Senate Bill sb0464er
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2007 Legislature CS for SB 464, 2nd Engrossed
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2 An act relating to legal holidays and special
3 observances; creating s. 683.26, F.S.;
4 designating February 6 as "Ronald Reagan Day";
5 authorizing the Governor to issue proclamations
6 commemorating the occasion; creating s. 683.33,
7 F.S.; designating January 6 as "Three Kings
8 Day" and authorizing local governments to issue
9 proclamations commemorating the occasion;
10 providing an effective date.
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12 WHEREAS, President Ronald Wilson Reagan, a man of
13 humble background, worked throughout his life serving freedom
14 and advancing the public good, having distinguished himself
15 during his professional life as an entertainer, union leader,
16 and corporate spokesman before being elected Governor of
17 California and then President of the United States of America,
18 and
19 WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan served with honor and
20 distinction for two terms as the 40th President of the United
21 States of America, earning the distinction of being elected to
22 his second term of office by three-fifths of the electorate
23 and by 49 of the 50 states in the union, a record unsurpassed
24 in the history of American presidential elections, and
25 WHEREAS, in 1981, when Ronald Reagan was inaugurated as
26 President, he inherited a disillusioned nation that was
27 shackled by rampant inflation and high unemployment, and
28 WHEREAS, despite the difficult circumstances he
29 inherited, Ronald Reagan's approach to leading the nation was
30 to exemplify an unwavering faith in American ideals, most
31 memorably by invoking his long-held vision of America as "a
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2007 Legislature CS for SB 464, 2nd Engrossed
1 shining city on a hill," destined to realize an ever brighter
2 future, and
3 WHEREAS, during his presidency, Ronald Reagan worked in
4 a bipartisan manner to enact his bold agenda of restoring
5 accountability and common sense to the Federal Government,
6 which led to an unprecedented economic expansion and
7 opportunity for millions of Americans, and
8 WHEREAS, President Reagan's commitment to an active
9 social policy agenda for the nation's children helped to lower
10 crime and reduce drug use in our neighborhoods, and
11 WHEREAS, President Reagan's commitment to our armed
12 forces contributed to the restoration of pride in America and
13 its values and those cherished by the free world and prepared
14 the nation's armed forces to meet the challenges of the 21st
15 century, and
16 WHEREAS, President Reagan's vision of "peace through
17 strength" led to the end of the Cold War and the ultimate
18 demise of the Soviet Union, thus guaranteeing basic human
19 rights for millions of people, and
20 WHEREAS, February 6, 2007, was the 96th anniversary of
21 Ronald Reagan's birth, and June 5, 2007, will mark the third
22 anniversary of his passing, which generated an outpouring of
23 love and respect unprecedented in a generation, and
24 WHEREAS, the Hispanic history of this state began in
25 1513 when Ponce de Leon arrived in the land he called La
26 Pascua Florida, and
27 WHEREAS, this Hispanic history of the state was
28 strengthened when, in 1565, Pedro Menendez de Aviles founded
29 San Augustin, or St. Augustine, the first permanent European
30 settlement in what is now the United States, and
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2007 Legislature CS for SB 464, 2nd Engrossed
1 WHEREAS, Florida was a Spanish colony for almost 300
2 years, except for a 20-year period between 1763 and 1783,
3 until the Adams-Onis Treaty ceded Florida to the United States
4 in 1821, and
5 WHEREAS, Hispanic people have remained in Florida since
6 it was a Spanish colony, and
7 WHEREAS, Hispanic food, traditions, and culture have
8 contributed greatly to the state in the past, and
9 WHEREAS, the Hispanic population of Florida has grown
10 substantially in recent history by immigration and, as a
11 result, the Hispanic population continues to influence the
12 food, traditions, and culture of Florida, and
13 WHEREAS, El Dia de los Reyes Magos, or "Three Kings
14 Day," is a day that has not only religious meaning for many
15 Hispanics but is also a day that has deep cultural roots that
16 encourage extended families and friends to visit each other
17 and enjoy each other's company, to celebrate, and to exchange
18 gifts, NOW, THEREFORE,
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20 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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22 Section 1. Section 683.26, Florida Statutes, is
23 created to read:
24 683.26 Ronald Reagan Day.--
25 (1) February 6 of each year is designated as "Ronald
26 Reagan Day."
27 (2) The Governor may issue annually a proclamation
28 designating February 6 as "Ronald Reagan Day." Public
29 officials, schools, private organizations, and all citizens
30 are encouraged to honor the legacy of opportunity and optimism
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2007 Legislature CS for SB 464, 2nd Engrossed
1 left by America's 40th President by commemorating Ronald
2 Reagan Day on February 6 of each year.
3 Section 2. Section 683.33, Florida Statutes, is
4 created to read:
5 683.33 Three Kings Day.--
6 (1) January 6 of each year is designated as "Three
7 Kings Day."
8 (2) Local governments may annually issue a
9 proclamation commemorating January 6 as "Three Kings Day" and
10 recognize that many residents of the state celebrate the
11 occasion as a time to be with their family and friends, attend
12 services, exchange gifts, and celebrate their cultural
13 heritage.
14 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2007.
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