[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 222 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 222

     Expressing the approval of Congress for the 50th anniversary 
 celebration of the homecoming of United States prisoners of war from 
Vietnam and in recognition of the extraordinary service and sacrifices 
            of such prisoners of war during the Vietnam War.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 18, 2023

    Mr. Carper (for himself and Mr. Moran) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Expressing the approval of Congress for the 50th anniversary 
 celebration of the homecoming of United States prisoners of war from 
Vietnam and in recognition of the extraordinary service and sacrifices 
            of such prisoners of war during the Vietnam War.

Whereas more than 2,700,000 members of the United States Armed Forces served in 
        the Vietnam War;
Whereas more than 58,000 members of the United States Armed Forces lost their 
        lives and more than 300,000 were wounded;
Whereas, during the conflict, approximately 766 members of the Armed Forces of 
        the United States were taken captive as prisoners of war by the 
        Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the allies of that 
        Government;
Whereas prisoners of war, the majority of which were aviators, included members 
        of the Air Force, Navy, Army, Marine Corps, and United States civilians, 
        and during captivity the prisoners endured brutal conditions, including 
        torture, forced labor, and prolonged solitary confinement;
Whereas prisoners of war were held in more than a dozen prisons throughout North 
        Vietnam and elsewhere, including in the infamous prison camp known to 
        the prisoners of war from the United States as the ``Hanoi Hilton'', but 
        despite the challenging conditions, many of the prisoners of war held by 
        the North Vietnamese and the allies of the North Vietnamese maintained 
        their honor, resilience, and loyalty to their country and fellow members 
        of the Armed Forces;
Whereas the return of the prisoners of war was a nonnegotiable condition for 
        President Richard Nixon as his administration negotiated an end to the 
        Vietnam War;
Whereas, on January 27, 1973, the Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring 
        Peace in Viet-Nam (commonly known as the ``Paris Peace Accords'') was 
        signed, requiring the return of the United States prisoners of war 
        within 60 days of the signing of the agreement;
Whereas, between February and April 1973, 591 prisoners of war were released by 
        the North Vietnamese and their allies;
Whereas 116 prisoners of war died in captivity;
Whereas the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action (referred to in this preamble as 
        ``POW/MIA'') movement in the United States, and the National League of 
        POW/MIA Families, made a tremendous effort to return the prisoners of 
        war held by the North Vietnamese and their allies to the United States;
Whereas, in 1972, the National League of POW/MIA Families adopted the National 
        POW/MIA flag, which flies over Federal buildings, including the United 
        States Capitol, on days the United States flag is flown;
Whereas, 50 years after the prisoners of war held by the North Vietnamese gained 
        their freedom, the resilience, courage, and patriotism of the prisoners 
        of war continues to inspire generations of citizens of the United 
        States; and
Whereas the Richard Nixon Presidential Library will host the official 50th 
        Anniversary celebration of the homecoming of United States POWs from 
        Vietnam, from May 23 to 25, 2023, in Yorba Linda, California: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) expresses approval for the 50th anniversary celebration 
        of the homecoming of United States prisoners of war from 
        Vietnam; and
            (2) recognizes the extraordinary service and sacrifices of 
        the United States prisoners of war during the Vietnam War.
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