CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
1999–2000 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Joint Resolution
No. 72
Introduced by
Assembly Member
Thompson
(Coauthor(s):
Assembly Member
Aanestad, Ackerman, Ashburn, Baldwin, Bates, Campbell, Cox, Dickerson, House, Leach, Leonard, Maldonado, Margett, Robert Pacheco, Runner, Strickland, Zettel)
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August 21, 2000 |
Relative to the Boy Scouts of America.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AJR 72, as introduced, Thompson.
Boy Scouts of America.
This measure urges Congress to affirm the charter of the Boy Scouts of America and the President to reaffirm his support for the Boy Scouts of America.
Digest Key
Fiscal Committee:
NO WHEREAS, The Boy Scouts of America have existed in this country since 1910, and have been chartered by Congress since 1916, with 15 Presidents of the United States of America, including President Clinton, serving as the honorary head of the Boy Scouts of America; and
WHEREAS, The Boy Scouts of America’s record of including boys and scout leaders from all ethnic, religious, and economic backgrounds is impressive, and should be seen as an example for other groups; and
WHEREAS, It is the mission of the Boy Scouts of America to offer young people responsible fun and adventure while instilling in them a lifetime’s worth of values by developing the ethical quality of their characters, which is vital for training youth in citizenship, service, and leadership; and
WHEREAS, Scouting makes a direct and positive impact on our communities by teaching the principles of the American social, economical, and governmental systems, along with the values that encourage leadership; and
WHEREAS, The Boy Scouts of America have instilled these values in millions of young men, including people such as Neil Armstrong, Gerald Ford, John F. Kennedy, Hank Aaron, Steven Speilberg, Bill Bradley, Ross Perot, Bill Gates, James Lovell, Nolan Ryan, Steve Young, and 275 sitting congressmen; and
WHEREAS, The Boy Scouts of America believe that their vision is compromised when prospective Boy Scout leaders present themselves as role models in a manner inconsistent with the Boy Scouts’ understanding of their own oath and law; and
WHEREAS, The United States Supreme Court found that the Boy Scouts of America have the right to establish and maintain their own standards for membership and leadership as do all private organizations; and
WHEREAS, The Constitution of the United States allows freedom of association and expression; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of California respectfully urges the Congress of the United States to maintain the charter of the Boy Scouts of America and affirm the right of the Boy Scouts of America under the First Amendment to chart their own course, and urges that the President of the United States to reaffirm his support for the Boy Scouts of America; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and to each Senator and Representative in the Congress of the United States.