Political Quotes

“Mr. President, today, I am reintroducing a piece of legislation which I strongly believe in and know that it is long overdue. The Hmong Veterans' Service Recognition Act is a bill to authorize the interment in national cemeteries of Hmong veterans who served in support of U.S. forces during the Vietnam War. I, along with a bipartisan group of colleagues, Senators Klobuchar, Sullivan, Franken, and Whitehouse believe this is an appropriate honor. Public Law 106-207, The Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Act of 2000 already acknowledges Hmong Special Guerilla Unit's contributions during Vietnam and recognizes the service of Hmong Special Guerilla Unit veterans for the purpose of naturalization. Today we try to write the next chapter for these brave veterans and grant them the one right they are requesting, to be buried in our U.S. national cemeteries. The Hmong were ideal candidates for America's secret war--they were fighters known for their bravery and warrior traditions who knew the rocky mountain terrain of Northern Laos very well. The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency conducted covert operations in Laos which employed some 60,000 Hmong volunteers in Special Guerilla Units. The Hmong Fighters interrupted operations on the Ho Chi Minh trail and assisted in downed aircraft recovery operations of American Airmen. In Laos, they valiantly fought the Vietnamese and Laotian Communists for over a decade and were critical to America's war efforts in Vietnam.…”