[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 165 (Monday, December 19, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13976-S13977]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 BOY SCOUTS AND GIRL SCOUTS OF AMERICA

  Mr. FRIST. Madam President, yesterday I had the pleasure of hosting 
Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts here in the Nation's Capitol in celebration 
with an event that looked at a bill that will be included in the 
Department of Defense appropriations bill, and this bill is the Support 
our Troops Act of 2005. We had an event to celebrate. We had a little 
press conference, and with the hot lights actually one of the Scouts 
got a little faint, which many of us do, and it was remarkable to see 
the Scouts' reaction. They knew exactly what to do and how to handle it 
as we stood before those cameras.
  The event yesterday highlighted the tremendous contributions of 
Scouting, a much beloved tradition in this country under congressional 
charter in 1910 and since that point in time has served over 110 
million Americans as participants in Scouting. Our efforts here in the 
Senate have been to protect that tradition for generations to come.
  I have worked very closely with Roy Williams, the chief Scout 
executive for the Boy Scouts of America, and John Cushman, the national 
president of the Boy Scouts of America, in fashioning this legislation. 
Both were there at that event yesterday, as well as Troop 1100 from 
Burke, VA.
  I have worked closely with Roy and John to craft what is commonsense 
legislation, the Support our Troops Act of 2005. It will be passed here 
hopefully a little bit later today as part of that DOD bill. It passed 
this floor in an overwhelming, bipartisan way earlier this year.
  The bill is a straightforward victory for the Boy Scouts of America 
as well as other youth organizations that are helping to mold the 
hearts and the minds of our young generation today.
  Without question, the success of Scouting relies on the commitment of 
the Scouts and their leaders and their parents. But Scouting also 
depends on having equal access to public facilities and participation 
in public programs and forums that allow Scouts to learn their field 
craft, to sharpen their skills, contribute to their community, and to 
learn the values that make America great.
  Over the last few years, the Boy Scouts have been subjected to 
repeated attempts to exclude them from public facilities. The attacks 
have mounted so quickly that exclusion from Government forums has 
become the greatest legal challenge for the existence of the Boy 
Scouts.
  For example, last year, the Department of Defense was required to 
notify American military bases worldwide that they cannot provide 
support to or directly sponsor the Boy Scouts of America. This 
unfortunate directive came about because of a lawsuit--a vindictive 
lawsuit--by the American Civil Liberties Union to demand that the 
Government discontinue its support of the Scouts. Their reason? Because 
they argue the Scouts are a religious organization. Most Americans 
would not recognize camping and building trails and fellowship and 
voluntarism as distinctly religious activities, but the ACLU is bound 
and determined to undermine the Scouting mission at a time when 
probably more than ever in history our Nation yearns for stronger 
community ties, stronger family ties, and stronger fellowship, a 
culture of integrity, a culture of honesty, and a culture of character 
for our young people.

  That is why I sponsored the Support Our Troops Act, to ensure that 
the Boy Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of the United States of 
America are not subject to unfair legal assaults, to remove any doubt 
that Federal agencies may, indeed, welcome Scouts onto Federal 
property, to ensure that State and local governments cannot 
discriminate against the Scouts.
  I have tremendous admiration for the Boy Scouts. I was a Boy Scout. 
The first question I had yesterday from Scouts was: Were you an Eagle 
Scout? I said, no, but the one goal I set and should have done was 
becoming an Eagle Scout.
  Scouting meant much to my three boys, Harrison, Jonathan, and Bryan, 
all of whom participated in Scouts, each of whom I have had the 
opportunity to camp with many times, with

[[Page S13977]]

their troops and with their Scouting entities.
  Through exposure to the outdoors, through the hard work and virtues 
of civic duty, the Boy Scouts have developed millions of young 
Americans into fine citizens today, community servants and, of course, 
future leaders. It is an honor to support this fine organization. Those 
values taught by Scouts have played an important role in shaping my own 
life and that of my family, and now, because of the Support Our Troops 
Act, Scouting continues to enrich the lives of countless young boys and 
girls and their families and their communities as it has always done 
over the last 100 years, strengthening the fabric of American life.
  Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. FEINGOLD. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  Mr. STEVENS. Reserving the right to object, I will not object if I 
can follow the Senator.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. It is not in order to reserve the 
right to object.
  Is there objection?
  Mr. FEINGOLD. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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