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<PRE>[DOCID: f:hc88eh.txt]
107th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                            H. CON. RES. 88

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress that the President should issue a 
    proclamation to recognize the contribution of the Lao-Hmong in 
 defending freedom and democracy and supporting the goals of Lao-Hmong 
                            Recognition Day.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 88

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Whereas the Lao-Hmong, which means ``free people'', are Laotian members of the 
        Hmong tribe and are noted for their warrior tradition, loyalty, and 
        bravery;
Whereas beginning in 1960 the United States recruited thousands of the Lao-Hmong 
        to fight against the Communist Pathet Lao and North Vietnamese Army 
        regulars in Laos;
Whereas the United States relied heavily on the Lao-Hmong Special Guerrilla 
        Units to engage in direct combat with North Vietnamese troops from 1960 
        to 1975;
Whereas the Lao-Hmong conducted tactical guerrilla actions, flew thousands of 
        deadly combat missions in support of the Armed Forces and the Central 
        Intelligence Agency, and fought in conventional and guerrilla combat 
        clashes with extreme casualties;
Whereas the Lao-Hmong, although outnumbered, fought against enemy forces to 
        disrupt the flow of troops and war supplies along the Ho Chi Minh Trail;
Whereas the Lao-Hmong protected United States personnel, guarded United States 
        Air Force radar installations, gathered critical intelligence about 
        enemy operations, and undertook rescue missions to save the lives of 
        downed United States pilots;
Whereas more than 35,000 of the Lao-Hmong lost their lives defending the 
        democratic way of life, and many more were seriously injured and 
        disabled;
Whereas thousands of Lao-Hmong suffered grievous injuries and permanent 
        disabilities, and thousands more were captured and sent to Communist 
        concentration camps;
Whereas after the conclusion of the war, many Lao-Hmong soldiers were the 
        victims of acts of retribution and atrocities by the Pathet Lao, causing 
        many of the Lao-Hmong to flee to neighboring Thailand and become 
        refugees; and
Whereas beginning with the City Council of Golden, Colorado, in 1995, various 
        State and local governments have issued proclamations declaring July 22 
        as Lao-Hmong Recognition Day, and the issuance of a Presidential 
        proclamation supporting the goals of Lao-Hmong Recognition Day would 
        recognize the bravery, sacrifice, and loyalty to the United States 
        exhibited by the Lao-Hmong in Southeast Asia: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that the President should issue a 
proclamation--
            (1) supporting the goals of Lao-Hmong Recognition Day; and
            (2) calling on the people of the United States to recognize 
        the service and sacrifice of the men and women of the Lao-Hmong 
        with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

            Passed the House of Representatives November 13, 2001.

            Attest:

                                                                 Clerk.

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