Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 2043) to designate a Federal building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, as the ``Ronald Reagan Federal Building''. Mr. Speaker, I…
Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 2043) to designate a Federal building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, as the ``Ronald Reagan Federal Building''.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume.
Mr. Speaker, S. 2043, introduced by Senator Specter of Pennsylvania, is similar to House bill H.R. 3923, which was introduced by the gentleman from the Ninth Congressional District of Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster).
This bill designates the Federal building located at 228 Walnut Street in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, as the Ronald Reagan Federal Building.
Many times I have come to the floor to honor Americans, politicians, judges and other great leaders. Perhaps no other American, however, has been as honored or as deserving of an honor as the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Wilson Reagan.
Ronald Reagan was born in Tampico, Illinois, in 1911. His early years are a model that we can all be proud of. The son of working-class parents, he attended the public schools in Dixon, Illinois, and then worked his way through Eureka College where he was on the football team and an actor.
One story that I think does not get told enough about Ronald Reagan is before President Reagan had an impact on the lives of billions, he had a more direct impact on the lives of people in his community of Dixon, Illinois. While growing up, Ronald Reagan earned extra money working as a lifeguard at Rock River. Over the course of 6 years, then- lifeguard Reagan pulled 77 swimmers out of the water who were struggling in the notorious swift current and were in need of assistance.
During his time in public life, Ronald Reagan always worked to improve the lives of everyday Americans, from his Economic Recovery Act, which he worked to pass even after an assassination attempt, to the 1986 tax bill which reduced the burdens of taxation on all Americans.
In foreign policy, he pursued a policy of ``peace through strength,'' a policy that brought about the end of the Soviet empire, bringing freedoms to millions in Europe and Asia.
This legislation bestows an appropriate honor to one who has given so much to his country.
I support the legislation, and I urge our colleagues to do the same.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of our time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
