has been expelled from the classroom. He gives 
     us His greatest blessing, life, and yet many would condone 
     the taking of innocent life. We expect Him to protect us in a 
     crisis, but turn away from Him too often in our day-to-day 
     living. I wonder if He isn't waiting for us to wake up.

  President Reagan went on to urge Americans of faith to get involved 
and to restore ``our spirit of neighbor caring for neighbor.'' In his 
conclusion he added:

       We are told in II Timothy that when our work is done, we 
     can say, ``We have fought the good fight. We have finished 
     the race. We have kept the faith.''

  Ronald Reagan's struggles on this earth are finished, but his work 
carries on. He indeed fought the good fight, and we are all better off 
because of it.
  May God bless Ronald Wilson Reagan, and may God provide strength, 
peace and encouragement to Mrs. Reagan and the Reagan family in the 
days ahead.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor America's 40th 
President, Ronald Wilson Reagan.
  President Reagan was an ordinary man who led an extraordinary life. 
He came from a middle-American family of modest means to become the 
leader of the most powerful Nation in the world, inspiring its people 
along the way.
  President Reagan was a decisive leader. He was a strong commander-in-
chief. He was a statesman. He was a gifted communicator. He was a 
skilled political adversary. He was an eternal optimist. He was a 
patriot. He was, above all, an American. He used these skills, and his 
love for our country, to change the course of history for the better.
  President Reagan accomplished much during his presidency. He helped 
defeat communism and end the Cold War. He rebuilt our national 
defenses. He advanced freedom throughout the world. He led the longest 
economic recovery in our Nation's history. He lowered taxes. He 
fundamentally changed the way we think about government. ``We meant to 
change a nation,'' he said in his farewell address to the American 
people, but instead, ``we changed the world.''
  President Reagan literally helped save a world that needed saving.
  President Reagan also convinced us to believe in ourselves again. He 
took charge of a wounded Nation that doubted itself and helped us 
rediscover our pride and patriotism. He reminded us that America and 
its people are fundamentally good, decent and deserving of God's 
blessings. He restored America's greatness and instilled in us his 
eternal optimism that our best is always yet to come.
  President Reagan left America better, stronger, freer and more 
prosperous than we ever had been. Looking back on his accomplishments 
in the White House, he said that he was proud that ``we weren't just 
marking time; we made a difference,'' adding with his usual humility 
``all in all, not bad, not bad at all.''
  Not bad at all, Mr. President.
  President Reagan battled Alzheimer's disease with the same dignity 
and courage with which he lived his life. He asked us, in his last 
letter to America, to remember that he had ``the greatest love for this 
country of ours and eternal optimism for its future.'' We know he loved 
America. I think it is clear America loved him.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have known President Reagan and am honored 
to have, in some small measure, done my part to ensure that his vision 
for America and the world came to pass. We all owe him a debt of 
gratitude for dedicating his life to improving ours.
  In this time of great sadness for the Reagan family and the American 
people, let us take comfort in the knowledge that the leader we so 
loved has fulfilled his earthly mission and has finally reached the 
place of peace in which we all may one day rejoice. May God eternally 
bless Ronald Reagan and continue to watch over the shining city on a 
hill he so loved.
  Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, today, I pay tribute to a great American, 
our 40th ' President, Ronald Reagan.
  Under Ronald Reagan's presidency and leadership, America stood tall 
again in the world as a ``shining city on the hill.'' Americans were 
proud once again to be Americans.
  Ronald Reagan assumed the presidency when America was facing an 
Iranian hostage crisis, a rising inflation rate, increasing 
unemployment, and an energy crisis that saw Americans waiting in lines 
to purchase gasoline.
  Upon assuming the presidency, Ronald Reagan proposed a bold economic 
and defense program. His economic policy created the longest peacetime 
job expansion in history. Under his leadership, our defenses were 
rebuilt to handle any adversary. It was his leadership that saw America 
triumph as the communist evil empire that scarred Europe fell.
  President Reagan fought for his convictions and followed up his 
campaign promises with successful action. Under his leadership, 
government bureaucracy and regulations were reduced. Taxes were lowered 
and a strong national defense was rebuilt to fight against the spread 
of communism. These moves won him a landslide re-election victory.
  I agree with the words of this great President when he said, 
``government is not the solution. Government is the problem.''
  I also agree with President Reagan's words at the 1992 Republican 
National Convention in Houston, TX, when he said:

       A lot of liberal democrats are saying it's time for a 
     change; and they're right; the only trouble is they're 
     pointing to the wrong end of Pennsylvania Avenue. What we 
     should change is a Democratic Congress that wastes precious 
     time on partisan matters of absolutely no relevance to the 
     needs of the average American. It's time to clean house. 
     Clean out the privileges and perks. Clean out the arrogance 
     and the big egos. Clean out the scandals, the corner-cutting 
     and the foot-dragging.

  Ronald Reagan was a president who, in a time of politicians, proved 
himself a statesman. He was a leader who, when others demanded 
compromise, preached conviction; a gentleman who, in time of average 
men, stood taller than anyone else.
  He ranks as one of the finest men ever to hold the office. He was 
successful as a radio broadcaster, actor, union leader, Governor and 
President. But, above all else, he was a successful American whose 
legacy lives on in these halls and across this land. May God bless this 
great man, his family and this land that he so dearly loved.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure and honor that 
I congratulate Mr. Alan VanderMeer on his retirement from the Plumbers 
Local Union 210. Alan has spent over 40 years dedicating his life to 
the interest of the Plumbers Union as well as his community in 
Northwest Indiana. There will be a celebration of his accomplishments 
on June 10, 2004 at the Plumbers Local Union 210 in Merrillville, IN.
  Alan has accomplished many visionary goals throughout his career. 
After being initiated into Plumbers Local 130 in Illinois, Alan 
admirably served in the Armed Forces in 1962. He also served as an 
Apprentice for

[[Page 11840]]

Plumbers Local 130 from 1960 to 1964, and in 1978 he transferred to 
Local 519 in Miami, FL.
  Alan later demonstrated his loyalty by his outstanding service to 
Plumbers Local 307 in Hammond, IN. He transferred to Local 307 in 1980 
and was appointed J.A.T.C. member in 1984. In July 1990, he was elected 
as Business Manager and he served as J.A.T.C. Chairman, Retirement 
Trustee Chairman, Welfare Trustee Chairman, Arbitration Board Chairman, 
Property Trustee Chairman, Local 307/433 Joint Organizing Trust Co-
Chair, PAC Chairman, and Golf Committee Chairman. During the years 
1991, 1996, and 2001 he was a Delegate to the United Association 
Convention. He is presently a Delegate to the Indiana State Pipe 
Trades, where he served as Vice President from 1990 to 2000.
  Alan was initiated into Plumbers Local 210 in July 2000 and was 
appointed Business Agent. He currently serves as J.A.T.C. member, 
Retirement Fund Trustee, Welfare Fund Trustee, Vacation Fund Trustee, 
Market Recovery Fund Trustee, Arbitration Board Member, Property Fund 
Trustee, and Golf Committee Chairman.
  While Alan has dedicated a substantial portion of his life to the 
betterment of union members he has always found the time to serve his 
community as well. Since 1990 he has been the Chairman of Plumbers 
Local 307 and Local 210 Children's Christmas parties. Alan currently 
serves on the Board of Directors for the Lake County Contractors 
Licensing Board, the Hammond Urban Enterprise Association, and the 
Workforce Investment Board. He is a member of Pirates and the American 
Legion. Alan was also awarded the 2004 Sagamore of the Wabash by 
Governor Joe Kernan.
  Mr. Speaker, Alan VanderMeer has given his time and efforts 
selflessly to the people of Northwest Indiana throughout his years of 
service. His family and friends can be proud of the contributions this 
prominent individual has made. I sincerely wish Alan VanderMeer a long, 
happy, and productive retirement. Mr. Speaker, at this time I ask that 
you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in honoring and 
congratulating Mr. Alan VanderMeer for an outstanding career, not only 
with the Plumbers Union, but in service to his community as well.
  Mr. SCHROCK. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor and remember a great 
man, a great leader and a great President.
  Ronald Wilson Reagan is a man none of us will soon forget. In the 
annals of American and world history, Ronald Reagan will be recognized 
and remembered with the great leaders of our past like Winston 
Churchill, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
  As a principled leader, he challenged political leaders in our 
Nation, in both parties, to go beyond the status quo, to think beyond 
the realms of the possible, to reach new heights in public discourse by 
doing more than debate the problems ailing the American people, and to 
actually find a solution.
  He actively worked to enact new policies that brought our Nation out 
of the malaise of the 1970's.
  He fought communism and tyranny, bringing freedom to more people in 
the world than has ever been achieved in history.
  His principle of, ``Peace through strength,'' not only led our Nation 
to become the preeminent superpower in the world, but it also brought 
the Soviet empire down to its knees, ending the Cold War once and for 
all.
  When was the last time we have seen a world leader stand boldly on 
the doorsteps of an enemy and challenge him to ``Tear down this wall''? 
President Reagan knew what had to be done and he did it. Why? Because 
it was the right thing to do.
  I think most Americans will remember Ronald Reagan for the 
inspiration he gave us all. He helped us to believe in ourselves again. 
After our failed efforts in Vietnam and the protests and marches 
against our actions there, after Watergate, after economic malaise, and 
after the Iran Hostage Crisis, America was in a state of despair with 
very little hope in the future.
  But President Reagan helped us to believe we could be better, and 
became better. He showed us America could be strong and win the Cold 
War, and we became strong and won it. He promised us he would invest in 
the American people to turn the economy around. He made that investment 
and dividends are still paying off today.
  President Reagan optimistically led the way. The Nation followed and 
we are better off because of it.
  In spite of all that President Reagan did for our Nation, the one 
thing that speaks volumes about his character and the man that he was, 
was the way he loved Nancy. He was not embarrassed about his love for 
her, rather he demonstrated it at every opportunity.
  President Reagan was committed to his family, to his Nation and to 
the world. He was dedicated to his integrity, principles and the belief 
that America could become that shining city on a hill.
  Today, we say goodbye to this great man, leader, President and 
husband. We miss President Reagan. May God bless him and his family.
  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, my memories of Ronald Reagan are much like 
the memories of so many of those who met President Reagan and who were 
absolutely charmed by him.
  Ronald Reagan wasn't just called the ``Great Communicator'' because 
he could give good speeches; he was a brilliant communicator on all 
levels. He understood how the everyday person on the street understood 
issues, and he framed things in such a way that people believed him. He 
presented his ideas simply and eloquently.
  He was also excellent one-on-one. His Irish charm was all 
encompassing. That charm made him an agreeable opponent when we 
disagreed on issues. He welcomed opposition on a matter; he understood 
that democratic societies only flourish when both sides of an issue are 
clearly heard. He relished debate.
  President Reagan's acting career was helpful to him in his political 
career, although his detractors often denigrated him for it. But he was 
a good actor; his performance in Kings Row was widely hailed. But World 
War II intervened and his advancing career was diverted to military 
service, making movies for the troops.
  My personal memories of the President were times we saw each other in 
the White House or the Capitol. The first time we met, my 10-year-old 
daughter, Yvette, accompanied me to the White House party for new 
Members of Congress. After being rebuffed by a security guard when she 
asked if she could get Reagan's autograph, the President found out and 
obliged her with his autograph.
  I remember another meeting with him that was rather high stakes on 
the international stage. I'd just returned from El Salvador in the mid 
1980s with a CODEL of House Members where we'd sought to bring back 
good information about the rebel uprisings in Central America, 
particularly there in El Salvador.
  Talking about--and debating at points during the conversation--
international policy with the President of the United States in the 
Oval Office was a heady moment. We marveled that a migrant worker from 
Robstown and a lifeguard from Illinois would wind up in this room, 
talking about such important things.
  He loved this Nation and felt a great responsibility to it. When his 
tax cuts and economic policies produced mountains of massive deficit, 
he stepped up and reversed his policy, raising taxes higher than any 
president before him--or since--has ever done. His insistence that the 
Soviets tear down the Berlin Wall rang truer than anyone would have 
believed at the time.
  He had a sweet soul. This was one of the central tenets of the man. 
He loved his wife deeply, and the entire Nation has come to love her 
even more after they left the White House. Nancy Reagan's monumental 
strength in the face of facing her dear husband's illness, without him 
entirely with her, might have broken lesser people.
  One of the President's greatest contributions to humanity, and to 
this Nation, may have come after he left office to begin the long dark 
walk away from us, and his beloved family. That this strong, vigorous 
man was so removed, so empty, was chilling for all of us. The eyes that 
danced with Irish charm began to narrow with confusion.
  The Nation was deeply moved watching this much-loved president face 
the indignities of Alzheimer's so bravely and with such conviction. We 
have been moved to seek new science and new treatments for the cruel 
disease that claims the last decades of many Americans, and drains 
their families.
  For all we have said here today, Ronald Reagan will be remembered 
most profoundly as an eternal optimist, embodying the quintessential 
American spirit. At our core, we are all optimists, thinking about 
tomorrow. Former House Speaker Tip O'Neill once illustrated President 
Reagan's indomitable optimism with a story the President told him. 
President Reagan compared himself to the kid who walks into a room full 
of horse dung, and asks excitedly, ``Where's the pony?''
  I join the House of Representatives today in honoring the life and 
service of Ronald Wilson Reagan and offer my condolences, those of my 
family, and those of my South Texas constituents, to Mrs. Reagan and 
the rest of their family.
  May the Lord bless President Reagan's soul, and comfort Mrs. Reagan 
and their family in this time of loss.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I remember Ronald Reagan as an enthusiastic 
American patriot. He truly enjoyed being President. He was

[[Page 11841]]

just like everyone's uncle or grandfather. He always had a kind word to 
say. He could disagree, without being disagreeable.
  I have served with six Presidents, and I liked him personally.
  Even one of his principal opponents, House Speaker Tip O'Neill, liked 
him.
  President Reagan was well known for his great sense of humor. On 
Saint Patrick's Day, Tip O'Neill invited President Reagan to the 
Speaker's dining room to have lunch with the Irish Members of Congress. 
In his remarks, President Reagan said, with great humor, ``I am told 
that on Saint Patrick's Day, one should spend time with saints and 
scholars, so you know that when I leave here I will have to go to two 
other places.''
  We all loved it.
  On the international level, President Reagan made it difficult for 
the Soviet Union to compete with us, either economically and 
militarily.
  May he rest in peace.
  Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor former 
President Ronald Wilson Reagan and to extend my deepest sympathies to 
former First Lady Nancy Reagan and the Reagan family. I join with the 
millions of Americans who mourn the death of our 40th President. 
President Reagan demonstrated an unwavering commitment to freedom, 
justice and democracy and left an indelible mark upon our Nation and 
the world.
  On this occasion of remembrance, we are reminded of the pain and 
devastation wrought by Alzheimer's disease, a neurological illness 
which President Reagan endured during the last decade of his life. From 
this challenge, Mrs. Reagan has led a valiant effort to enable ongoing 
embryonic stem cell research, in the hope for a cure for this 
debilitating disease, as well as Parkinson's, Diabetes, Cancer and 
Multiple Sclerosis.
  On April 28, I joined more than 200 of my colleagues in the House of 
Representatives in sending a letter to President George W. Bush in 
support of Mrs. Reagan's efforts on behalf of scientific research on 
stem cells. In February 2003, Senators Hatch, Feinstein, Kennedy, 
Specter and Harkin introduced legislation to ban human reproductive 
cloning but allow nuclear transplantation research to continue under 
strict federal guidelines. I commend them for their leadership on this 
important issue and know that with the continued support of Mrs. 
Reagan, progress toward a cure for Alzheimer's and other diseases will 
be possible, ensuring a brighter future for millions of Americans.
  As we honor the life and legacy of President Reagan and extend our 
condolences to his family and friends, let us remember the dignity and 
grace with which he lived his life and provide a fitting tribute to his 
memory by renewing the commitment to this noble cause.
  Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues, indeed 
all Americans, in paying tribute to a great man, the 40th President of 
the United States--Ronald Wilson Reagan.
  President Reagan was an extraordinary and visionary leader, who saw 
our great Nation as having a unique role, purpose, and destiny in the 
world. He saw it as a beacon of freedom, a land of unlimited 
opportunity, and in his words, a shining city on the hill.
  Mr. Reagan took office during a time of great pessimism. There was 
Watergate; Vietnam; the hostage crisis in Iran; and gas lines, runaway 
inflation, and double-digit interest rates here at home. There were 
those who told us that we had to lower our expectations, that we could 
no longer shape our destiny, and that our best days were behind us.
  Ronald Reagan saw a different future. It was a future in which we 
were limited only by the size of our dreams; where the spirit of our 
pioneer ancestors was still alive, it just needed to be rekindled. It 
was a vision where hard work, imagination, creativity, and a little 
luck would allow ordinary men and women to accomplish extraordinary 
things.
  Taxes were cut, inflation and interest rates were reduced, and gas 
lines disappeared. Americans went back to work; the economy roared 
forward; and in the process, Mr. Reagan restored our confidence, 
uplifted our spirits, and made us proud to be Americans again.
  The rebirth here at home was accompanied by equally dramatic changes 
abroad. The march of totalitarianism, that seemed inevitable a few 
years earlier, was halted as Mr. Reagan rebuilt our defenses. The 
creaky Soviet system disappeared quietly, without a shot being fired. 
And the Berlin Wall, the greatest symbol of oppression, fell, and 
millions of people around the world tasted freedom for the first time.
  We Americans, and indeed all freedom loving people around the world, 
owe President Reagan an enormous debt. We will miss him, but history 
will never forget what he accomplished in 8 short years. As a grateful 
nation comes together to say goodbye, our collective thoughts and 
prayers go to Mrs. Reagan and her family.
  Mr. NUSSLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor President Ronald Reagan. 
Ronald Reagan once said, ``We in government should learn to look at our 
country with the eyes of an entrepreneur, seeing possibilities where 
others see only problems.'' It is that spirit that brought me and many 
others into the public service profession. I am proud to have cast my 
first presidential vote for Ronald Reagan in 1980. Fortunately for this 
country and the world, a majority of my fellow citizens agreed.
  Ronald Reagan served as a beacon of hope and inspiration. His vision 
of a stronger, optimistic America inspired me to action. In 1980 I was 
a young student at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa and I jumped right 
into grassroots politics on my campus. I was selected to attend the 
Republican National Convention that summer and was one of the youngest 
delegates there.
  Iowans are proud of our connection to President Reagan. WOC, a 
Davenport radio station in my district, gave Ronald Reagan his first 
job out of college and he lived in Iowa for several years.
  Ronald Reagan made the future something to charge toward rather than 
fear. His philosophy was based on a brilliant truth: He knew without a 
doubt that having faith in Americans would create the best America.
  The Reagan Revolution is still the foundation for my core beliefs: 
The American people make better decisions about their daily life than 
the government can for them. Keeping America secure is job one. Peace 
is best achieved when you negotiate from a position of strength.
  I keep a plaque on my desk with a quote from Ronald Reagan. It reads 
``There's no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he 
doesn't mind who gets the credit.''
  Today, I join my colleagues, thousands of Iowans and millions of 
Americans in giving credit to Ronald Reagan for renewing our nation and 
for changing the world forever with his leadership and ideals.
  Thank you, Mr. President for reminding us why we should be proud to 
be Americans and for making us feel safe when nothing in the world 
seemed safe. Above all, thank you for your humor, optimism and for 
believing the best in us. We will never forget you.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, Ronald Reagan was great world 
leader with a fierce devotion to freedom, democracy, and the sacredness 
of human life--including the unborn.
  He advocated peace through strength and played a major role in 
dismantling Soviet Communism which he rightly called the evil empire 
and stopped its extension into Latin America and elsewhere. I remember 
some of his critics laughing when he challenged Gorbachev in Berlin to 
``tear down this wall.'' They're not laughing any more.
  Ronald Reagan championed the 1981 tax cut--the largest tax cut in 
history--totaling $750 billion by 1986. All wage earners--low, moderate 
and upper income levels--got a 25 percent across-the-board cut in 
personal income taxes. Long term capital gains were also cut and the 
results were stunning--19 million new jobs created as Americans began 
to believe and hope again.
  Ronald Reagan was strongly pro-life and fervently believed that women 
deserved better than abortion and that unborn children are precious and 
deserve respect.
  Having been elected to Congress in 1980 along with President Reagan, 
I saw firsthand and often how genuine he was. He was a man of abiding 
principle who inspired our Nation to greatness, always believing 
America's best years lay ahead.
  He endured personal hardship--including an assassination attempt--
with incredible poise, dignity, and even humor.
  Who can forget President Reagan telling Nancy after he was shot, I 
forgot to duck.
  President Reagan will be missed, but his legend will endure.
  Mr. BRADLEY of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay 
tribute to one of the greatest leaders of the past century, a man who 
committed himself to making our Nation more powerful, united, secure, 
prosperous, and proud.
  By definition, a leader is one who guides, and as President of this 
great country, Ronald Wilson Reagan guided us with grace and dignity 
through one of the most critical periods in our country's history. His 
optimism led our county into a new era and brought hope and freedom to 
millions of people in the world.
  When the Cold War pitted the United States and the Soviet Union 
against each other in an ideological struggle of the highest stakes, 
President Reagan steered the nation and led the free world with steady 
resolve and confidence.

[[Page 11842]]

  Throughout his time in office, President Reagan stood for the 
principles and ideals of the American people. His steadfast moral 
clarity was not expressed in political rhetoric but implemented by 
action. His style was clear and bold. He redefined and transformed his 
political party with a new image and momentum. He set a new standard of 
political cooperation in American government. He created a new economic 
policy. Finally, he reestablished American leadership through the force 
of his vision and the power of his personality. Most poignantly, it was 
with that vision that he spoke boldly before the Brandenburg Gate in 
Berlin in 1987 to demand Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev to ``open 
this gate . . . tear down this wall''. The rest is history. Within 
months the wall came down, Eastern Europe was free, and the Soviet 
Union collapsed.
  Ronald Reagan spent 8 years turning American hopes and dreams into 
reality and affirming our status as the greatest nation on earth, and 
for that, America is forever indebted to him.
  God bless Ronald Reagan.
  Mr. JENKINS. Mr. Speaker, steadfast leadership, eternal optimism, 
profound faith, inspirational articulation, fierce patriotism: when 
America needed these qualities in a leader, President Ronald Reagan 
stepped in to fill the void. We come here to the Congress today to 
celebrate and honor the life of a man whose will forever be etched in 
history as one of the greatest leaders of the 20th Century.
  The stories have been told so often by those of us who supported 
President Reagan over the years that they seem mundane, almost like a 
fictional novel or a movie script. High taxes, a struggling economy, a 
need for international stature and respect, and low morale affected the 
nation. At that time, a man who had come from the most humble 
beginnings stepped up to offer his vision for America. Washington 
politics tend to bring a variety of characters to the capital city, and 
Ronald Reagan was the unlikeliest of candidates: a child of a transient 
family with little income. He dreamed of being a writer or an artist, 
became a sports broadcaster, then a Hollywood actor, later a union 
leader, even later a governor, and finally a President.
  His political affiliation would change over the course of a lifetime, 
but his core belief system remained essentially unchanged. Throughout 
his life, Ronald Reagan believed America is capable of great things and 
its people could and would lead the way if left unburdened by taxation 
and regulation. President Reagan also had an insatiable thirst to let 
the rest of the world enjoy the gifts of freedom and liberty. The 
``shining city on the hill'' would be the beacon for the rest of the 
world.
  Often dismissed or underestimated by political opponents, President 
Reagan had the most valuable weapon in the political arsenal: a bond 
with the people. Even in the face of his political defeats, it was the 
support of the American public that sustained and invigorated him.
  In 1980, a nation in need of change selected Ronald Reagan to restore 
the shine to a tarnished America. Over the course of two terms, 
President Reagan revolutionized the Republican Party and changed the 
political atmosphere in a way still being felt today. He did what he 
said he would do. He lowered taxes, igniting an economic boom that 
reverberates to this day. A more streamlined tax code was authored. 
Regulatory burdens were challenged. Our armed forces were restored and 
then strengthened. The threatening scourge of communism was confronted 
in a way that America's enemies had not anticipated. Not only did 
President Reagan turn to face this menace, he out-argued his opponents 
and used the tools of freedom and democracy to win a war few thought 
could be won without the use of massive weaponry.
  After achieving these monumental victories, one would think that 
perhaps President Reagan's ego would match the size of his victories. 
Nothing, however, was further from the truth. President Reagan always 
gave the credit to the American people and American ideals. He treated 
his job as a valuable temporary loan from the American people, a loan 
that should be respected and returned with dutiful appreciation. He 
left the office of the Presidency with a poignant farewell from the 
Oval Office:

       We've done our part. And as I walk off into the city 
     streets, a final word to the men and women of the Reagan 
     revolution, the men and women across America who for eight 
     years did the work that brought America back. My friends: We 
     did it. We weren't just marking time. We made a difference. 
     We made the city stronger. We made the city freer, and we 
     left her in good hands. All in all, not bad, not bad at all.

  Truer words have never been spoken, as President Reagan left 
Washington having achieved the triad of goals he was elected to 
accomplish in eight short years: improving the economy, restoring 
American prestige internationally, and reestablishing the confidence of 
the American psyche.
  Just a few years later, his quiet exit from public life was as 
graceful as his exit from the White House. Ronald Reagan's well 
documented final battles with Alzheimer's disease were fought with the 
same conviction and courage that his many public battles were fought. 
We all knew the ``long goodbye'' would eventually knock at the door. 
And, while we sadly mourn our loss today and send our deepest sympathy 
to Nancy and the rest of the Reagan family, we can also take solace in 
and celebrate one last Reagan victory: the ``Great Communicator'' now 
has been welcomed to a place where his faculties are restored, his 
great skills have been returned to him, and he probably smiles down on 
us as a grateful America says ``Thank you, Mr. President'' once again.
  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, we are blessed to live in a country 
filled with so many men and women willing to go beyond the call of 
duty, to accomplish great things for the benefit of their fellow 
citizens. Each day, ordinary souls are called upon to perform 
extraordinary tasks. I rise to pay tribute to one of the greatest 
individuals of our time--President Ronald Reagan.
  Like the WWII veterans honored last week during the dedication of the 
National WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C., and those honored this past 
Sunday on the 60th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, President Reagan 
was a great American, steadfast in his appointed duty, thorough in 
thought, long on compassion and short on vanity.
  His love of freedom and embrace of optimism were virtues of many in 
the Greatest Generation. Let us pray that our generation, and the 
generations to come, remember that freedom is a worthy cause.
  I traveled to the beaches of Normandy this week, joining President 
Bush, Speaker Hastert, and others, to commemorate the 60th anniversary 
of D-Day. During the ceremonies, I could not help but feel Reagan's 
presence.
  In his own speech on that shore twenty years ago, President Reagan 
said, ``The men of Normandy had faith that what they were doing was 
right, faith that they fought for all humanity, faith that a just God 
would grant them mercy on this beachhead or on the next. It was the 
deep knowledge--and pray God we have not lost it--that there is a 
profound moral difference between the use of force for liberation and 
the use of force for conquest.''
  President Reagan understood, like our WWII soldiers, that what they 
were doing was not to harm, but to help. That even though sacrifices 
would be made--the greater good was at stake and no price was too high.
  In announcing that he had Alzheimer's disease, Ronald Reagan said 
that he was beginning the journey that would lead him ``into the 
sunset'' of his life. He said, ``I know that for America there will 
always be a bright dawn ahead.'' Since 1994, Reagan had suffered the 
cruelty of Alzheimer's. So our sorrow today is tempered by the 
knowledge that the President has indeed gone to a better place--a place 
where he has a front row seat to watch all the bright dawns that lie 
ahead for America.
  President Reagan is responsible for so many of those bright dawns 
that we have to look forward to. He changed the world by living his 
convictions. Not ``clinging to'' them or ``sticking to'' them, but 
living them. Reagan's core beliefs were exactly that. They were at his 
core and were therefore part of his every action.
  Reagan's convictions gave him confidence. He was a man of the people. 
He listened. And when he heard what the people needed, he took action, 
in accordance with his convictions. On the domestic front, the people 
said they were tired of their economy spiraling downward, so Reagan 
worked to reverse that trend.
  To accomplish these feats, President Reagan was not afraid to take 
hard stances. But he also knew that these changes would take bipartisan 
efforts. We should all remember, respect, and try to live up to 
Reagan's model of bipartisanship. His efforts to change America were 
based upon his philosophy and beliefs--not upon any partisan 
gamesmanship.
  On foreign policy, Americans said they were tired of living in fear, 
so Reagan worked to bring security. President Reagan engineered the end 
of the decades-long Cold War. Because of his policies, and his faith 
that freedom would prevail, our children and grandchildren are not 
growing up with the constant fear of mutual destruction. We all are 
able now to live in a world that, though still imperfect, strives 
toward peace, works for justice and rejects tyranny.
  I call upon my colleagues to remember Reagan's strength. Remember him 
as he was

[[Page 11843]]

while in office. In his final radio address as president, on January 
14, 1989, Reagan said, ``The hope of human freedom, the quest for it, 
the achievement of it, is the American saga.'' Reagan's hope, his 
quest, and all his achievements--those are what we all honor and 
remember.
  Now, too, the Great Communicator, has gone the way of so many of our 
greatest generation. I rise not only in sadness for his passing, but 
more importantly in celebration of his life, his accomplishments and 
his deeds. I rise to pay tribute to President Reagan in the words he 
used to honor the crew of the Challenger Space Shuttle in 1986--``We 
will never forget him, nor the last time we saw him, as he prepared for 
the journey, waved goodbye and slipped the surly bonds of earth to 
touch the face of God.''
  Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my condolences to 
First Lady Nancy Reagan, as well as the children, family and close 
friends of former President Ronald Reagan.
  Mr. Reagan was a visionary leader who guided our great country 
through difficult and dangerous times. He faced adversity with a smile 
and quick wit. He solved problems with sober determination. He gave us 
hope for the future of freedom and prosperity. He reminded us what it 
meant to be proud Americans.
  We mourn his loss but remember that he left us with a rich heritage 
of memories, ideals, and a trail of lives changed at home and abroad 
because of his efforts. For that, we will be eternally grateful.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of our 
40th President and Illinois native, Ronald Reagan, and in strong 
support of H. Res. 664. Many words come to mind when President Reagan's 
name is invoked; principled, loyal, patriotic, compassionate, caring, 
and humble, to name a few.
  His philosophy in life was the same philosophy that he employed in 
his approach to politics and government; believe in the good of people, 
believe that what is right will eventually triumph, believe in the 
value of each and every human life, and believe in the strength and the 
power of freedom and individual liberty. He once said that ``America is 
too great for small dreams''. He truly saw our great Nation as the 
shining city on the hill and as the beacon of freedom for oppressed 
people throughout the world. Nowhere else in the world and at no other 
time or place in history has one nation been so prepared and had the 
means to promote freedom, peace, and stability than the United States 
does right now. Ours is a heavy burden but one that must be borne. 
Reagan understood that.
  He also once said that ``you can tell a lot about a fellow's 
character by his way of eating jellybeans''. In this simple way, he 
told us that, in the end, character is what matters and that life is 
really a series of simple choices between what is right and what is 
wrong. No one person is responsible for another person's destiny. It is 
the choices that we make everyday that we must account for. Reagan 
believed, as I do, that an individual's personal initiative and the 
willingness to accept the consequences and rewards for their actions 
and, most importantly, the freedom to do so, is what make our Nation 
great.
  He believed in people. He believed in America. He traveled to towns 
in what is now my Congressional district, like Charleston, Illinois in 
1976 and Mattoon, Illinois in 1980 because every person was important 
to him. The people in rural Illinois and similar places across the 
country believed in him, because he believed in them. He often asked, 
``did we forget that government is the people's business, and every 
man, woman and child becomes a shareholder with the first penny of 
taxes paid?'' Reagan constantly promoted this philosophy of government. 
The government of the United States belongs to all of us and public 
servants have an obligation to the people to be good stewards of their 
dollars, uphold the Constitution, and protect them from all enemies 
both foreign and domestic.
  He believed in peace. When naysayers told him that building our 
military and our nuclear arsenal would finally push us into a war with 
the former Soviet Union, he knew that principled diplomacy, firm, yet 
reasonable rhetoric, the economic power of our nation, and the 
promotion of freedom would bring communism to its knees. And when it 
did, he called on the scientific community who gave us nuclear weapons 
to ``direct their talents to the cause of mankind and world peace to 
give us the means of rendering these nuclear weapons impotent and 
obsolete.'' He believed in peace through strength and he proved that it 
works.
  I will miss President Reagan and I send my deepest sympathies and 
condolences to his family with the thanks for sharing him with me and 
the rest of the nation. He inspired many. He lived by example. Rest in 
peace, Mr. President.
  Mr. OXLEY. Mr. Speaker, the leadership that Ronald Reagan provided 
changed the country and the world.
  I had the privilege to be elected to Congress during the heady days 
of the `Reagan Revolution.' I had barely won a special election in June 
1981 to keep the Fourth Ohio District in Republican hands, and as a 
young freshman congressman was quickly invited to the White House to 
meet the President and his aides.
  It was more than a welcome to Washington because the President's tax 
cut package was pending on the floor the next week, and I think they 
were there to take my temperature as well as to make sure that I was 
going to vote for the tax cut.
  I was proud to support the tax cut, the military buildup that helped 
win the Cold War, and the President's policies up and down the line.
  President Reagan's economic program lifted us out of the malaise of 
the late 1970s, when America was doubting its greatness, and set the 
stage for a historic period of prosperity that benefitted all segments 
of our society.
  Still, I believe that Ronald Reagan is most likely to be celebrated 
as the President who led the way in winning the Cold War. People in the 
past had always talked about the containment of Soviet communism and 
yet Reagan's theory behind the Cold War was essentially, we win and 
they lose. He was able to lead the country and Congress into 
modernizing our military and ultimately brought about the end of what 
he called the Evil Empire.
  For those of us who grew up in the shadow of nuclear annihilation, 
what could be more important than the victory that was won without 
firing a shot? It was won with ideas, and was something that I honestly 
thought I would never see in my lifetime.
  I had the thrill of traveling with President Reagan on the Heartland 
Express during a whistlestop campaign tour through Ohio in 1984. 
Everytime there would be a crowd gathered in a crossroads in a small 
town, the President would stand in the back of the train and wave. He 
was obviously in a buoyant mood. Large crowds cheered him during stops 
in Sidney and Lima, and people still remember that today.
  We remember President Reagan for his vision, leadership, and 
infectious optimism.
  I don't think I ever met anybody in politics or anywhere else who 
didn't like Ronald Reagan as a person. They may have disagreed with him 
on a number of issues but they never disliked him personally. I think 
President Reagan's legacy in politics is this ability to disagree 
without being disagreeable, to see politics as a noble calling and that 
you have your debates and arguments and have a beer afterwards. That is 
missed very much today in Washington and I don't think we're the better 
for it.
  Our country will accord its highest honors to Ronald Reagan as we pay 
our heartfelt respects to him this week. But he will be remembered each 
day that men and women live in freedom, because what Ronald Reagan 
ultimately believed in was dignity and liberty for each individual.
  Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, first, I would like to share my 
heartfelt condolences with Nancy Reagan and the Reagan children. Our 
nation owes them a special debt of gratitude for their strength in 
caring for their husband and father over the past decade as he battled 
Alzheimer's disease and for everything they've done to uphold his 
dignity and legacy for our country.
  As we prepare to lay former U.S. President Ronald Reagan to rest, 
it's important that we reflect on his brave and principled leadership--
and the hope he gave to countless individuals in our country and around 
the world.
  Looking back at the footage of Reagan's speeches and other public 
appearances, one of his most striking qualities was his enduring 
optimism. At the time that he entered the White House, self-doubt and 
pessimism had practically paralyzed our nation and most Americans saw 
no end in sight to soaring inflation, economic stagnation and the Cold 
War.
  Though he had a realistic view of the challenges that faced the 
United States, Reagan believed in us. He knew that free individuals 
have immense potential for good, and he knew the strength of our 
American system of free enterprise and self-government. His ``can-do'' 
spirit infused our country and brought a renewed sense of hope and 
opportunity to those who had nearly forgotten what America stands for.
  Fundamentally, Ronald Reagan trusted us. He trusted that Americans 
know how to spend the money they earn better than the federal 
government does. He trusted that, once barriers to private enterprise 
and economic growth were lifted, American creativity and drive would 
bring our economy and jobs back. He trusted American resolve in defense 
of liberty. And he trusted people enough to speak

[[Page 11844]]

plainly with them about his beliefs and intentions.
  President Reagan's words carried weight because we knew he meant what 
he said--and the Soviets and the rest of the world knew it too. He was 
not a poll-watcher. He was a man of conviction--a man with a clear 
philosophy that guided his actions. This philosophy was rooted in a 
love of freedom and a deep faith in God.
  Speaking to students at Moscow State University on May 31, 1988, 
Ronald Reagan said ``Democracy is less a system of government than it 
is a system to keep government limited, unintrusive: A system of 
constraints on power to keep politics and government secondary to the 
important things in life, the true sources of value found only in 
family and faith.''
  Imagine what it must have been like for him to bring this message to 
the heart of an empire where government had for decades superceded 
individual rights. Reagan's commitment to actually winning the Cold 
War, his determination to secure peace through strength, and his 
recognition that communism is a bankrupt, immoral ideology were 
essential to ending the Soviet threat and liberating the Eastern bloc 
nations and their people.
  When you consider the countless individuals who owe their freedom in 
part to Ronald Reagan's leadership and the many Americans who today 
have close friends or family with whom they have reunited in areas 
formerly off-limits--who had been shut away behind the Iron Curtain--
you get a sense of why so many across the world feel a personal 
connection with Reagan.
  On top of all his achievements, beyond all that Reagan did to 
rejuvenate our economy, win the Cold War, and renew our country's sense 
of purpose and optimism, there was the man himself. He had great 
confidence in America's founding values as well as an excellent sense 
of humor. And he succeeded in raising the level of discourse in our 
political arena. People might have disagreed with him on policy 
decisions, and his opponents in Congress argued fiercely with him, but 
at the end of the day they respected one another. It was a time of 
greater civility in politics, and we should strive to recapture that.
  We look to Ronald Reagan's example as an inspiration today and 
express once more the thanks of a very grateful nation.
  Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, this week, America is united in mourning for 
President Ronald Reagan.
  President Reagan will be remembered as a great optimist who helped 
convince America to believe in itself again.
  He believed that the Cold War would end and the Berlin Wall would 
fall during his lifetime. And he was right. His words inspired people 
living behind the Iron Curtain to believe that freedom was attainable.
  Ronald Reagan was a loyal Republican but an American first. With his 
profound personal decency and disarming sense of humor, he rose above 
the kind of bitter partisanship that infects American politics today.
  Personal attacks were below him. He was a patriot and a man of 
integrity--and he never questioned the patriotism or integrity of 
others.
  Our politics were polarized then as they are now. But President 
Reagan knew how to compromise and get things done for the American 
people.
  The Speaker of the House during the first six years of his presidency 
was Tip O'Neill of Massachusetts. Speaker O'Neill was a staunch 
Democrat with a very different vision for government, and a great 
leader in his own right.
  Working across party lines, President Reagan and Speaker O'Neill 
passed reforms to preserve and strengthen Social Security. They enacted 
sweeping tax reform to close tax loopholes and lower marginal rates.
  As we mourn and honor President Reagan, this Congress should pledge 
to follow in his example.
  Hold firm in your beliefs, but respect those who differ. Compete 
vigorously at election time, but then go to work for the American 
people. Stand united in times of sorrow and adversity.
  Ronald Reagan's final accomplishment will endure as one of his most 
important--bringing attention to the tragedy of Alzheimer's with his 
eloquent letter to the American people.
  One of the best ways to honor him is to rededicate our efforts to 
find a cure for this terrible disease.
  I join my colleagues in honoring the memory of President Ronald 
Reagan.
  Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of 
President Ronald Reagan.
  First, let me extend my condolences to Nancy Reagan and the entire 
Reagan family for this tremendous loss. But let me also thank Nancy and 
her family for taking care of the President for all these years. Rest 
assured the nation mourns with you today.
  When I think of President Reagan the feeling that stirs within me is 
hard to put in words. In reflecting on what to say I realized the best 
way for me to explain my feelings is to explain who I am. Simply, I am 
a Reaganite!
  Being a Reaganite provided me the wonderful opportunity to come to 
Washington and work in the Reagan Administration. I did not come to 
Washington for a job but I came to Washington to be a foot solider in 
the Reagan Revolution. I had the opportunity to trade in the walking of 
precincts to walking the halls of his Administration. And for this I am 
forever grateful.
  This opportunity allowed me to play a small part in President 
Reagan's goal of giving America back to America. As a result of his 
leadership, we did not hang our heads any longer but rather we raised 
them up and remembered our moral standing in the world. Through his 
leadership, a nation was motivated.
  At the time President Reagan was elected to office, the country was 
losing faith and confidence in its being. In 1980, the Soviets had 
invaded Afghanistan, inflation was in double-digits, homeownership was 
near impossible and optimism was nonexistent. By the time his 
Administration ended, the Soviet empire crumbled, inflation's back was 
broken, homeownership soared and morning dawned in America. With a set 
of principles, one man who wanted to make a difference set out and 
changed the world.
  But to see President Reagan's legacy, as George Will stated, one has 
to see what no longer exists. We no longer see Soviet expansion and 
aggression, we no longer see the Berlin Wall and we no longer see 
devastating economic plight. These are testaments to his courage and 
his ability to communicate his resolve to the nation.
  President Reagan realized another decade of detente would not protect 
America and another decade of stagnant economic policies would not free 
the individual. Through his force of personality and conviction he set 
about changing our future. And he relegated our worries to the ash heap 
of history.
  President Reagan pursued policies that resulted in derision and 
loathing from some. But he had no hesitation in pursuing his goals 
because he knew what was right. His beliefs were steadfast and 
unwavering. He set his course and plowed through the skeptics. He was 
not Teflon. He was Iron.
  Being a Reaganite is not solely relegated to a certain place and time 
or a certain individual. Instead, it is set a set of beliefs. A set of 
beliefs imbued in many Members of Congress, their staffs and 
individuals throughout this country. It is a longing to assert and 
maintain America's rightful place in the world, as the shining city on 
the hill.
  President Reagan, thank you for restoring hope in America. It has 
been Morning In America since your Presidency.
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, President Ronald Reagan wrote an indelible 
chapter in America's and in the World's history. As our Country mourns 
his loss, our prayers go out to Mrs. Reagan and his family, and our 
future will long hold to the lessons of his public service.
  It is the lesson of public service that defined our 40th President's 
life that also defines the good work of West Virginia's National Guard. 
And, as our former President lies-in-state at the Nation's Capitol I 
will be honoring his legacy with the West Virginia's finest as they 
help Southern West Virginians recover from another round of devastating 
floods.
  As our Nation is mourning President Reagan's loss, many West 
Virginians are rebuilding their homes and their lives, as again last 
week, West Virginia bore the brunt of Mother Nature's wrath. But, as we 
always have done, we will join together and move forward once again.
  Recent storms produced flooding throughout my home State of West 
Virginia, and joined with Governor Wise in requesting that President 
Bush issue a federal major disaster declaration. Tuesday, June 8, 2004, 
President Bush honored that request declaring the State of West 
Virginia a federal disaster area, and making residents of Boone, 
Braxton, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Fayette, Gilmer, Jackson, Kanawha, 
Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Nicholas, 
Putnam, Raleigh, Roane, Wayne, Webster, Wirt, and Wyoming Counties 
eligible for federal assistance to help them pick up the pieces.
  This week as America honors President Reagan in our Nation's Capital, 
I will be in Southern West Virginia with our coalfield residents as we 
pick up the pieces and move forward. I have already seen some of the 
damage first hand, and I was in Mingo and Logan Counties last week when 
members of the West Virginia National Guard, fresh off their tour of 
duty in Iraq and overseas, arrived to help Southern West Virginians 
start putting their lives back together.

[[Page 11845]]

  Moving forward, after such losses, is never easy. The old saying 
goes, Rome wasn't built in a day. Neither were the homes and towns that 
were washed away by the torrents of recent rains. It will take more 
than a day to build them back. But the West Virginia National Guard 
will help the steadfast residents of those counties pick up the pieces 
so they can rebuild their houses, businesses, and lives as quickly as 
possible.
  The destruction caused by flooding in Southern West Virginia over the 
past few years has been unprecedented, and the relief should equal the 
need. Just as these heroes in uniform returned from the dry sands of 
the Iraqi desert, they were called to help out the waterlogged 
residents of Southern West Virginia.
  In West Virginia, our people always band together to help their 
fellow man, and our National Guard is displaying the genuineness of 
this testament. All of those who have joined in the help, we want to 
thank them. With God's help, we will make it through this. Again.
  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to President 
Ronald Reagan, an Illinois native, as the nation celebrates his many 
contributions to the United States and the world. While I did not 
always agree with him, he always had my admiration and respect for his 
strong leadership and his dedication to the American people. His 
relationship with the citizens of this great country may be his 
ultimate legacy. President Reagan spoke directly to their hopes and 
fears and was embraced for his role as the ``Great Communicator.'' 
Above all else, he made us feel good about America again.
  From humble beginnings, President Reagan went on to play a pivotal 
role in some of the great events of the 20th Century, most notably the 
Cold War and eventual fall of the Soviet Union. While never afraid to 
take a hard line, he was a pragmatic leader who acted without malice, 
which was evident in the support he received from Democrats. It was 
this aspect of his leadership that we should all try to replicate. 
President Reagan's impact on American politics was profound, inspiring 
legions of young people to public service, not unlike what President 
Kennedy accomplished years before.
  Mr. Speaker, Ronald Reagan loved the United States of America, and he 
was a stalwart leader in the pursuit of freedom and democracy. 
President Reagan had a personal vision for the country that was 
undeniable and unshakeable, and the lines of people waiting to view his 
casket are a testimony to the fact that he had a tremendous emotional 
impact on this nation. I would like to extend my condolences to his 
wife Nancy and the rest of their family, and I join the rest of America 
in honoring his dedicated service.
  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, Americans often measure history in 
Presidential cycles. When we look at the individuals who have served in 
the White House it is the conjunction of character and circumstance 
that defines and demarcates administrations.
  It would be misguided to suggest that any individual ``won'' the Cold 
War, but it was Ronald Reagan's inspiration--``Mr. Gorbachev, tear down 
this wall''--that symbolized American resolve. He gave hope to those 
oppressed and he gave voice to those who stood tall. Communism 
imploded, largely on his watch.
  Domestically, President Reagan articulated the values of the 
frontier. ``Government is not the solution, it is the problem,'' he 
said in his first inaugural address. But he was not a ``no government'' 
ideologue. While his administration contrasted in many ways with the 
social activism of Franklin Roosevelt, he did not favor undoing the New 
Deal. ``How can we love our country and not love our countrymen?'' he 
asked, ``and loving them not reach out a hand when they fall?''
  Reared on the sweeping plains of the Midwest and, later, an adopted 
westerner, he loved open spaces--of the land and of the mind. He put 
his faith in freedom.
  Ronald Reagan understood the timber of the American character. With 
the most authentic voice in the history of democratic politics, he 
spoke to a world hungry for values. He succeeded because his was the 
voice of American optimism.
  Mr. TAUZIN. Mr. Speaker, I share your grief at the passing of former 
President Ronald Reagan and join you in remembering his remarkable 
service to our country.
  I was fortunate to have served as a Member of Congress during 
President Reagan's eight year tenure. At the time, I was a member of 
the democratic Boll Weevils, a group frequently called upon to help 
President Reagan with his legislative agenda. I can attest to what some 
of you know and what others have read or heard about him--he was among 
the greatest of our nation's presidents. He was permanently grounded in 
principle, so much that no one who worked for him had any doubt about 
what was expected of him.
  President Reagan is rooted in the essence of our nation's character. 
He appealed to our better instincts and was unyielding in his devotion 
to our country. I was always amazed at the way he appealed to young 
people. I think it was because they could see the truth in him. Like a 
grandfather who had seen it all and abandoned the notion of judging us, 
he preferred to see the goodness in us all. We, in turn, could imagine 
that goodness leading us to that shining ``city on the hill.'' Those 
who came later missed the opportunity to encounter true greatness. 
Those who experienced him will never forget it.
  Thank you for your compassionate support in honoring the legacy of 
our former President Ronald Reagan.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of 
the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Wilson Reagan. 
President Reagan was the most courageous, daring and fearless president 
that I have had the pleasure of serving with in my 22 years in the 
United States House of Representatives. Ronald Wilson Reagan was one of 
the two greatest presidents of the 20th Century. Ronald Wilson Reagan 
was one of the most outstanding presidents in the history of the 
American Republic. I was a great fan of and on many occasions, a very 
strong supporter with my vote of President Reagan.
  I will always remember the day when my wife, Rose Marie, and I met 
with President Reagan in the Oval Office. He was as friendly and down 
to earth as the man-next-door. We had our picture taken with him and 
asked him to autograph cards with the presidential seal for each of our 
children, Laura and Dan, which he did. President Reagan first wrote the 
cards out differently for each my daughter and son, but said he should 
have known better and so he wrote the same greeting for both of them.
  It was a great honor to meet President Reagan and serve with him in 
the United States of America's government for many, many reasons. But, 
I believe mainly because he gave back to America its optimism, its 
pride, its enthusiasm, and its belief in itself. There can be no 
greater service than that of a president who can render to America 
these qualities; and for that, President Reagan truly was one of the 
greatest Presidents of the United States.
  Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, all Americans mourn the death of President 
Ronald Reagan, but those of us who had the opportunity to know 
President Reagan are especially saddened. I got to know President 
Reagan in 1976 when, as a freshman congressman, I was one of only four 
members of this body to endorse then-Governor Reagan's primary 
challenge to President Gerald Ford. I had the privilege of serving as 
the leader of President Reagan's Texas delegation at the Republican 
convention of 1976, where Ronald Reagan almost defeated an incumbent 
president for his party's nomination.
  I was one of the millions attracted to Ronald Reagan by his strong 
support for limited government and the free-market. I felt affinity for 
a politician who based his conservative philosophy on ``. . . a desire 
for less government interference or less centralized authority or more 
individual freedom . . .'' I wish more of today's conservative leaders 
based their philosophy on a desire for less government and more 
freedom.
  Ronald Reagan was one of the most eloquent exponents of the freedom 
philosophy in modern American politics. One of his greatest 
achievements is the millions of Americans he helped convert to the 
freedom philosophy and the many he inspired to become active in the 
freedom movement. One of the best examples of President Reagan's 
rhetorical powers is his first major national political address, ``A 
Time for Choosing.'' Delivered in 1964 in support of the presidential 
campaign of Barry Goldwater, this speech launched Ronald Reagan's 
career as both a politician and a leader of the conservative movement. 
The following excerpt from that speech illustrates the power of Ronald 
Reagan's words and message. Unfortunately, these words are as relevant 
to our current situation as they were when he delivered them in 1964:

       It's time we asked ourselves if we still know the freedoms 
     intended for us by the Founding Fathers. James Madison said, 
     ``We base all our experiments on the capacity of mankind for 
     self-government.''
       This idea--that government was beholden to the people, that 
     it had no other source of power--is still the newest, most 
     unique idea in all the long history of man's relation to man. 
     This is the issue of this election: Whether we believe in our 
     capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the 
     American Revolution and confess that a little intellectual 
     elite in a far-distant capital can plan our lives for us 
     better than we can plan them ourselves.

[[Page 11846]]

       You and I are told we must choose between a left or right, 
     but I suggest there is no such thing as a left or right. 
     There is only an up or down. Up to man's age-old dream--the 
     maximum of individual freedom consistent with order, or down 
     to the ant heap of totalitarianism.
       Regardless of their sincerity, their humanitarian motives, 
     those who would sacrifice freedom for security have embarked 
     on this downward path. Plutarch warned, ``The real destroyer 
     of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them 
     bounties, donations and benefits.''
       The Founding Fathers knew a government can't control the 
     economy without controlling people. And they knew when a 
     government set out to do that, it must use force and coercion 
     to achieve its purpose. So we have come to a time for 
     choosing.

  One of the most direct expressions of Ronald Reagan's disdain for big 
government came during a private conversation when we where flying from 
the White House to Andrews Air Force Base. As the helicopter passed 
over the monuments, we looked down and he said, ``Isn't that beautiful? 
It's amazing how much terrible stuff comes out of this city when it's 
that beautiful.''
  While many associate Ronald Reagan with unbridled militarism, he was 
a lifelong opponent of the draft. It is hardly surprising that many of 
the most persuasive and powerful arguments against conscription came 
from President Reagan. One of my favorite Reagan quotes comes from a 
1979 article he wrote for the conservative publication Human Events 
regarding the draft and related ``national service'' proposals:

     . . . it [conscription] rests on the assumption that your 
     kids belong to the state. If we buy that assumption then it 
     is for the state--not for parents, the community, the 
     religious institutions or teachers--to decide who shall have 
     what values and who shall do what work, when, where and how 
     in our society. That assumption isn't a new one. The Nazis 
     thought it was a great idea.

  I extend my deepest sympathies to Ronald Reagan's family and friends, 
especially his beloved wife Nancy and his children. I also urge my 
colleagues and all Americans to honor Ronald Reagan by dedicating 
themselves to the principles of limited government and individual 
liberty.
  Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in solemn remembrance of 
President Ronald Reagan. I do not stand alone. All across the country, 
and the world, we mourn. We remember a strong governor, President, 
husband, and father. Let us stand firmly by Mrs. Nancy Reagan and her 
family, offer our prayers and show our support and appreciation--let us 
through our actions bring comfort to the Reagan family to help them 
cope during this difficult time. Little can be said to make this 
difficult time easier. Given the outpouring of support that this 
country and his family have received from the world, words are not 
necessary.
  Words are not necessary to honor a man whose popularity stemmed from 
his ability to communicate. No words I can say today can erase the 
sorrow and feelings of loss shared by so many communities that he 
touched throughout his tenure as governor of my state of California and 
as the President of our nation. Even the ``Great Communicator'' often 
relied on actions--not words--to help those who needed it. At a time 
when the immigrants of our nation had nowhere to turn, President Reagan 
signed the historic Immigration Reform and Control Act, granting hard-
working and deserving families legal permanent residence, paving the 
way for new American citizens, and thus uniting our nation.
  Today, as a united nation, we stand together as fellow Americans and 
with the world to mourn the loss of Ronald Wilson Reagan, fortieth 
President of the United States--the picture of unity communicating our 
sorrow, remembrance and honor for a leader.
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, as we pause to remember the life and 
service of the late President Ronald Reagan, no greater testament to 
his achievements as leader of this nation exists than the sentiments of 
gratitude being offered by millions of Americans. It is my great honor 
to lift up just a handful of the reflections on the passing of 
President Reagan made by residents of my congressional district:

       He was a great American; his message was one that still 
     resonates today.--The Honorable Jane Nelson, Texas Senate.
       I had a chance to tell him how much I wanted him to run for 
     president and that if he did, I promised to work really hard 
     for him. He was just the same up close as you perceived him 
     to be on television. He was very sincere, very nice. When he 
     talked to you, he talked to you. He didn't pay attention to 
     things going on around him; you had his attention. The world 
     is certainly a better place because of Ronald Reagan being 
     here and serving as the president of the United States. I'm 
     sad we lost him, but it's wonderful he's now receiving his 
     just rewards.--The Honorable Mary Horn, Denton County, Texas.
       President Reagan made us feel good again about being 
     Americans, and not just being proud of our country, but 
     really invoking that patriotic spirit again. We've lost a 
     great, great man.--Dianne Edmondson, Chair, Denton County 
     GOP.
       I remember that while Reagan was the oldest elected 
     president, what sticks in my mind was the way he connected to 
     young people. We had been through a decade of young people 
     being disconnected with taking pride in America, and he lit 
     that spark again.--The Honorable Myra Crownover, Texas House 
     of Representatives.

  He will always be remembered as the architect of the policies that 
ended the Cold War--peace through strength. He, more than anyone else, 
was directly responsible for giving us the possibility of the world 
living in peace: He ended the Cold War, ended the unspoken hostilities 
between the United States and Russia, and brought an end to the Soviet 
domination in Eastern Europe. He unleashed the power of the American 
economy. Yes, it cost money to defeat the Soviet Union; it cost money 
to defeat Soviet tyranny. Was it worth it in the long run? You bet it 
was.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to remember the life and 
legacy of Ronald Reagan.
  This past weekend, it was fitting, and in some ways almost proper, 
that we paid tribute to the brave young soldiers of D-Day and 
simultaneously remembered the life and service of President Ronald 
Reagan. Like those soldiers who sacrificed on Normandy Beach, Reagan 
inspired a country at a critical time in our nation's history through 
his optimism and advocacy for the ideals of democracy, freedom and love 
of liberty.
  He helped end the ``Cold War,'' confronted the curse of communism, 
rebuilt American self-confidence and our Armed Forces, and above all, 
made America a standard bearer for freedom and justice.
  Many of our children are not old enough to remember the dangers that 
stood before us at the height of the Cold War or how President Reagan's 
resolve helped end it.
  Still, over the next few days, maybe even weeks, and certainly in the 
history books to be written, they will learn, as will our children's 
children, about who Reagan was and what he did for America.
  Like so many of us, I continue to read with interest about the life 
and times of our former President. One recent newspaper column touched 
me and I would like to share just a few lines of that with my 
colleagues.
  The columnist wrote: ``What an era his was. What a life he lived. He 
changed history for the better and was modest about it. He didn't bray 
about his accomplishments but saw them as the work of the American 
people.''
  Mr. Speaker, this is the sign of a leader. We are a grateful nation 
for his good humor and inspiration.
  Thank you Mr. President--for your service; for your optimism; and for 
your belief and commitment to doing what is right for America.
  Our thoughts and prayers remain with the Reagan family during this 
time of mourning.
  Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues, indeed 
all Americans, in paying tribute to a great man, the 40th President of 
the United States--Ronald Wilson Reagan.
  President Reagan was an extraordinary and visionary leader, who saw 
our great Nation as having a unique role, purpose, and destiny in the 
world. He saw it as a beacon of freedom, a land of unlimited 
opportunity, and in his words, a shining city on the hill.
  Mr. Reagan took office during a time of great pessimism. There was 
Watergate; Vietnam; the hostage crisis in Iran; and gas lines, runaway 
inflation, and double-digit interest rates here at home. There were 
those who told us that we had to lower our expectations, that we could 
no longer shape our destiny, and that our best days were behind us.
  Ronald Reagan saw a different future. It was a future in which we 
were limited only by the size of our dreams; where the spirit of our 
pioneer ancestors was still alive, it just needed to be rekindled. It 
was a vision where hard work, imagination, creativity, and a little 
luck would allow ordinary men and women to accomplish extraordinary 
things.
  Taxes were cut, inflation and interest rates were reduced, and gas 
lines disappeared. Americans went back to work; the economy roared 
forward; and in the process, Mr. Reagan restored our confidence, 
uplifted our spirits, and made us proud to be Americans again.
  The rebirth here at home was accompanied by equally dramatic changes 
abroad. The march of totalitarianism, that seemed inevitable a few 
years earlier, was halted as Mr. Reagan rebuilt our defenses. The 
creaky Soviet system disappeared quietly, without a shot

[[Page 11847]]

being fired. And the Berlin Wall, the greatest symbol of oppression, 
fell, and millions of people around the world tasted freedom for the 
first time.
  We Americans, and indeed all freedom loving people around the world, 
owe President Reagan an enormous debt. We will miss him, but history 
will never forget what he accomplished in eight short years. As a 
grateful nation comes together to say goodbye, our collective thoughts 
and prayers go to Mrs. Reagan and her family.
  Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, President Reagan led the nation with resolve 
and courage. He showed these same qualities in his battle against 
Alzheimer's disease.
  President Reagan will be remembered for many things--a great 
communicator, devoted husband and an unflinching patriot.
  But I will remember him most for reminding America that when we are 
at our best, very little can deter or defeat us. God bless you Mr. 
President and thank you for your service to our country.
  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, President Ronald Reagan was an American 
icon. He's the President who won the Cold War. And he'll always be 
remembered for his eternal optimism, his strength, great wit and charm.
  Even when he disagreed with Democrats, he was respected for the 
honesty of his beliefs and the dedication he displayed in pursuing 
them. He taught us the difference between strong beliefs and bitter 
partisanship. He lived by the noble idea that at the end of the day 
Democrats and Republicans were simply Americans and friends. I wish we 
had more of that today.
  We should be inspired by this 40th American President's patriotism 
and devotion to our country. And we should remember his faith, his 
optimism and his unwavering commitment to his convictions as we do the 
work of the American people.
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, this week our Nation mourns the 
death of Ronald Wilson Reagan, our 40th President of the United States. 
It has been stated in many of the newspaper and television commentaries 
that he was one of the more complex figures of the 20th century. As 
with all our major political leaders, he had his share of triumphs and 
failures.
  Ronald Reagan's irrepressible spirit and his conception of America as 
a ``shining city on the hill'' engendered a sense of renewal in 
America. Indeed, his optimism in our Nation and her people was as 
genuine as the man himself. Simply put, Ronald Reagan was a great 
American and a President who honored the office and considered it a 
privilege to serve.
  Without question, President Reagan represented the best of civility 
in American politics and the finest traditions of standing up for what 
you believe in. Even during the most intense political showdowns, he 
and former House Speaker Tip O'Neill could always sit down together 
after the day was done, as friends and fellow Americans. It was an era 
of bipartisan cooperation that seems, unfortunately, to have waned in 
recent years.
  President Reagan's legacy will forever be his vision which played a 
role in bringing about an ultimate end to the Cold War, as well as his 
drive to foster liberty and democracy where previously only tyranny had 
thrived. Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev says he believes his 
dialogue with President Reagan ``kick-started the process which 
ultimately put an end to the Cold War.''
  President Reagan also understood the art of political compromise. He 
followed his 1981 tax cut with two large tax increases. In fact, no 
peacetime President raised taxes so much on so many people. This is not 
a criticism: The lesson of those increases tells you a lot about what 
was just with President Reagan's leadership. President Reagan, 
confronted with evidence that his tax cuts were fiscally irresponsible, 
changed course. His actions in this area contrast dramatically with 
today's Washington.
  Mr. Speaker, in my opinion, one of Ronald Reagan's greatest legacies 
is focusing attention on the disease that took his life--Alzheimer's. 
People are now receiving earlier diagnoses and better treatments for 
the incurable brain-wasting disease partly because he supported 
Alzheimer's research as President, and more importantly, because he 
went public with his diagnosis in 1994, increasing awareness of the 
need for more research.
  As her husband's health declined, former First Lady Nancy Reagan 
spearheaded public awareness campaigns and described what it was like 
to be a caretaker for an Alzheimer's patient, which she referred to as 
``the long goodbye.'' She continued to publicly advocate for stem cell 
research as a way to help others with the disease.
  Doctors now are better able to diagnose the disease early, and 
provide patients with drugs and other measures to delay its 
progression. I pledge to do everything possible to help fight the 
plight of Alzheimer's disease. I challenge every member of this body to 
respond to Mrs. Reagan's plea to do more for life-saving research.
  Ronald Reagan was of a kind and gracious mind, and at the same time, 
a man of grit, determination and leadership. He served his country the 
way he lived his life.
  My thoughts and prayers go out to his extraordinary wife Nancy and 
his children, Patti Davis, Ron Prescott Reagan, and Michael Reagan. I 
hope it is a consolation to the entire Reagan family that so many 
people grieve their loss and are thinking of them during this difficult 
time.
  Mr. GARY G. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, President Ronald 
Reagan will be remembered in the annals of history as one of the 
greatest leaders of the United States. His deeds and words will echo in 
time as the foundation for a smaller, more efficient government, a 
fairer tax system and the liberation of millions of oppressed people 
throughout the world.
  Ronald Reagan was known as the Great Communicator. His words brought 
hope to those in need, comfort to those who suffered and optimism to an 
entire Nation trampled by economic and governmental insecurity. Yet 
President Reagan's ability to communicate went beyond the words that he 
spoke. He reached out to the nation and the world using not only his 
voice, but his strength of spirit and supreme character.
  President Reagan's passing is mourned by each of us. But his legacy 
will continue through the ideals he aspired for America. A grateful 
Nation thanks Ronald Reagan, a true American Hero.
  Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of myself and the people 
of the 10th Congressional District of Florida who I have the privilege 
to represent here in the United States Congress, I rise in support of 
this resolution to pay tribute to the life of President Ronald Reagan 
and to express condolences to his family.
  President Reagan was a true American patriot who always kept life's 
priorities--God, country, and family--in order. He assumed the 
Presidency at a time when Americans were being held hostage in Iran, 
our fighting forces were fraying around the edges, and raging inflation 
and interest rates were stifling our economy, sending our Nation into 
the turmoil of recession, and driving our government deeper and deeper 
into debt.
  Beginning with his swearing-in as the 40th President of the United 
States, President Reagan restored in the American people a feeling of 
pride and patriotism that had been lost in the late 1970s. The hostages 
were brought home, the morale of our fighting forces rose, and the 
economy began to rebound.
  People flew the American flag with pride again. The United States 
resumed its leadership role in protecting freedom and peace around the 
world and at the pinnacle of the world economy. He stared down 
communist leaders throughout the world and set the stage for its fall 
in the Soviet Union and throughout Eastern Europe. He reduced the 
world's supply of nuclear weapons and allowed democracy to flourish 
again in our hemisphere and eventually in the former Soviet states.
  He battled Congress to reduce taxes to allow the American people to 
keep more of their hard earned money and to reduce the size and scope 
of the government programs and bureaucracy. He also ensured the long 
term security of the social security trust fund by leading a bipartisan 
legislative effort to preserve and protect the retirement benefits of 
workers long into the 21st century.
  President Reagan was our Nation's leading cheerleader and consoler. 
He used his wit and humor to entertain and to drive home an important 
point. He led a Nation in mourning when we lost the Challenger crew and 
our Marines in Lebanon. Throughout his eight years in office we laughed 
together and we cried together. In the end though, we all gained a 
renewed sense of pride in being Americans.
  He taught us the value of the simple phrases of ``peace through 
strength'' and ``trust but verify'' and he shared with all of us his 
simple vision of a nation where we would be the ``shining city on the 
hill.''
  The United States and the world are better places today because of 
Ronald Reagan's service not only as President of our great country, but 
as a true patriot. He was a good man whose love and commitment to his 
wife Nancy was an inspiration to us all.
  Perhaps the greatest testament to his strength of personality, of 
character, and of leadership is the fact that even in death he can make 
us feel good about ourselves as individuals and as a Nation. You can 
feel the

[[Page 11848]]

pride of our Nation surge yet again as we reflect on his life and 
times.
  Mr. Speaker, we all will recall that President Reagan would end his 
conversations with America by saying ``God Bless America.'' This week, 
Mr. Speaker, our Nation and the world say ``God Bless Ronald Reagan.'' 
Thank you for your lifetime of reminding us to always take pride in 
living in the greatest Nation in the world.
  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, today as this House honors the life of the 
Fortieth President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, we remember 
both the man and the public servant. As President Reagan lies in state 
under the dome of this Capitol, the American people reflect on a man of 
optimism, a leader committed to freedom and a citizen who personified 
the American spirit of boundless ambition and achievement.
  President Reagan lived a life unlike any other American president. A 
sports broadcaster, a movie star and a television personality, 
President Reagan entertained Americans with his charm, smile and 
warmth. He combined the skills of an actor with the determination of a 
pioneer to transform public life as he entered the political realm in 
California and finally was elected by the American people to the White 
House.
  As President of the United States, Ronald Reagan won two large 
election victories in 1980 and 1984 to set this Nation on a course to 
transform our economy and confront communism. The outcomes and 
consequences of his policies will be interpreted by historians for 
years to come, but there is no doubt President Reagan motivated a new 
generation of conservatives to join his crusade as well as a generation 
of progressives to unite in pursuit of an alternative path of action.
  Our State of Minnesota had a unique relationship with President 
Reagan. Minnesota was the only State in the Union to never give 
President Reagan an electoral victory. Minnesotans stood twice with our 
homegrown son, but we respected the President, his skills as a 
communicator and his determination to elevate the American spirit.
  President Reagan lived a truly American life and, in his final years, 
stood hand in hand with Mrs. Reagan to encounter Alzheimer's with 
dignity and grace. The life of President Reagan the leader and Ronald 
Reagan the man will be remembered, honored and celebrated this week by 
Congress, the American people and people in nations around the world.
  On behalf of the families of Minnesota's Fourth Congressional 
District, we extend our prayers and sincerest condolences to Mrs. Nancy 
Reagan, her children and all of the family and friends of President 
Reagan.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, Ronald Wilson Reagan first entered into 
our national consciousness in 1964, asking Americans to make a choice 
in the face of the growing threat of socialism both at home and abroad. 
We know him as the eternal optimist, the ``Great Communicator'', and 
the man who maintained that Communism would surely fall aside onto the 
``ash heap of history.''
  I had the personal privilege of knowing President Reagan when my 
father, Judge William S. Sessions, served as Director of the FBI during 
his administration. Like many of my generation, I was inspired by the 
optimism of Ronald Reagan, a leader who never lacked the courage and 
the principle to do what he felt was right even in the face of great 
obstacles. President Reagan saw the world in black and white, whether 
it was confronting the programs of the ``Great Society'' as the 
beginnings of a new ``undemocratic socialism'' or chiding the actions 
of the ``Evil Empire'' in Eastern Europe.
  This moral clarity was the hallmark of his Presidency. Ronald Reagan 
came in to office with three core principles and an agenda by which to 
implement them. He believed that the government was too big, that it 
taxed too much, and that the Soviet Union was an evil empire, getting 
away with atrocities across the world. From the first day of his 
Presidency, Reagan began to move systematically towards enacting his 
campaign promises, and, in so doing, he rejuvenated the American 
spirit.
  America is forever indebted to this President whose resolve and 
determination to pursue ``peace through strength'' helped to end the 
Cold War and ensured that, as the President himself said, ``America's 
best days are yet to come. Our proudest moments are yet to be. Our most 
glorious achievements are just ahead.'' Thank you, President Reagan. 
May God bless you as you enter your rest in that shining city.
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 664 
honoring the late Honorable Ronald Wilson Reagan. I was proud to add my 
name as an original cosponsor of this resolution.
  The former president was devoted to his country and will long be 
remembered for his service to America. My heart goes out to his family 
during this time of loss.
  President Reagan was also a long time member of our Santa Barbara 
community. Santa Barbara County was home to the spectacular mountaintop 
ranch the former president and first lady affectionately referred to as 
the ``Western White House''.
  President Reagan carried with him traits characteristic of 
California's Central Coast--a sunny disposition and optimistic 
outlook--to Washington and to the world. His ``morning in America'' 
slogan changed the tone of politics in our Nation's capital and enabled 
him to work in a constructive bipartisan manner on a number of 
important issues.
  The Reagans should also be commended for the strength and honesty 
they demonstrated during their long struggle with Alzheimer's. Their 
example brought much needed attention to the challenges facing millions 
of American families that deal with this affliction every day.
  And their ongoing commitment to this disease is demonstrated at the 
various Alzheimer's research, awareness, and prevention efforts around 
the country. On the Central Coast, for example, The Ronald and Nancy 
Reagan Family Fund provides grants for respite care services for 
Alzheimer's patients in Santa Barbara County.
  Today I join my colleagues in celebrating the service of the late 
President Ronald Reagan. The best honor we can bestow upon him is to 
carry on his optimistic spirit and faith in the American people for 
generations to come. That is what Ronald Reagan--a great American and 
great Californian--would have wanted.
  Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of President 
Ronald Wilson Reagan and to extend my condolences to the entire Reagan 
family.
  Regardless of political affiliation, I think we can all agree that 
President Reagan was a tireless public servant who cared a great deal 
about this country. Leading our country during a difficult period 
President Reagan earned the respect of many throughout the world--a 
respect that has become all the more evident since his passing on 
Saturday.
  As this body and our Nation remembers the late President throughout 
the week, we would be remiss not to reflect upon the disease with which 
he was afflicted--Alzheimer's.
  President Reagan's leadership extended to the fight against 
Alzheimer's beginning in 1983, when he designated November as National 
Alzheimer's Disease Month, and continuing in 1994 when he announced 
that he was affected by the disease. In 1995 he and his wife Nancy lent 
their name to create the Alzheimer's Association's Ronald and Nancy 
Reagan Research Institute.
  As was evident in President Reagan's battle with the disease, 
Alzheimer's does not discriminate: It afflicts the rich and the poor, 
the famous and the regular hardworking citizen alike. Four and a half 
million Americans live with Alzheimer's, and it is the fourth leading 
killer of older Americans. It is a progressive disease that robs many 
of precious memories and beautiful relationships.
  With an aging baby boom generation, our country will soon see a sharp 
increase in those affected by Alzheimer's. The time to act is now. As a 
member of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease, I urge 
my colleagues to renew our efforts to battle this disease. I can think 
of no better tribute to President Reagan than to join together to fight 
the disease that afflicted him in his later years.
  Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of 
President Ronald Wilson Reagan. As we mourn this great loss we reflect 
on the many ways our country is stronger, freer and more prosperous as 
a result of President Reagan's fearless leadership.
  A firm believer in lower taxes, sound fiscal policies and reduced 
regulation, President Reagan launched the boldest economic plan since 
Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal. As a result of his leadership and 
tenacity, the federal tax code was greatly simplified and taxes were 
reduced, ushering in the restoration of prosperity. He encouraged 
people to have confidence in their nation and trust that things really 
were getting better--a sentiment that economic and social indicators 
would eventually confirm. In fact, President Reagan's reforms led to 
the longest period of peacetime growth in U.S. history.
  President Reagan's leadership also sparked a nation, movement against 
drugs which resulted in dramatic declines in illicit drug use in 
America and around the world. President Reagan was committed to 
reversing the permissive attitudes of the 1960s and 1970s that illegal 
drug use was glamorous, harmless and victimless. President Reagan 
inspired and convinced the nation that the drug problem

[[Page 11849]]

was not hopeless and could be solved. As a result of his leadership, 
the nation spoke with one voice in denouncing drug sue. Largely due to 
his efforts, illicit drug use was cut in half and crime, drug related 
hospital admissions and highway deaths declines.
  President Reagan restored America's sense of optimism and patriotism. 
A true believer in the American Dream, he proclaimed America as a place 
where ``everyone can raise as high and as far as his ability will take 
him,'' and referred to his own humble beginnings as proof. He taught 
all Americans and newly liberated people across the globe that hard 
work and faith in God could result in prosperity and a better outlook 
for tomorrow.
  President Reagan will perhaps be most remembered for his efforts to 
stomp out communism world wide and end the Cold War. President Reagan 
simply refused to accept Communism's claim to moral superiority. From 
the beginning of his presidency, Reagan realized that America could not 
afford passiveness or weakness in the face of Soviet defiance and 
escalating nuclear threats. President Reagan recognized that peace 
could only be achieved through strength and diligently worked to 
restore faith in our military and a sense of American pride in the 
efforts of our servicemen and women. Efforts to restore our military 
superiority were coupled with a willingness to dialogue and a sincere 
desire to negotiate an end to the nuclear arms race. President Reagan 
was able to negotiate a treaty with the Soviet Union to launch the 
process of real arms reduction. His efforts eventually led to the 
destruction of the Berlin Wall, the fall of communism and the end of 
the Cold War. President Reagan's leadership ushered in a new era of 
freedom and democracy, not only in the Soviet Union, but throughout the 
world.
  President Reagan planted democracy in regions of the world that have 
never tasted the joys of freedom. He swept up a downtrodden America 
with little response to or respect for leadership and reenergized their 
faith in freedom, the Presidency, and our military. President Reagan's 
vision and convictions brought ALL Americans together, raised our 
morale and once again made us the proudest citizens in the world. He 
will be remembered not only in the minds of Americans, but in our 
hearts as well.
   Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hastings of Washington). All time for 
debate has expired.
  Pursuant to the order of the House of Tuesday, June 8, 2004, the 
resolution is considered read for amendment and the previous question 
is ordered.
  The question is on the resolution.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Evidently a quorum is not present.
  The Sergeant at Arms will notify absent Members.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 375, 
nays 0, not voting 60, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 231]

                               YEAS--375

     Abercrombie
     Aderholt
     Akin
     Alexander
     Allen
     Andrews
     Bachus
     Baird
     Baker
     Baldwin
     Ballenger
     Barrett (SC)
     Bartlett (MD)
     Barton (TX)
     Bass
     Beauprez
     Becerra
     Bell
     Bereuter
     Berkley
     Berman
     Berry
     Biggert
     Bishop (GA)
     Bishop (NY)
     Bishop (UT)
     Blackburn
     Blumenauer
     Blunt
     Boehlert
     Boehner
     Bonilla
     Bonner
     Bono
     Boozman
     Boswell
     Boucher
     Boyd
     Bradley (NH)
     Brady (TX)
     Brown (OH)
     Brown (SC)
     Brown, Corrine
     Brown-Waite, Ginny
     Burgess
     Burns
     Burr
     Burton (IN)
     Buyer
     Calvert
     Camp
     Cannon
     Cantor
     Capito
     Capuano
     Cardin
     Cardoza
     Carson (IN)
     Carter
     Castle
     Chabot
     Chandler
     Chocola
     Clyburn
     Coble
     Cole
     Collins
     Cooper
     Costello
     Cox
     Cramer
     Crane
     Crenshaw
     Crowley
     Cubin
     Culberson
     Cummings
     Cunningham
     Davis (AL)
     Davis (CA)
     Davis (FL)
     Davis (IL)
     Davis (TN)
     Davis, Jo Ann
     Davis, Tom
     Deal (GA)
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     Delahunt
     DeLauro
     DeLay
     Diaz-Balart, L.
     Diaz-Balart, M.
     Dicks
     Doggett
     Dooley (CA)
     Doolittle
     Doyle
     Dreier
     Duncan
     Edwards
     Ehlers
     Emanuel
     Emerson
     Engel
     English
     Eshoo
     Etheridge
     Everett
     Farr
     Fattah
     Feeney
     Ferguson
     Filner
     Flake
     Foley
     Forbes
     Ford
     Frank (MA)
     Franks (AZ)
     Frelinghuysen
     Frost
     Gallegly
     Garrett (NJ)
     Gephardt
     Gerlach
     Gibbons
     Gilchrest
     Gillmor
     Gingrey
     Goode
     Goodlatte
     Gordon
     Granger
     Graves
     Green (TX)
     Green (WI)
     Greenwood
     Gutknecht
     Hall
     Harman
     Harris
     Hart
     Hastert
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayes
     Hayworth
     Hefley
     Hensarling
     Herger
     Herseth
     Hill
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Hobson
     Hoeffel
     Hoekstra
     Holden
     Holt
     Honda
     Hooley (OR)
     Hostettler
     Hoyer
     Hulshof
     Hunter
     Hyde
     Inslee
     Isakson
     Israel
     Issa
     Istook
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jefferson
     Jenkins
     John
     Johnson (CT)
     Johnson (IL)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Johnson, Sam
     Jones (NC)
     Jones (OH)
     Kanjorski
     Keller
     Kelly
     Kennedy (MN)
     Kennedy (RI)
     Kildee
     Kilpatrick
     Kind
     King (IA)
     Kingston
     Kirk
     Kleczka
     Kline
     Knollenberg
     Kolbe
     Kucinich
     LaHood
     Langevin
     Lantos
     Larsen (WA)
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Levin
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (GA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Linder
     Lipinski
     LoBiondo
     Lowey
     Lucas (KY)
     Lucas (OK)
     Maloney
     Manzullo
     Markey
     Marshall
     Matheson
     Matsui
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCollum
     McCotter
     McCrery
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McHugh
     McIntyre
     McKeon
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek (FL)
     Meeks (NY)
     Menendez
     Mica
     Michaud
     Millender-McDonald
     Miller (FL)
     Miller (MI)
     Miller (NC)
     Miller, George
     Mollohan
     Moore
     Moran (KS)
     Moran (VA)
     Murphy
     Murtha
     Musgrave
     Myrick
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal (MA)
     Nethercutt
     Neugebauer
     Northup
     Norwood
     Nunes
     Nussle
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Ortiz
     Osborne
     Otter
     Owens
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Paul
     Pearce
     Pelosi
     Pence
     Peterson (MN)
     Peterson (PA)
     Petri
     Pickering
     Pitts
     Platts
     Pombo
     Pomeroy
     Porter
     Portman
     Price (NC)
     Pryce (OH)
     Putnam
     Quinn
     Radanovich
     Ramstad
     Rehberg
     Renzi
     Reynolds
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rogers (MI)
     Rohrabacher
     Ross
     Rothman
     Roybal-Allard
     Royce
     Ruppersberger
     Ryan (OH)
     Ryan (WI)
     Ryun (KS)
     Sabo
     Sanchez, Linda T.
     Sanchez, Loretta
     Sandlin
     Saxton
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schrock
     Scott (GA)
     Scott (VA)
     Sensenbrenner
     Serrano
     Sessions
     Shaw
     Shays
     Sherman
     Sherwood
     Shimkus
     Shuster
     Simmons
     Simpson
     Slaughter
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (TX)
     Smith (WA)
     Snyder
     Stearns
     Stenholm
     Strickland
     Stupak
     Sullivan
     Sweeney
     Tancredo
     Tanner
     Tauscher
     Taylor (MS)
     Taylor (NC)
     Terry
     Thomas
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Thornberry
     Tiberi
     Tierney
     Toomey
     Turner (OH)
     Udall (CO)
     Udall (NM)
     Upton
     Van Hollen
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Vitter
     Walden (OR)
     Walsh
     Wamp
     Watson
     Watt
     Waxman
     Weiner
     Weldon (FL)
     Weldon (PA)
     Weller
     Whitfield
     Wicker
     Wilson (NM)
     Wilson (SC)
     Wolf
     Wu
     Wynn
     Young (AK)
     Young (FL)

                             NOT VOTING--60

     Ackerman
     Baca
     Ballance
     Bilirakis
     Brady (PA)
     Capps
     Carson (OK)
     Case
     Clay
     Conyers
     DeMint
     Deutsch
     Dingell
     Dunn
     Evans
     Fossella
     Gonzalez
     Goss
     Grijalva
     Gutierrez
     Hastings (FL)
     Houghton
     Kaptur
     King (NY)
     Lampson
     Larson (CT)
     Leach
     Lee
     Lofgren
     Lynch
     Majette
     McCarthy (MO)
     McInnis
     Miller, Gary
     Ney
     Ose
     Oxley
     Payne
     Rahall
     Rangel
     Regula
     Reyes
     Rodriguez
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Rush
     Sanders
     Shadegg
     Skelton
     Smith (MI)
     Solis
     Souder
     Spratt
     Stark
     Tauzin
     Tiahrt
     Towns
     Turner (TX)
     Waters
     Wexler
     Woolsey

                              {time}  1456

  Mr. ISTOOK changed his vote from ``nay'' to ``yea.''
  So the resolution was agreed to.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
  Stated for:
  Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 231 on mourning the 
passing of President Reagan I was unavoidably detained. Had I been 
present, I would have voted ``yea.''
  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 231, because I was in 
California to attend my daughter's graduation, I was unable to be in 
the chamber when the time elapsed on the vote. Had I been able to vote, 
I would have voted ``yea'' for the vote.
  Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 231 (H. Res. 
664--Honoring the late Honorable Ronald Wilson Reagan), I was 
unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''
  Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, on June 9, I was unavoidably detained in 
France for the D-Day ceremonies and missed rollcall vote No. 231.

[[Page 11850]]

Rollcall No. 231 was on agreeing to the resolution for H. Res. 664, 
mourning the passing of President Ronald Reagan and celebrating his 
service to the people of the United States and his leadership in 
promoting the cause of freedom for all the people of the world. Had I 
been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on H. Res. 664.

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