III 112th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 312 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 7, 2011 Mrs. Hutchison (for herself and Mr. Cornyn) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Commending Girl Scouts of the USA on the special occasion of its 52nd annual convention and commending the commitment of Girl Scouts of the USA to the mission of fostering the courage, confidence, and character that girls need to become leaders and make the world a better place.

Whereas, on March 12, 1912, founder Juliette Gordon Low organized the first troop of Girl Scouts of the USA (referred to in this preamble as Girl Scouts); Whereas, on March 16, 1950, Girl Scouts became the first national organization for girls to be granted a Federal charter by Congress; Whereas Girl Scouts regularly informs Congress of its progress and program initiatives through annual reports; Whereas Girl Scouts actively promotes initiatives to help young women discover their full potential by— (1)instilling a sound foundation of positive values; (2)developing a sense of service; (3)facilitating creative decision-making; and (4)turning girls into model citizens and leaders of their community, the country, and the world; Whereas Girl Scouts is holding its 52nd Convention in November 2011 in Houston, Texas; Whereas the 2011 Girl Scout Leadership Institute, which will run at the 52nd Convention, encourages young women, ages 13 to 18, to explore and build skills in math, science, business, and technology to prepare for future success in the increasingly competitive global marketplace; Whereas the 2011 Girl Scout Leadership Institute, under the theme of Leadership and Innovation, the Next 100 Years— (1)seeks to advance leadership opportunities for girls; (2)promotes programs that offer advanced curriculum; (3)engages over 1,200 young women from across the globe; (4)connects young women to industry professionals; (5)builds the interest of young women in innovation and technology; (6)addresses global issues; and (7)teaches life-long leadership abilities and teamwork skills in an interactive environment; Whereas Girl Scouts has renewed the focus on involving girls in innovative, hands-on experiences in science, technology, engineering, and math (referred to in this preamble as STEM) that strengthen the natural aptitudes of girls and acquaint them with new career options and tools for future independence; Whereas Girl Scouts develops girl-centered programs that— (1)are attuned to the ever-changing needs of women working in the current global market; and (2)encourage girls to actively engage in STEM activities, facilitating valuable real-world experiences that are integral to developing the next female leaders of the United States; Whereas Girl Scouts remains a preeminent organization with 3,200,000 members, dedicated solely to— (1)inspiring generations of girls to reach for their goals, challenge stereotypes, and develop to their full potential; and (2)advancing opportunities for women to accomplish feats previously thought impossible for the female gender; and Whereas Girl Scouts has significantly contributed to the advancement of the United States for 100 years by instilling in young women the leadership qualities on which the strength of the United States depends: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1)commends Girl Scouts of the USA for organizing— (A)the 2011 National Council Session and the 52nd Convention; (B)the 2011 Girl Scout Leadership Institute; and (C)the 2011 Leadership and Innovation, the Next 100 Years workshops; and (2)commends Girl Scouts of the USA for continuing to create learning opportunities and activities for young women to develop strong leadership values and life skills.