[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 32 (Tuesday, March 19, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E386-E387]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CELEBRATING THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GIRL SCOUTS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 19, 2002

  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Girl Scouts of the 
United States of America, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary 
this month. On March 12, 1912, Juliette Gordon Low organized the first 
group of eighteen Girl Scouts in Savannah, Georgia. She believed that 
all girls should be given the opportunity to develop physically, 
mentally, and spiritually. Today, there are 2.7 million girls in Girl 
Scouts of the USA, and over 900,000 adult members.
  The Girl Scout mission is to help all girls grow strong. To that end, 
Girl Scouting empowers girls to develop to their full individual 
potential; relate positively to others; develop values that provide the 
foundation for sound decision-making; and contribute to the improvement 
of society through their abilities, leadership skills, and cooperation 
with others. Girl Scouts of the USA continues today to expand its 
programs to address contemporary issues affecting girls, while 
maintaining its core values. The organization's foundation is still 
based on the Girl Scout Promise and Law, just as it was in 1912.
  Girl Scouting helps our country's young women discover the fun, 
friendship, and power of girls together. Through an array of enriching 
experiences, Girl Scouts acquire self-confidence and expertise, take on 
responsibility, and are encouraged to think creatively and act with 
integrity--qualities essential in good citizens and great leaders. At 
the same time, they learn a great deal about science and technology, 
money management and finance, health and fitness, the arts, global 
awareness, and much more. I personally have shared in the wonderful 
experience of Girl Scouting, when a number of the young women 
volunteered in my office last summer.
  Juliette Gordon Low envisioned Girl Scouting as a profound force in 
the lives of all girls. In 2001, Girl Scouts of the USA launched a 
major initiative to continue to fulfill the foundational principle that 
every girl deserves the opportunity to learn the leadership and life 
skills that will help her achieve her goals. Through ``Girl Scouting: 
For Every Girl, Everywhere,'' Girl Scout volunteers and staff are 
working to ensure that Girl Scouting is available to every girl in 
every community, reaching beyond racial, ethnic, socioeconomic or 
geographic boundaries. The initiative aims to encourage broader 
membership from minorities, especially among Latina and Asian American 
girls. It also seeks to increase participation of teenage girls and 
girls with disabilities. One of the primary missions of Girl Scouts of 
the USA is to make the positive experience of its programs available to 
girls everywhere. In addition to schools and backyards, Girl Scout 
troops now meet in homeless shelters, migrant farm communities, 
juvenile detention centers, Native American reservations, and even 
online via the Internet.
  With ``Girl Scouting: For Every Girl, Everywhere,'' Girl Scouts of 
the USA hopes to truly reflect the face of America and to ensure that 
every girl who wants to join Girl Scouts has the opportunity to do so. 
This goal is in keeping with its long and proud history of diversity

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and inclusiveness. For 90 years, Girl Scouts has had a proven track 
record of empowering girls to become leaders, helping adults be 
positive role models and mentors for children, and helping to build 
solid communities. I salute Girl Scouts on this tremendous milestone, 
and am confident that Girl Scouts is sure to continue this tradition 
for the next 90 years and beyond.

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