[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 14, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3030-S3031]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself, Mr. Franken, Ms. Klobuchar, Mrs. 
        Feinstein, Mr. Begich, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Levin, and Mr. 
        Pryor):
  S. 2337. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to inter in national cemeteries 
individuals who supported the United States in Laos during the Vietnam 
War era; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President I have come to the floor today to 
reintroduce a piece of legislation that I feel is long overdue. The 
Hmong Veterans' Service Recognition Act is a bill to authorize the 
interment in national cemeteries of Hmong veterans who served in 
support of U.S. forces during the Vietnam War. Thousands of members of 
the Hmong community fought for America during Vietnam yet they enjoy no 
rights as veterans. The Hmong veterans are requesting to be buried in 
national cemeteries and I, along with a bipartisan group of colleagues, 
Senators Franken, Klobuchar, Feinstein, Begich, Whitehouse, and Pryor, 
believe this is an appropriate honor.
  To preserve Laos's neutrality during the Vietnam War, the U.S., 
Soviet Union, North Vietnam, and ten other countries signed the 1962 
Geneva Declaration prohibiting all foreign military personnel from 
Laos. While the U.S. and other countries withdrew all military 
personnel, the North Vietnamese Army blatantly violated the Geneva 
Declaration by keeping thousands of troops in Laos. Using Laotian 
territory to circumvent borders, these NVA forces posed a direct threat 
to America's military position in South Vietnam. Unable to be present 
in Laos, but needing to counteract the NVA, America required a covert 
military force. The Hmong were ideal candidates for America's secret 
war--they were renowned as being brave fighters who knew the rocky 
mountain terrain of Northern Laos well.
  All told, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency conducted covert 
operations in Laos which employed some 60,000 Hmong volunteers in 
Special Guerilla Units. The Hmong Fighters interrupted operations on 
the Ho Chi Minh trail and assisted in downed aircraft recovery 
operations of American Airmen. In Laos, they valiantly fought the 
Vietnamese and Laotian Communists for over a decade and were critical 
to America's war efforts in Vietnam. In all, over 35,000 Hmong lost 
their lives by the end of our involvement in Vietnam.
  Since the end of the Vietnam War, thousands of Hmong and Lao families 
have resettled around the United States to become legal permanent 
residents or United States citizens and have greatly contributed to 
American society. There are currently over 260,000 Hmong people in 
America. According to the 2010 Census, the heaviest concentrations are 
in California, Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Michigan, 
Colorado, Georgia, Oklahoma, Oregon, and my home State of Alaska.
  Of the Hmong who became U.S. citizens, approximately 6,000 veterans 
are

[[Page S3031]]

still with us today, and they deserve the choice to be buried in 
national cemeteries. This concept is not without precedent. Currently, 
burial benefits are available for Philippine Armed Forces veterans who 
answered the call to serve during World War II, just like the Hmong. 
This legislation would not grant the small group of Hmong veterans full 
veteran benefits, but would simply authorize their interment in 
national cemeteries across the Nation. A small, but deserved token of 
appreciation and an appropriate honor for their sacrifices towards a 
common goal of democracy and freedom in the world.
  This new legislation is improved from the previous version, S. 200, 
in that it connects with Public Law 106-207: The Hmong Veterans' 
Naturalization Act of 2000 which acknowledges Hmong Special Guerilla 
Unit's contributions during Vietnam and provides a path to validation 
of a Hmong veteran's service for the purpose of naturalization. Public 
Law already recognizes the service of Hmong Special Guerilla Unit 
veterans for the purpose of naturalization, so it is a natural 
connection to afford them burial rights as well.
  Hmong-Americans who fought and risked their lives in secret for 
America deserve the same public respect and honor we give the men and 
women they served with and rescued. I believe it's time to honor the 
service and sacrifice of Hmong Special Guerilla Unit Veterans by 
allowing them to be buried alongside their brothers in arms in our 
national cemeteries. Again, I appreciate the support of my colleagues 
from across the aisle for this legislation and look forward to working 
with them and others in the Senate to finally getting this approved 
into law this year.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2337

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Hmong Veterans' Service 
     Recognition Act''.

     SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY FOR INTERMENT IN NATIONAL CEMETERIES.

       (a) In General.--Section 2402(a) of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(10) Any individual--
       ``(A) who--
       ``(i) was naturalized pursuant to section 2(1) of the Hmong 
     Veterans' Naturalization Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-207; 8 
     U.S.C. 1423 note); and
       ``(ii) at the time of the individual's death resided in the 
     United States; or
       ``(B) who--
       ``(i) the Secretary determines served with a special 
     guerrilla unit or irregular forces operating from a base in 
     Laos in support of the Armed Forces of the United States at 
     any time during the period beginning February 28, 1961, and 
     ending May 7, 1975; and
       ``(ii) at the time of the individual's death--

       ``(I) was a citizen of the United States or an alien 
     lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United 
     States; and
       ``(II) resided in the United States.''.

       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this Act shall 
     apply with respect to an individual dying on or after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act.
                                 ______