Girl Scouts of America 103rd Anniversary

Floor Speech

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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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