[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 27 (Monday, February 10, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H589]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNIZING THE ANNIVERSARY OF SCOUTING AMERICA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
the 115th anniversary of Scouting America.
  On February 8, 1910, Chicago businessman William D. Boyce, who grew 
up in western Pennsylvania, incorporated the Boy Scouts of America, now 
known today also as Scouting America.
  For more than a century, Scouting has built character, fostered 
leadership, and instilled in young people the values that strengthen 
families, communities, and our Nation.
  Generations of Scouts have learned that leadership is not about 
titles but about action. It is about stepping up when others step back 
and about lending a hand when it is needed most.
  Time and time again, Scouts have answered the call, whether 
responding to natural disasters, local emergencies, assisting veterans, 
or leading conservation efforts in their communities.
  Even in my current role as U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 
15th Congressional District and chairman of the House Agriculture 
Committee, I use the lessons and values learned in Scouting to ease and 
to guide my decisionmaking.
  The Scout Oath tells us that we have a duty to God, country, others, 
and self. This is a checklist that I use when voting on the House 
floor.
  The first question I ask myself is how this affects my duty to God. 
Is the bill righteous according to God's Word, according to my faith?
  If the bill passes this test, I ask myself whether this fulfills my 
duty to country. Will this benefit the country and my constituents? 
What does the Constitution have to say about the decision I am making?
  If the bill passes this step, I will move on and ask myself how this 
fulfills my duty to others. For me, as Representative of Pennsylvania's 
15th Congressional District, that is more than 780,000 citizens in 18 
counties, a third of the land mass of Pennsylvania. In my role as 
chairman of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, that is being 
accountable to every individual in this Nation when it comes to food, 
fiber, and energy.
  If the bill passes that step, I will move on and ask myself how this 
fulfills my duty to self. While this may sound selfish, it represents 
the duty I have to myself really based on another principle of 
Scouting: Am I prepared to do my best?

  The Scout Law, Motto, and Oath are moral benchmarks for serving 
others, our community, and ourselves. Scouting enables the next 
generation of youth to develop leadership skills, connect with their 
community, build self-confidence, and gain numerous other benefits for 
themselves and their country.
  The Scouting program is one of the best youth organizations for 
cultivating a sense of responsibility and leadership development, 
allowing them to become engaged citizens who care and respect their 
communities.
  I will always cherish the time I spent in Scouting and value its role 
in shaping me into whom I am today.
  I have been involved in Scouting for more than 50 years, including 
serving as a Scoutmaster and achieving the rank of Eagle Scout in 1977. 
Scouting helped me discover my life purpose: helping others.
  I take the lessons learned throughout my young Scouting career and 
apply them at every aspect of my life today, including at my job 
serving as a United States Congressman.
  As co-chair of the Congressional Scouting Caucus, I was proud to 
introduce a resolution, alongside my fellow Eagle Scout from Georgia, 
Mr. Sanford Bishop, designating Saturday, February 8, as Scouts of 
America Day to honor the tireless service of Scouts, volunteers, and 
participants in our communities.
  The Scouts have a slogan: ``Do a Good Turn Daily.'' I hope everyone 
sees the value in helping those around them and continues to pursue 
kindness.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the Scouts, leaders, volunteers, and families 
who have helped keep this movement strong. Their dedication ensures 
that Scouting will continue to inspire and guide future generations.

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