David Thomas: “First of all, all of us express continued regret about the loss of American lives in Vietnam and treatment that…”

“First of all, all of us express continued regret about the loss of American lives in Vietnam and treatment that Americans received during that war. Some of those very same individuals have been and are Members of the United States Congress. The stories that they tell are ones that truly depict a very difficult and troubled time. I do believe, however, that we can make a relatively firm statement that a no vote on this measure will not increase our ability to work with the Vietnamese for the fullest possible accounting of missing Americans. I also want to respond briefly to my colleague from Michigan about the question of a lack of a labor agreement in this particular provision. The last administration, in November of 2000, entered into a very specific labor agreement with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. I might underscore that they are no longer on my map as a North Vietnam and a South Vietnam. There is a Socialist Republic of Vietnam. That agreement, which was announced on November 17, 2000, was a United States and Vietnam agreement on labor cooperation.”