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107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. J. RES. 60

Honoring Maureen Reagan on the occasion of her death and expressing

condolences to her family, including her husband Dennis Revell and

her daughter Rita Revell.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SEPTEMBER 6, 2001

Mr. MARKEY (for himself and Mr. SMITH of New Jersey) introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy

and Commerce

JOINT RESOLUTION

Honoring Maureen Reagan on the occasion of her death

and expressing condolences to her family, including her

husband Dennis Revell and her daughter Rita Revell.

Whereas the Congress is greatly saddened by the tragic death

of Maureen Reagan on August 8, 2001;

Whereas Maureen Reagan’s love of life and countless contributions to family and the Nation serve as an inspiration to millions;

Whereas Maureen Reagan was a remarkable advocate for a

number of causes and had many passions, the greatest

being her dedication to addressing the scourge of Alzheimer’s disease;
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Whereas in 1994 when former President Ronald Reagan announced that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s

disease, Maureen Reagan joined her father and Nancy

Reagan in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and became a national spokesperson for the Alzheimer’s Association;

Whereas Maureen Reagan served as a tireless advocate to

raise public awareness about Alzheimer’s disease, support

care givers, and substantially increase the Nation’s commitment to research on Alzheimer’s disease;

Whereas Maureen Reagan helped inspire the Congress to increase Federal research funding for Alzheimer’s disease

by amounts proportionate to increases in research funding for other major diseases;

Whereas Maureen Reagan went far beyond merely lending

her name to the work of the Alzheimer’s Association: she

was a hands-on activist on the association’s board of directors, a masterful fund-raiser, a forceful advocate, and

a selfless and constant traveler to anywhere and everywhere Alzheimer’s advocates needed help;

Whereas at every stop she made and every event she attended

in her efforts to eradicate Alzheimer’s disease through research, Maureen Reagan emphasized that researchers are

in a ‘‘race against time before Alzheimer’s reaches epidemic levels’’ with the aging of the Baby Boomers;

Whereas Maureen Reagan stated before the Congress in 2000

that ‘‘14 million Baby Boomers are living with a death

sentence of Alzheimer’s today’’;

Whereas despite her declining health, Maureen Reagan never

decreased her efforts in her battle to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease;
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Whereas during the last six months of her life, from her hospital bed and home, Maureen Reagan urged the Congress

to invest $1,000,000,000 to fund research at the National Institutes of Health focused on Alzheimer’s disease;

Whereas Maureen Reagan said, ‘‘The best scientific minds

have been brought into the race against Alzheimer’s, a

solid infrastructure is in place, and the path for further

investigations is clear. What’s missing is the money, especially the Federal investment, to keep up the pace.’’; and

Whereas Maureen Reagan’s remarkable advocacy for the millions affected and afflicted by Alzheimer’s disease will

forever serve as an inspiration to continue and ultimately

win the battle against the illness: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 That the Congress, on the occasion of the tragic and un4 timely death of Maureen Reagan—

5 (1) recognizes Maureen Reagan as one of the

6 Nation’s most beloved and forceful champions for

7 action to cure Alzheimer’s disease and treat those

8 suffering from the illness; and

9 (2) expresses deep and heartfelt condolences to

10 the family of Maureen Reagan, including her hus11 band Dennis Revell and her daughter Rita Revell.

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