[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9725]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF THE GIRL SCOUTS HEART OF CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AND THE 
  100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GIRL SCOUTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DORIS O. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 21, 2012

  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Girl 
Scouts Heart of Central California and the Girl Scouts of the United 
States of America as they celebrate their 100th anniversary. As Girl 
Scouts across the country and those in Sacramento gather to celebrate 
this remarkable milestone, I ask all my colleagues to join me in 
honoring the Girl Scouts' important role nationally and in the 
Sacramento community.
  The Girl Scouts began under the guidance of Juliette Gordon Low who 
founded the organization with a handful of girls seeking new 
experiences and opportunities in their communities. Over the last 
century they have grown to a membership of over 3.2 million girls and 
adults, including nearly 29,000 girls and 11,000 adult volunteers in 
Sacramento and Central California.
  Over the last one hundred years, the Girl Scouts of the United States 
of America has provided many services to their scouts' communities and 
to this country. During World War I, the Girl Scouts sold war bonds to 
help fund the war effort; the Great Depression saw them running food 
drives and volunteering in hospitals; they grew Victory Gardens during 
World War II; they supported the civil rights movement in the 1960s; 
and after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, they reached out 
to a shaken America with special services to the community and for 
first responders.
  With the help of parent volunteers and other adults giving their time 
and effort to the organization, the Girl Scouts have been able to grow 
and continue their legacy as a resource for our daughters, nieces, and 
granddaughters. They cultivate service, character, appreciation for 
diversity, and confidence in young girls, fostering new generations of 
female leaders. The Girl Scouts Heart of Central California provides 
programs that include activities encouraging girls to explore careers 
in the STEM fields--science, technology, engineering and math; an 
outreach program for girls in underserved rural and urban areas; and a 
Latino initiative reaching out to encourage first-generation Spanish-
speaking women to serve as Girl Scout leaders.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to the Girl Scouts Heart of 
Central California and the Girl Scouts of the United States of America 
on its 100th anniversary. I am confident that the Girl Scouts will 
continue to affect positive change and help inspire girls across the 
nation. I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring the Girl Scouts 
of the United States of America and their outstanding service to our 
country.

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