[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 3752]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO THE GIRL SCOUTS OF AMERICA AND THE GIRL SCOUTS OF GUAM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Burns). Pursuant to the order of the 
House of January 20, 2004, the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, as the Girl Scouts of America celebrate 
their 92nd anniversary this Friday, March 12, and the Guam Girl Scouts 
celebrate their 69th anniversary, I would like to take this time to 
commend the organization for its continuing commitment to improving the 
lives of young girls in America and abroad.
  The Girl Scouts have fostered the individual talents of the young 
girls they serve through learning activities focusing on education, 
health, physical fitness, community service, and cultural exchange. The 
Girl Scouts have helped instill strong leadership and decision-making 
skills in millions of young girls.
  Through its U.S.A. Girl Scouts Overseas, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. 
serves approximately 16,000 girls in more than 81 countries. Guam Girl 
Scouts is one of the longest-serving community organizations on Guam. 
They have served thousands of young girls, including myself, since 
1935.
  Last week, representatives from our local Girl Scouts organization, 
along with Girl Scouts from across the Nation, journeyed to Washington, 
D.C. to speak to Members of Congress about issues affecting the program 
and our society today.
  I was visited by Monica Pido, President of the Board of Directors of 
the Guam Girl Scouts, and Vickie Fish, Executive Director of Guam Girl 
Scouts. I was impressed by the range of programs that they are 
undertaking to increase girls' safety, promote math and science 
education, and improve girls' health and fitness. Preventing youth 
violence in communities and ensuring girls feel emotionally and 
physically safe is one of the latest proactive efforts of our Girl 
Scouts.
  Their P.A.V.E. the Way youth violence prevention initiative is an 
innovative way to improve the safety of girls and communities 
throughout our Nation.
  Girl Scouts provide a structure and stability to girls between the 
ages of 5 and 17 years old, teaching them lessons and building 
character that will last a lifetime. Girl Scouts really make a 
difference, one girl at a time.
  Today, with more than 50 million women across the Nation having been 
involved in girl scouting as a child, the difference Girl Scouts make 
is enormous. As a former girl scout, I can attest to the quality and 
success of these programs.
  I congratulate Girl Scouts as they celebrate their anniversary and 
hope that they will continue to be a part of many girls' lives in the 
years to come.

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