Update, May 4: Added three more Scouting alumni: Rep. Jack Bergman (Mich.), Rep. Ted Budd (N.C.) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), including one Eagle Scout (Fitzpatrick).
Scouts reach some high places. They summit Mount Everest, walk on the moon, become CEOs and win Super Bowls.
Some even make their way to the highest political offices, like the U.S. Congress.
Of the 535 members of the 115th U.S. Congress, 150 have some sort of connection to the BSA. That’s 28 percent.
I’m defining “connection” as one or more of the following:
- They were in Scouting as a youth (Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Venturer, Sea Scout, Explorer)
- They earned the Eagle Scout rank
- They served (or are still serving) as a BSA adult volunteer
These Scouting alumni come from nearly every state and represent both major political parties. The list includes an impressive 33 Eagle Scouts.
The 115th Congress meets from Jan. 3, 2017, to Jan. 3, 2019. Below, a state-by-state breakdown.
One quick note
Eagle Scout status was confirmed against National Eagle Scout Association records.
Youth member or adult volunteer status was self-reported by the office of the member of Congress. If you know of a representative or senator with Scouting ties who isn’t included, please leave a comment.
Scouting alumni in the 115th Congress
Alabama
Youth members
- Sen. Richard Shelby
- Sen. Luther Strange — Eagle Scout
- Rep. Robert Aderholt
- Rep. Mo Brooks
- Rep. Mike Rogers
Alaska
Youth member
- Rep. Don Young
Adult volunteer
- Sen. Lisa Murkowski
Arizona
Youth members
- Sen. John McCain
- Rep. David Schweikert
Adult volunteer
- Sen. John McCain
Arkansas
Youth member and adult volunteer
- Rep. French Hill — Eagle Scout
California
Youth members
- Rep. Ken Calvert
- Rep. Salud Carbajal
- Rep. Jeff Denham
- Rep. John Garamendi — Eagle Scout
- Rep. Darrell Issa
- Rep. Jerry McNerney
- Rep. Dana Rohrabacher — Eagle Scout
- Rep. Ed Royce
- Rep. Adam Schiff
- Rep. Mike Thompson
Adult volunteers
- Rep. Julia Brownley
- Rep. Jerry McNerney
- Rep. Adam Schiff
Colorado
None
Connecticut
Youth member
- Rep. John B. Larson
Delaware
Youth member and adult volunteer
- Sen. Tom Carper
Florida
Youth members
- Rep. Gus Bilirakis
- Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart
- Rep. Neal Dunn — Eagle Scout
- Rep. Dennis A. Ross
- Rep. Darren Soto
Adult volunteer
- Rep. Dennis A. Ross
Georgia
Youth members
- Sen. Johnny Isakson
- Rep. Sanford Bishop — Eagle Scout
- Rep. Jody Hice
- Rep. Barry Loudermilk
Adult volunteers
- Sen. Johnny Isakson
- Rep. Sanford Bishop
Hawaii
None
Idaho
Youth member
- Sen. Mike Crapo — Eagle Scout
Illinois
Youth members
- Sen. Dick Durbin
- Rep. John Shimkus
Adult volunteer
- Rep. Danny Davis
Indiana
Youth members
- Sen. Todd Young
- Rep. Larry Bucshon
- Rep. Luke Messer
Iowa
Youth members
- Rep. Steve King
- Rep. David Young
Kansas
Youth members
- Sen. Jerry Moran
- Sen. Pat Roberts
Adult volunteer
- Sen. Jerry Moran
Kentucky
Youth members
- Sen. Rand Paul
- Rep. Andy Barr
Louisiana
Youth member
- Sen. John Neely Kennedy
Maine
None
Maryland
Youth members
- Rep. Elijah Cummings
- Rep. John Sarbanes
Adult volunteer
- Rep. Jamie Raskin
Massachusetts
Youth member
- Rep. Jim McGovern
Michigan
Youth members
- Sen. Gary Peters — Eagle Scout
- Rep. Jack Bergman
- Rep. Mike Bishop
- Rep. Dan Kildee
- Rep. Fred Upton
Adult volunteer
- Rep. Debbie Dingell
Minnesota
Youth members
- Rep. Rick Nolan
- Rep. Tim Walz
Mississippi
Youth members
- Sen. Thad Cochran — Eagle Scout
- Sen. Roger Wicker
- Rep. Trent Kelly — Eagle Scout
- Rep. Steven Palazzo
- Rep. Bennie Thompson
Adult volunteers
- Sen. Thad Cochran
- Sen. Roger Wicker
Missouri
Youth members
- Rep. Lacy Clay
- Rep. Emanuel Cleaver
- Rep. Sam Graves — Eagle Scout
Adult volunteer
- Sen. Roy Blunt
Montana
None
Nebraska
Youth members
- Rep. Don Bacon
- Rep. Jeff Fortenberry
Adult volunteer
- Rep. Don Bacon
Nevada
None
New Hampshire
None
New Jersey
Youth members
- Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen
- Rep. Chris Smith — Eagle Scout
Adult volunteer
- Rep. Leonard Lance
New Mexico
Youth members
- Sen. Tom Udall
- Rep. Steve Pearce
Adult volunteer
- Rep. Steve Pearce
New York
Youth members
- Sen. Chuck Schumer
- Rep. Chris Collins — Eagle Scout
- Rep. Joseph Crowley
- Rep. Brian Higgins
- Rep. Gregory Meeks
Adult volunteer
- Rep. Chris Collins
North Carolina
Youth members
- Rep. G.K. Butterfield
- Rep. Walter B. Jones Jr.
- Rep. Patrick McHenry
- Rep. Mark Meadows
- Rep. David Price
Adult volunteer
- Rep. Ted Budd
- Rep. Walter B. Jones Jr.
North Dakota
None
Ohio
Youth members
- Sen. Sherrod Brown — Eagle Scout
- Sen. Rob Portman
- Rep. Steve Chabot
- Rep. Bob Gibbs
- Rep. Bob Latta
- Rep. Steve Stivers — Eagle Scout
- Rep. Brad Wenstrup
Adult volunteer
- Rep. Steve Stivers
Oklahoma
Youth members
- Sen. James Lankford
- Rep. Jim Bridenstine — Eagle Scout
- Rep. Frank Lucas
Adult volunteer
- Rep. Steve Russell
Oregon
Youth members
- Sen. Jeff Merkley — Eagle Scout
- Rep. Earl Blumenauer
- Rep. Peter DeFazio
- Rep. Greg Walden — Eagle Scout
Pennsylvania
Youth members
- Sen. Pat Toomey — Eagle Scout
- Rep. Lou Barletta — Eagle Scout
- Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick — Eagle Scout
- Rep. Glenn Thompson — Eagle Scout
Adult volunteers
- Rep. Charlie Dent
- Rep. Mike Kelly
- Rep. Glenn Thompson
Rhode Island
Youth members
- Sen. Jack Reed
- Rep. James Langevin
South Carolina
Youth members
- Sen. Lindsey Graham
- Rep. Jim Clyburn
- Rep. Jeff Duncan
- Rep. Mark Sanford — Eagle Scout
Adult volunteer
- Rep. Joe Wilson
South Dakota
None
Tennessee
- Sen. Lamar Alexander — Eagle Scout
- Rep. Jim Cooper — Eagle Scout
- Rep. Phil Roe — Eagle Scout
Adult volunteers
- Sen. Lamar Alexander
- Rep. Jim Cooper
- Rep. Marsha Blackburn
Texas
Youth members
- Sen. John Cornyn
- Rep. Joe Barton
- Rep. Kevin Brady
- Rep. John Culberson
- Rep. Louie Gohmert — Eagle Scout
- Rep. Jeb Hensarling — Eagle Scout
- Rep. Sam Johnson
- Rep. Michael McCaul
- Rep. Ted Poe
- Rep. Pete Sessions — Eagle Scout
Adult volunteers
- Rep. Joe Barton
- Rep. Louie Gohmert
- Rep. Kay Granger
- Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee
- Rep. Pete Sessions
- Rep. Mac Thornberry
Utah
Youth members
- Sen. Orrin Hatch
- Sen. Mike Lee — Eagle Scout
Adult volunteer
- Sen. Orrin Hatch
Vermont
Youth members
- Sen. Patrick Leahy
- Sen. Bernie Sanders
Adult volunteer
- Sen. Patrick Leahy
Virginia
Youth members
- Sen. Mark Warner
- Rep. Don Beyer
- Rep. Gerry Connolly
- Rep. Bob Goodlatte
- Rep. Donald McEachin — Eagle Scout
- Rep. Bobby Scott
- Rep. Scott Taylor
- Rep. Rob Wittman
Adult volunteers
- Rep. Bob Goodlatte
- Rep. Rob Wittman
Washington
Youth members
- Rep. Rick Larsen
- Rep. Adam Smith
West Virginia
Youth members
- Sen. Joe Manchin
- Rep. David McKinley — Eagle Scout
Wisconsin
Youth members
- Rep. Sean Duffy
- Rep. Paul Ryan
Wyoming
Youth members
- Sen. John Barrasso
- Sen. Mike Enzi — Eagle Scout
How to contact these individuals with Scouting ties
I’m betting these Scouting alumni in the House and Senate would enjoy hearing from fellow Scouts and Eagle Scouts.
You can learn how to contact the senators here and the representatives here.
Thanks to the BSA’s Scott Olson for the info.
Support the Eagle Scout Scholarship Fund
Contribute to the National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) Scholarship Fund. Donations to this fund go directly to providing scholarships to deserving Eagle Scouts, allowing them to pursue their dreams and make a positive impact on the world.
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