Jim Costa: “Today I will introduce legislation that will provide for burial benefits in national cemeteries to Hmong veterans who…”

“Today I will introduce legislation that will provide for burial benefits in national cemeteries to Hmong veterans who served in support of U.S. forces in Vietnam. Given the service to our Nation, I believe this is an appropriate honor. During the Vietnam War, officers from the CIA Special Activities Division trained and led Hmong men in Laos and in Vietnam for special combat activities. These forces numbered in the tens of thousands and conducted missions against communist forces and the North Vietnamese, fighting shoulder to shoulder with U.S. soldiers. Since the end of the conflict in Vietnam, thousands of Hmong families have resettled around the United States today and as a result of a law signed by President Ford are now United States citizens. Only a few thousand of these original veterans remain alive today. As was done with the Philippine Armed Forces who served in support of U.S. in World War II, we should recognize that precedent by offering internment privileges to national cemeteries after verification and documentation is completed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. I urge you to support this legislation.”