[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 42 (Monday, March 12, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H2412-H2414]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          COMMENDING THE GIRL SCOUTS ON THEIR 95TH ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 136) commending the Girl Scouts of the 
United States of America on the occasion of their 95th anniversary, for 
providing quality age-appropriate experiences that prepare girls to 
become the leaders of tomorrow and for raising issues important to 
girls.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 136

       Whereas the Girl Scouts of the United States of America 
     (hereinafter referred to as the ``Girl Scouts'') is an 
     organization that is committed to helping girls of today 
     become leaders of tomorrow and that delivers quality 
     experiences for girls locally, nationally, and 
     internationally (through USA Girl Scouts Overseas);
       Whereas the Girl Scouts are celebrating their 95th 
     anniversary on March 12, 2007;
       Whereas the Girl Scout program is girl-driven, reflecting 
     the ever-changing needs and interests of participating girls, 
     and provides girls with a wide variety of opportunities 
     through its new mission statement, ``Girl Scouting builds 
     girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the 
     world a better place.'';
       Whereas the Girl Scouts encourage increased skill-building 
     and responsibility, and also promotes the development of 
     strong leadership and decision-making skills, through program 
     activities that are age-appropriate and based on the ``Girl 
     Scout Promise and Law'';
       Whereas at all levels of the Girl Scouts, girls participate 
     in activities that build self-confidence, responsibility, 
     integrity, creative decision-making skills, and teamwork, 
     helping them take steps toward becoming the leaders of 
     tomorrow and developing real-world leadership abilities that 
     will last them a lifetime;
       Whereas the Girl Scouts advocate for public policy that is 
     girl-centered and beneficial to all girls;
       Whereas the Girl Scouts recognize that approximately 
     9,000,000 children over the age of 6 are obese; that obesity 
     is highest among girls coming from families with low-income 
     levels, and that fewer than 1 in 3 adolescents participate in 
     an acceptable amount of physical exercise, with girls getting 
     less exercise than boys overall; and
       Whereas the Girl Scouts are focusing on promoting healthy 
     living for girls during 2007 and recognize through a recent 
     study ``The New Normal: What Girls are Saying About Healthy 
     Living'' that girls define ``health'' as a combination of 
     diet and exercise as well as emotional well-being and self-
     esteem: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
       (1) commends the Girl Scouts of the United States of 
     America for its efforts to launch a national dialogue on the 
     issue of obesity among young girls;
       (2) recognizes the Girl Scouts of the United States of 
     America for its leadership and expertise in knowing the needs 
     of girls through the work of the Girl Scout Research 
     Institute; and
       (3) commends the Girl Scouts of the United States of 
     America for continuing to actively promote issues important 
     to girls.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, it was a brisk March morning when Juliette Gordon Low 
placed a historic phone call to her cousin in Savannah, Georgia. 
Juliette said, ``Come right over. I've got something for the girls of 
Savannah, and all of America, and the world, and we're going to start 
it tonight.''
  That phone call proved to be a historic one. On the evening of March 
12, 1912, Juliette Gordon Low gathered 18 girls to register the first 
troop of Girl Scouts in the United States of America. With one phone 
call a movement was born.
  An organization founded upon the principles of strength, empowerment, 
responsibility, and community, the Girl Scouts have continued to change 
the lives of many girls for generations. While other organizations have 
struggled to deal with factors such as race and socioeconomic status, 
the Girl Scouts have always been looked at as an organization of 
inclusion, having desegregated councils as early as 1917.

                              {time}  1445

  The Girl Scouts also offer programs for girls in unusual situations 
that make it difficult for them to participate in the standard program. 
The Girl Scouts Beyond Bars programs helps daughters of incarcerated 
mothers to connect with their mothers and to have the mothers 
participate in Girl Scout activities.
  Another program, Girl Scouting in Detention Centers, allows girls who 
are themselves in detention centers to participate in scouting. Other 
initiatives try to help girls in rural areas or in public housing. 
There are also programs for American girls living overseas.
  Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not comment on one of my 
favorite Girl Scout traditions, which is the annual cookie sale. For 
many years, I was overjoyed when I would see the little girls selling 
cookies door to door. I personally like the shortbread cookies.
  It is because of the long-standing history and commitment of the Girl 
Scouts of the United States of America that I commend them and ask my 
colleagues for their support in the passage of this commendation 
without delay.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, today commemorates the 95th anniversary of the founding 
of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America. Founder Juliette 
Daisy Gordon Low organized the first Girl Scout meeting with 18 girls 
in Savannah, Georgia. While living in the United Kingdom, Low dreamed 
of giving the United States something for all girls and envisioned 
exposing girls to helping their communities and enjoying the outdoors.
  The organization went through many different name changes, but it was 
finally renamed as we know it today in 1947. It was later chartered by 
the United States Congress on March 16, 1950.
  For 95 years, the Girl Scout organization has provided real-world 
leadership training for over 50 million girls and young women across 
the Nation. Today, overall membership includes 2.7 million girl members 
and 928,000 adult members, working primarily as volunteers. Mr. 
Speaker, I am proud to say

[[Page H2413]]

that my two oldest granddaughters are members of the Girl Scouts of 
America.
  The important guidance given to girls goes far beyond the eagerly 
anticipated annual sale of Thin Mints, Tagalongs and Dos si Dos, now 
made without any trans fat. Through their various programs, the 
organization instills the ideals of character, conduct, leadership, as 
well as service to others. They have recently launched a program for 
girls focused on healthy living that includes education regarding diet 
and exercise.
  This important education has been instituted because of the national 
concern about obesity among children and the knowledge that a program 
such as this has been proven to lead to emotional and physical well-
being.
  The Girl Scouts organization has long been committed to helping girls 
of today become leaders of tomorrow through activities that build self-
confidence, responsibility, integrity, creative decision-making skills, 
and teamwork. It can be difficult growing up, especially in today's 
society.
  The Girl Scouts is one organization that has consistently guided 
members to believe that girls can do anything by offering girls aged 5 
through 17 a variety of opportunities through their scouting programs.
  The Girl Scouts are woven into the fabric of American life and have 
affected girls' lives, as well as their families, in virtually every 
community in the country. Girl Scout programs continue to expand, 
taking into account the diverse population of America today.
  They have initiated outreach programs that strive to include all 
cultures as part of their mission to foster the qualities on which the 
United States depends. The Girl Scouts not only reach out to girls in 
the United States but through U.S.A. Girl Scouts Overseas, it is 
committed to helping girls worldwide become leaders of tomorrow. Their 
new vision statement sums up all that is good about this organization 
by saying, ``Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and 
character, who make the world a better place.''
  For this reason, Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to join me in 
supporting H. Res. 136.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman 
from Georgia for his eloquent remarks, and it is my pleasure to yield 
such time as she might consume to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. 
McCarthy), the sponsor of this legislation.
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Davis of Illinois 
and Congressman Westmoreland from Georgia, also.
  March marks the 95th anniversary of the Girl Scouts of the United 
States of America. Founded in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low, with only 18 
members, Girl Scouts is now the finest organization for girls in the 
world, with close to 4 million active members and more than 50 million 
former members, and I am proud to say I am one of them.
  Girl Scouts provides high-quality, age-appropriate experiences for 
girls locally, nationally and internationally that build girls of 
courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
  For 95 years, Girl Scouts has served girls through a remarkable 
leadership development program delivered by dedicated volunteers in 
every community across the country. All programs are girl-driven and 
provide girls with a wide variety of leadership building activities 
that promote teamwork and the development of strong decision-making 
skills.
  There are many programs to choose from, including more than 70 
achievement badges encouraging girls to pursue education and careers in 
math, science and engineering, an anti-bullying and violence prevention 
program, and a program that connects girls with their mothers who are 
incarcerated.
  Girl Scouts also offer a huge range of outreach activities to girls 
who have never had the opportunity to be a Girl Scout, including Latina 
and Native American girls, along with girls in rural communities and in 
public housing developments.
  Girl Scouts recognizes the importance of giving a voice to girls by 
sharing original research reviews that have helped change the dialogue 
among the media, policymakers and community leaders on issues important 
to girls. They have released numerous reports that have helped shape 
policy discussions in this country.
  In celebrating 95 years of excellence and the significant 
contributions, Girl Scouts will raise the bar in being the voice for 
all girls.
  Help me commend the Girl Scouts of the United States of America for 
its leadership and expertise in meeting the needs of girls throughout 
their 95 years of remarkable programs, knowledge and information about 
girls who recognize the nearly 1 million current adult volunteers and 
volunteers through the decades.
  Mr. Speaker, spending time as a Girl Scout when I was a young child I 
have to say was a wonderful, wonderful experience. Back then, we only 
worked on homemaking skills. We did things that girls did in the early 
1960s, but today I am proud to say that when you see the Girl Scouts 
working together, serving, certainly volunteerism in nursing homes and 
helping our elderly, mentoring for those students that need it, they 
have come a long way and they are on the right track, certainly 
expanding their horizon for what they are going to do. When they meet 
with other Girl Scouts internationally, it is a wonderful opportunity 
so different countries can get to know each other.
  They are the future of our Nation, and I am proud of them, and I urge 
my colleagues to pass this resolution.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers at this time, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such 
time as he might consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Barrow).
  Mr. BARROW. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with a certain amount of personal pride and a 
great deal of civic pride that I join my colleagues in support of this 
resolution today.
  On the civic side of things, I have the privilege of representing 
Savannah, Georgia, in the U.S. House of Representatives. It is my 
hometown. Juliette Gordon Low founded the Girl Scouts in Savannah. She 
was a native of Savannah. She founded the organization in 1912. The 
first organization's headquarters was in the back of her home in 
Savannah, Georgia, and from that humble beginning some 95 years ago we 
have gone from 18 members to almost 4 million members worldwide. I go 
by that building every time I am in town on the way to work, walking on 
the streets. It gives me a great deal of civic pride, along with the 
rest of my fellow Savannahians, who recognize that Girl Scouts the 
world over look to Savannah as the home and the homeplace of Girl 
Scouting.
  On a personal level, I venture to say that very few of us guys in the 
U.S. House of Representatives are closer to Girl Scouting than I am. I 
have three sisters. Every one of them was a Girl Scout, including my 
twin sister, and I can tell you as a guy you don't get much closer to 
Girl Scouting than that.
  I know that there are lots of organizations that promote courage, 
confidence and character in young girls but none do as good a job as 
the Girl Scouts.
  On behalf of my hometown, on behalf of the 700,000 people that I have 
privilege of representing in Congress, and on behalf of the millions of 
brothers of Girl Scouts the worldwide, I am proud to congratulate the 
Girl Scouts on their 95th anniversary, and I extend my best wishes for 
the next 95 years.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is just good to know that in 
addition to the great scenic beauty and southern charm that Savannah is 
so well-noted for, that other good things have come from there, and 
certainly the Girl Scouts of America. I would urge all Members to vote 
in favor of this legislation.
  Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to 
join the Girl Scouts of the USA in celebrating their 95th anniversary. 
Since its founding in 1912, the Girl Scouts has become the world's 
preeminent organization for girls. Back then they had just 18 members, 
but today, there are 3.7 million Girl Scouts--2.7 million girl members 
and 928,000 adult members working primarily as volunteers.

[[Page H2414]]

  Girl Scouting builds confidence, character, and leadership skills 
which allow girls to grow into young women who make positive 
contributions to the world around them. Each unique experience, be it 
reading to younger students or participating in a math competition, 
empowers girls and helps them reach their full potential.
  On the national level, the Girl Scouts of the USA has been an 
advocate for girls' involvement in math, science and engineering; for 
violence prevention and for the health and safety of all girls. Through 
their many government and corporate partnerships, the Girl Scouts bring 
innovative programming to girls throughout the country and expand their 
reach to underserved communities where girls need it most.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud that the Girl Scouts of Freedom Valley, which 
serves my district, has over 21,000 members and 7,000 adult volunteers. 
I am proud to have such a wonderful team of volunteers dedicated to the 
leadership and character development of girls in Southeastern 
Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I know that all of us take pride knowing 
that each and every Girl Scout of today will be one of tomorrow's 
leaders.
  I know the Girl Scouts of the USA will celebrate many more 
anniversaries and continue to be a positive influence on our Nation's 
girls and on our society for generations to come.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 136.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. 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 question will 
be postponed.

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