[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 16425]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



             OPPOSITION TO H.R. 4892, SCOUTING FOR ALL ACT

  (Mr. BUYER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, the Supreme Court has ruled that the Boy 
Scouts of America, as a private organization, has the right to set its 
own standards for membership and leadership. This allows the Scouts to 
continue developing young men of strong moral character without 
imposing the mores on them that they find abhorrent.
  Would my colleagues like a view of extremist liberal Democrats who 
seek to control this House? They have filed a bill to revoke the Boy 
Scouts Federal charter, a blatant attempt to undermine the Supreme 
Court's ruling and punish the Boy Scouts for their belief.
  This bill promotes intolerance. The Boy Scouts respect other people's 
right to hold differing opinions than their own and ask others to 
respect their belief. Extremist Democrats believe just the opposite. 
They believe that if one does not subscribe to their beliefs and their 
view of the world, then one is intolerant and must be chastised.
  These liberal Democrats are in error. Tolerance does not require a 
moral equivalency. Rather, it implies a willingness to recognize and 
respect the beliefs of others.
  The Boy Scouts are a model of inclusiveness. Today, boys of every 
ethnic, religious, and economic background, including those with 
disabilities and special needs, participate in Scouting programs across 
America.
  I urge my colleagues to vote against this extremist measure promoted 
by liberal Democrats.

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