Senator introduced legislation to help to carry out activities to honor President Kennedy on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his birth

Washington (September 20, 2016) – Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) yesterday named Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) to serve on the John F. Kennedy Centennial Commission. The Commission, established last month with enactment of the John F. Kennedy Centennial Commission Act, is charged with planning, developing, and carrying out activities to honor President Kennedy on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his birth in 2017. The Commission has 11 members, including the Secretary of the Interior and ten other individuals appointed by the President and leaders of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Congressman Joseph Kennedy III was appointed to the Commission by House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi.
 
“President John F. Kennedy’s steady vision and soaring idealism strengthened our nation’s leadership in the world, and the John F. Kennedy Centennial Commission is an important way to honor his legacy,” said Senator Reid. “Senator Markey was a driving force behind the creation of the Centennial Commission, and I am pleased he has agreed to serve in this role. I am confident Senator Markey’s experience and trusted voice will be invaluable in ensuring that the centennial of President Kennedy’s birth inspires another new generation of Americans.”
 
“From the Civil Rights movement, to the space race, to the signing of the Equal Pay Act, President Kennedy's legacy continues to resonate in importance and urgency in the 21st century,” said Senator Markey. “President Kennedy will always represent a bold vision for our nation's future, an idealism without illusion, a commitment to public service, and a youthful vigor and irrepressible energy that signals to the rest of the world that Americans believe that even better days for our country are always ahead of us. I am honored by this appointment by Leader Reid and I look forward to working on the Commission to honor the centennial of President John F. Kennedy’s birth.”

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