BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SCR 89|
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CONSENT
Bill No: SCR 89
Author: Correa (D), et al
Amended: 4/7/10
Vote: 21
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE : 8-0, 5/4/10
AYES: Lowenthal, Huff, Ashburn, DeSaulnier, Harman, Kehoe,
Pavley, Simitian
NO VOTE RECORDED: Oropeza
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
SUBJECT : Nguyen Ngoc Phu Human Rights Memorial
Interchange
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This resolution designates the Beach boulevard
interchange on State Highway Route 22 in Orange County as
the "Nguyen Ngoc Phu Human Rights Memorial Interchange."
ANALYSIS : This resolution seeks to memorialize Phu Ngoc
Nguyen, who was a young student, community leader, and an
ardent voice for freedom, human rights, and democracy,
particularly in Vietnam.
Phu Ngoc Nguyen was born into challenging circumstances in
Vietnam on November 27, 1983. His father served as a South
Vietnamese military police officer and suffered as a
prisoner in a concentration camp for seven years. His
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SCR 89
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mother struggled every day to support her family in
Vietnam.
In 1991, his family seized the opportunity to make a new
life for itself when the United States welcomed Vietnamese
veterans who fought alongside American forces in South
Vietnam through the Orderly Departure Program. The family
settled in Santa Ana, California and became part of the
growing Vietnamese American community in Orange County.
In 2001, Phu Ngoc Nguyen returned to visit Vietnam and
witnessed the abject poverty challenging the daily lives of
the Vietnamese people. Drawing strength from that
experience, Phu Ngoc Nguyen committed himself to helping
the Vietnamese American community by becoming involved in
and leading student organizations to honor Vietnamese
culture and to celebrate, defend, and press for freedom in
both the United States and Vietnam.
His work within the community was extraordinary, the
examples of his service numerous. In 2002, Phu Ngoc Nguyen
organized a two-day hunger strike to protest human rights
and religious freedom violations in Vietnam. Phu Ngoc
Nguyen served in 2003 as a lead organizer of the
International Vietnamese Youth Conference, an event that
highlighted human rights, social justice, and community
service.
Phu Ngoc Nguyen served as chair of the Orange County Human
Rights Night on International Human Rights Day in 2004 and,
as chair of the Tet Festival in Garden Grove, California in
2005, he mobilized over 700 students and 50 organizations
to participate in an event that drew tens of thousands of
people. He reached out to young Vietnamese Americans by
hosting a weekly radio program entitled "Tieng Noi Sing
Vien" (Student Voice) on Sai Gon Radio Hai Ngoai (Saigon
Radio Overseas).
Phu Ngoc Nguyen died unexpectedly from heart failure on
June 7, 2005. He was just 21 years old. His life serves
as an example of how one young person can have a positive
impact on those around him and his community. This
resolution seeks to recognize his service, accomplishments,
and spirit.
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This resolution:
1. Designates the Beach Boulevard (SR 39) interchange on SR
22 in Orange County as the "Nguyen Ngoc Phu Human Rights
Memorial Interchange."
2. Requests the California Department of Transportation to
determine the cost of erecting appropriate signs,
consistent with the signing requirements for the state
highway system, and, upon receiving donations from
nonstate sources sufficient to cover that cost, to erect
those signs.
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: Yes
SUPPORT : (Verified 5/24/10)
Acacia Adult Day Services
Association of Vietnamese Language and Culture Schools of
Southern CA
Coalition of the Republic of Vietnam Veteran Assoc. in
Southern California
Joint Action Committee for Fatherland's Integrity
Tri Ta, Councilman, City of Westminster
Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of Southern
California
Viet Bao Daily News
Vietnamese American Community of Southern California
Vietnamese Buddhist Youth Assoc. in the United States at
Dieu Ngu Temple
JJA:do 5/25/10 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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