[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 25439]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




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

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 19, 2004

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, today I voted against H. Res. 853, because 
I am disappointed with the Boy Scouts of America's exclusionary 
policies that prevent gay boys and teens from participating in 
scouting. While the Boy Scouts' positive work within our nation's 
communities is notable, the message that the organization sends to gay 
children and teens by shutting them out diminishes its greater goals of 
teaching respect, personal honor, and service.
  It is important to encourage and support all of our children and by 
excluding gay youth the Boy Scouts of America is preventing every young 
man from experiencing the positive benefits Scouting can offer.

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