[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 136 (Wednesday, November 24, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2136-E2137]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA FOR PUBLIC SERVICES PERFORMED 
                        ACROSS THE UNITED STATES

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. JO ANN DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 19, 2004

  Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong 
support of H. Res. 853, which expresses the Sense of Congress that the 
Department of Defense should continue to exercise its authority to 
support the activities of the Boy Scouts of America.
  I am appalled that the Department of Defense agreed to warn its 
military bases worldwide not to sponsor Boy Scout Troops--just because 
the ACLU is upset that they require their members to swear an oath to 
God. I wholeheartedly disagree with this decision, and I think the 
Pentagon should reconsider this short-sighted settlement.
  Over the last 30 years, the Department of Defense has been 
specifically authorized to host Scouts on its installations and to 
provide equipment, transportation, and other services for both national 
and international events such as the Boy Scout Jamboree. Furthermore, 
United States Code Title 10, Sections 4682, 7541, and 9682 authorizes 
the Department of Defense to sell and donate (in certain cases) 
obsolete or excess material to the Boy Scouts of America to support its 
activities.
  In the First District of Virginia, the Boy Scout Jamboree is hosted 
at Fort A.P. Hill every four years. The success of this event is 
directly attributable to the strong relationship that the

[[Page E2137]]

Boy Scouts and the Department of Defense have built over the years.
  The Boy Scouts and the Department of Defense have enjoyed a unique 
relationship with many former Scouts joining the ranks of our nation's 
military. The Pentagon's recent agreement threatens this unique 
relationship of two organizations dedicated to one important objective: 
service to God and country.
  I would remind my colleagues that Boy Scouts are not the only people 
who swear an oath to God. The fact is that our own service men and 
women take a similar oath before God at the beginning of their service, 
and I will not support any action or agreement which attempts to 
endanger a partnership which clearly benefits both organizations. I 
urge the Pentagon to reconsider its decision and to continue to support 
the Boy Scouts of America.

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