[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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