Representative Elton Gallegly Appointed to Commission Honoring President Ronald Reagan

U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-CA) was appointed to the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission today by House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio.

Gallegly authored the bill that created the commission and is the second person assigned to the 11-member commission. Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar was named to the commission in the bill.

“Elton Gallegly was instrumental to the creation of this commission and it’s terrific that he’ll be actively involved in the celebration of Ronald Reagan’s centennial,” said Frederick J. Ryan, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation.

The 11-member Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act will plan and carry out activities deemed fitting to honor Ronald Reagan on his 100th birthday, which falls on Feb. 6, 2011.

 â€œI appreciate Leader Boehner’s appointment,” Gallegly said. “I look forward to working with my fellow commissioners to create appropriate activities to honor President Reagan and to celebrate his life and accomplishments on behalf of the country he loved.”

The commission will make recommendations and provide necessary assistance for federal, state and local governmental agencies and civic groups to honor President Reagan. Such activities could include special stamps or coins. In addition, the commission will recommend to Congress activities to honor his 100th birthday, including the possible convening of a Joint Session of Congress.

In addition to Gallegly and Secretary Salazar, nine more members need to be appointed: President Obama will appoint four members; House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will appoint two; Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will appoint two; and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell will appoint one. They have 90 days from enactment of the bill to make their appointments.

No federal money can be spent on the commission or its activities.

Gallegly’s bill attracted wide bipartisan support. The Senate passed the bill by unanimous consent on May 20 and the House passed it on a 371-19 vote on March 9. President Obama signed Gallegly’s bill during a June 2 White House ceremony attended by Gallegly and former First Lady Nancy Reagan.

Previous commissions have been instituted to honor Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman and Abraham Lincoln.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum is in Simi Valley, CA, Gallegly’s hometown.

I am looking forward to next year’s event at the Reagan Library. A gathering of conservatives, young and old, the world has probably never seen before.

Stay tuned…….