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WASHINGTON -- Republican leaders quietly included in a sweeping defense spending bill a paragraph designed to pre-empt state and local anti-discrimination laws - a change that could make it easier for youth groups, notably the Boy Scouts, to bar gays and others from their functions. The provision says that any state or town government that receives federal housing and community development funds cannot deny the scouts or other youth groups equal access to public meeting places. ...The entire Connecticut delegation supported the defense measure, and when some members learned Tuesday what they had endorsed, they were not pleased. ...Rep. Christopher...

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, M.D. (R-TN) today praised the pending passage of the “Support Our Scouts Act of 2005,” which is included in the Department of Defense Authorization bill and the Defense Appropriations bill. Sen. Frist authored the legislation, which was co-sponsored by over 50 other senators, "to ensure that the Boy Scouts of America receives equal access to public facilities, programs, and forums and that the Defense Department will continue its support of Scouts and their Jamborees." “The passage of this legislation is a victory for the Boy Scouts of America and the many other organizations that...

August 2, 2005 The legal bullies at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sustained a substantial loss with the Senate's passage this week, by a 95-0 vote, of the Support Our Scouts Act of 2005. The Act, which is an amendment to the Department of Defense authorization bill, is expected to pass in the House. The Act establishes that the Boy Scouts, and any group officially associated with them, cannot be discriminated against in any way through the denial of access to federal funding or public facilities. "It's about time Congress stepped in to protect the Scouts from the ravenous...

August 2, 2005 The legal bullies at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sustained a substantial loss with the Senate's passage this week, by a 95-0 vote, of the Support Our Scouts Act of 2005. The Act, which is an amendment to the Department of Defense authorization bill, is expected to pass in the House. The Act establishes that the Boy Scouts, and any group officially associated with them, cannot be discriminated against in any way through the denial of access to federal funding or public facilities. "It's about time Congress stepped in to protect the Scouts from the ravenous...

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate voted Tuesday to allow U.S. military bases to continue to host Boy Scout events, responding to lawsuits and a federal court ruling aimed at severing relationships between the government and the youth group. In a 98-0 vote, the Senate approved the provision continuing the hosting of Boy Scout events as part of massive bill setting Defense Department policy for next year. After the vote, Senate leaders decided to put off further debate and votes on the overall bill, probably until fall when Congress returns from a monthlong break. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., a...

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) came to Fort A.P. Hill July 27 to address the 2005 National Scout Jamboree. Foremost on his mind was the importance of the U.S. military’s support to the scouts gathered before him. “Federal support for the jamboree -- what we are doing here today -- is important in helping to train our brave men and women in the military,” he said. Frist said he was proud to announce the “Support Our Scouts Act of 2005” as an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization Bill that he sponsored. “The vote was ninety-eight to...

In a 98-0 vote, the Senate approved the provision continuing the hosting of Boy Scout events as part of massive bill setting Defense Department policy for next year. After the vote, Senate leaders decided to put off further debate and votes on the overall bill, probably until fall when Congress returns from a monthlong break.

WASHINGTON — The Senate voted Tuesday to allow U.S. military bases to continue to host Boy Scouts events, responding to lawsuits and a federal court ruling aimed at severing relationships between the government and the youth group. The vote came one day after four adult Scout leaders from an Alaska troop were killed on the opening day of the National Scout Jamboree at the Army's Fort A.P. Hill in Bowling Green, Va., when a tent pole apparently struck a power line. In a 98-0 vote, the Senate approved the provision continuing the hosting of Boy Scout events as part of...

WASHINGTON - The Senate voted Tuesday to allow U.S. military bases to continue to host Boy Scouts events, responding to lawsuits and a federal court ruling aimed at severing relationships between the government and the youth group. The vote came one day after four adult Scout leaders were killed on the opening day of the National Scout Jamboree at the Army's Fort A.P. Hill in Bowling Green, Va., when a tent pole apparently struck a power line. In a 98-0 vote, the Senate approved the provision continuing the hosting of Boy Scout events as part of massive bill setting Defense...

Just hours ago, I introduced an amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill ... "Support Our Scouts Act of 2005." You may recall that I wrote to you about this subject a few months ago. I wanted to give you an update ...

July 21st, 2005 - WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, M.D. (R-TN) today announced that he would introduce the “Support Our Scouts Act of 2005” as an amendment to the Department of Defense authorization bill. The amendment will ensure that the Boy Scouts of America are treated fairly by guaranteeing their right to equal access to public facilities, forums, and programs. This provision addresses attempts to exclude the Boy Scouts from such facilities at the federal, state, and local levels, and legal moves by groups to proscribe longstanding Defense Department support to the Scouts. The following is...

Press Releases FRIST ANNOUNCES THE “SUPPORT OUR SCOUTS ACT OF 2005” Senator Bill Frist, M.D. March 9th, 2005 - WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, M.D. (R-TN) will introduce legislation in the next few days to ensure that the Boy Scouts of America are treated fairly by guaranteeing their right to equal access to public facilities, forums, and programs. This legislation addresses attempts to exclude the Boy Scouts from such facilities at the federal, state, and local levels, and legal moves by groups to proscribe longstanding Defense Department support to the Scouts. “Since 1910, Boy Scout membership...