BILL NUMBER: SCR 165 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 29, 2016
INTRODUCED BY Senator Nguyen
AUGUST 16, 2016
Relative to the Republic of Vietnam Month.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SCR 165, as amended, Nguyen. Republic of Vietnam Month.
This measure proclaims the month of October 2016 as the
Republic of Vietnam Month, in commemoration of the 60th
anniversary of the adoption of the first Constitution of the Republic
of Vietnam, in honor of the lives lost for freedom and democracy
during the Vietnam War, and in recognition of the positive
contributions of Vietnamese Americans to the State of California.
Fiscal committee: no.
WHEREAS, The people of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) and
the United States found common ground in their shared principles of
democracy and individual liberties, coming together to valiantly
defend these tenets against communism; and
WHEREAS, October 2016 marks the 60th anniversary of the adoption
of the first Constitution of the Republic of Vietnam, which
established that nation's first democracy; and
WHEREAS, Until the Fall of Saigon in 1975, the government of the
Republic of Vietnam sought to defend the lives, freedom, and property
of its people and was at the forefront of the fight for democracy in
Southeast Asia; and
WHEREAS, In an effort to protect the democratic government of the
Republic of Vietnam from socialist control, the United States,
Australia, the Philippines, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, and
Thailand fought vigorously to aid the Republic of Vietnam in their
fight against communism; and
WHEREAS, Despite a valiant effort from countries around the world,
Saigon fell, compelling nearly three million Vietnamese to flee the
country in search of freedom and refuge in neighboring countries with
approximately half of these individuals perishing at sea before
reaching a safe haven; and
WHEREAS, The United States welcomed many Vietnamese refugees
following the collapse of the Republic of Vietnam, and today, the
State of California is home to more than 500,000 Vietnamese Americans
that enrich the social, cultural, and economic fabric of our state
through their significant contributions to the fields of education,
business, politics, arts, science, and technology; and
WHEREAS, Today, the Vietnamese American community throughout
California and the United States remains vigilant of the state of
affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam due to their continuous
infringement upon the liberties of its people, specifically in the
areas of child labor, human trafficking, religious and political
persecution, suppression of the press, unlawful deprivation of life,
forced disappearances, and land seizures; and
WHEREAS, Vietnamese American communities throughout California and
the United States continue to put pressure on the government of the
Socialist Republic of Vietnam with the hope of bringing freedom and
democracy to the people of Vietnam, improving the quality of life of
the veterans and disabled veterans of the Army of Republic of Vietnam
and drawing attention to the plight of the wives of the fallen
soldiers who continue to suffer; and
WHEREAS, The United States Department of State's 2014 edition of
the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for Vietnam estimates
125 political detainees are being held, and the International Labor
Rights Forum reports that mistreatment has continued at reeducation
centers, including forcing detainees to produce goods for private
companies; and
WHEREAS, Human rights, religious freedom, democracy, and
protection against threats of aggression are important concerns of
Vietnamese Americans and Vietnamese communities worldwide stemming
from human rights abuses that continue to occur in Vietnam in the
following areas, among others, child labor, human trafficking,
religious and political persecution, suppression of the press,
unlawful deprivation of life, forced disappearances, and land
seizure; and
WHEREAS, We must teach our children and future generations
important lessons from the Vietnam War and the continuing situation
in Vietnam, including how the plight of the Vietnamese refugees
following the end of the war serves as a powerful example of the
values of freedom and democracy and how we can improve the quality of
life of the veterans and disabled veterans of the Army of the
Republic of Vietnam and draw attention to the plight of the wives of
the fallen soldiers who continue to suffer; and
WHEREAS, For their brave resolution to defend freedom around the
world, Republic of Vietnam Month seeks to recognize the sacrifice of
the more than 58,000 American service members who lost their lives to
defend democracy in Vietnam, as well as the more than one million
people, including service members, supporting personnel, and their
families, who made great sacrifices and contributions to the fight
for freedom; and
WHEREAS, Republic of Vietnam Month also honors the members of the
Army of the Republic of Vietnam and government officials, many of
whom perished or were captured and held in communist labor camps
where they suffered unspeakable abuses, as well as to recognize the
sacrifice of their families, especially the wives who displayed
admirable courage in the face of tragedy; and
WHEREAS, To honor the great sacrifices made in the fight for
democracy, communities throughout California will dedicate the month
of October as a time to reflect on principles of freedom and
democracy and the sacrifices that have been made towards the
attainment of these ideals, as well as to commemorate the anniversary
of the first democracy of the Republic of Vietnam and to thank the
millions of veterans around the world who fought during the Vietnam
War; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby proclaims the month
of October 2016 as the Republic of Vietnam Month,
in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the first
Constitution of the Republic of Vietnam, in honor of the lives lost
for freedom and democracy during the Vietnam War, and in recognition
of the positive contributions of Vietnamese Americans to the State of
California; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.