[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 228 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 228

 Observing the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Republic of Vietnam 
               to the Communist forces of North Vietnam.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 21, 2005

Mr. Tom Davis of Virginia (for himself, Ms. Zoe Lofgren of California, 
    Ms. Loretta Sanchez of California, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mr. 
  Becerra, Ms. Solis, Ms. Watson, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Ms. Waters, Ms. 
     Millender-McDonald, Mrs. Napolitano, Ms. Linda T. Sanchez of 
 California, Mr. Filner, Mr. Farr, Mr. Akin, Ms. Woolsey, Mr. Edwards, 
Mr. Honda, Mr. Moran of Virginia, Mr. Wolf, Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart of 
Florida, and Mr. Berman) submitted the following resolution; which was 
          referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Observing the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Republic of Vietnam 
               to the Communist forces of North Vietnam.

Whereas on April 30, 1975, the Republic of Vietnam fell to the Communist forces 
        of North Vietnam, resulting in a world refugee crisis of historic 
        proportions, and yielding approximately 3,000,000 refugees around the 
        world and at least 500,000 individuals who died at sea;
Whereas since 1975, the 1,500,000 Vietnamese who resettled in the United States 
        have, through perseverance and hard work, been able to rebuild their 
        lives and form a vibrant community across the United States which 
        contributes in many significant ways to the richness and diversity of 
        American society;
Whereas since 1975, Vietnamese Americans have worked tirelessly to promote 
        democracy and freedom in Vietnam;
Whereas the Socialist Republic of Vietnam was established as a one-party state 
        ruled and controlled by the Vietnamese Communist Party;
Whereas the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam continues to violate 
        the liberties and civil rights of its own citizens through arbitrary 
        arrests, detentions without trial, and the censorship of peaceful 
        expressions of political and religious beliefs;
Whereas Article 4 of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam 
        ensures the supremacy of the Vietnamese Communist Party as the only 
        political party in the country while continuing to enforce an extra-
        legal administrative decree to detain or place under house arrest any 
        dissidents or civilians for up to 2 years, without trial, under the 
        pretext of ``endangering national security'';
Whereas, according to the Department of State and international human rights 
        organizations, the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam 
        continues to restrict unregistered religious activities and persecutes 
        citizens on the basis of their religious and political affiliation 
        through arbitrary arrests and detention, harassment, physical abuse, 
        censorship, and the denial of the rights of free association and 
        religious worship;
Whereas the people of the United States are firmly committed to political, 
        religious, and economic freedom for the citizens of the Socialist 
        Republic of Vietnam and the United States fully expects equal protection 
        under the law for all Vietnamese citizens, regardless of religious 
        belief, political philosophy, or socio-political association;
Whereas the United States honors all members of the United States Armed Forces 
        and members of the South Vietnamese forces who fought in the Vietnam 
        conflict, including those individuals who gave the ultimate sacrifice, 
        their lives, for the cause of freedom during such conflict; and
Whereas the interests of the United States with respect to the Socialist 
        Republic of Vietnam will be best served when freedom and democracy are 
        fully restored to the Vietnamese people and when basic human rights are 
        respected and enjoyed by all Vietnamese regardless of politics, 
        religion, gender, or ethnic origin: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) observes the 30th anniversary of the fall of the 
        Republic of Vietnam to the Communist forces of North Vietnam;
            (2) supports all individuals taking part in events in 
        Washington, D.C. and across the United States to observe this 
        tragic event in world history; and
            (3) urges the people of the United States to share in 
        remembering this tragic event so as to provide a greater 
        understanding of the role that this event had in depriving the 
        people of Vietnam of their liberty and to provide the necessary 
        leadership so that one day the Vietnamese people may enjoy 
        freedom, democracy, and equality.
                                 <all>