100th anniversary of BSA charter gets congressional recognition

On major news sites and in both houses of the U.S. Congress, everyone seems to be talking about the BSA’s big anniversary.

One-hundred years ago this week, President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill granting federal incorporation to the Boy Scouts of America and protecting the BSA’s name and insignia.

Eagle Scouts in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives introduced resolutions Wednesday to honor the historic event. (Two of the same Eagle Scouts who spoke at the Gathering of Eagles in March on Capitol Hill, I should add.)

And Time magazine was among the many news sites that published this-date-in-history stories commemorating the occasion. Read their piece here.

In the U.S. Senate

Distinguished Eagle Scout Mike Enzi, the senior senator from Wyoming, introduced the resolution in the Senate on June 15, 2016.

“The congressional charter has helped the Boy Scouts become one of the largest youth organizations in the United States,” he said. “In fact it is estimated that more than 110 million Americans have served as members within its ranks. Scouting offers those 110 million young people friendship, an opportunity to set positive goals and outdoor experiences. But above all, Scouting is about building character and service.”

In the U.S. House

Distinguished Eagle Scout Chris Collins, U.S. representative of New York and leader of the Congressional Scouting Caucus, has been a proud Scouter most of his life.

“The Boy Scouts of America have played a pivotal role in shaping millions of young lives across our country,” he said. “The values I learned as a Scout have formed the foundation of my beliefs and positioned me to succeed throughout my professional career.”

You can read the full resolution here (PDF).

On Twitter

Two tweets about the occasion:


About Bryan Wendell 3280 Articles
Bryan Wendell, an Eagle Scout, is the founder of Bryan on Scouting and a contributing writer.