ROUND ONE
The bill, Senate Resolution or SR462 and the House Version H.R. 210 was signed off and approved in the Senate but the Foreign Relations Committee never found the time to propose it before they took their vacation.
A very tough and divisive election was upon them, and because of that the bill never got passed and we have to start all over again with the 115th Congress. All they needed was a simple vote and mission complete.
All Lao people across the United States, a very diverse group of peoples, but commonly united in their faith in the US whom they supported during the “Secret War” are simply asking Congress to :
Read the House Resolution 210 or it’s newer version, as soon as we petition it, aloud in the Congress to acknowledge their support during the horrendous war.
It just needed the house approval from the foreign relations committee who was holding it up. Blame it on an election year. It would take about seven to eight minutes to read the proclamation.
I am familiar with the Viet Nam war era, my brother and I both served. These unique people have had to leave their country, many after detention, for as long as ten to twelve years under the most horrid of conditions. To stay in LAO would be life threatening, very dangerous and as refugees they see and have embraced the United States and it’s values as citizens.
They fought, they paid the price, some escaped and have come to the United States assimilating themselves yet retaining their culture and the unique Lao folk way of life.
It is this incredible overarching peaceful love and respect these people have for their family, friends, living things, their culture and their ancient traditions that impressed me the most, and In a short period of time I have learned a lot about them, and from them, and what I see is good.
Our plans are to go after the 115th Congress working with and in conjunction with Lao groups all over the country.
Alan Jacobson
Honorary Board Advisor
114TH CONGRESS
1st SESSION
HOUSE RESOLUTION 210
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 17, 2015
Mr. Duffy (for himself, Mr. Grothman, Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Perlmutter)
submitted the following resolution, which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
RESOLUTION
• Whereas the Khmer, Laotian, Hmong, and Montagnard Freedom Fighters and the people of Cambodia and Laos for their support and defense of the United States Armed Forces and freedom in Southeast Asia.
• Whereas the Khmer, Laotian, Hmong, and Montagnard Freedom Fighters (also known as ‘ Southeast Asian veterans”) fought and died with United States Armed Forces during the conflict in Southeast Asia;
• Whereas the Khmer, Laotian, Hmong and Montagnard Freedom rescued United States pilots shot down in enemy-controlled territory and returned the pilots to safety;
• Whereas the Khmer soldiers retrieved and prevented from failing into enemy hands secret and sensitive information, technology, and equipment;
• Whereas the Khmer, Laotian, Hmong, and Montagnard Freedom Fighters captured and destroyed enemy supplies and prevented enemy forces from using the supplies to kill members of the United States Armed Forces;
• Whereas the Khmer, Laotian, Hmong, and Montagnard Freedom Fighters gathered and provided to the United States Armed Forces intelligence about enemy troop positions, movement, and strength;
• Whereas the Khmer, Laotian, Hmong and Montagnard Freedom Fighters provide food, shelter, and support to the United States Armed Forces;
• Whereas the Khmer and National Armed Forces of Cambodia facilitated the evacuation of the United Embassy in Phnom Penh on April 12, 1975, by continuing to fight the Khmer Rouges Forces as the forces advanced upon the capital; and
• Whereas veterans of the Khmer Mobile Guerrilla Forces, the Laotian Special Guerrilla Units, the Khmer Republic Armed Forces, the Hmong, and the Montagnard defended human rights, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of representation and association, Now therefore, be it,
• That’s the House of Representatives affirms and recognizes the Khmer, Laotian, Hmong and Montagnard Freedom Fighters and the people of Cambodia and Laos for their support and defense of the United States Armed Forces and Freedom in Southeast Asia.