Senate Engrossed

State of Arizona Senate Forty-ninth Legislature Second Regular Session 2010

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1005

 

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 

recognizing each year in Arizona February 6th as Ronald Reagan Day and May 29th as John Fitzgerald Kennedy Day.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Whereas, President Ronald Wilson Reagan, a man of humble background, worked throughout his life serving freedom and advancing the public good, having been employed as an entertainer, union leader, corporate spokesman, Governor of California and President of the United States; and

Whereas, Ronald Reagan served with honor and distinction for two terms as the fortieth President of the United States of America.  In the general election preceding his second term, he was victorious in forty-nine of the fifty states, earning the confidence of three-fifths of the electorate, a record unsurpassed in the history of American presidential elections; and

Whereas, in 1981, when Ronald Reagan was inaugurated as president, he inherited a disillusioned nation shackled by rampant inflation and high unemployment; and

Whereas, during Mr. Reagan's presidency he worked in a bipartisan manner to enact his bold agenda of restoring accountability and common sense to government, which led to an unprecedented economic expansion and opportunity for millions of Americans; and

Whereas, President Reagan's commitment to an active social policy agenda for the nation’s children helped lower crime and drug use in our neighborhoods; and

Whereas, President Reagan's commitment to our nations armed forces contributed to the restoration of pride in America, her values and those cherished by the free world, and prepared America’s armed forces to win the Gulf War; and

Whereas, President Reagan's vision of "peace through strength" led to the end of the Cold War and the ultimate demise of the Soviet Union, guaranteeing basic human rights for millions of people; and

Whereas, February 6th is Ronald Reagan's birthday, and it is fitting that we commemorate the many accomplishments of this great president on that date by establishing Ronald Reagan day; and

Whereas, John Fitzgerald Kennedy fought for his country in World War II in the south Pacific as commander of the motor torpedo boat PT-109; and

Whereas, President Kennedy was, at the age of 43, the youngest person to be elected president and was the first president born in the twentieth century; and

Whereas, one of President Kennedy's first acts in office was to create the United States Peace Corps, through which American citizens volunteer to help underdeveloped nations in areas such as education and health care; and

Whereas, President Kennedy is the only president to ever win a Pulitzer Prize for his biography "Profiles in Courage"; and

Whereas, President Kennedy handled the Cuban Missile Crisis in an effective and timely manner; and

Whereas, President Kennedy was the first president to urge that Americans put the first man on the moon and lead the way in space travel; and

Whereas, President Kennedy inspired our nation with quotes such as "ask not what your country can do for you ‑ ask what you can do for your country" and strengthened our image in the eyes of foreign nations with quotes such as "whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you"; and

Whereas, President Kennedy's time in office was cut short due to his assassination on November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring:

1.  That the Members of the Legislature recognize February 6th each year as Ronald Reagan Day in Arizona and encourage the citizens of this state to take this opportunity to remember the many contributions of President Reagan to the well-being of our nation.

2.  That the Members of the Legislature recognize May 29th each year as John Fitzgerald Kennedy Day in Arizona and encourage the citizens of this state to take this opportunity to remember the many contributions of President Kennedy to the well-being of our nation.

3.  That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit a copy of this Resolution to Mrs. Nancy Reagan and Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg.