President Obama Signs Girl Scouts Commemorative Coin Act! Girl Scouts Join President In Oval Office As He Signs Bill Into Law.
I am delighted to announce that President Barack Obama signed the Girl Scouts of USA Commemorative Coin Act today, October 29, 2009 at a ceremony held at the White House in the Oval Office. The ceremony included Connie L. Lindsey, GSUSA’s National President; Laurie Westley, Senior Vice President, and girls from the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital. Congress authorizes the minting of only two commemorative coins each year, so it is quite an honor for Girl Scouting and the millions of women who have been touched by our Movement. What a wonderful gift with which to honor Juliette Gordon Low just two days before her birthday!
I want to express my gratitude to the tens of thousands of supporters from all over the nation who sent more than 40,000 messages in support of the bill to their members of Congress. It clearly made a difference. The bill received very strong support in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. When the House took up the bill, a number of the members recognized how great the bipartisan effort had been. “See, Madam Speaker, only the Girl Scouts could bring such bipartisan fellowship here so quickly in a bill,” said Congressman Jack Kingston, who sponsored the legislation. And, U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee also acknowledged the fellowship and collaboration, saying: “This is the true spirit of bipartisanship, and I am delighted that we are rising today to support this very fine bill to honor the Girl Scouts with this coin.” Senator Susan Collins, who was once a Girl Scout and is a co-leader of the Honorary Congressional Girl Scout Troop in Congress, introduced the Senate bill in February. “The Girl Scouts have a tremendous history which should be celebrated and remembered, “ said Senator Collins. “The character, volunteerism, and leadership skills that Girl Scouts build contribute greatly to our society. “
The Girl Scouts Centennial Commemorative Coin will be minted in 2013, marking the end of the celebration of our first 100 years, and the beginning of our second century of leadership. That the signing of the bill comes almost exactly on Daisy Low’s birthday is so special, and I can’t imagine a more fitting use of the proceeds from the sale of the coin than for much-needed restoration and improvements to the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace in Savannah.
Our Movement has thrived since Daisy Low gathered together those first Girl Scouts in 1912. She would be proud indeed of all that our Movement has accomplished since then. Once again, congratulations to everyone in Girl Scouting for making the Girl Scouts Centennial Commemorative Coin possible.
Girl Scouts everywhere are encouraged to tell the world how they are 
