[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 127 (Wednesday, September 26, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1745]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA APPROPRIATIONS ACT 2002

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                               speech of

                            HON. ROBIN HAYES

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 25, 2001

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2944) making 
     appropriations for the government of the District of Columbia 
     and other activities chargeable in whole or in part against 
     the revenues of said District for the fiscal year ending 
     September 30, 2002, and for other purposes:

  Mr. HAYES. Madam Chairman, I rise in support of Mr. Hostettler's 
amendment--a vote in support of the Boy Scouts of America.
  The Supreme Court has ruled on this issue--and they said that to 
force the Boy Scouts to accept homosexual troop leaders would violate 
their right to free association and would dilute the Scout's message. 
We must not threaten the Scouts' constitutional freedoms that were 
clearly upheld by the Supreme Court.
  The process of appealing this ruling is costing the Scouts valuable 
dollars each day that could be better used to benefit the lives of 
young men--Young men who are being taught values such as duty to God 
and country, honor, respect, and community service.
  We must send a message that Congress will uphold the full benefits of 
freedom of association, and that the Scouts, a private organization, 
may continue to define their own leadership and promote core American 
values that have been taught to children for over a century. I urge my 
fellow members to vote in favor of the Hostettler amendment.

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