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Senate Honors Girl Scouts on 100th Anniversary

On March 12, the Senate approved, by unanimous consent, a resolution, S. Res. 310, congratulating the Girl Scouts on their 100th anniversary.

Sponsored by Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), the resolution contains a number of findings, including:

  • The Girl Scout movement began on March 12, 1912, when Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low organized a group of 18 girls and provided the girls with the opportunity to develop physically, mentally, and spiritually;
  • The goal of Daisy Low was to bring together girls of all backgrounds to develop self-reliance and resourcefulness, and to prepare each girl for a future role as a professional woman and active citizen outside the home;
  • Today more than 50 million women in the United States are alumnae of the Girl Scouts, and approximately 3.3 million girls and adult volunteers are active members of the Girl Scouts;
  • The Girl Scout Leadership Program leadership model helps girls develop skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, cooperation and team building, conflict resolution, advocacy, and other important life skills;
  • Healthy living programs help each Girl Scout build the skills necessary to maintain a healthy body, an engaged mind, and a positive spirit; and teach girls about fitness and nutrition, body image, self-esteem, and relational issues, especially bullying;
  • The financial literacy programming of Girl Scouts, most notably the iconic Girl Scout Cookie Program, helps girls set financial goals and gain the confidence needed to ultimately take control of their own financial future;
  • Two-thirds of the most accomplished women in public service in the United States were Girl Scouts; and
  • Girl Scouts ensures that issues such as STEM [science, technology, engineering, and mathematics] education, bullying prevention, unhealthy perceptions of beauty as portrayed by the media, and many other important issues are brought to the attention of the public; and are addressed through public policy at the national, state, and local levels.

In addition to recognizing the Girl Scouts on their 100th anniversary, the resolution also “recognizes the importance of empowering girls to lead with courage, confidence, and character” and designates 2012 as the “Year of the Girl.”