[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 8814]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                GIRL SCOUTS OF AMERICA 103RD ANNIVERSARY

 Mr. KING. Mr. President, I wish to recognize the Girl Scouts 
of America on the occasion of their 103rd Anniversary. The Girl Scouts 
were created in 1912 in the midst of the progressive movement by 
Juliette Gordon Low for the purpose of empowering young women and 
instilling them with character, honesty, patriotism, and leadership 
skills. The independence and integrity that young women develop with 
the Girl Scouts is a priceless resource for these girls later in life.
  For 103 years, the Girl Scouts have influenced female leaders, and 
have led the fight for equality and inclusiveness in leadership 
positions. The fact that former girl scouts make up 60 percent of the 
women in the House of Representatives and over 50 percent of current 
female business owners demonstrates the organization's ability to 
cultivate leaders. Through the Girl Scouts, girls have gained skills 
that are essential tools to help women achieve equality in leadership 
positions.
  The Girl Scouts have also developed and implemented programs to help 
middle and high school girls become financially literate and 
independent. Indeed, the Girl Scout Cookie Program is the largest girl-
led business in the world and is a hallmark program that helps girls 
across the country develop the skills, such as money management, 
customer interaction, and business ethics, which are essential to life-
long success. They have also invested in science and mathematics 
programs to empower young women who have an interest in those fields. 
Through their continued efforts to develop girls' leadership abilities, 
confidence, and worldly knowledge, the Girl Scouts have played an 
important role in helping young women reach their full potential.
  Today, I mark the legacy and future of this invaluable organization. 
I applaud the Girl Scouts of Maine, and America, for the immeasurable 
impact they have had on women's rights, and women themselves, over the 
past 103 years.

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