[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 13 (Wednesday, February 9, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H419-H422]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  EXPRESSING SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CONTINUE TO 
 EXERCISE ITS AUTHORITY SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES OF BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

  Mr. HEFLEY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 6) expressing the sense of the 
Congress that the Department of Defense should continue to exercise its 
statutory authority to support the activities of the Boy Scouts of 
America, in particular the periodic national and world Boy Scout 
Jamborees.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                             H. Con. Res. 6

       Whereas the Boy Scouts of America was incorporated on 
     February 8, 1910, and received a Federal charter on June 15, 
     1916, which is currently codified as chapter 309 of title 36, 
     United States Code;
       Whereas section 30902 of title 36, United States Code, 
     states that it is the purpose of the Boy Scouts of America to 
     promote, through organization, and cooperation with other 
     agencies, the ability of boys to do things for themselves and 
     others, to train them in scoutcraft, and to teach them 
     patriotism, courage, self-reliance, and kindred virtues;
       Whereas, since its inception, millions of Americans of 
     every race, creed, and religion have participated in the Boy 
     Scouts, and the Boy Scouts of America, as of October 1, 2004, 
     utilizes more than 1,200,000 adult volunteers to serve 
     2,863,000 youth members organized in 121,051 units;
       Whereas the Department of Defense and members of the Armed 
     Forces have a long history of supporting the activities of 
     the Boy Scouts of America and individual Boy Scout troops 
     inside the United States, and section 2606 of title 10, 
     United States Code, enacted in 1988, specifically authorizes 
     the Department of Defense to cooperate with and assist the 
     Boy Scouts of America in establishing and providing 
     facilities and services for members of the Armed Forces and 
     their dependents, and civilian employees of the Department of 
     Defense and their dependents, at locations outside the United 
     States;
       Whereas sections 4682, 7541, and 9682 of title 10, United 
     States Code, authorize the Department of Defense to sell and, 
     in certain cases, donate obsolete or excess material to the 
     Boy Scouts of America to support its activities; and
       Whereas since Public Law 92-249, enacted on March 10, 1972, 
     and codified as section 2554 of title 10, United States Code, 
     the Department of Defense has been specifically authorized to 
     make military installations available to, and to provide 
     equipment, transportation, and other services to, the Boy 
     Scouts of America to support national and world gatherings of 
     Boy Scouts at events known as Boy Scout Jamborees: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),  That it is the sense of the Congress that the 
     Department of Defense should continue to exercise its long-
     standing statutory authority to support the activities of the 
     Boy Scouts of America, in particular the periodic national 
     and world Boy Scout Jamborees.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Colorado (Mr. Hefley) and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. 
Butterfield) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley).


                             General Leave

  Mr. HEFLEY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on the concurrent resolution under consideration.

[[Page H420]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Colorado?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HEFLEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, once again we find the Boy Scouts of America under 
attack from the American Civil Liberties Union. This time the ACLU has 
set its sights on the Department of Defense, challenging its 
longstanding support of the Boy Scouts.
  In 1999 the ACLU of Illinois sued the DOD, the Department of Housing 
and Urban Development, and the Chicago Board of Education for 
sponsoring Boy Scout programs because participation in Boy Scouts 
includes an oath to God. Ultimately, the Chicago Board of Education 
suspended its sponsorship of scouting activities, and on Tuesday, 
November 16, 2004, the Department of Defense agreed to issue a 
worldwide directive to all its military facilities that the Department 
and its personnel may not sponsor Boy Scout units in an official 
manner.
  Madam Speaker, it is already the policy of the Department of Defense 
not to sponsor any private non-Federal organization including the Boy 
Scouts of America. The Department does, however, provide support to the 
Boy Scouts with use of bases and facilities and donations and the use 
of surplus equipment.
  Currently, the DOD spends $2 million every 4 years to prepare Fort 
A.P. Hill, a Virginia military base, for the Boy Scouts' national 
jamboree. The Department also makes an annual allocation of $100,000 to 
support Boy Scout units on military bases overseas and another $100,000 
to improve Boy Scout properties such as summer camps. This support, and 
not the Department's sponsorship, asserts the ACLU, is in violation of 
the establishment clause of the first amendment to the Constitution, 
and is the basis for the lawsuit.
  However, since March 10, 1972, the Department of Defense has been 
specifically authorized to make military installations available to, 
and to provide equipment, transportation, and other services to the Boy 
Scouts of America in support of national and world gathering, including 
events like their jamborees. The Department has also been given 
authority under title 10 of the U.S. Code to sell and in certain cases 
donate obsolete or excess material to the Boy Scouts.
  While the Pentagon's directive will not impair their continued 
support for the Boy Scouts, the ACLU lawsuit quite frankly threatens 
it. Since its inception, millions of Americans of every race, creed, 
and religion have participated in the Boy Scouts of America. As of 
October 1, 2004, the Boy Scouts utilize more than 1.2 million adult 
volunteers to serve 2.863 million youth members organized in 121,051 
units. With the help of agencies like the Department of Defense, many 
of these fine young men have gone on to become notable world figures. 
Let me give some examples: Neil Armstrong, Hank Aaron, Sam Walton, 
President Gerald Ford. And this is just a few.
  Madam Speaker, the traditions of the Boy Scouts have been under 
attack for years by liberal groups. The DOD has been authorized to 
support the Boy Scouts for over 30 years, and any move to threaten this 
relationship is simply unconscionable. My resolution encourages the DOD 
to continue to exercise its statutory authority in its longstanding and 
successful relationship with the Boy Scouts of America.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HEFLEY. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan).
  Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
resolution, and I want, first of all, to commend the gentleman from 
Colorado (Mr. Hefley) for introducing this resolution.
  The Boy Scouts emphasize God and family and country, and I will tell 
the Members this: there are many fine charitable religious and civic 
organizations in this country, but I do not see how there could be any 
that are finer than the Boy Scouts of America.
  I spent 7\1/2\ years as a criminal court judge before I came to 
Congress, trying felony criminal cases. I was told on the first day 
that I was judge that 98 percent of the defendants in felony cases came 
from broken homes. I went through 10,000 cases in that time, and I read 
thousands of times reports saying defendant's father left home when the 
defendant was 2 and never returned, defendant's father left home to get 
a pack of cigarettes and never came back. And I know that many 
outstanding people come from broken homes, but I also know that there 
are many young boys growing up in this country today without a good 
male role model in their lives.
  In fact, I remember one Friday afternoon going to National Airport 
after one of the horrible school shootings that we had in another part 
of the country where a junior high school boy had shot up a school, and 
the national head of the YMCA was on the CBS national news saying that 
children were being neglected in this country today like never before. 
I do not know if that is true and I hope it is not, but certainly it is 
an epidemic-type problem that the Boy Scouts are in the forefront of 
working against, of fighting, of trying to make sure that boys are 
growing up with good male role models and are growing up with good 
guidance in their lives and are not being neglected as never before 
like the national head of the YMCA said.
  Also, the gentleman from Colorado mentioned the ACLU. I know in the 
lead case brought by the ACLU, they received $690,000 in legal fees and 
$160,000 in court costs, $950,000 from the taxpayers. The gentleman 
from Indiana (Mr. Hostettler) has introduced a bill to not make the 
taxpayers pay those types of legal fees. We should pass that type of 
bill.
  But above all, the first good start is to pass this resolution, and I 
urge my colleagues to support this resolution and express our very 
strong support for one of the most outstanding organizations in this 
country today, the Boy Scouts of America.
  Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to control the 
time of the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield) in his 
absence.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Missouri?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Today I rise in support of the resolution introduced by the gentleman 
from Colorado (Mr. Hefley), my good friend. I wholeheartedly endorse 
this resolution, which expresses the sense of Congress that the 
Department of Defense should continue to provide assistance and support 
to one of America's most treasured institutions, the Boy Scouts of 
America.
  The Boy Scouts of America is one of the finest organizations in our 
country. Countless young men have learned the values of God, home, and 
country as young scouts, and the Boy Scout motto, ``Be Prepared,'' has 
inspired generations of youths to prepare for and lead full and 
productive lives.
  One of the most significant lessons taught by the Boy Scouts is the 
importance of being a patriotic American. To call into question the 
status of the Boy Scout organization and potentially deprive young men 
who are military dependents of the opportunity to participate in Boy 
Scout troops on their military bases, is an absolute shame.
  I was fortunate as a boy, as a lad, to join the Boy Scouts when I was 
growing. I still remember how proud my mother and my father were when I 
attained the rank of Eagle Scout. I remember it as if it were 
yesterday. The sponsor of my Eagle Scout class was Dr. Milton 
Eisenhower, and as I mounted the podium with the other branded Eagle 
Scouts and a rose was handed to me, which I was to hand to my mother, 
which I did, and Dr. Eisenhower, after hearing my name called off, my 
first name being Ike, he leaned over to me, shook hands with me, and 
said, ``That is what they used to call me, Ike.'' So evidently all the 
Eisenhower boys were called by that name.
  Madam Speaker, later I was an assistant scout master. I later was the 
cub master of a cub troop in my hometown. I am enormously proud of our 
family who also participated in the scouting program, one of our sons 
of course being an Eagle Scout. I am honored to have continued the 
association with Boy Scouts of America to today.

[[Page H421]]

  So I call on my colleagues to join us in voting for this concurrent 
resolution, for standing up for the young men, Boy Scouts of America, 
who are really the future leaders of our country.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HEFLEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  The gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) knows firsthand the impact 
of the Boy Scouts in the lives of a young boy, and I appreciate very 
much his statement.
  Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. 
Kingston).
  Mr. KINGSTON. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me 
this time.
  I stand in enthusiastic support of H. Con. Res. 6, which urges the 
Department of Defense to continue to exercise its statutory authority 
to support the activities of Boy Scouts of America, and particularly 
letting them have jamborees on military posts and bases.
  When we look at the name Boy Scout, to call somebody a Boy Scout in 
society today, it is a term that one would say this guy is squeaky 
clean. This is a good kid. This is a hard worker. This is somebody who 
likes his family. Indeed, if we step back and see what the Boy Scout 
organization is about, there are strong things of God, family, and 
country, which of course the ACLU cannot stand. The ACLU seems to wake 
up in the morning and look for ways to tear down great institutions in 
our society; so it is no wonder they would again attack another one, 
with the Boy Scouts being their goal.
  What do kids learn in Boy Scouts? The gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. 
Duncan) just talked about how it can help kids who do not have fathers, 
who may have had a broken home and a hard life. What does it teach 
them? It teaches them the value of hard work. It teaches them goal-
setting. It teaches them team effort, community service. It is open to 
all. It teaches them respect for one another.
  Boy Scouts is a good organization, and in our society in order for a 
representative democracy to thrive as it has, we need good civic clubs 
like Rotary and Kiwanis.

                              {time}  1030

  We need good nonprofit institutions like the Cancer Society and the 
Heart Fund and the United Way. We need good churches and good 
synagogues. But for children, young people growing up, these things 
start out with youth groups at church, 4-H Clubs, Girl Scouts, Camp 
Fire Girls, Young Life, YMCA and, of course, the Boy Scouts. This is 
about the United States of America and developing good citizens.
  So I urge the passage of H. Con. Res. 6, so that the Boy Scouts can 
continue to have these important jamborees that teach the kids so many 
good instructional values as they grow up, and have these things hosted 
on military bases when practical and necessary.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Emerson). Without objection, the Chair 
recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield) for the 
balance of his time.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HEFLEY. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Hostettler).
  (Mr. HOSTETTLER asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. HOSTETTLER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me 
time.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 6 and 
America's Boy Scouts. Unfortunately, the assault on the Boy Scouts of 
America continues. In the name of tolerance and acceptance, some would 
force the Department of Defense to abandon America's Boy Scouts. Rather 
than allow this private organization to continue receiving support from 
the Department of Defense, they would rather compel the Department of 
Defense to terminate the relationship between military families and 
this important quality-of-life program.
  It is a shame that the U.S. Congress even has to consider this bill, 
yet here we are actually debating whether such an organization that 
instills service and integrity in our Nation's boys is worthy of 
support from the Department of Defense.
  The Scout's Law says that Scouts must be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, 
friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean 
and reverent. We can only hope that all Americans would ascribe to such 
a code of morality. Imagine the effect on our culture if all of us 
resolved to commit to the Boy Scouts Oath. Rather than condemn the Boy 
Scouts for such a code, this organization deserves our whole-hearted 
support.
  In closing, Madam Speaker, I urge the Boy Scouts to remain unwavering 
in their principles as expressed in the Scout Law and Oath. Likewise, I 
urge my colleagues to continue to support this fine organization by 
voting in favor of H. Con. Res. 6.
  Mr. BUYER. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 6, 
a concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress that the 
Department of Defense should continue to exercise its statutory 
authority to support the activities of the Boy Scouts of America, in 
particular the periodic national and world Boy Scout Jamborees.
  Title 10 of the United States Code, specifically authorizes the DOD 
to make military installations available to, and to provide equipment, 
transportation, and other services to, the Boy Scouts of America to 
support national and world gatherings of Boy Scouts at events known as 
the Boy Scout Jamboree.
  For almost 100 years, the Boy Scouts of America has given generations 
of young men the tools to become moral, responsible, and ethical 
adults. By its actions, the Department of Defense is not only defying 
the law, but also turning its back on these outstanding young men.
  Let me be very clear, the Boy Scouts of America is the Nation's 
foremost youth program of character development and values-based 
leadership training.
  In addition, the Boy Scouts of America offers young people 
responsible fun an adventure, and in the process, it instills lifetime 
values and helps to develop ethical character. It is also an 
organization that promotes family values and service to country.
  I urge my colleagues to pass this resolution.
  Mr. KLINE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support 
for the Boy Scouts of America and the right of the Department of 
Defense to continue their support of this proud organization.
  The Boy Scouts of America enjoys a long tradition of excellence. For 
nearly a century young men have joined the scouts, and have come away 
with essential life skills and character building experiences. Many of 
my colleagues here today claim alumni status in the Boy Scouts and 
credit their scouting experience in the development of a commitment to 
civic responsibility. I am proud to include myself in this group. And, 
I am especially proud that my son, now a major in the U.S. Army is an 
Eagle Scout.
  The Department of Defense has long shared in the support of the Boy 
Scouts and their mission of preparing young people to make ethical and 
moral choices over their lifetimes. Unfortunately, a small group 
threatens to put in jeopardy the well-being of this outstanding 
organization for the purposes of political grandstanding.
  I stand today with my colleagues to encourage the Department of 
Defense to continue their critical support of the Boy Scouts of 
America, and protect their constitutional right to free speech.
  Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong Support of H. Con. Res. 
6 and the Boy Scouts of America. I would like to thank my colleague, 
Representative Joel Hefley, for introducing this important resolution 
to support the Boy Scouts of America and their Jamborees.
  To all Scouts everywhere, I say continue to live your life according 
to the Scout law, and you will find that you will go far in life.
  To those adults involved in the Scouts, I say, thank you. Thank you 
for your work to mold young people into fine citizens that will do 
great things for our country.
  The Scout leaders who teach Scouts about self respect, self reliance, 
and the wonders of our natural world do our nation a great service. 
Without the Boy Scouts and others who have worked to instill these 
values in our society, many in this institution would not be able to 
carry on the hard work to protect our natural resources and wild lands.
  Last Congress, I introduced H.R. 5428 which, if passed, would restore 
the ability of our armed forces to directly support Scout troops and 
ensure that the Scouts will continue to have the use of Fort A.P. Hill 
and the assistance of our armed forces for its jamboree. I intend to 
work with my colleagues to introduce similar legislation again in this 
Congress.
  Madam Speaker, I grew up a Boy Scout, became a Scoutmaster, and 
watched proudly

[[Page H422]]

as both my sons became Scouts. I will continue to protect the Scouts 
from those that wish to harm this fine organization.
  I urge all of my colleagues to vote for H. Con. Res. 6.
  Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I rise to oppose H. Con. Res. 6, a 
resolution expressing, the sense of Congress that the Department of 
Defense should continue to exercise its statutory authority to support 
the activities of the Boy Scouts of America.
  I do not oppose the Boy Scouts. However, I do oppose the Federal 
Government using its resources to support an organization that 
blatantly discriminates against various groups.
  As a private organization, the Boy Scouts may exclude individuals 
from membership based on their sexual orientation, religion, or gender. 
I disagree with that decision, but it is their right.
  But I oppose a resolution commending any part of our government--even 
the Department of Defense--for supporting the Boy Scouts or any other 
organization that promotes active discrimination.
  The author of this resolution may be concerned that courts are 
calling into question the appropriateness of the support the Department 
of Defense provides to the Boy Scouts. I hope the courts do move 
forward to end this explicit government support of discrimination. We 
should do that here in Congress, but instead my Republican colleagues 
are trying to hinder the courts from enforcing civil rights.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, today I voted against H. Con. Res. 6, 
because I am disappointed with the Boy Scouts of America's exclusionary 
policies that prevent gay boys and teens from participating in 
scouting. While the Boy Scouts' positive work within our Nation's 
communities is notable, the message that the organization sends to gay 
youth by shutting them out diminishes its greater goals of teaching 
respect, personal honor, and service.
  It is important to encourage and support all of our children and by 
excluding gay youth the Boy Scouts of America is preventing some young 
men from experiencing the positive benefits Scouting can offer.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Madam Speaker, I have long admired the services of 
the many Boy Scout volunteers and have benefited from the organization 
myself. It is sad that their good works have been clouded by a policy 
that governs who can participate in the organization. Until the 
organization changes that policy, I do not feel comfortable voting for 
resolutions such as this.


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  February 9, 2005--On Page H422 under Mr. BLUMENAUER., the 
following appeared: Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, . . .
  
  The online version should be corrected to read: Mr. BLUMENAUER. 
Madam Speaker, . . .


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 

  I look forward to the day the Boy Scouts of America can better 
represent their communities by extending membership to all persons who 
abide by the Boy Scout creed.
  Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 6--
Sense of Congress that the Department of Defense should continue its 
support of the Boy Scouts of America.
  I rise as a life-long member of the Scouts, and a proud Eagle Scout.
  This week marks the 95th anniversary of the incorporation of the Boy 
Scouts of America. Mr. Speaker, the Boy Scouts stand for something--
they stand for what we want all young Americans to be.
  To be Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful and Friendly.
  There are not many organizations, Mr. Speaker, that stand for the 
same values and principles today that they did at the time of their 
founding or incorporation. The Boy Scouts of America are not an 
organization that has changed its core values in order to maintain a 
sense of political correctness in an age of vanishing values.
  There are not many organizations that exist today, like the Boy 
Scouts of America that are willing to stand up and tell young men that 
they should strive to be:
  Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful,
  Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent.
  Those are the principles of the Boy Scout Law. And it is my sense, 
and I believe the sense of my constituents and those of the rest of 
America, that Congress continue to support the Boy Scouts of America.
  The Boy Scouts will be gathering this summer at Fort A.P. Hill in 
Virginia, and Congress should resolve to encourage in strong terms that 
the Department of Defense continue its support of the Scouts today, for 
the coming national jamboree, and in the future.
  Mr. HEFLEY. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and 
encourage everyone to support this resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 6.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. HEFLEY. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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