House Passes Girl Scout Coin Bill

On October 13, the House passed, by voice vote, the Girl Scout USA Centennial Commemorative Coin Act (H.R. 621). Sponsored by Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA), the bill directs the secretary of the Treasury to mint $1 coins in commemoration of the 100^th anniversary of the Girl Scouts of the USA in 2012.

The bill contains a number of findings, including:

• on March 12, 1912, Juliette Gordon Low organized the first two Girl Scout troops in Savannah, Georgia, consisting of 18 members;
• she devoted the next 15 years of her life to building the organization, which would become the largest voluntary association for women and girls in the United States;
• the Girl Scouts of the United States of America was chartered by the United States Congress in 1950;
• today there are more than 3.7 million members in 236,000 troops throughout the United States and United States territories;
• through membership in the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, Girls Scouts of the United States of America is part of a worldwide family of 10 million girls and adults in 145 countries; and
• more than 50 million American women enjoyed Girl Scouting during their childhood and that number continues to grow as Girl Scouts of the United States of America continues to inspire, challenge, and empower girls everywhere.