[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 136 (Friday, August 8, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E756]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE OPENING OF THE CAMBODIAN EXPERIENCE: OUR JOURNEY TO 
 AMERICA, FINDING FREEDOM AT THE HAGGIN MUSEUM IN STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA

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                            HON. JOSH HARDER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 8, 2025


  Mr. HARDER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
opening of The Cambodian Experience: Our Journey to America, Finding 
Freedom at the Haggin Museum in Stockton, California. This exhibit 
documents the experiences of Cambodian Americans, tracing their journey 
from the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge regime to refugee resettlement 
and community building in the United States.
  Developed and curated by the United Cambodian American Network 
(UCAN), a nonprofit organization based in Stockton, the exhibit 
presents a comprehensive narrative through oral histories, archival 
materials, artifacts, and multimedia storytelling. It highlights the 
contributions of Cambodian Americans and underscores the role of 
refugee communities in the broader American story.
  Stockton, which became a major resettlement site during the 1980's 
and 1990's, is home to one of the largest Cambodian communities in the 
United States. This exhibit reflects the significance of the city as 
both a destination and a foundation for Cambodian American life.
  Key contributors include Sophy Reese, President of UCAN and project 
manager; collaborating organizations such as the Khmer Language Arts 
and Culture Academy and A Khmer Buddhist Foundation; and survivors and 
descendants who provided firsthand accounts and materials for display. 
The Haggin Museum provided exhibition space, curatorial support, and 
logistical coordination for the project.
  This exhibit is the fourth in a continuing series of Cambodian 
cultural exhibits presented in partnership with the Haggin Museum. It 
serves both as a remembrance of a difficult history and a testament to 
cultural preservation, community strength, and intergenerational 
resilience.
  I commend the individuals and organizations whose efforts have 
resulted in this important public exhibit and recognize its role in 
fostering historical understanding and cultural appreciation.

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