WHEREAS,  scouting is the largest voluntary youth movement in the world, with a membership totaling more than 25 million; and

WHEREAS,  the Boy Scouts of America is an organization that was incorporated on February 8, 1910, and recognized by federal charter on June 15, 1916, to provide an educational program for boys and young men to build strong moral character, learn the responsibilities of participatory citizenship and develop personal fitness; and

WHEREAS,  the Boy Scouts of America teaches the core values of duty to God and country, personal honor, respect for the beliefs of others, volunteerism and interdependence with the environment, values that are conducive to good character, citizenship and health; and

WHEREAS,  since 1910, more than 111,000,000 people have been members of the Boy Scouts of America; and

WHEREAS,  the Boy Scouts of America has enhanced the lives of millions of boys and young men from every ethnic, religious and economic background, including those with disabilities and special needs, participating in scouting programs across the United States; and

WHEREAS,  each local Boy Scout Council charges each Boy Scout with performing 12 hours of community service yearly, for a total of 30,000,000 community service hours each year; and

WHEREAS,  more than 1,000,000 adult volunteer leaders selflessly serve young people in their communities through organizations chartered by the Boy Scouts of America; and

WHEREAS,  the Boy Scouts of America has always affirmed faith in God as foundational and essential to its purpose and mission, animated by Lord Baden-Powell's insight that "God has given us...the great Book of Nature to read"; and

WHEREAS,  the Boy Scouts of America enjoys a sustained record of proven success in producing leaders for our nation who are trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent; now, therefore, be it