[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 53 (Monday, March 30, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S4008]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   WELCOME HOME VIETNAM VETERANS DAY

  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 89 which was submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 89) expressing support for 
     designation of a ``Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 89) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               S. Res. 89

       Whereas the Vietnam War was fought in Vietnam from 1961 to 
     1975, and involved North Vietnam and the Viet Cong in 
     conflict with United States Armed Forces and South Vietnam;
       Whereas the United States became involved in Vietnam 
     because policy-makers in the United States believed that if 
     the Government of South Vietnam fell to a communist 
     government then communism would spread throughout the rest of 
     Southeast Asia;
       Whereas members of the United States Armed Forces began 
     serving in an advisory role to the Government of South 
     Vietnam in 1961;
       Whereas, as a result of the Gulf of Tonkin incidents on 
     August 2 and 4, 1964, Congress overwhelmingly passed the Gulf 
     of Tonkin Resolution (Public Law 88-408), on August 7, 1964, 
     which effectively handed over war-making powers to President 
     Johnson until such time as ``peace and security'' had 
     returned to Vietnam;
       Whereas, in 1965, United States Armed Forces ground combat 
     units arrived in Vietnam;
       Whereas, by the end of 1965, there were 80,000 United 
     States troops in Vietnam, and by 1969 a peak of approximately 
     543,000 troops was reached;
       Whereas, on January 27, 1973, the Treaty of Paris was 
     signed, which required the release of all United States 
     prisoners-of-war held in North Vietnam and the withdrawal of 
     all United States Armed Forces from South Vietnam;
       Whereas, on March 30, 1973, the United States Armed Forces 
     completed the withdrawal of combat troops from Vietnam;
       Whereas more than 58,000 members of the United States Armed 
     Forces lost their lives in Vietnam and more than 300,000 
     members of the Armed Forces were wounded;
       Whereas, in 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was 
     dedicated in the District of Columbia to commemorate those 
     members of the United States Armed Forces who died or were 
     declared missing-in-action in Vietnam;
       Whereas the Vietnam War was an extremely divisive issue 
     among the people of the United States;
       Whereas members of the United States Armed Forces who 
     served bravely and faithfully for the United States during 
     the Vietnam War were caught upon their return home in the 
     crossfire of public debate about the involvement of the 
     United States in the Vietnam War;
       Whereas the establishment of a ``Welcome Home Vietnam 
     Veterans Day'' would be an appropriate way to honor those 
     members of the United States Armed Forces who served in 
     Vietnam during the Vietnam War; and
       Whereas March 30, 2009, would be an appropriate day to 
     establish as ``Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day'': Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) honors and recognizes the contributions of veterans who 
     served in the United States Armed Forces in Vietnam; and
       (2) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
     ``Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day'' with appropriate 
     ceremonies and activities that promote awareness of the 
     contributions of veterans who served in the United States 
     Armed Forces in Vietnam and the importance of helping such 
     veterans readjust to civilian life.

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