WASHINGTON D.C. - The U.S. House of Representatives Monday evening passed U.S. Representative Dan Boren’s HALE Scouts Act, H.R. 2675, by vote of 370 yeas to 2 nays. The Act would allow Indian Nations Council Boy Scout, Inc. to expand the Hale Scout Reservation (Camp Tom Hale) through a land purchase. The land purchase would provide an additional 140 acres of U.S. Forest Service land located in the Ouachita National Forest immediately adjacent to the existing Camp Tom Hale facility.
“The House passage of the HALE Scouts Act is great news for Scouts across the Central United States. Through outdoor activities, wilderness training, and nature conservation, Camp Hale has achieved great success at providing Oklahoma’s youth with important life and leadership skills. This success is also demonstrated by the increased attendance at Camp Hale, and the Indian Nation’s Council Boy Scout’s commitment to capital improvements at the camp.”
In 2007 attendance was 110 percent of the participation levels in 2006. Last summer, over 6,300 scouts attended the camp during its eight sessions. Nearly 20,000 merit badges were earned in 2007, and over 1,300 rank advancements were completed by scouts attending the camp.
Beginning in 1997, the Indian Nations Council Board adopted a strategic plan that included a major $3.5 million expansion and renovation of the camp, including “bricks and mortar” improvements like horse stables, a new dining facility, a leadership training center, facilities for nature training, a 28,000 gallon water storage and delivery system, a complete waste disposal lagoon system, and many other program enhancements.
According to Indian Nation Council’s testimony before the House Natural Resources Committee, funding of more than $400,000 has been approved by the Indian Nations Council Board for the land purchase. They have also planned the immediate construction of infrastructure and facilities to camp 180 additional scouts per week once the acquisition is complete.
The HALE Scouts Act, and the subsequent land purchase, has been a cooperative effort between Boren’s office, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Indian Nations Council, Inc. of the Boy Scouts of America.
“We have worked closely with Congressman Boren’s office as they drafted H.R. 2675, and would like to thank his office and the U.S. Forest Service,” said Indian Nations Council President Chip McElroy. “We have also worked extensively with the U.S. Forest Service over the last four years to coordinate this effort and to consider this opportunity.”
The HALE Scouts Act will now head to the Senate for consideration. Boren’s office has begun negotiations with the Senate to garner support for the Act.
“I am very optimistic that the HALE Scouts Act will be received favorably in the Senate, and the hard work and commitment the Indian Nations Council Boy Scouts and the U.S. Forest Service have shown will pay off soon,” Boren said. “My staff has already approached members of the Senate about moving the legislation.”
####
