First Substitute H.J.R. 18

Representative Matt Throckmorton proposes the following substitute bill:

1 RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE LIFE AND
2 CONTRIBUTIONS OF RONALD REAGAN
3 2002 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Sponsor: Matt Throckmorton
6 This joint resolution of the Legislature expresses support for the designation of the West
7 Capitol Extension building as the "Ronald Reagan Legislative Building."
8 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
9 WHEREAS, the life and service of Ronald Reagan merits recognition by the state of Utah;
10 WHEREAS, on February 6, 1911, Ronald Wilson Reagan was born to Nelle and John
11 Reagan in Tampico, Illinois;
12 WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan attended high school in nearby Dixon and then worked his
13 way through Eureka College, where he studied economics and sociology, played on the football
14 team, and acted in school plays;
15 WHEREAS, upon graduation, Ronald Reagan became a radio sports announcer;
16 WHEREAS, after a screen test in 1937 Ronald Reagan appeared in 53 films in more than
17 two decades as an actor;
18 WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan also served as president of the Screen Actors Guild;
19 WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan toured the country as a television host, becoming a national
20 spokesman for his principles and ideals;
21 WHEREAS, 1966, Ronald Reagan was elected Governor of California by a margin of a
22 million votes and was reelected in 1970;
23 WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan won the Republican Presidential nomination in 1980 and
24 chose as his running mate former Texas Congressman and United Nations Ambassador George
25 Bush;

26 WHEREAS, only 69 days after taking office President Reagan was shot by a would-be
27 assassin;
28 WHEREAS, though the injury was severe and potentially life threatening, he quickly
29 returned to duty;
30 WHEREAS, President Reagan grace and wit in the wake of the dangerous incident
31 endeared him to millions of Americans;
32 WHEREAS, dealing skillfully with Congress, President Reagan demonstrated great
33 leadership in advancing national policy to foster economic growth, curb inflation, increase
34 employment, and strengthen national defense;
35 WHEREAS, President Reagan succeeded in his efforts to significantly reduce marginal tax
36 rates while increasing tax revenues for increased investment to strengthen national defense forces;
37 WHEREAS, President Reagan won a second term in 1984;
38 WHEREAS, in 1986, President Reagan succeeded in his efforts to overhaul the income tax
39 code, which eliminated many deductions and exempted millions of people with low incomes;
40 WHEREAS, in foreign policy, President Reagan sought to achieve "peace through
41 strength";
42 WHEREAS, during his two terms as President, Ronald Reagan significantly strengthened
43 national defense while still improving relations with the Soviet Union;
44 WHEREAS, in dramatic meetings with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, he negotiated
45 a treaty that would eliminate intermediate-range nuclear missiles;
46 WHEREAS, by ordering naval escorts in the Persian Gulf, President Reagan maintained
47 the free flow of oil during the war between Iran and Iraq and, in keeping with the Reagan Doctrine,
48 gave support to anti-communist insurgencies in Central America, Asia, and Africa;
49 WHEREAS, at the end of his administration, the nation was enjoying its longest recorded
50 period of peacetime prosperity without recession or depression;
51 WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan's innovative program known as the Reagan Revolution was
52 designed to reinvigorate the American people and reduce their reliance upon government;
53 WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan fulfilled his campaign pledge of 1980 to restore "the great,
54 confident roar of American progress and growth and optimism"; and
55 WHEREAS, it is fitting that the life and service of Ronald Reagan be recognized in the
56 state of Utah:

57 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
58 expresses support for the designation of the West Capitol Extension building as the "Ronald
59 Reagan Legislative Building."
60 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to Ronald Reagan and
61 the Capitol Preservation Board.