[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 16 (Wednesday, February 3, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E142]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    THE PRINCIPLES OF THE OATH AND LAW OF THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

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                           HON. BILL SHUSTER

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 3, 2010

  Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the principles 
of the Oath and Law of the Boy Scouts of America. This year marks the 
Centennial Celebration of the founding of the Boy Scouts of America. On 
February 8th, 2010 the Penn's Woods Council will be promoting ``The 
Rededication to the Principles of the Scout Oath and Law Ceremony'' at 
the County Courthouses in Pennsylvania's Bedford, Blair, Cambria, 
Somerset, and Indiana Counties.
  The Oath and Law of the Boy Scouts bind the 55 million alumni of the 
organization at all levels of participation. Among these alumni: 
lawyers, doctors, industrialists, educators, labor leaders, military 
leaders, astronauts, and Presidents of the United States. The 
principles of the Oath and Law propelled them to the tops of their 
professions, and in some cases to the stars. The Oath expects Scouts to 
be patriotic, obedient, generous, and upstanding. Indeed, the law 
requires them to be: trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, 
kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. These 
principles make good scouts, and they make good citizens.
  And that is the greatest legacy of 100 years of the Scout Law and 
Oath. As Scouts learn the Law and Oath, repeat them, adopt the 
principles within them, and live them, they learn at the same time how 
to be good Americans. The accomplishments of many of our citizens drew 
on the timeless virtues they developed as Scouts. Such a record of good 
work deserves another 100 years. I applaud the Boy Scouts of America 
for their excellent virtues and their success in living them. I commend 
the Penn's Woods Council for its work in central Pennsylvania. I hope 
they continue to contribute to our country for years to come.

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