| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to Ronald Reagan Day; creating s. 683.26, |
| 3 | F.S.; designating February 6 as "Ronald Reagan Day"; |
| 4 | authorizing the Governor to issue proclamations |
| 5 | commemorating the occasion; providing an effective date. |
| 6 |
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| 7 | WHEREAS, President Ronald Wilson Reagan, a man of humble |
| 8 | background, worked throughout his life serving freedom and |
| 9 | advancing the public good, having distinguished himself during |
| 10 | his professional life as an entertainer, union leader, and |
| 11 | corporate spokesman before being elected Governor of California |
| 12 | and then President of the United States of America, and |
| 13 | WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan served with honor and distinction |
| 14 | for two terms as the 40th President of the United States of |
| 15 | America, earning the distinction of being elected to his second |
| 16 | term of office by three-fifths of the electorate and by 49 of |
| 17 | the 50 states in the union, a record unsurpassed in the history |
| 18 | of American presidential elections, and |
| 19 | WHEREAS, in 1981, when Ronald Reagan was inaugurated as |
| 20 | President, he inherited a disillusioned nation that was shackled |
| 21 | by rampant inflation and high unemployment, and |
| 22 | WHEREAS, despite the difficult circumstances he inherited, |
| 23 | Ronald Reagan's approach to leading the nation was to exemplify |
| 24 | an unwavering faith in American ideals, most memorably by |
| 25 | invoking his long-held vision of America as "a shining city on a |
| 26 | hill," destined to realize an ever brighter future, and |
| 27 | WHEREAS, during his presidency, Ronald Reagan worked in a |
| 28 | bipartisan manner to enact his bold agenda of restoring |
| 29 | accountability and common sense to the Federal Government, which |
| 30 | led to an unprecedented economic expansion and opportunity for |
| 31 | millions of Americans, and |
| 32 | WHEREAS, President Reagan's commitment to an active social |
| 33 | policy agenda for the nation's children helped to lower crime |
| 34 | and reduce drug use in our neighborhoods, and |
| 35 | WHEREAS, President Reagan's commitment to our armed forces |
| 36 | contributed to the restoration of pride in America and its |
| 37 | values and those cherished by the free world and prepared the |
| 38 | nation's armed forces to meet the challenges of the 21st |
| 39 | century, and |
| 40 | WHEREAS, President Reagan's vision of "peace through |
| 41 | strength" led to the end of the Cold War and the ultimate demise |
| 42 | of the Soviet Union, thus guaranteeing basic human rights for |
| 43 | millions of people, and |
| 44 | WHEREAS, February 6, 2007, was the 96th anniversary of |
| 45 | Ronald Reagan's birth, and June 5, 2007, will mark the third |
| 46 | anniversary of his passing, which generated an outpouring of |
| 47 | love and respect unprecedented in a generation, NOW, THEREFORE, |
| 48 |
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| 49 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 50 |
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| 51 | Section 1. Section 683.26, Florida Statutes, is created to |
| 52 | read: |
| 53 | 683.26 Ronald Reagan Day.-- |
| 54 | (1) February 6 of each year is designated as "Ronald |
| 55 | Reagan Day." |
| 56 | (2) The Governor may issue annually a proclamation |
| 57 | designating February 6 as "Ronald Reagan Day." Public officials, |
| 58 | schools, private organizations, and all citizens are encouraged |
| 59 | to honor the legacy of opportunity and optimism left by |
| 60 | America's 40th President by commemorating Ronald Reagan Day on |
| 61 | February 6 of each year. |
| 62 | Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2007. |