BySenators Padden, Becker, Braun, Rolfes, O'Ban, Hobbs, King, Sheldon, Zeiger, Fortunato, and Wagoner

WHEREAS, On February 6, 1911, Ronald Wilson Reagan was born in Tampico, Illinois to parents John Edward and Nellie Wilson Reagan; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan modeled the American dream, from growing up in a struggling family to obtaining a higher education, acting in movies, and working in public office; and

WHEREAS, After making unsuccessful bids for the Republican nomination twice, he ran in the 1980 presidential election; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan was elected to be the 40th President of the United States and served two terms from 1981 to 1989; and

WHEREAS, He won 525 of the 538 electoral college votes in his bid for reelection, the most ever won by a presidential candidate; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan was nicknamed "the great communicator" because of his honesty and connection with the people of the United States; and

WHEREAS, He was dedicated to improving the lives of everyone around the world, emphasizing that "America is a shining city upon a hill whose beacon light guides freedom-loving people everywhere"; and

WHEREAS, In 1987, Ronald Reagan stood firmly on the side of freedom and denounced the Soviet Union, demanding Mikhail Gorbachev "tear down this wall" at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin; and

WHEREAS, His understanding that "peace is not the absence of conflict but the ability to cope with conflict by peaceful means" brought an end to the Cold War; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan stressed the importance of preserving individual freedoms by asking "what kind of people do we think we are"? and answering it with "free people, worthy of freedom and determined not only to remain so but to help others gain their freedom as well"; and

WHEREAS, While taking inspiration from the past, Ronald Reagan envisioned a bright future for the nation; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan was the embodiment of a leader, stating, "there are no great limits to growth because there are no limits of human intelligence, imagination, and wonder"; and

WHEREAS, By decreasing unemployment, federal interest rates, and inflation, Ronald Reagan became a symbol of hope for the American people and made our country "prouder, and stronger, and better"; and

WHEREAS, On June 5, 2004, Ronald Reagan passed away after a decade long battle with Alzheimer's Disease; and

WHEREAS, His tombstone is inscribed with the inspirational words he once spoke to the people, "I know in my heart that man is good, that what is right will always eventually triumph and that there is purpose and worth to each and every life";

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That on this day, the Senate honor the 40th president of the United States, Ronald Wilson Reagan, a patriot who restored America's spirit and improved the quality of life for individuals at home and around the world.