Bruce F. Vento: “I would just take this moment on the gentleman's reservation, important reservation, to thank the chairman, the…”

“I would just take this moment on the gentleman's reservation, important reservation, to thank the chairman, the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman], for his support for the inclusion of the amendment dealing with the Hmong and State Department report on that and the human rights and abuses and allegations that are going on, and I very much appreciate the chairman's support for that amendment, the ranking member's support. It is an important amendment to me and to the constituency I represent and to the people of Laos. This amendment will require the State Department to report to Congress on the allegations of persecution and abuse of Hmong and Laotian refugees who have repatriated to Laos following the Southeast Asia conflict. Such an extraordinary State Department analysis is urgently needed because of the current and continued reports which allege serious human rights violations, persecution, and loss of life being experienced by the Hmong in Laos--in years past and today.”