Extending Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission
Floor Speech
Mr. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1308) to amend the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act to extend the termination date for the Commission, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1308
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. RONALD REAGAN CENTENNIAL COMMISSION ACT AMENDMENTS.
(a) Final Report Due Date.--Section 7(c) of the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act (Public Law 111-25; 36 U.S.C. 101 note prec.) is amended by striking ``April 30, 2011'' and inserting ``November 30, 2011''.
(b) Termination.--Section 8 of the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act (Public Law 111-25; 36 U.S.C. 101 note prec.) is amended by striking ``May 30, 2011'' and inserting ``December 31, 2011''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
GENERAL LEAVE
Mr. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Pennsylvania?
There was no objection.
Mr. KELLY. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1308 was introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. Gallegly) and is a straightforward bill to amend the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act by extending the Commission's termination date, as well as the Commission's final report deadline.
In June 2009, President Obama signed Public Law 111-25 to establish the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission. The purpose of the Commission was, and is, to plan, develop, and carry out activities that are both fitting and proper to honor the memory of our late great President.
President Reagan was born on February 6, 1911, and 2011 marks the 100th anniversary of his birth. Furthermore, the Commission was also tasked with being a crucial resource to Federal, State, and local government agencies as well as private groups as they go about planning and conducting events to honor President Reagan.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1308 is a very simple bill that extends the life of the Reagan Commission, and, unlike many prior Presidential commissions, costs the American taxpayer absolutely nothing. Mr. Speaker, I want to be very clear. The Reagan Commission does not receive a single penny of taxpayer dollars. The original bill and subsequent law prohibited the use of taxpayer money from going to the Commission, and this bill does not alter that provision in any way, shape, or form.
The Commission has and continues to operate solely on private donations--something I'm sure Mr. Reagan, as a careful steward of taxpayer money, would himself have been glad to hear.
The purpose of H.R. 1308 is to allow the hardworking staff and members of the Commission the opportunity to continue to provide their expertise and assistance as entities and groups all over the world continue to honor President Reagan.
The Commission has already played a major role in celebrations at the Reagan Library on the President's birthday and has worked to establish a yearlong exhibit at the National Archives. Even the floor statements given by Members in this Chamber back in February were organized by the Reagan Commission.
While the Commission has contributed much to events and ceremonies over the past few months, many more celebrations and events are planned throughout the rest of the year. In fact, multiple events to honor President Reagan's role in the fall of the Soviet Union are scheduled this summer in Europe. Here in the United States, a Joint Meeting of Congress may take place this fall, and numerous other events will take place at the State and local levels all over our country.
Mr. Speaker, the Commission is currently scheduled to terminate on May 30 of this year, and this bill simply moves that date to December 31. In addition, H.R. 1308 moves the Commission's final report deadline from the 30th of this month to November 30. Changing these dates would ensure that the Commission can help entities and groups all over the world deliver high-quality and fitting events to celebrate the life of a truly great leader and man.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. KELLY. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to leave this body with a simple, eloquent quote from President Reagan. He once said: ``The problem is not that people are taxed too little. The problem is that government spends too much.'' This week, as we consider the 2011 spending bill and move towards funding the government for 2012, I want to urge all Members to keep that in mind on both sides of the aisle, because it is entirely fitting and proper that we honor his memory and his wishes as we go forward, and truly take this on, and do it in a bipartisan manner, and do it in a way that reflects the American people.
This is not about Republicans or Democrats. This is about America and America's financial health as we go forward. I am urging all Members to please back this and support this bill.
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