Michael Baumgartner: “I rise today to honor Scouts Across America. Scouts Across America carries forward with a remarkable legacy that began…”

“I rise today to honor Scouts Across America. Scouts Across America carries forward with a remarkable legacy that began with Robert Baden-Powell, a British Army officer whose simple idea was that outdoor skills, teamwork, and service could build better citizens and a better world. Robert Baden-Powell served with the British military in Afghanistan and against the Boer in South Africa, and the ideas that he saw there and the skills that he saw that were needed to be developed in young boys. From that, grew a global movement and in our country inspired what is now Scouting America, chartered by Congress to serve our Nation's youth by instilling the values of the Scout oath and law. As a proud Scout dad, I rise today to say very clearly: Scouts is an outstanding program, and America needs more Scouts, not less. It takes real effort from moms and dads and volunteers to get kids to meetings, campouts, and service projects. That effort pays off in character, confidence, civic service, and self-reliance of our young people. Eleanor and I are father and mother to three boys and two girls, and we look forward to hopefully one day being the proud parents of five Eagle Scouts. Today, Mr. Speaker, let's honor the Scouts, the volunteer leaders, the parents, and the enduring legacy of Robert Baden-Powell, whose vision still calls each new generation to duty, service, and leadership.”