Laos, Hmong Veterans Urge National Support for Costa Effort
“This effort and legislation are very important for the Hmong, Khmu, Lao, Mien and other ethnic minorities who served on behalf of the American people in the United States secret army in Laos during the Vietnam War,” stated Colonel Wangyee Wangyee Vang, National President of the Lao Veterans of America, Inc.
(Media-Newswire.com) - Fresno, California, St. Paul, Minnesota, Madison, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C., August 6, 2010 - The Lao Veterans of America, Inc., the Lao Veterans of America Institute and a coalition of Lao and Hmong non-profit and non-governmental organizations have urged national support for efforts by U.S. Congressman Jim Costa and 22 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives who are seeking to grant national burial benefits to combat veterans who served in the Royal Kingdom of Laos during the Vietnam War.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank you Congressman Jim Costa for helping to take the leadership on the Lao and Hmong Veterans Burial Benefits legislation. I also want to thank you and the twenty-two ( 22 ) other Congresspersons for your crucial efforts and strong decision as original co-sponsors,” said Colonel Wangyee Vang, National President and founder of the Lao Veterans of America, Inc. and Lao Veterans of America Institute.
“We are urging nation-wide support for this important effort,” Vang said.
“This effort and legislation are very important for the Hmong, Khmu, Lao, Mien and other ethnic minorities who served on behalf of the American people in the United States secret army in Laos during the Vietnam War,” stated Wangyee Vang. http://www.media-newswire.com/release_1123225.html
Last week, House Resolutin 5879 was introduced by U.S. Representatives Jim Costa ( D-CA ), Devin Nunes ( R-CA ), George Radanovich ( R-CA ), Dennis Cardoza ( D-CA ), Thaddeus McCotter ( R-MI ), Frank Wolf ( R-VA ), Bill Delahunt ( D-MA ), Steve Kagen ( D-WI ), Tammy Baldwin ( D-WI ), Tim Holden ( D-PA ), Joesph Cao ( R-LA ), Jerry McNerney ( D-CA ), Dana Rohrabacher ( R-CA ), Patrick Kennedy ( D-RI ), Jim Langevin ( D-RI ), Mike Honda ( D-CA ), Sue Myrick ( R-NC ), Patrick McHenry ( R-NC ), Collin Peterson ( D-MN ), and others.
“Our Laotian and Hmong veterans and their refugee families across the United States are honored and deeply grateful for the potential opportunity… to be buried in U.S. National Cemeteries along with the American veterans we helped to defend and save during the Vietnam War; We fought side-by-side with American forces and clandestine troops of the Central Intelligence Agency ( CIA ) in defense of the Royal Kingdom of Laos and the United States.” http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100728006607/en/Laos-Hmong-Veterans-Vietnam-War-Honored-Congress
“Many paid the ultimate sacrifice… Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to these patriotic individuals and their service should be honored with burial benefits in our National Cemeteries,” U.S. Congressman Jim Costa said.
“Clearly, U.S. Congressman Jim Costa’s bipartisan leadership, along with his colleagues in the U.S. Congress, in support of the Lao and Hmong veterans and their families across America, gives hope and dignity to the plight of the Lao and Hmong community and the veterans who seek to be buried with honor in America’s National Veterans Cemeteries,” said Philip Smith, Director of the Washington, D.C.-based CPPA. http://centerforpublicpolicyanalysis.org
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