[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 167 (Thursday, November 3, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7138-S7139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 310--DESIGNATING 2012 AS THE ``YEAR OF THE GIRL'' AND 
     CONGRATULATING GIRL SCOUTS OF THE USA ON ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY

  Ms. MIKULSKI (for herself and Ms. Collins) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 310

       Whereas, for more than 100 years, Girl Scouts of the USA 
     (referred to in this preamble as ``Girl Scouts'') has 
     inspired girls to lead with courage, confidence and 
     character;
       Whereas the Girl Scout movement began on March 12, 1912, 
     when Juliette ``Daisy'' Gordon Low (a native of Savannah, 
     Georgia) organized a group of 18 girls and provided the girls 
     with the opportunity to develop physically, mentally, and 
     spiritually;
       Whereas the goal of Daisy Low was to bring together girls 
     of all backgrounds to develop self-reliance and 
     resourcefulness, and to prepare each girl for a future role 
     as a professional woman and active citizen outside the home;
       Whereas, within a few years, there were nearly 70,000 Girl 
     Scouts throughout the United States, including the territory 
     of Hawaii;
       Whereas Girl Scouts established the first troops for 
     African-American girls in 1917 and the first troops for girls 
     with disabilities in 1920;

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       Whereas today more than 50,000,000 women in the United 
     States are alumnae of the Girl Scouts, and approximately 
     3,300,000 girls and adult volunteers are active members of 
     the Girl Scouts;
       Whereas Girl Scouts live in every corner of the United 
     States, Puerto Rico, the territories of the United States, 
     and more than 90 countries overseas;
       Whereas Girl Scouts is the largest member of the World 
     Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, a global movement 
     comprised of more than 10,000,000 girls in 145 countries 
     worldwide;
       Whereas the robust program of Girl Scouts helps girls 
     develop as leaders and build confidence by learning new 
     skills;
       Whereas the award-winning Girl Scout Leadership Program 
     helps each girl discover herself and her values;
       Whereas the Girl Scout Leadership Program leadership model 
     helps girls develop skills such as critical thinking, problem 
     solving, cooperation and team building, conflict resolution, 
     advocacy, and other important life skills;
       Whereas core programs around Science, Technology, 
     Engineering and Math (referred to in this preamble as 
     ``STEM''), environmental stewardship, healthy living, 
     financial literacy, and global citizenship help girls develop 
     a solid foundation in leadership;
       Whereas STEM programming, first introduced in 1913 with the 
     ``electrician'' and ``flyer'' badges, offers girls of every 
     age science, technology, engineering, and math activities 
     that are relevant to everyday life;
       Whereas the award-winning STEM program helps girls build 
     strong, hands-on foundations to become future female leaders 
     and meet the growing need for skilled science and technology 
     professionals in the United States;
       Whereas healthy living programs--
       (1) help each Girl Scout build the skills necessary to 
     maintain a healthy body, an engaged mind, and a positive 
     spirit; and
       (2) teach girls about fitness and nutrition, body image, 
     self-esteem, and relational issues, especially bullying;
       Whereas through the 100th Anniversary Take Action Project, 
     ``Girl Scouts Forever Green'', Girl Scouts is honoring the 
     commitment of Juliette Low to the outdoors by engaging 
     families, friends, and communities to improve the environment 
     and protect the natural resources of the United States;
       Whereas the financial literacy programming of Girl Scouts, 
     most notably the iconic Girl Scout Cookie Program, helps 
     girls set financial goals and gain the confidence needed to 
     ultimately take control of their own financial future;
       Whereas the beloved tradition of the Girl Scout Cookie 
     Program has a proven legacy in the United States, as more 
     than 80 percent of highly successful businesswomen were Girl 
     Scouts;
       Whereas Girl Scouts has also helped millions of young girls 
     become good global citizens through international exchanges, 
     travel, ``take action'' and service projects, and newer 
     programs such as ``twinning'' (where girls in the United 
     States connect with girls in other countries) and virtual 
     Girl Scout troops;
       Whereas Girl Scouts has helped girls advance diversity in a 
     multicultural world, connect with local and global 
     communities, and feel empowered to make a difference in the 
     world;
       Whereas the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor in 
     Girl Scouting, requires a girl to make a measurable and 
     sustainable difference in the community by--
       (1) assessing a need;
       (2) designing a solution;
       (3) finding the resources and the support to implement the 
     solution;
       (4) completing the project; and
       (5) inspiring others to sustain the project;
       Whereas the Gold Award honors leadership in the Girl Scout 
     tradition because Gold Award recipients have already changed 
     the world as high school students;
       Whereas two-thirds of the most accomplished women in public 
     service in the United States were Girl Scouts;
       Whereas research by Girl Scouts shows that Girl Scouts 
     alumnae--
       (1) have a positive sense of self;
       (2) are engaged in community service;
       (3) are civically engaged;
       (4) have attained high levels of education; and
       (5) are successful according to many economic indicators;
       Whereas, in addition to the outstanding programs that Girl 
     Scouts offers, Girl Scouts has evolved into the premier 
     expert on the healthy growth and development of girls;
       Whereas, since the founding of the Girl Scout Research 
     Institute in 2000, the Institute has become an 
     internationally recognized center for original research, 
     research reviews, and surveys that provide significant 
     insights into the lives of girls;
       Whereas the research conducted by Girl Scouts not only 
     informs Girl Scout program development and delivery, but also 
     helps bring the voice of girls to key issues in the public 
     sphere;
       Whereas, by bringing greater attention to the health, 
     education, and developmental needs of girls, Girl Scouts 
     provides a voice for girls with policymakers, business 
     leaders, educators, and all other stakeholders who care about 
     the healthy growth and development of girls;
       Whereas Girl Scouts ensures that issues such as STEM 
     education, bullying prevention, unhealthy perceptions of 
     beauty as portrayed by the media, and many other important 
     issues--
       (1) are brought to the attention of the public; and
       (2) are addressed through public policy at the national, 
     State, and local levels; and
       Whereas Girl Scouts of the USA is recognizing its 100th 
     anniversary by designating 2012 as the ``Year of the Girl'': 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the importance of empowering girls to lead 
     with courage, confidence, and character;
       (2) congratulates Girl Scouts of the USA on its 100th 
     anniversary; and
       (3) designates 2012 as the ``Year of the Girl''.

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to join Senator Mikulski in 
submitting a resolution honoring the 100th anniversary of Girl 
Scouting. In March of 2012, the Girl Scouts of America will celebrate a 
century as the world's preeminent organization dedicated solely to 
helping young women develop the character and skills for future 
success.
  The Girl Scouts have a tremendous history that should be celebrated 
and remembered. Since this organization was founded in 1912 in by 
Juliette Gordon Low, more than 50 million American girls have learned 
the values of integrity, leadership, and volunteerism. Today, there are 
more than 3.7 million members in 236,000 local troops throughout the 
United States and its territories, Girls Scouts has a global reach, 
with more than 10 million members in 145 countries. As the program 
continues to inspire, challenge, and empower young women across our 
Nation and around the world, its members are seeking to come together 
and recognize its 100th year of creating challenges, opportunities, and 
unforgettable memories.
  In 2009, I introduced the Girl Scouts USA Centennial Commemorative 
Coin Act with Senator Mikulski. Our bill, which passed both the House 
and Senate unanimously and was signed into law by the President, 
directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint commemorative silver-
dollar coins, which will be issued in 2013. Proceeds from the coin 
sales will benefit the Girl Scouts Centennial Year activities and the 
preservation of the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace so that future 
generations of Girl Scouts will be able to pay tribute to the history 
of this notable organization.
  With more than 16,000 girl and adult members, Girl Scouts of Maine is 
my State's preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls, all 
girls, where, in an accepting and nurturing environment, girls build 
the character and skills for success that last a lifetime. I thoroughly 
enjoyed my years as a Girl Scout in my hometown of Caribou, ME, 
including the two summers I spent at Camp Natarswi, so it gives me 
great pleasure to join in celebrating this important anniversary. On 
behalf of Girl Scouts in Maine and across America, I am pleased to 
introduce this resolution in celebration of 100 years of Girl Scouting.

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