[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 3211]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO THE GIRL SCOUTS OF THE USA ON THEIR 90TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Emerson). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Nethercutt) is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Mr. NETHERCUTT. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay special tribute to the 
Girl Scouts on their 90th anniversary this week. I pay special respect 
to constituents of my State, my State of Washington, who visited me 
this week in my office, Avis DeRuyter, Lindy Cator, Kathleen Houston, 
Grace Chien, and Golden Award winner Katie Grimes, for their work in 
bolstering the young women of the Fifth Congressional District in 
eastern Washington through the Girl Scouts organization.
  We had a very good discussion. They told me how much they are doing 
to reach girls from all walks of life to be part of the Girl Scout 
organization, and they have had great success.
  The Girl Scouts have a marvelous history. Ninety years ago, Juliette 
Gordon Low founded the first Girl Scout troop. She pictured an 
organization that would bring girls out of their sheltered home 
environments to serve in their communities and experience the open air. 
Within months, girl members were hiking through the woods in their 
knee-length blue uniforms, playing basketball in a curtained-off court, 
and going on camping trips. Fifty-two years ago this week, Girl Scouts 
of the USA was chartered by the United States Congress. The Girl Scouts 
have come a long way in 90 years.
  They started with just 18 members and a marvelous dream. Today, more 
than 50 million American women enjoyed Girl Scouting during their 
childhood. Girl Scouts of the USA is the world's preeminent 
organization dedicated solely to girls where, in an accepting and 
nurturing environment, girls build character and skills for success in 
the real world.
  In partnership with committed adult volunteers, the Girl Scouts 
cultivate their full individual potential. The qualities they develop 
in Girl Scouting, leadership, values, social conscience, and conviction 
about their own self-worth serve them all of their lives. Today, there 
are nearly 3.7 million Girl Scouts, 2.8 million members, girl members, 
and 942,000 adult members, almost all volunteers.
  Therefore, it is important that we honor the Girl Scouts for their 90 
years of work in developing qualities in young women today so that they 
may serve as future leaders tomorrow.

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