Information about the vote from special interest groups and other information providers in our Report Cards:
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Discrimination.
Helms (NC) amendment to ESEA
bill that would allow federal education funds to be
withheld from public elementary and secondary schools
that bar the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) from using
school facilities. [Note: Some school districts have
barred the BSA in response to the BSA policy of disallowing
homosexuals from serving as scout leaders.
Adopted.American Civil Liberties Union
S.1 -- Unique Right for Boy Scouts.
The Senate passed an amendment introduced by Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC) to an education bill that would take all federal funds away from public schools that prohibit the Boy Scouts or other groups that discriminate against gays and lesbians from using school facilities. The ACLU opposed the amendment because it would give the Boy Scouts and other anti-gay groups a unique new right, thereby violating the constitutional prohibition on the government promoting or penalizing a specific viewpoint.Family Research Council
S. 1--Helms Boy Scouts Amendment to Education Bill.
The Senate passed an amendment offered by Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC) to the Senate education bill, which prohibits federal education funds going to any elementary or secondary school that discriminates against the Boy Scouts regarding equal access to school facilities.American Conservative Union
Helms (R-NC) amendment to the education bill that would allow federal education funds to be withheld from public elementary and secondary schools that bar the Boy Scouts from using school facilities. The amendment was adopted.Americans for Democratic Action
S I. Boy Scouts/Anti-Discrimination.
Helms (R-NC) amendment to withhold federal education funds from public elementary and secondary schools that bar the Boy Scouts of America from using school facilities. The targeted schools bar the Boy Scouts because the organization discriminates against gay men. Adopted.American Association of University Women
Boy Scouts/Equal Access to School Facilities.
During Senate consideration of the Better Education for Students and Teachers (BEST—S1) Act, Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC) offered an amendment to allow the Boy Scouts, or any other youth group that denies membership to gays and lesbians, access to school facilities if the school allows any other group to use its facilities or be denied all federal education funding.
AAUW opposed the amendment because the First Amendment already guarantees the Boy Scouts the right to use public school facilities, to the same extent and in the same manner as any other group allowed to use those facilities. At the same time, the amendment is an unwarranted intrusion into the decision-making of local school boards because it mandates the creation of an “open forum” any time a school lets one community group use its facilities.
The Senate adopted the amendment.
Christian Coalition
Elementary and Secondary Education Act Authorization.
Helms Modified Amendment No. 648 (to Amendment No. 574), in the nature of a substitute. Adopted.Republican Liberty Caucus (Civil Liberty)
ESEA/Boy Scouts.
To prohibit funds to agencies that discriminate against the Boy Scouts.The Human Rights Campaign
Helms Boy Scout Amendment.
Adopted: Helms Modified Amendment No. 648 to cut off federal education funding to public schools that deny equal access to the Boy Scouts of America or any youth group that “prohibit the acceptance of homosexuals.”
Eagle Forum
Better Education for Students and Teachers Act.
Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC) introduced an amendment to the Better Education for Students and Teachers Act (S. 1), to prohibit the use of Federal funds by any State or local educational agency or school that discriminates against the Boy Scouts of America in providing equal access to school premises or facilities.
Amendment passed.