Phil Gingrey: “Mr. Speaker, I am humble to be one of the many Americans from all across our Nation who are paying tribute to President…”

“Mr. Speaker, I am humble to be one of the many Americans from all across our Nation who are paying tribute to President Ronald Reagan this week. It was appropriate that Ronald Reagan, a small-town American from Dixon, Illinois, would make a career and a home in California, would represent the very best of American life. As Governor of California, President Reagan became adept at representing the diverse nature of our country and cared deeply for all Americans. As he is laid to rest, Ronald Reagan's legacy for America will carry on eternally in the annals of history. Not since Lincoln and Roosevelt has one man touched the core of what it means to be an American: Through unity and strength, we can achieve peace; and through self-determination, responsibility and character, we can live the American dream. Ronald Reagan restored faith in America during one of our darkest hours of self-doubt. He gave us hope and promise when we needed it most. Reagan's true legacy is the restoration of the dream that is America. Even with his passing, Reagan's sense of hope and strength lives on.”