IV 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 785 

Honoring the lives and achievements of Christopher and Dana Reeve. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 27, 2006 

Mr. LANGEVIN (for himself and Mr. BARTON of Texas) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 

Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the lives and achievements of Christopher and 

Dana Reeve. 

Whereas Christopher Reeve was born on September 25, 1952; 

Whereas Christopher Reeve graduated from Cornell University in 1974, then pursued his dream of acting by studying at Juilliard; 

Whereas Christopher Reeve went on to become an accomplished actor on stage, screen, and television, and he secured his place in American history with his role in ‘‘Superman’’ and its subsequent sequels; 

Whereas Christopher Reeve later distinguished himself as an 

author, a director, and a producer; 

Whereas Dana Morisini was born on March 17, 1961; 


ccoleman on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
2 

•HRES 785 IH

Whereas Dana Morisini graduated from Middlebury College, 

where she later received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, and she pursued graduate studies in Acting at the California Institute of the Arts; 

Whereas Dana Morisini was an accomplished singer and actress, with numerous appearances as an actor on television, performances in plays on Broadway, off-Broadway, and at numerous regional theaters, and performances as a singer on television and at various New York 

venues; 

Whereas Christopher Reeve and Dana Morisini married on 

April 11, 1992; 

Whereas their family included Christopher’s two children 

Matthew and Alexandra Reeve, and, in 1992, they celebrated the birth of their son, Will; 

Whereas, in 1995, Christopher Reeve was paralyzed in an accident in an equestrian competition; 

Whereas, following the accident, Christopher Reeve dedicated 

himself to raising public awareness about the significance 

of medical research and the challenges faced by those 

with disabilities; 

Whereas Dana Reeve displayed a remarkable commitment to 

improving the quality of life for individuals with paralysis 

and other disabilities, as well as their families; 

Whereas, together, Christopher and Dana Reeve became role 

models for patients and their caregivers, inspiring many 

Americans to rise above obstacles; 

Whereas Christopher and Dana Reeve worked together to establish the Christopher Reeve Foundation, with Christopher Reeve serving as chairman from 1999 to 2004 

and Dana Reeve succeeding him as chair in 2004; 


ccoleman on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
3 

•HRES 785 IH

Whereas the Christopher Reeve Foundation has tremendously 

improved the quality of life for people with paralysis by 

establishing a Paralysis Resource Center with the Centers for Disease Control, raising the visibility of the condition and offering information and support to patients 

and caregivers; 

Whereas the Christopher Reeve Foundation has helped make 

great strides in treating and finding a cure for paralysis; 

Whereas the contributions that Christopher and Dana Reeve 

made to their family, their community, and the Nation 

will not be forgotten, including inspiring groundbreaking 

medical research, breaking down barriers faced by people 

with disabilities, and educating families about the importance of having adequate health and disability coverage; 

and 

Whereas the deaths of Christopher Reeve from heart failure 

on October 10, 2004, and Dana Reeve from lung cancer 

on March 6, 2006, marked the loss of two great and generous Americans: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) honors the lives, achievements, and con3 tributions of Christopher and Dana Reeve; 

4 (2) recognizes the contributions of the Chris5 topher Reeve Foundation to improving the health of 

6 people living with spinal cord injuries, and other 

7 types of paralysis, through research, rehabilitation, 

8 and quality of life programs; 

9 (3) encourages the Christopher Reeve Founda10 tion to ‘‘Go Forward’’ inspired by the determination, 


ccoleman on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
4 

•HRES 785 IH

1 courage, and vision exemplified by Christopher and 

2 Dana Reeve; and 

3 (4) extends its deepest sympathies to the Reeve 

4 and Morisini families for the loss of two truly inspir5 ing individuals. 

Æ 


ccoleman on PROD1PC71 with BILLS