[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 460 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 460

Expressing support for designation of 2012 as the ``Year of the Girl'' 
    and celebrating the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts of the USA.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            November 4, 2011

   Ms. Wasserman Schultz (for herself and Ms. Granger) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight 
                         and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing support for designation of 2012 as the ``Year of the Girl'' 
    and celebrating the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts of the USA.

Whereas for more than 100 years, Girl Scouts of the USA has inspired generations 
        of girls to lead with courage, confidence, and character;
Whereas the Girl Scout Movement began on March 12, 1912, when Savannah, Georgia, 
        native Juliette ``Daisy'' Gordon Low gathered 18 girls to provide them 
        the opportunity to develop physically, mentally, and spiritually;
Whereas Daisy Low's goal was to bring together girls of all backgrounds to 
        develop self-reliance and resourcefulness as well as prepare them for 
        future roles as professional women and for active citizenship outside 
        the home;
Whereas within just a few years, there were nearly 70,000 Girl Scouts 
        nationwide, including the territory of Hawaii;
Whereas the first African-American troops were established in 1917, and by 1920, 
        troops for girls with disabilities were established;
Whereas today, more than 50,000,000 women in the United States are Girl Scout 
        alumnae, and 3,300,000 girls and adult volunteers are active members;
Whereas Girl Scouts live in every corner of the United States, Puerto Rico, 
        United States territories, and more than 90 countries overseas;
Whereas Girl Scouts is the largest member of the World Association of Girl 
        Guides and Girl Scouts, a global movement comprised of more than 
        10,000,000 girls in 145 countries worldwide;
Whereas Girl Scouts' robust program helps girls develop as leaders and build 
        confidence by learning new skills;
Whereas the award winning Girl Scout Leadership Program helps girls discover 
        themselves and their values, connect with others, and take action to 
        make the world a better place;
Whereas this leadership model helps girls develop skills such as critical 
        thinking, problem solving, cooperation and team building, conflict 
        resolution, advocacy, and other important life skills;
Whereas core programs around Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), 
        environmental stewardship, healthy living, financial literacy, and 
        global citizenship help girls develop a solid foundation in leadership;
Whereas Girl Scouts' STEM programming, first introduced in 1913 with the 
        ``electrician'' and ``flyer'' badges, offers girls of every age science, 
        technology, engineering, and math activities that are relevant to 
        everyday life;
Whereas these award-winning programs help girls build strong, hands-on 
        foundations to become future female leaders and meet the growing need 
        for skilled science and technology professionals in the United States;
Whereas healthy living programs help Girl Scouts build the skills they need to 
        keep their bodies healthy, their minds engaged, and their spirits 
        positive and teaches girls about fitness and nutrition, body image, self 
        esteem, and relational issues, especially bullying;
Whereas through the 100th Anniversary Take Action Project, Forever Green, Girl 
        Scouts is honoring Daisy Low's commitment to the outdoors by engaging 
        families, friends, and communities to improve the environment and 
        protect its natural resources;
Whereas Girl Scouts' financial literacy programming, notably, the iconic Girl 
        Scout cookie sale, helps girls set financial goals and gain the 
        confidence they need to ultimately take control of their own financial 
        future;
Whereas this beloved United States tradition has a proven legacy, more than 80 
        percent of highly successful businesswomen were Girl Scouts;
Whereas Girl Scouts has also helped millions of young girls become good global 
        citizens through international exchanges, travel, take action and 
        service projects, and newer programs like ``twinning'' and virtual Girl 
        Scout troops;
Whereas Girl Scouts has helped girls advance diversity in a multicultural world, 
        connect with their communities, locally and globally, and feel empowered 
        to make a difference in the world;
Whereas the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouting, requires 
        girls to make a measurable and sustainable difference in their 
        community, assess a need and design a solution, find the resources and 
        the support to make it happen, complete the project, and also inspire 
        others to sustain it;
Whereas the Gold Award honors leadership in the Girl Scout tradition and Gold 
        Award recipients have already changed the world as high school students;
Whereas two-thirds of the Nation's most accomplished women in public service 
        were Girl Scouts;
Whereas Girl Scouts' research shows that Girl Scouts alumnae have a positive 
        sense of self, are engaged in community service, are civically engaged, 
        have attained high levels of education, and are successful on a number 
        of economic indicators;
Whereas beyond its outstanding program, Girl Scouts has evolved into the premier 
        expert on girls' healthy growth and development;
Whereas since its founding in 2000, the Girl Scout Research Institute has become 
        an internationally recognized center for original research, research 
        reviews, and surveys that provide significant insights into the lives of 
        girls;
Whereas Girl Scouts' research informs not only Girl Scouts' program development 
        and delivery, but also helps bring girls' voices to key issues in the 
        public sphere;
Whereas by bringing greater attention to girls' health, education, and 
        developmental needs, Girl Scouts is the voice for girls with 
        policymakers, business leaders, educators, and all other stakeholders 
        who care about girls' healthy growth and development;
Whereas Girl Scouts ensures that issues, such as STEM education, bullying 
        prevention, unhealthy perceptions of beauty as portrayed by the media, 
        and many other important issues, are brought to the public's attention, 
        and addressed through public policy at the national, State, and local 
        level; and
Whereas Girl Scouts of the USA is recognizing its 100th anniversary by 
        designating 2012 as the ``Year of the Girl'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the importance of empowering girls to lead 
        with courage, confidence, and character;
            (2) congratulates Girl Scouts of the USA on its 100th 
        anniversary; and
            (3) supports the ``Year of the Girl''.
                                 <all>