[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 56 (Tuesday, May 3, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H2758-H2762]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 OBSERVING 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF FALL OF THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM TO THE 
                   COMMUNIST FORCES OF NORTH VIETNAM

  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the resolution (H. Res. 228) observing the 30th anniversary of the 
fall of the Republic of Vietnam to the Communist Forces of North 
Vietnam, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 228

       Whereas the Vietnamese who resettled in the United States 
     after the events of April 1975 have, through perseverance and 
     hard work, been able to rebuild their lives and form a 
     vibrant community across the United States, nearly a million 
     and a half strong, which contributes in many significant ways 
     to the richness and diversity of American society;
       Whereas the large flow of refugees to the United States and 
     elsewhere was caused by the fall of the Republic of Vietnam 
     to the Communist forces of North Vietnam in April 1975, 
     resulting in a world refugee crisis of historic proportions, 
     the exodus of millions of Vietnamese, and hundreds of 
     thousands of deaths at sea;
       Whereas since 1975, Vietnamese Americans have worked 
     tirelessly to promote freedom and democracy in Vietnam;
       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 
     the Vietnamese people fully enjoy the exercise of their basic 
     human rights regardless of politics, religion, gender, or 
     ethnic origin: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) honors the significant contributions of Vietnamese 
     Americans to the richness, diversity, and success of American 
     society;
       (2) observes the 30th anniversary of the large exodus of 
     refugees from Vietnam when the Republic of Vietnam fell to 
     the Communist forces of North Vietnam;
       (3) supports all individuals taking part in events in 
     Washington, D.C. and across the United States to commemorate 
     these momentous events in world history;
       (4) honors the memory of those Vietnamese who lost their 
     lives in that refugee exodus; and
       (5) urges all citizens of the United States to share in 
     remembering these events and working toward the full 
     realization of freedom, democracy, and equality for all the 
     people of Vietnam.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Nebraska (Mr. Fortenberry) and the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Lantos) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Fortenberry).


                             General Leave

  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Nebraska?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I would like to first start by thanking the gentleman 
from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) for introducing this timely resolution 
honoring the contributions of Vietnamese Americans to American society 
over the past 3 decades.
  This past week marked the 30th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, a 
tragic anniversary on many levels. Those events signified the fall of 
the Republic of Vietnam to the Communist forces of North Vietnam, and 
also marked the start of several successive waves of people fleeing 
their homeland in a refugee exodus that ultimately involved millions of 
Vietnamese. Of those who fled as boat people in the late 1970s, 
countless thousands died at sea.
  The resolution before us honors the memory of those victims as well 
as the many sacrifices made by the Armed Forces of the United States 
and of South Vietnam during the Vietnam Conflict. But more centrally, 
the resolution honors the significant contributions of Vietnamese 
Americans to the richness, diversity, and success of American society.

                              {time}  1515

  Adversity reveals the mettle of a people. The hundreds of thousands 
of Vietnamese who braved those circumstances to relocate in the United 
States have since grown into a vibrant American community nearly 1.5 
million strong. In addition to thriving in their newfound homeland, 
Vietnamese

[[Page H2759]]

Americans have also worked tirelessly in their attempts to realize 
freedom and equality for all people in Vietnam, an ideal that remains a 
work in progress.
  This week, many Americans are gathering in Washington, D.C., and 
elsewhere to commemorate the events of 30 years ago. Thus, it is a 
particularly fitting time for all Americans to join them in remembering 
the hardships and accomplishments of the past as well as our shared 
hopes for the future. For these reasons, House Resolution 228 deserves 
our unanimous support.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in strong support of this resolution. At the outset, I would 
like to commend the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) for 
introducing this important resolution and the gentleman from Nebraska 
(Mr. Fortenberry) for ably managing it on the floor.
  Madam Speaker, 30 years ago, the fall of South Vietnam caused a 
refugee crisis of enormous proportions. Three million Vietnamese fled 
their homeland, with more than 1.5 million ultimately arriving in the 
United States. While a few left from the top of the U.S. Embassy in 
helicopters in the hurried rush at the end of the war, millions were 
loaded with their families onto rickety, overcrowded boats to flee 
Vietnam for freedom.
  The resolution before us observes the 30th anniversary of this huge 
exodus of refugees from Vietnam and honors the significant 
contributions made by Vietnamese Americans after their arrival in the 
United States.
  Madam Speaker, we are a Nation of immigrants, and Vietnamese 
Americans have warmly embraced the values and ethics of previous 
immigrant generations: hard work, education, an emphasis on family, and 
a strong embrace of our democratic system. Many Vietnamese Americans 
arrived with little more than the clothes on their back and have made 
new, prosperous lives for themselves here in the United States. 
Vietnamese Americans have become astronauts, television anchors, NFL 
football players, attorneys general and software entrepreneurs. They 
have made significant contributions to our society and to our culture, 
and their positive influence on our Nation will continue to grow.
  Vietnamese Americans have also made the ultimate sacrifice for their 
newly adopted Nation. On March 22, 2004, Marine Lance Corporal Andrew 
Dang was killed by enemy fire while on patrol near Ramadi in Iraq. 
Andrew joined the Marines about a month after the start of the war in 
Iraq and was assigned to Camp Pendleton in my home State of California. 
After his death, a fellow Marine wrote about Andrew, and I quote, 
``Everyone could count on him and no one questioned his loyalty. He 
believed in what the United States was doing against terror and so do 
we. None of us who knew Andrew will ever forget him.''
  Madam Speaker, our condolences go out to Andrew's family as does our 
great appreciation for his willingness to serve our Nation.
  Vietnamese Americans are increasingly part of the fabric of American 
society, working hard, caring for their families, and giving back to 
their adopted homeland. Our resolution recognizes the evolution of the 
Vietnamese-American community and their lasting contributions to our 
entire Nation.
  Madam Speaker, I am delighted to yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman 
from California (Ms. Loretta Sanchez).
  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I thank the 
gentleman from California for yielding me this time.
  I rise today in support of House Resolution 228, which marks the 30th 
anniversary of the fall of Saigon. Last weekend, thousands of 
Vietnamese Americans from across the country came to Washington for the 
Vietnam Freedom March. This event celebrated the freedom and the 
heritage of the Vietnamese-American community, honored the sacrifices 
of American and Vietnamese veterans, and highlighted the desperate need 
for freedom and basic human rights in Vietnam today. I am proud to have 
been an honorary cohost of this event, along with over 20 of my House 
colleagues, and I look forward to the support of this entire body for 
the resolution in today's vote. As the congressional representative of 
the largest Vietnamese community outside of Vietnam, it is a great 
privilege to bring this legislation to the floor today on their behalf.
  Madam Speaker, the gentleman from California is right. The Vietnamese 
community here in America has done an incredible job. They are hard 
workers, they are business owners, they are in the top universities, 
they are getting educated, they are beginning the political process, 
having now been elected in many of the areas, in Orange County and also 
in Texas, and, I believe, in Virginia.
  It is great to see the strides that they have made as an immigrant 
community here in the United States. But the truth of the matter is 
that the people, especially people back in Orange County and around 
here that are Vietnamese Americans, are still worried about the 
situation in Vietnam. We know that the people of Vietnam awaken every 
day under a very harsh and repressive regime, and events such as the 
Vietnam Freedom March remind those of us here in Washington that even 
30 years after the fall of Saigon, there remains much to be done before 
the Vietnamese people can enjoy the freedom and the liberty that we 
here in America often take for granted.
  I hope that my colleagues will work with me and with the Vietnamese 
community of the United States to work on the human rights issues still 
left there in Vietnam. They came here because they were seeking freedom 
and liberty. We fought and we lost 58,000 Americans in that war trying 
to find freedom and liberty. I hope we will continue as Americans to 
fight for freedom and liberty.
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume 
to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce).
  Mr. ROYCE. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution 
honoring the contributions of Vietnamese Americans to American society 
over the past 3 decades. After the events of April 1975, many brave 
Vietnamese migrated to the United States. Through perseverance and hard 
work, they rebuilt their lives to form a vibrant community across this 
country.
  I take great pride in representing a part of Orange County's thriving 
Vietnamese-American community, and I have witnessed the community's 
growth over the years. There are now more than 3,500 Vietnamese-
American-owned businesses straddling the cities of Garden Grove, Santa 
Ana and Westminster. Little Saigon is no longer ``little.'' It is the 
cultural and commercial capital for close to 300,000 Vietnamese 
Americans, the largest concentration outside Vietnam.
  I have seen the community grow not only economically but politically 
as well. Van Tran, who used to work for me in the State senate, has now 
been elected to the State assembly, the highest Vietnamese American 
elected to public office. Rightly, these Vietnamese Americans are 
focused on promoting democratic ideals in Vietnam. The U.S. must be a 
strong advocate of human rights, particularly when basic freedoms are 
being wantonly disregarded as they are in Vietnam. We must continue to 
shine a light on repression in that country.
  I am sorry to say that in the 30 years, not much has changed in 
Vietnam. Not much has changed since the Communists launched their 
disastrous Socialist Republic of Vietnam because political, religious 
and economic freedoms have been systematically squashed. This is a 
government that continues to deny citizens of Vietnam the right to 
change their government. When I visited Vietnam, I saw firsthand the 
Communist Party's harassment of those Vietnamese citizens who decided 
to peacefully set forth dissenting political and religious views. When 
I met with the venerable Thich Quang Do and Le Quang Liem, I was 
immediately denounced by that Communist government.
  But I must share with you that there is a strategy that is working to 
bring information to Vietnam. Radio Free Asia is an effective tool 
listened to across the country. I have carried legislation to expand 
those broadcasts.

[[Page H2760]]

But I would share with you in my conversations with Vietnamese that in 
the same way that Lech Walesa in Poland listened to those radio 
broadcasts and in the same way the members of solidarity had a chance 
to have their story told across Poland, in the same way that Vaclav 
Havel used to tune into Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty broadcasts, 
today people across Southeast Asia, in Burma and in Vietnam have that 
same opportunity to listen to the news not only about what is happening 
in the world but what is happening inside their own country, and that 
is shaping the values and the attitudes and the knowledge of a new 
generation of young Vietnamese.
  The Vietnamese-American community has not lost sight of the struggle 
in their original homeland for freedom, for religious freedom, for 
freedom of speech, even for the right of young people to sit down in an 
Internet cafe and have a dialogue without censorship. They are a part 
of this effort to make certain that those ideals stay alive so that in 
the same way that eastern Europe came to evolve into a democratic, 
market-oriented, tolerant society, that there will be that opportunity 
in the future for Vietnam.
  In the meantime, this resolution commends the success of the 
Vietnamese-American community. I thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. 
Tom Davis) and the other cosponsors of this resolution and urge its 
passage.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I thank the ranking member 
very much for yielding me this time and the sponsor of this legislation 
and my colleagues, because I believe that we come unanimous to the 
floor to acknowledge the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Republic 
of Vietnam to, unfortunately, the Communist forces, but to stand tall 
with the resolved in Vietnam that fought steadfastly against those 
forces and to applaud the Vietnamese community which I have the 
opportunity of interacting with and, of course, working with in my own 
community of Houston.
  I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this legislation and to 
have supported the recent event this past weekend commemorating the 
contributions and, of course, the commitment of the Vietnamese people 
and their longstanding commitment to Vietnam. Truly, the Vietnam War 
has had a lasting impact on our Nation and, indeed, the world in the 30 
years since it has ended. The nation of Vietnam today is showing signs 
of economic revival. Much like China, Vietnam is realizing that market 
reforms that are more open and free can yield a greater fiscal growth 
and development.
  However, again like China, Vietnam must also take the same approach 
in respecting opposition and, of course, freedom and civil liberties. 
Unfortunately, the citizens of Vietnam must still endure arbitrary 
arrests, detentions without trial and the censorship of peaceful 
expressions of political and religious beliefs. These practices are not 
uncommon because they are written into the national constitution. 
Specifically, article 4 of the constitution of the Socialist Republic 
of Vietnam ensures the supremacy of the Vietnamese Community Party as 
the only political party in the country. At the same time, the 
government continues 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.
  That is why, Madam Speaker, I have been concerned about establishing 
trade relations that has not answered the question of the freedom of 
people in parts of Vietnam and particularly in the Communist areas. I 
also believe it is important to stand up to demand that those who have 
been incarcerated and detained are released and to say to those who are 
here, the Vietnamese community, that we stand with them in order to 
ensure the reuniting of their family members, many of them separated 
now for decades.

                              {time}  1530

  But that has not stopped the Vietnamese community in Houston, in 
Texas, and around the Nation from being strong advocates and supporters 
of their individual communities. They are business persons, they are 
artists, they are teachers, they are community leaders.
  I want to thank the community in Houston for raising over $100,000 
and coming to the aid of the victims of the tsunami by working with 
Houston's Solution for Tsunami Relief. I would like to acknowledge 
their artistic activities by saluting the Vietnamese Dance Company, 
saluting the first Vietnamese who was elected to the State legislature 
in the last election, and of course to salute those individuals who 
befriend and take care of their senior citizens. They have one of the 
best citizens programs for many of these elderly Vietnamese citizens 
who do not speak the language because they came to this country way 
after the prime of their life, but there is no more group that loves 
freedom as much as the Vietnamese community. And my senior citizens, 
who may not be able to speak English very well, I can assure Members 
that freedom is in their hearts, that they love this Nation, that they 
realize that they are in a country that is free and respects them.
  So I am proud to recognize the achievements of Vietnamese Americans 
in 3 decades since the end of the Vietnam War. And I am proud to say 
that the city of Houston is home to about 160,000 Vietnamese who 
maintain an active and vibrant community. They live at Bellaire. They 
have a Vietnam town there. One can find Vietnamese shops and 
restaurants, places of worship, but I will say they are very welcoming. 
900 AM is Radio Saigon in Houston. They believe in being part of this 
Nation.
  On April 30, 1975, the Republic of Vietnam fell to the Communist 
forces; but now we are standing to say that even as it fell, it yielded 
3 million refugees, at least 500,000 individuals who died at sea trying 
to escape from danger, but they came to the United States and they 
stand together as free and united.
  I congratulate the community, and I thank the distinguished ranking 
member for his leadership also.
  I rise today as a cosponsor of H. Res. 228, which observes the 30th 
anniversary of the fall of the Republic of Vietnam to the Communist 
forces of North Vietnam. In addition, this resolution honors the 
contributions of Vietnamese Americans to American Society over the past 
three decades. Truly, the Vietnam War has had a lasting impact on our 
Nation and indeed the world in the 30 years since it ended.
  The nation of Vietnam today is showing signs of economic revival. 
Much like China, Vietnam is realizing that market reforms that are more 
open and free can yield greater fiscal growth and development. However, 
much like China, Vietnam must also take the same approach of open 
opposition and freedom for its civil liberties. Unfortunately, the 
citizens of Vietnam must still endure arbitrary arrests, detentions 
without trial, and the censorship of peaceful expressions of political 
and religious beliefs. these practices are not uncommon because they 
are written into the nation Constitution. Specifically, 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. At the same time the government continues to enforce an 
extra-legal administrative decree to detain or place under house arrest 
any dissidents or civilians for up to 2 years, without trail, under the 
pretext of ``endangering national security.'' As a Member of Congress I 
have always stood for human rights and these practices go against all 
tenants of good governance. Truly, any nation in this era that hopes to 
have its place in the international community must maintain proper 
standards in human rights.
  I am proud to recognize the achievements of Vietnamese Americans in 
the 3 decades since the end of the Vietnam War. I am proud to say that 
the City of Houston is home to about 160,000 Vietnamese, who have 
maintained an active and vibrant community. In the Southwest Houston 
Area at Bellaire Street, there is an area the community refers to as 
Vietnam Town, where you can find many of the Vietnamese shops, 
restaurants, and places of worship. In addition, the Vietnamese 
community in Houston has established their own radio stations including 
900 AM Radio Saigon Houston.
  On April 30, 1975, the Republic of Vietnam fell to the Communist 
forces of North Vietnam, resulting in a world refuge crisis of historic 
proportions, and yielding approximately 3,000,000 refugees around the 
world and at least 500,000 individuals who died at sea trying to escape 
from danger. One million five

[[Page H2761]]

hundred thousand of those Vietnamese resettled in the United States and 
like the Vietnamese community in Houston they have contributed to the 
diversity and vibrancy of our Nation.
  As we commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the end of the Vietnam 
War we should take this time to reflect on our current war in Iraq. 
Much like the final years of Vietnam we are confronted with the 
question of how do we end this war and when can we bring our fighting 
men and women home to be with their families and loved ones? There have 
been 1,763 coalition troop deaths in Iraq, 1,585 of which have been 
Americans. At least 12,243 U.S. troops have been wounded in action and 
their lives will be changed forever because of this war. In addition, 
the latest attacks in Iraq by insurgents have killed hundreds of 
innocent Iraqi civilians. We must work vigorously to ensure that we 
have a proper exit strategy in Iraq. We can not allow more American 
troops to die without doing all we can to extract them from this 
danger. We must work to bring the current state of chaos in Iraq to be 
under control.
  Can I thank the good people of Vietnam who came but to this Nation or 
refugee, who now serve us well. I believe we must likewise find resolve 
to fix the problem in Iraq.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I wish to thank the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. 
Lantos) for his profound remarks today.
  Madam Speaker, this resolution honors the accomplishments of the 
Vietnamese Americans who have proudly contributed in so many ways to 
American society, and I am personally grateful for so many friends in 
eastern Nebraska, including Loan Vu, Bich and Brian Bui, Tha and Cuong 
Nguyen, and Phi Huynh, who have opened their homes to me, sharing 
personal stories of hardship and escape, of hope in seeking to rebuild 
their lives in America, and gratitude for the blessings of our country.
  I am grateful for the opportunity to offer this resolution, which I 
hope my colleagues will support.
  Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank my colleague, the co-
chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Vietnam, Representatives Tom 
Davis, Zoe Lofgren, Chris Smith and Loretta Sanchez for their 
leadership in bringing H. Res. 228 to the floor. This resolution honors 
the contributions to the United States made by the Vietnamese Americans 
since their arrival nearly 30 years ago.
  Today, there are 1.2 million Vietnamese Americans living in the U.S. 
More than 484,000 Vietnamese live in my home state of California, 
giving us the largest Vietnamese American community outside of Vietnam; 
my hometown of San Jose the largest Vietnamese population of any city 
outside of Vietnam. The Vietnamese community makes up the largest 
population of Southeast Asian refugees to have settled in the United 
States.
  When Saigon fell to the communists 30 years ago, the first wave of 
Vietnamese fled Vietnam. Approximately 135,000 Vietnamese refugees fled 
to the U.S.; a majority of them were ex-military and government 
officials who were our allies during the Vietnam War.
  The second migration of refugees came from the southern portion of 
the newly reunified nation of Vietnam. Of the countless thousands who 
tried to flee the country in makeshift boats, as many as half perished 
at sea. Those who succeeded found refugee camps in Thailand, Malaysia, 
Indonesia, the Philippines, and Hong Kong.
  In the late 1970s, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 
(UNHCR) negotiated an agreement under which the government of Vietnam 
would allow an orderly departure for those with relatives who had 
resettled abroad. From 1975 to 2002, a total of 759,000 Vietnamese 
refugees fled Vietnam and resettled in the United States.
  The Vietnamese American community has made and continues to make 
positive contributions to the U.S. Vietnamese Americans can be found in 
any profession, becoming doctors, lawyers, actors, politicians, 
scientists, professional athletes, and entrepreneurs.
  In 1992, Tony Quang Lam became the first Vietnamese American elected 
to public office; he served as a City Council Member in Westminster, CA 
until 2002. Eugene Trinh became the first Vietnamese American Astronaut 
for the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1992. Recently in the 2004 elections, 
Hubert Vo became the first Vietnamese American to win a Texas State 
Legislature seat, representing District 149 of Texas.
  Madam Speaker, the list of accomplished Vietnamese Americans goes on, 
and these are just some examples of the vibrant Vietnamese American 
community. As we move forward and honor the accomplishments of this 
community, we must also address the disparities that still exist in 
this community, such as college graduation rates and the number of 
those living below the poverty level.
  As we recognize the history and contributions of Vietnamese 
Americans, we continue to honor their stories of hardship, their noble 
struggles, and their extraordinary accomplishments.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. 
Res. 228 which recognizes the 30th anniversary of the tragic fall of 
the Republic of Vietnam and honors the 1.5 million Vietnamese-Americans 
who have settled in the U.S. and worked to promote democracy and 
prosperity in the U.S. as well as back in their homeland.
  As this Congress is aware, the tragedy of the fall of the Republic of 
Vietnam displaced approximately 3 million Vietnamese. Many of these 
individuals sought refuge in the United States. The people of Guam have 
a special relationship with these Vietnamese-Americans, 150,000 of whom 
arrived in Guam as refugees after the fall of Saigon in April 1975. To 
give you some perspective on the impact of this refugee crisis and the 
magnitude of Operation New Life, the current population of Guam today 
is 157,000. At the time of Operation New Life, Guam grew by 150 percent 
in a matter of days.
  My late husband Ricardo J. Bordallo was Governor of Guam at the time 
of Operation New Life, and I remember how the Guam community came 
together in solidarity with the Vietnamese people and worked hard to 
help comfort these brave individuals who had left all their worldly 
possessions behind in the name of freedom. The people of Guam 
empathized with the Vietnamese refugees, and we opened our hearts as 
well as our island home to them. Schools were closed because the buses 
and classrooms were needed to respond to this human emergency. The 
Asian refugee camp became our largest village overnight. One of my 
assignments as First Lady was to organize the care for the hundreds of 
orphan babies that arrived in Operation Baby Lift. This was a moving 
experience that has remained one of my fondest memories of my husband's 
first term as Governor of Guam.
  Today, many of the Vietnamese refugees who landed in Guam continue to 
live and prosper in the Guam community and throughout the United 
States. They have had families, opened businesses and contributed to 
our national life. They represent the finest ideals of political 
freedom.
  Many of the Vietnamese refugees have used their skills to create new 
businesses and to improve their lives and the lives of their fellow 
refugees. I am proud to call attention to one example of how 
Vietnamese-Americans have become an American success story. I recently 
learned of a new business venture in southern California called the 
First Vietnamese American Bank, which, when fully operational, will 
serve the Vietnamese-American community as well as prime the economic 
pumps for business relationships between Vietnam and the United States. 
The visionary board of the First Vietnamese American Bank gives us all 
hope that economic ties will lead the way towards stronger 
relationships between the Vietnamese people and the American people. I 
congratulate them on this bold endeavor and I wish them success in 
serving their community as well as building bridges to their former 
homeland. I commend the Chairman of the Board, Dr. Chan Q. Kieu, and 
the Directors, Mr. Pedro (Sonny) P. Ada, Mr. Arthur B. Birtcher, 
Mr.Walter L. Hannen Sr., Mr. Alex L. Hoang, Mr. Joe Keleman, Dr. Hieu 
T. Nguyen, Ms. Loan (Lynn) T. Nguyen, and Mr. Masao Tsuzura. I also 
commend the President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Hieu T. Nguyen, 
and senior managers Mr. Binh S. Hoang, Mr. John A. Podlesni and Mr. 
Douglas M. Shearer.
  We reflect today on the long road from the fall of Saigon to a new 
world that seeks peace and prosperity. The Vietnamese-Americans who 
inspire us also remind us of the cost of the freedom we enjoy. We hope 
that Vietnam will continue on its own political journey so that one day 
the freedom that Vietnamese-Americans enjoy in America can be shared by 
their families in Vietnam. That is a vision worth pursuing and in 
supporting H. Res. 228, Congress can express its solidarity with all 
those who share this vision for Vietnam.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of 
H. Res. 228, which I introduced to observe the 30th anniversary of the 
fall of the Republic of Vietnam to the Communist forces of North 
Vietnam.
  As you know, the Republic of Vietnam succumbed to North Vietnamese 
Communist troops on April 30, 1975. This dark day was a great tragedy 
not only for Vietnamese people, but for all democratic governments and 
free people in the world. America reacted quickly by opening its hearts 
and borders to over one million Vietnamese refugees. Another one 
million people fled to Europe, Australia, and Canada, and almost one 
million died en route to freedom.

[[Page H2762]]

  Many came here by surviving incredible hardships. They risked their 
lives on rickety boats facing pirates, starvation, and the perils of 
being at sea on open boats for weeks and months on end. Others escaped 
through dangerous mountainous and jungle terrain and those who were not 
so lucky were forced into so called ``Re-education Camps'' which were 
nothing more than concentration camps designed to torture and kill 
people who opposed the community regime. Soldiers, writers, 
journalists, members of the clergy and other religious leaders all 
suffered the same fate in these camps: humiliation, torture, and often, 
death.
  We owe all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam 
War, both American and Vietnamese, a debt of gratitude that can never 
be repaid. While we pay homage to these fallen heroes with resolutions 
and commemorations, the most fitting tribute is the enduring memory of 
their lives.
  Madam Speaker, in 1994 the United States ended its trade embargo with 
Vietnam and normalized relations with Hanoi. While the U.S. continues 
to open diplomatic relations with Vietnam, we must remember that many 
issues remain unresolved, including human rights violations, lack of 
religious freedom, and government corruption.
  I have traveled to Vietnam many times to learn about these issues 
first-hand, as well as to raise these concerns with high-level 
officials. In addition, the large Vietnamese-American community in my 
congressional district continues to keep me apprised of the situation. 
As a member of the Vietnam Caucus, I am dedicated to promoting 
awareness and policy debates among the U.S. Congress, the American 
public, and the international community about the greater need for 
fundamental human rights in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
  Madam Speaker, I urge every citizen of the United States to share in 
remembering this dark chapter in history. We must strive to have a 
greater understanding of the role these events had in hollowing the 
Vietnamese people of their liberty to provide the necessary leadership 
so that one day the Vietnamese people may enjoy freedom, democracy, and 
equality.
  I am hopeful H. Res. 228 will serve as a sensible voice of reason and 
help move the Vietnamese people one step closer toward ultimate 
liberation and freedom. At the least, however, I believe it will help 
shed much needed light on the atrocities committed by the Socialist 
Republic of Vietnam everyday on its own citizens. I would like to thank 
the other co-chairs of the Vietnam Caucus, Loretta Sanchez, Chris 
Smith, and Zoe Lofgren, for their support and urge my colleagues to 
join me in the passage of this resolution.
  Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California. Madam Speaker, I rise as a coauthor in 
strong support of H. Res. 228, a resolution that marks the 30th 
anniversary of the fall of the Republic of Vietnam and that honors the 
contributions of Vietnamese-Americans to American society over the past 
three decades.
  April 30, 1975 marked a very somber day for millions of people when 
the Republic of Vietnam fell to Communist forces from North Vietnam. 
Instantly, the world was faced with millions of refugees, many who 
resettled in the United States, but also hundreds of thousands who 
perished at sea in their attempt to escape Communist forces. Those who 
remained in Vietnam were forced to re-education camps and detention as 
their punishment.
  Unfortunately, to this day, the Vietnamese Communist government 
continues to violate basic human rights of its own citizens. As it has 
been documented by various States Department reports, the U.S. 
Commission on International Religious Freedom, Amnesty International 
and various Vietnamese-American groups, the Vietnamese government has 
been an egregious violator of religious freedom, human rights, and free 
speech. The government in Vietnam has continuously imprisoned religious 
figures who simply want to practice their faith, journalists attempting 
to print basic information about the actions of their government, and 
democratic activists in Vietnam. Vietnamese-Americans are playing a 
vital role to ensure that the Vietnamese government improves its human 
rights record, but much work remains to be done.
  Even though April 30th, 2005 marks the 30th anniversary of a very sad 
day for millions of Vietnamese and American families whose sons and 
daughters gave the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War, it is 
also a day to enthusiastically commend countless contributions that 
millions of Vietnamese-Americans have made in the United States. In 
just 30 years, 1.5 million Vietnamese refugees rebuilt their lives to 
become leaders in education, business, and government in the United 
Sates and have greatly enriched the cultural diversity of our country.
  So today I rise to remember the sacrifice of American and Vietnamese 
soldiers who fought for democracy in Vietnam and for their families who 
suffered their loss and injury. But I also rise to commend millions of 
courageous Vietnamese-Americans who have successfully rebuilt their 
lives in the United States while fighting to improve the human rights 
situation for their brothers and sisters left in Vietnam.
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Fortenberry) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 228, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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