Providing for the acceptance of a statue of Ronald Wilson Reagan from the people of California for placement in the United States Capitol.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 101, providing for the acceptance of the statue of Ronald Reagan from the people of California for placement in the United States Capitol.

First, I would like to thank my colleagues who joined me in the original letter requesting the California legislature to pass a resolution to bring the statue of Ronald Reagan to the United States Capitol. A special thanks goes to California State Senator Dennis Hollingsworth for leading the effort and carrying the resolution in the State legislature. I would also like to thank the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation for their support and work

in bringing the statue to the Capitol, and also artist Chris Fagan, who I am sure did a remarkable job in sculpting the statue of Ronald Reagan.

In my 16 years in the House, initiating the effort to bring the statue of President Reagan to our Nation's Capitol has been one of my greatest privileges. Like many people, President Reagan helped shape my political views as a young man, and as the cochair of his Riverside County campaign back in the day, I was, of course, very proud to see him succeed in becoming the 40th President of the United States.

As we find ourselves today struggling with hardship and conflict, President Reagan was also confronted with a troubled economy and uncertain times, not just as the Governor of California, but later as President of the United States. In both cases, his characteristic optimism and can-do attitude helped meet those challenges.

Ronald Reagan was elected the 33rd Governor of the State of California in 1967 and during his administration led California toward a ``Creative Society,'' one that ``turns away from increasing reliance on government and leads toward renewed respect for--and greater reliance on--the collective genius and common sense of the people.''

As President, he inherited an economy facing double-digit unemployment and inflation. President Reagan initiated sweeping economic reforms, deep across-the-board tax cuts and implemented sound monetary policies to contain inflation. His policies resulted in bringing the economy out of recession and turning it into the largest peacetime economic boom in American history.

The country also faced the continuation of a 35-year-long Cold War. President Reagan, in his famous June 1982 speech in the British Parliament, described ``a plan and a hope for the long term, the march of freedom and democracy which will leave Marxism-Leninism on the ash heap of history as it has left other tyrannies which stifle the freedom and muzzle the self-expression of the people.''

Five years later, Reagan delivered his courageous address at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin near the infamous wall and demanded, ``Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.'' This was the beginning of the end of the Cold War and also signified a new beginning for relations between the United States and Russia.

Mr. Speaker, there were many accomplishments for me to name here, but it is clear that President Reagan was a Californian, an American and a patriot. California is proud to have such a leader as both Governor of our State and President of our Nation who brought so much greatness to the world.

Today, I encourage all of my colleagues to support the resolution and bring the statue of President Ronald Reagan to the Capitol so that visitors from all over the world can honor the man who declared America's destiny is ``to be a shining city on the hill for all mankind to see.''

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to control the time of the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. McCarthy).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to our newest Member from the State of California (Mr. McClintock).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Harper).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe).

May I inquire of the gentleman if he has any speakers?

I'll give the closing remarks, Mr. Speaker.

In closing, June 3 will be a great day here in the United States Capitol, a great day for our State of California, and certainly, I believe, a great day for America and for the world who appreciated Ronald Reagan's leadership. This was truly a remarkable American. So we look forward to gathering together with the former First Lady and with other people who will come from throughout the United States and throughout the world to pay tribute to this great man.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding me this time, and I rise to join him in stating what a tremendous action we are taking by bringing the statue of Ronald Reagan to the Capitol. We are sorry that our colleague, the distinguished ranking member of the Committee on Administration, Mr. Lungren, couldn't be here today, but I know that he and our colleague Ken Calvert have worked long and hard to get us to this day, and I believe that it is going to be a great thing.

It is very fitting, I think, that as we just 3 months ago marked the 20th anniversary of the end of Ronald Reagan's Presidency, that we look at where we are as we deal with the challenges that exist.

Clearly the hallmark of the Reagan Presidency and his philosophy was a very staunch belief in the power of free markets and free peoples. This belief led President Reagan to increase American prosperity, and, as my colleague Mr. Lewis has just pointed out, champion the cause of democracy and political freedom around the globe, bringing down the Berlin Wall and bringing the Soviet Union to its knees.

Unfortunately, as we look at the challenges that we are dealing with today, there are many demagogues who have pounced on our current economic crisis to cynically advance what are, unfortunately, anti-free market principles. They try to exploit the anxieties and uncertainties of the current situation by claiming that economic freedom inevitably led to the downturn that we are going through today and the only solution is to dramatically increase the nanny-state view of government.

Mr. Speaker, they clearly ignore the true causes of the crisis that we are dealing with today: regulators who failed to do their jobs, individuals who borrowed irresponsibly and banks that lent irresponsibly, government efforts to interfere in the housing market and artificially drive up demand, and unchecked government-sponsored enterprises that behaved recklessly. These are the kinds of things that led to the challenges that we are dealing with, not the failure of the free market.

That is why I think it is important for us to note that Ronald Reagan's vision was a very important one, and I believe passionately that we should, as we are going through the economic challenges that we face, provide the prescription that Ronald Reagan did in 1981 by bringing about broad across-the-board marginal rate reduction to stimulate economic growth, because growth is clearly the single best way for us to deal with the economic crisis that we have, with the debt that has been accumulated, and to deal with the necessary Federal spending that is out there.

Mr. Speaker, one of the great things that Ronald Reagan was known for was his sense of optimism. So I have got to say that I believe fervently, as Ronald Reagan would have if he were here today, that our economy is going to recover. I think that it is going to recover in spite of, not because of the things that we are doing here in the United States Congress and here in Washington, D.C., but we are going to recover because we are Americans.

Now, at the base of this statue that is going to be in the Great Rotunda, unveiled, as Mr. Lewis has said, on June 3, there are three great statements, and they all come down to the very simple directive that Ronald Reagan always had, and that is America's best days are ahead of us, and by virtue of that, we have to continue to remain optimistic. Using that Reagan spirit, as we deal with the challenges through which virtually every American is going today, is very, very important to us. So I strongly support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I'm honored to be here to pay tribute to a man known by many and whose influence can be seen throughout the world today.

During his life he was president of the Screen Actors Guild; he was a fan of FDR and his New Deal policies; he was a registered Democrat but became a registered Republican; and he was also a member of the media. Doesn't sound like a person I normally would pay tribute to.

However, he was also an Army officer, he served as 33rd Governor of the State of California; and almost single-handedly won the Cold War. He had the eternal sense of optimism. He summarized it best in this quote: ``It's morning in America.''

And today we consider the measure which would authorize a statue of Ronald Reagan to be displayed here in this Capitol. It's a fitting tribute. Ronald Reagan arguably is one of the most influential persons in the 20th century. And there's no doubt that the world is a better place because Ronald Reagan was here. You can just ask the millions of people in Eastern Europe that are free today and have freedom because that wall, as he demanded, came down.

Ronald Reagan ushered in a new era, ``Reagan Revolution,'' as it came to be called, and swept across every aspect of America, from the executive branch to the legislative branch and the judicial branch.

Ronald Reagan pursued policies that reflected his personal belief in the worth of the individual. He stood up for the little guy. He advocated small Federal government and more power to the people to make decisions for themselves and their communities. He believed in the sanctity of the Constitution, federalism, a balanced budget and a strong military. He established policies consistent with all of those beliefs.

Ronald Reagan once said, ``Each generation goes further than the generation preceding it because it stands on the shoulders of that generation.'' That statement is true, and I believe our children and our children's grandchildren are better off because they're standing on the shoulders of this great American statesman.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

One of the advantages of having spent a little time around the House of Representatives besides your hair turning gray is that I'm now the senior Republican Member of the delegation and thereby have the privilege of carrying this resolution on behalf of the Members of the House. So, Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to introduce H. Con. Res. 101 to accept the statue of Ronald Reagan from the people of California for placement in the United States Capitol.

This bill authorizes the State of California to use the Rotunda of the Capitol on June 3, 2009, for a presentation ceremony. The Architect of the Capitol shall display the statue in the Rotunda. The current statue of Thomas Starr King will be relocated to a suitable place in Sacramento, California.

I am honored to have both known and worked with Ronald Reagan both when he was Governor and, of course, as President of the United States. One of the great leaders of the 20th century, Ronald Reagan. His contributions on behalf of freedom around the world are unparalleled since the end of World War II. There is no more Cold War. There is no more Berlin Wall. There is no worldwide threat of Communist dictatorship because of the leadership of President Ronald Reagan.

When the history of our time is written, the accomplishments of President Reagan will shine out. He made America the land of opportunity once again and brought the breath of freedom to millions of people around the world who had spent decades under the yoke of tyranny.

His memory will live on among all the free and loving people around the world.

Mr. Speaker, a statue of Ronald Reagan in the U.S. Capitol is a fitting tribute to one of the most significant leaders of our time. I urge swift passage of H. Con. Res. 101.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier).

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), a member of the committee.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to first thank the gentleman for his work and also our colleague Jerry Lewis for his work.

I rise today in support for House Concurrent Resolution 101. President Ronald Reagan was first known widely to the public as a beloved actor. Ronald Reagan became president of the Screen Actors Guild, a two-term Governor of California, and then a two-term President of the United States.

During his time in office as President, Ronald Reagan tamed inflation, reduced America's tax burden, and faced down the Soviet empire, delivering millions from tyranny.

Speaking at the Berlin Wall on June 12, 1987, President Reagan challenged Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev to bring down the Iron Curtain. Standing at the Brandenburg Gate, Reagan declared, ``If you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, come here to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.''

Upon his death in 2004, when Ronald Reagan was lying in State in the Rotunda, Gorbachev came and paid silent tribute to his erstwhile adversary. Fittingly, in the same Rotunda, the statue of President Ronald Reagan will remain permanently, with a ring of fragments from the Berlin Wall embedded in its pedestal.

President Reagan once said, ``There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn't mind who gets the credit.'' While placement of the statue in the Capitol Rotunda does not, in my opinion, offer due credit to the 40th President, by recognizing him in this manner the people of California ensure that Ronald Reagan will have a lasting and symbolic presence for the countless future generations of Americans visiting the United States Capitol.

I would like to thank the former First Lady, Nancy Reagan, and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library for their tireless work in this tribute. Along with my colleagues Ken Calvert and Jerry Lewis, they have been a driving force behind this effort.