[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 78 (Monday, May 6, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E448]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING 2024 HMONG-AMERICAN DAY IN MERCED COUNTY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN S. DUARTE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 6, 2024

  Mr. DUARTE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize May 14, 2024 as 
Hmong-American Day, honoring the legacy of the Hmong people who served, 
were wounded, or lost their lives in battle. Their sacrifice, to ensure 
America remains the land of the free, knowing we forever owe a debt of 
gratitude for their sacrifice. We recognize the important cultural, 
social, political, and economic contributions of Hmong Americans that 
provide generational enrichment and enhancement to this county across 
many sectors, including CBOs, business, healthcare, education, public 
safety, and government.
  From 1961 to 1975, more than 40,000 Hmong individuals were recruited 
by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to fight alongside American 
soldiers in the Secret War, a vital part of the Vietnam War, in Laos. 
But in 1975, the Fall of Long Chen forced thousands of Hmong to flee 
Laos to seek refuge from persecution, where many refugees and their 
families immigrated to other countries, including the United States, 
and to California--where today Merced is home to more than 8,000 Hmong 
residents.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of 
Representatives to join me in celebrating Hmong-American Day and 
formally recognizing and celebrating the rich history, culture, and 
contributions of Hmong Americans in Merced County and other communities 
throughout California.

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