[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 18]
[House]
[Pages 24314-24318]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA FOR PUBLIC SERVICES PERFORMED 
                        ACROSS THE UNITED STATES

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the resolution (H. Res. 853) recognizing the Boy Scouts of America 
for the public service the organization performs for neighborhoods and 
communities across the United States.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 853

       Whereas the Boy Scouts of America is one of the leading 
     volunteer youth movements in the United States, serving more 
     than 4,700,000 young people with the support of 1,200,000 
     volunteer adult leaders;
       Whereas the Boy Scouts of America was incorporated on 
     February 8, 1910, and recognized by Federal charter on June 
     15, 1916, to provide an educational program for youth to 
     build character, train in the responsibilities of 
     participatory citizenship, and develop personal fitness;
       Whereas the Boy Scouts of America teaches the core values 
     of duty to God and country, personal honor, respect for the 
     beliefs of others, volunteerism, and the value of service and 
     doing a ``good turn'' daily, principles which are conducive 
     to good character, citizenship, and health; and
       Whereas during the 95-year history of the Boy Scouts of 
     America, the organization has partnered with the Salvation 
     Army, Habitat for Humanity International, the American Red 
     Cross, and thousands of other community and civic 
     organizations to address critical issues facing communities 
     in the United States, including the problems of hunger, 
     inadequate housing, and poor health and youth obesity: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the Boy Scouts of America for the public 
     service the organization performs for neighborhoods and 
     communities across the United States; and
       (2) commends the Boy Scouts of America for the Good Turn 
     for America program and the work the organization has 
     accomplished while partnering with the Salvation Army, 
     Habitat for Humanity International, the American Red Cross, 
     and thousands of other community and civic organizations 
     across the United States to address critical issues facing 
     communities in the United States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) and the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. 
Jackson-Lee) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. 
Sensenbrenner).


                             General Leave

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 853.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Wisconsin?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 853, 
recognizing the Boy Scouts of America for the public service the 
organization performs for neighborhoods and communities across the 
United States.
  Despite the widespread respect the Boy Scouts of America have earned 
over their long history, the Boy Scouts have been and continue to be 
the targets of strident legal attacks simply because religious faith is 
part of the scouting program.
  The purpose of the Boy Scouts of America, incorporated on February 8, 
1910, and chartered by this Congress in 1916, is to provide an 
educational program for boys and young adults to build character, to 
train in the responsibilities of citizenship, and to develop personal 
fitness. The community-based organizations receive national charters 
they use to integrate the Scouting program into their own youth work.
  These groups, which have goals compatible with those of the Boy 
Scouts of America, include religious, educational, civil, fraternal, 
business and labor organizations; governmental bodies; corporations; 
professional associations; and citizens' groups.
  Several Presidents of the United States, including John F. Kennedy 
and Gerald R. Ford, have been ex-Scouts. Of the 108th Congress, 264 
Members, nearly half the entire congressional membership, participated 
in Scouting. Membership in the Scouts since 1910 totals more than 110 
million. As of December 31, 2003, the Boy Scouts of America included 
3.2 million youth

[[Page 24315]]

members and 1.2 million adult members.
  The Scout Law sets forth 12 guiding principles, providing that a 
Scout is ``trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, 
obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.'' With regard 
to the final principle, the Scout Law says, ``A Scout is reverent. A 
Scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties. 
He respects the beliefs of others.'' All Boy Scouts must know and 
subscribe to the Scout Oath and Law, which embodies not only the ideals 
of Scouting but also those of our great Nation.
  While many religious organizations charter Scouting units, Boy Scouts 
of America prohibits them from requiring boys who belong to other 
denominations or faith to take part in or observe their religious 
ceremonies. Rather, the Boy Scouts of America encourages its youth 
members to practice their religious beliefs as directed by their 
parents and their spiritual advisors.
  In Boy Scouts of America vs. Dale, the Supreme Court held that 
``during the time spent with the youth members, the scoutmasters and 
assistant scoutmasters inculcate them with the Boy Scouts' values, both 
expressly and by example. It seems indisputable that an association 
that seeks to transmit such a system of values engages in expressive 
activity.''
  Whenever the Boy Scouts are singled out for unfavorable treatment 
because of their viewpoint, very serious constitutional issues are 
raised. And this Congress will do everything in its power to uphold the 
Boy Scouts' constitutional rights.
  Despite affirmation of the Scouts' first amendment right of 
expressive association by the Supreme Court in the Dale case, the Boy 
Scouts have been attacked on a variety of legal fronts.
  In 1999 the American Civil Liberties Union filed suit against the 
United States Department of Defense, the United States Department of 
Housing and Urban Development, and the Chicago School Reform Board of 
Trustees claiming that governmental support of the Boy Scouts violates 
the establishments clause because the Boy Scouts require a belief in 
God as a condition of membership. This lawsuit seeks to remove 
virtually all government support of the Boy Scouts of America.
  Additionally, though the Supreme Court affirmed the Scouts' freedom 
of expressive association in the context of setting membership 
standards, the Scouts have been excluded from participating in 
Connecticut's charitable giving program for choosing to express this 
right.
  The Scouts are also under attack in the city of San Diego. For 
decades the Scouts have used San Diego park property pursuant to a 
lease agreement with the city. However, the use of this property is 
currently in jeopardy due to claims by activist groups that the Scouts' 
use of the property violates the establishment clause.
  The Scouts have also had to fight for equal access to school 
facilities for after-hour use. Shortly after the Supreme Court's 
decision in Dale, the Broward County School Board in Florida 
unanimously voted to exclude the Boy Scouts of America from utilizing 
school facilities for after-school use simply because of the Boy 
Scouts' religious principles, even though, for many years prior to 
this, the local arm of the Scouts had enjoyed the after-hours use of 
many Broward school facilities and numerous other organizations 
continued to use the school facilities.
  Throughout the history of the Boy Scouts of America, the Boy Scouts 
have provided services to others, gathering food and clothing for needy 
neighbors, building playgrounds, repairing parks and public buildings, 
assisting fire and police departments, and aiding disaster victims. In 
the days following September 11, Boy Scouts across the country 
collected food and other necessities for the victims' family and rescue 
workers and helped to rally the patriotism of the country by handing 
out flags and holding candlelight vigils.
  Practically every Member of this body, Mr. Speaker, has been invited 
and participated in Eagle Scout ceremonies. I have been at a number of 
them, and it is a recognition of the good kids in our society that in 
my opinion do not get enough recognition. But in order to become an 
Eagle, every Scout has to do some type of community service project. 
And if the Scout does not do that, the Scout does not attain the 
highest rank, which is Eagle status. And it would be a shame if the Boy 
Scouts ended up being sued to death and, thus, the communities that 
benefit from all of these Eagle projects, as well as the projects that 
Scouts of lower rank participate in, would not be available.
  We need the Boy Scouts now more than ever. And this Congress will do 
whatever it takes to make sure their vital spirit continues to inspire 
and strengthen America and its youth. I rise today in support of House 
Resolution 853, and I will rise in support of future efforts to protect 
the Boy Scouts whenever they or any other organization face unfair 
discrimination.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise as a Silver Beaver recipient and a member of the 
board of directors of the Houston-Galveston Boy Scouts of America. I 
also am a member of this body and recognize that there is diversity of 
opinion and thought and process and also in many instances the 
interpretation of the Constitution. But I rise today to recognize that 
we have the kind of embracing support for H. Res. 853 and recognizing 
the young men that engage in Boy Scout programs throughout America.
  Let me first say that we in this country should be very proud that we 
have the kind of young people who are willing in their very young age 
to become a part of a civic organization that provides service. And so 
this resolution recognizes that service.
  I would just offer to my colleagues the list of service activities, 
probably so many of them in your community that we see Boy Scouts 
engaged in. For example, ``Habitat Fills in the Missing Pieces on 
Dallas Street,'' and this article shows Boy Scout Troop 1077 going 
about their activities and helping to rebuild communities, young men, 
if you will, that are not even voting age at this time.
  Then when we have looked at the question of homeland security, we see 
another article suggesting something that I am very committed to, 
preparedness in our neighborhoods. Boy Scouts of America helped launch 
a national preparedness month, and they are here with Secretary of 
Homeland Security Tom Ridge because it is the Boy Scouts who understand 
preparedness and understand first aid and understand organizational 
skills that are very key and can be very key in helping us to secure 
our neighborhoods.
  Of course, all of us have heard about aiding hurricane victims, and 
we have another release that talks about 200 Boy Scouts aiding 
Hurricane Charley victims. So we know that this is an opportunity for 
young people to learn not only their civic duty but to participate in 
it.
  Let me share with you a personal story on the Boy Scouts. I think it 
is a program that has now taken some national wings, and that is what 
we call Urban Scouting. Some years ago in Houston we started this 
program with T-shirts and having youngsters from the inner city come 
and do Boy Scouts programs in the parks. That was the only place that 
they had; and unlike other units that had parents and maybe other kinds 
of facilities, we used paid Scouters, professionals, to help us with 
the Urban Scouting program. I am very proud to say that today it has in 
our community hundreds of members, maybe up to thousands of members, 
now with their uniforms; our programs are in our schools.
  I would venture to say that we understand that there is a balance in 
expressing your constitutional right to be free from various church and 
State issues, but we also know that we must have a balance. So this 
resolution charges this Congress with having a balance. I would say 
that this program, the Good Turn for America program, is a key element 
of the work that we do with the Boy Scouts. Through the Good

[[Page 24316]]

Turn for America program, thousands of young people have worked with 
organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, have worked to aid victims 
of Hurricane Charley, have volunteered to feed the poor, and have 
worked to become good citizens by serving their communities.
  So it is appropriate, Mr. Speaker, that we join with our colleagues 
in recognizing the fact that the Boy Scouts do good work for us.
  I will say that I welcome the Boy Scouts to Washington, D.C., or the 
region, and I welcome them for their annual jamboree. The reason why I 
say that is because sometimes we do take personal privilege and I want 
to acknowledge Wheeler Avenue Boy Scouts Troop in Houston, Texas, and 
thank them for allowing and helping my young man, Jason Lee, become the 
Eagle Scout that he is today. I thank them for allowing him to 
participate in the jamboree, and for those insiders, Philmont Camp in 
New Mexico.
  This is a training process for the leaders of today and also for 
tomorrow. So I think it is important for us to join in this resolution 
and to commend the ideals of the Boy Scouts and of course the results 
of the Boy Scouts. I join with my neighbors and friends and my 
colleagues in commending the public spirited work of these young people 
throughout the Nation. There is no higher ideal than serving your 
community. By helping their neighbors they are making themselves better 
citizens. These young people deserve to be commended for their work.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution commends the Boy Scouts for their work 
in our communities through the ``Good Turn for America'' program.
  Through the Good Turn for America program thousands of young people 
have worked with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, have 
worked to aid victims of Hurricane Charley, have volunteered to feed 
the poor, and have worked to become good citizens by serving their 
communities.
  I want to join my colleagues in commending the public spirited work 
of these young people throughout the Nation. There is no higher ideal 
than serving your community. By helping their neighbors, they are 
making themselves better citizens. These young people deserve to be 
commended for the good work.

                   200 Boy Scouts Aid Charley Victims

       On Saturday morning, August 21st, at 5 a.m. over 200 Boy 
     Scouts in Palm Beach County departed from Boca Raton's Town 
     Center Mall for Florida's devastated west to provide disaster 
     relief services for the victims of Hurricane Charley. Boys 
     and adults from nine troops drove 16 vehicles, including five 
     trucks loaded with food and supplies to Arcadia to serve 
     three meals to those left homeless by the storm.
       The Boy Scout relief effort, organized by Tom Ehrbar II, a 
     Boca Raton businessman and longtime Scouting supporter, 
     carried contributions of food from Wholesum Bread, 
     Johnsonville Bratwurst, Cheney Bros. Foods, and other local 
     vendors to the Arcadia disaster area. The Boy Scouts served 
     1,000 breakfasts, 1,500 lunches, and over 1,500 dinners to 
     the beleaguered residents of Arcadia. The Scouts also carried 
     personal care items for distribution.
       Once in Arcadia, the Boy Scouts assisted the local disaster 
     relief personnel in whatever tasks needed attention: 
     assisting in construction of temporary housing, providing 
     logistical support, or communications, states Eagle Scout 
     Thomas Ehrbar III, son of the project organizer. Weyerhouser 
     has donated lumber supplies for that effort.
       The Scouts kicked off Good Turn for America, a nationwide 
     program of community service provided by the Boy Scouts for 
     the communities they serve. Hurricane Charley arrived in 
     Florida on the eve of that program kickoff.
                                  ____


                          [September 9, 2004]

     Boy Scouts of America Help Launch National Preparedness Month

       When the Department of Homeland Security wanted to send a 
     message about the importance of ``being prepared'' at the 
     launch of National Preparedness Month in Washington, DC, they 
     turned to the Boy Scouts of America.
       Eagle Scout Tucker Barbour of Troop 500, chartered to the 
     Capitol Hill Scouts in Washington, DC, introduced Secretary 
     of Homeland Security Tom Ridge at the kickoff event on the 
     grounds of the United States Capitol.
       Barbour was joined on stage by Scouts and leaders from the 
     National Capital Area Council and representatives of the Girl 
     Scouts.
       The Boy Scouts of America is part of a coalition of 
     organizations assembled by the Department of Homeland 
     Security to promote September as National Preparedness Month. 
     The emphasis is intended to provide Americans with a variety 
     of opportunities to learn more about ways they can prepare 
     for an emergency, get an emergency supply kit, establish a 
     family communications plan, and become better aware of 
     threats that may impact communities.
       The event was attended by honorary National Preparedness 
     Month co-chairs Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Joseph 
     Lieberman (D-CT) and Representatives Christopher Cox (R-CA) 
     and Jane Harman (D-CA), as well as American Red Cross 
     President and CEO Marsha Evans and leaders of more than 80 
     other organizations to announce hundreds of events focused on 
     preparedness across the country. Following the event, the 
     Scouts distributed emergency preparedness kits to members of 
     Congress.
       To support National Preparedness Month, the Boy Scouts of 
     America is encouraging Scouts and volunteers to focus on 
     earning the Emergency Preparedness BSA Award. The award was 
     developed at the request of the Department of Homeland 
     Security and introduced in 2003.
                                  ____


Habitat Fills in the Missing Pieces on Dallas Street--Volunteers Build 
               Homes That Developer Was Unable To Finish

                             (By Kim Homer)

       The residents of Pinebrook Drive just watched their 
     neighborhood go through a makeover.
       And it took only nine days.
       On Saturday, Habitat for Humanity volunteers finished 
     building 22 new three-bedroom homes there on the short street 
     near Bonnie View and Simpson Stuart roads on lots that had 
     stood vacant for years.
       Hundreds of volunteers planted flowers, installed mailboxes 
     and put the last bricks on the attractive homes with front 
     porches Saturday.
       A developer ran out of money to finish building homes on 
     Pinebrook Drive a few years ago. That left gaps of missing 
     houses. Toney Lemons, who has lived on the street since 1974, 
     said he didn't mind all the construction work and traffic--
     which police came to direct at times--since it was for a good 
     cause.
       ``Everybody needs somewhere to stay,'' Mr. Lemons said, 
     adding that he'll be happy as long as his new neighbors take 
     care of their properties like he does.
       Nora Hernandez, who will move in down the street, was so 
     excited about her new place she couldn't eat the lunch 
     provided for volunteers on Saturday.
       ``It's perfect,'' she said of the home. ``It's beautiful.''
       The 31-year-old single mother will move her three young 
     children from a cramped one-bedroom Arlington apartment to 
     her new three-bedroom home in July.
       Ms. Hernandez, who works as a packer in a Grand Prairie 
     plastics factory, said she's thrilled to become a homeowner. 
     She has looked into buying a house before but found she could 
     not afford one.
       ``It's a big opportunity for families like mine,'' she 
     said. Ms. Hernandez said her mortgage will be slightly less 
     than her rent of $485 a month. Her children, ages 8, 7 and 2, 
     will be able to have separate bedrooms for the first time, 
     she said.
       Ms. Hernandez said she learned about the program from her 
     friend and co-worker, Juanita Acosta. Ms. Hernandez told Ms. 
     Acosta that she was hosting a birthday party at her house for 
     one of her children.
       ``I said, `Where?''' said Ms. Acosta, who couldn't imagine 
     her friend had enough room to host the celebration.
       Now that Ms. Hernandez knows about Habitat for Humanity, 
     she said she wants to return the favor by spreading the word 
     about the program to others who may not realize they can 
     apply.
       Ms. Acosta, who lives in a Pleasant Grove house built by 
     Habitat for Humanity, took a week's vacation to help build 
     her friend's home. The two friends have been putting up 
     walls, painting and sweeping as part of the ``sweat equity'' 
     homeowners must contribute in exchange for no-interest, 
     $60,000 mortgages.
       In all, about 3,500 volunteers pitched in during the 
     building blitz. They came from 20 churches, 11 businesses and 
     other organizations, including 300 AmeriCorps volunteers who 
     traveled from throughout the nation.
       Ronald Denham of Victoria, Texas, was one of the workers 
     from AmeriCorps, which gives participants a small living 
     allowance in exchange for community service.
       ``I believe there's a need and I'd wanted to do this for 
     years,'' said Mr. Denham, 67, a retired court reporter.
       Volunteers from Dallas-based Home Interiors and Gifts put a 
     finishing touch of a wreath on each house on Saturday. The 
     company sponsored one of five homes built by all-women crews 
     as part of Habitat for Humanity's Women Building program.
       ``The home is a haven,'' said Carol Eichinger, the 
     company's director of communications, who worked on the 
     house. ``But first you have to have a house to decorate.''
       Filling in 22 empty lots with new houses turned Pinebrook 
     Drive into a whole new place for current and incoming 
     residents, said Fred Hoster, director of development for 
     Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity. Habitat built 19 homes on 
     the street more than two

[[Page 24317]]

     years ago, so now the nonprofit organization has built a 
     majority of the homes there.
       Mr. Hoster said he expects private for-profit homebuilders 
     will expand on what Habitat started in that area. Then, he 
     said, he hopes new stores and restaurants will follow in the 
     neighborhood that lacks many retail businesses. Mr. Hoster 
     said he's confident the surrounding area will have a new look 
     in a few years.
       ``We build neighborhoods,'' he said. ``All the neighbors 
     already know each other because they've worked on each 
     others' houses.''

  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume 
to the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa), the author of this 
resolution.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for bringing this 
important resolution to the floor in a timely fashion, and I say 
``timely'' because an organization that on a bipartisan basis enjoys so 
much support to be under attack on a daily basis as we speak is an 
organization that needs our attention.
  In 1916 when the Congress chartered the Boy Scouts, it did so in 
recognition of their contribution in their early days. But as we hear 
today that nearly or actually over half of the male Members of Congress 
are here today in no small part because of their participation in Boy 
Scouts, what we see is a ratio of success that comes from the Boy 
Scouts, that comes from the kind of training they provide to both urban 
and rural America. That is what we are here to defend today.
  This resolution is, as the chairman so aptly said, one step in a 
dedication that we have on a bipartisan basis to defend the Boy Scouts' 
ability to continue the fine work they have done for nearly a century.
  As a San Diegoan I am acutely aware of just how easily outside 
organizations objecting to what the Boy Scouts stand for could lead to 
the end of Scouting as we know it.

                              {time}  1245

  So I want to, once again, thank the chairman for bringing this 
important resolution to the floor in this Congress. I have no doubt 
that we will take up these issues and more in the next Congress, but as 
a former Boy Scout, somebody who, if I owe anyone the ``thank you for 
being here today,'' it was, in fact, for a Christian Arab young man to 
be in a Jewish Boy Scout troop, to be around the kind of openness and 
thinking that was available to me as a Scout, coming every week to an 
orthodox temple to understand the values of the world, not the values 
of Christianity, not the value of Judaism but the values of the world 
and the people of the world.
  So, once again, Mr. Speaker, I urge the unanimous support of this 
resolution, and I ask all my colleagues to vote with the chairman, with 
myself, with the ranking member in favor of H. Res. 853.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 853 which 
honors the Boy Scouts of America, for the public service the 
organization performs for neighborhoods and communities across the 
United States.
  I would like to thank Chairman Sensenbrenner, the Judiciary Committee 
staff, the Majority Leader and his staff for their hard work to bring 
this measure to the floor.
  For 95 years, the Boy Scouts of America have made outstanding 
contributions to citizenship, service, and leadership.
  The stated purpose of the Boy Scouts of America, incorporated on 
February 8, 1910, and chartered by Congress in 1916 is to provide an 
educational program for boys and young adults to build character, to 
train in the responsibilities of citizenship, and to develop personal 
fitness.
  More than 50 percent of congressional members participated in 
Scouting either as a scout or a scout leader.
  As I stand here today, the City of San Diego is facing litigation 
that would force the city to stop supporting the activities of the Boy 
Scouts and void a long-standing lease under which the Boy Scouts 
operate their headquarters in city-owned Balboa Park.
  The Boy Scouts of America was founded on the premise of teaching boys 
moral and ethical values through an outdoor program that challenges 
them and teaches them respect for one another and themselves.
  Scouting has always represented the best in community, leadership, 
and service.
  The Boy Scouts of America relies on dedicated volunteers to promote 
its mission of preparing young people to make moral and ethical choice 
over their lifetime by instilling the values of the Scout Oath.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution is an expression of Congress' 
appreciation for Scouts, volunteer leaders, and employees of the Boy 
Scouts of America.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to 
yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Davis), someone who understands the importance of opportunities for 
young men and has been a leader on these issues.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with the 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Chairman Sensenbrenner); with the gentlewoman 
from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee), the ranking member of the subcommittee; 
with the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa), the sponsor of this 
legislation; and all of the others who have come to provide recognition 
of the public service that is performed by the Boy Scouts of America.
  I can agree that there can be disagreements and there can be 
examination of practices, but the Boy Scouts of America have been one 
of the most prolific organizations in the development of boys into men 
that I know about in this country.
  As one who served for 12 years as the scouting commissioner in my 
community, there was no sight one would rather see than 2- or 300 young 
boys at a blue and gold dinner or to see the 500 Scouts who used to 
participate in parades and other activities that we would put on.
  So, in addition to the community service that they provide, I commend 
the Scouts for developing boys into men, and I am pleased to join in 
support of this resolution.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth).
  Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, the chairman of the 
Committee on the Judiciary, for yielding me the time.
  As an Eagle Scout, I rise in strong support of this resolution and am 
heartened by the bipartisan outpouring of support for the Boy Scouts of 
America, as mentioned earlier, a movement that was chartered federally 
by this very Congress early in the 20th century. While we today 
reiterate our support for the scouting movement, as my colleague from 
California, the sponsor of this resolution, noted, scouting is under 
attack.
  The American Civil Liberties Union filed a nuisance lawsuit against 
the Pentagon saying that somehow sponsorship of Scout troops on 
military bases violates the doctrine of separation of church and State. 
Mr. Speaker, that is a nuisance lawsuit, and I am sorry the Defense 
Department attorneys decided to surrender to the ACLU.
  Mr. Speaker, I have written Secretary Rumsfeld asking him to 
countermand the decision of the Pentagon lawyers. Scouting values, 
military values, citizenship values, a respect and reverence for our 
Creator is not a violation of the doctrine of separation of church and 
State. So I hope those who join us in support of this resolution will 
likewise join us to say to the Pentagon attorneys, take down the white 
flag of surrender, do not give up on scouting, and we remain poised to 
take further measures to ensure that our government institutions follow 
the will of the people and the sentiment of the Congress.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Stearns).
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution 
and support, of course, of the Boy Scouts of America.
  As mentioned, they have had 90 years of history here helping young 
men, young boys build character and train them in the responsibility of 
participating in citizenship. The Boy Scouts teach these boys and young 
men that there is a higher good, something outside of themselves within 
each of them they should strive to achieve.
  We have heard, for example, from the chairman of millions of American 
boys and young men who participate in the

[[Page 24318]]

Boy Scouts, including Gerald Ford, Hank Aaron, Ross Perot, Jimmy 
Stewart, Neil Armstrong. They all have benefited tremendously from 
belonging to and participating in the Boy Scouts.
  As such, it is altogether fitting that we recognize the Scouts for 
all the public service and all the charitable work they have done over 
the years.
  But Congress also has a responsibility to defend the Boy Scouts from 
the relentless attacks on it from various government entities and 
interest groups. For example, the ACLU is suing to challenge the 
Federal Government's longstanding support for the Boy Scouts. Do my 
colleagues realize also the ACLU also currently sued for the right of a 
nudist camp for children to open?
  Recently, the Department of Defense has agreed to no longer 
officially sponsor the Scouts on military bases. Why? Because the 
Scouts' oath mentions God. This is not the first time the Boy Scouts 
have come under attack for their oath or their membership policies, 
even though the Supreme Court and the American people are on the side 
of the Boy Scouts.
  The ACLU has led the charge against the Scouts in States like 
Connecticut and cities like San Diego to defund this important 
organization, take away their campsites and treat them as though they 
are hate groups. This campaign against the Scouts is truly wrong. It is 
about time we do something about it.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and any 
other efforts to protect the Boy Scouts of America.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I believe I have no further speakers, Mr. Speaker, and I would just 
simply say, let me add my appreciation and applause to the sponsor of 
this legislation, the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa), but also to 
all of the volunteers and parents and community citizens, businesses 
that contribute to the Boy Scouts of America across the Nation.
  As well, let me thank the Houston-Galveston Council on Boy Scouts in 
our community and as well maintain the fact of the valuable asset that 
Boy Scouts and their programs represent in the United States of 
America.
  I ask for support.
  Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 853 may be the most self-evident 
resolution this body has considered in the 108th Congress. It is a bill 
to recognize the good service of the Boy Scouts of America. One would 
think we might as well consider a resolution recognizing the good 
service of motherhood and apple pie.
  But, Mr. Speaker, as we near the end of 2004 we have to come to 
understand that some Americans do not believe in the good works of the 
Boy Scouts of America. In fact, there are those who believe that the 
very existence of the Boy Scouts of America does not deserve 
recognition by the Federal Government.
  Although such a disposition may appear to be shocking at first, it is 
the mind-bending logical conclusion of an effort that seeks to isolate 
groups like the Boy Scouts. The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU, 
released the details of a legal settlement with the U.S. Department of 
Defense, DoD, this Tuesday, November 16, 2004. In this ongoing case, 
the ACLU has sued DOD and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, HUD, for sponsoring the Boy Scouts of America, thus, in 
the opinion of the ACLU, breaching the Constitution's separation of 
church and state. While the settlement reached by the ACLU with DOC 
seems benign, the attack upon our country's cultural institutions 
cannot be ignored.
  While purporting to defend Liberty, the ACLU and its allies promote 
an agenda that discriminates against religion and blocks the People 
from helping those who help others. You see, the Boy Scouts of America 
have the word ``God'' in their oath. While the Scout Oath also contains 
words like honor, moral, and country, the ACLU is concerned that 
religion is intruding upon the rights of the American people because 
Department of Defense employees have long worked with the Boy Scouts of 
America for community events.
  Mr. Speaker, I serve as the chairman of the Criminal Justice, Drug 
Policy and Human Resources Subcommittee of the Committee on Government 
Reform. Through my subcommittee, the ranking member, Elijah Cummings, 
and I have held eight hearings in the last 2 years on the provision of 
services by faith-based and community groups. In a field hearing we 
held on January 23, 2004, in Los Angeles, CA, the subcommittee heard 
from a witness who explained the simple yet weighty impact the use of 
government property would be for groups like his. Keith Phillips is the 
founder and president of World Impact, a nonprofit, faith-based 
organization ``designed to transform the lives of the urban poor.'' For 
groups like Mr. Phillips', the use of buses for weekend trips can be 
the difference in helping the children of the urban poor. He suggested 
at our hearing that the Federal Government allow groups like his to use 
their buses on the weekend. He explained that government can help World 
Impact help other Americans, ``Give us facilities where we can run 
clinics, thrift stores, recreational activities. Help us provide better 
transportation for the urban poor to camps, conferences and schools by 
giving us the use of government vehicles like buses on weekends.''
  Mr. Speaker, our Department of Defense, not to speak of other federal 
departments, operate hundreds, probably thousands of buses. The first 
legal step has been taken to prevent these buses from ever being used 
by the Boy Scouts or by groups like World Impact. I hope this House 
takes leaps toward helping groups like these. I hope this House takes 
steps to help DOD and other branches of the Federal Government help 
these people help their fellow Americans. I hope we stand up for the 
religious liberty of Americans against those who would discriminate 
against religiously oriented Americans.
  I rise with my colleagues of the House in recognizing the good 
service of the Boy Scouts of America. Though H. Res. 853 would appear 
to be a simple resolution for this body to consider, I believe we are 
forced to defend the Boy Scouts and all other service organizations 
that would be falsely challenged in their service of other Americans. 
Let us unanimously pass H. Res. 853, and honor the ideals of the Scout 
Oath:

     On my honor I will do my best
     To do my duty to God and my country
     and to obey the Scout Law;
     To help other people at all times;
     To keep myself physically strong,
     mentally awake, and morally straight.

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back my time.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Shimkus). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) that the 
House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 853.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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