Girl Scouts’ Honorary Troop Capitol Hill was established by Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) to bring together a bipartisan delegation of women Members of Congress to identify and advance policies that help build girls of courage, confidence, and character, and to increase awareness about Girl Scouts’ benefits and impact.
Co-chaired by Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Representatives Liz Cheney (R-WY), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), and Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (DFL), Troop Capitol Hill unites Members of Congress to learn more about key issues facing girls and young women and advance policy solutions to unleash girls’ potential.
Each year, Troop Capitol Hill helps elevate the achievements of Gold Award Girl Scouts and National Gold Award Girl Scouts, celebrate the anniversary of the Movement on Girl Scout Day on March 12, and lift up International Day of the Girl on October 11. Members of Troop Capitol Hill can also expect support from Girl Scouts of the USA in engaging with Girl Scout councils in their home states and districts, and help developing policy ideas in civic education, financial literacy, STEM education, outdoor exploration, and supporting a strong nonprofit community.
In the 117th Congress, Girl Scouts aims to work with Troop Capitol Hill to continue to:
- Support briefings and events highlighting issues that affect girls and young women.
- Develop policy ideas and identify opportunities to ensure Girl Scouts is equipped to deliver our unparalleled leadership programming to more girls.
- Support local Girl Scout council events such as Gold Award ceremonies or civic education and STEM programs that promote the work of Girl Scouts in a given area.
- Speak to the value of women as Girl Scout volunteers, as many more are needed. Each fall, Girl Scouts typically has tens of thousands of girls on waitlists due to a shortage of ready volunteers.
Girl Scouts of the USA looks forward to working with our Troop Capitol Hill co-chairs to plan a few signature events in Washington, D.C. over the next two years. We also want to continue advancing our policy agenda to bring greater attention to issues that impact girls and Girl Scouting, so that the nation can best meet girls’ needs.
If you have any questions about Girl Scouts or Troop Capitol Hill, please contact the Public Policy & Advocacy office at advocacy@girlscouts.org or 202-659-3780.
