[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 65 (Thursday, April 10, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E314]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING THE LEGACY OF LUE N. YANG

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 10, 2025

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the legacy of Mr. Lue 
N. Yang, an extraordinary advocate, organizer, teacher, and public 
figure.
  Born on April 10, 1955, in Xieng Khouang, Laos, Mr. Yang has been a 
pillar for the Hmong community. At the age of 14, he served with the 
Hmong Special Guerrilla Unit (SGU) during Vietnam. After serving with 
the SGU, Mr. Yang moved to Vientiane to continue his education. Upon 
graduating, he became a Peace Officer for the US Embassy from 1972 to 
1975. Shortly after, Mr. Yang fled to Thailand as many Hmong refugees 
did at the end of the Vietnam War.
  A year later in Hawaii, he began to work with the non-profit: 
Vietnamese Indochinese Volunteer Agency (VIVA) and the Department of 
Labor as an agent. A few years later, Mr. Yang moved to Des Moines, 
Iowa and worked for Volunteer Enrichment Services. In 1991, he moved to 
Fresno and worked briefly with the Lao Family Community of Fresno.
  In 1992, Mr. Yang began his work at the Fresno Center for New 
Americans, a local non-profit that serves the Southeast Asian 
Community. Later that year he served as the Executive Director for FCNA 
from 1992 to 2017. Under Mr. Yang's leadership, FCNA managed to grow 
fourteen programs with an annual budget of $6.8 million and a team of 
38. As an Executive Director, he was seen as a role model and mentor by 
many young Hmong professionals at FCNA, who continued to push for 
progress for the Hmong community.
  Furthermore, during Mr. Yang's tenure at FCNA he was able to 
establish several key sustainable programs. The Living Well was the 
first Hmong mental health program in the state that provided culturally 
competent mental health services. Mr. Yang also drafted an Adult Day 
Health Care program that provided essential support for senior 
community members. These two programs are still in operation today and 
are seen as the pillars of FCNA's work.
  Mr. Yang has been an advocate for refugees and immigrants for 41 
years. He has worked collaboratively with non-profits, community 
leaders, elected officials, and educational institutions to address the 
disparities, challenges, and stigma that the Southeast Asian 
communities face. Mr. Yang's work via his community partnerships and 
advocacy resulted in the hiring of the first Hmong detective in the 
Fresno Police Department, and Hmong representation in administration 
and other leadership positions within the Fresno Unified School 
District.
  He was also instrumental in helping Hmong refugees who were attending 
school, manage their transition. Mr. Yang helped secure funding for a 
group that went to Wat Tham Krabok, Thailand, the location of the last 
recognized Hmong refugee group. After assessing different challenges 
unique to the Hmong refugee population, including access to education, 
the group published its findings to the City and County of Fresno, as 
well as the State Refugee Office. This was what culminated with the 
creation of the New American School, which assisted Hmong student 
refugees as they transitioned into mainstream school.
  The work of Mr. Yang has given the Hmong community immense support 
over the years and without this work many of these accomplishments 
wouldn't have been possible.
  Mr. Speaker, I invite my esteemed colleagues to join me in honoring 
the legacy of Lue N. Yang. He will be greatly missed by all who knew 
and loved him.

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