TITLE: Recognizing April 17, 2013, as Vietnamese American Day at the State Capitol.

SUMMARY: Recognizing April 17, 2013, as Vietnamese American Day at the State Capitol.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, After the Vietnam War ended, a large number of Vietnamese refugees immigrated to the United States, and many moved to the metropolitan areas and coastal regions of Texas; and WHEREAS, These first-generation Vietnamese Americans worked hard and flourished in Texas, and now the state is home to the second-largest Vietnamese population in the United States, with more than 210,000 residents, nearly half of those living in the Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown area; and WHEREAS, Vietnamese Americans have fully embraced the freedoms of speech and religion and all of the democratic principles that the United States offers; and WHEREAS, Vietnamese Americans have denied the authority of the Vietnamese Communist Flag and pushed for governments to officially recognize the Vietnamese Heritage and Freedom Flag, which symbolizes both the Vietnamese cultural heritage and a deeply rooted resilience and yearning for democracy; and WHEREAS, Vietnamese Americans strongly support education, and their children are graduating from high schools and higher education institutions at high rates; and WHEREAS, The Lone Star State has benefited enormously from the contributions of its Vietnamese American residents; and WHEREAS, The Vietnamese American community plays a vital role in the business, professional, and cultural life not only of the Lone Star State but also of the country; the number of small businesses owned by Vietnamese Americans has grown substantially, and these firms have created more than 166,000 jobs nationwide, adding billions of dollars to the economy; in addition, Vietnamese Americans contribute to their communities in a myriad of ways, as teachers, lawyers, writers, actors, doctors, mayors, judges, and public servants; among the many Vietnamese Americans who have led notable careers are astronaut Eugene H. Trinh, former Dallas Cowboy Dat Nguyen, and scientist Nguyet Anh Duong, who developed the thermobaric weapon, which has been vital to U.S. military efforts; and WHEREAS, For many decades, people of Vietnamese descent have excelled in our society and economy, enriched our cultural tapestry, and helped enhance and secure the Lone Star State's reputation as a land of promise and possibility; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby recognize April 17, 2013, as Vietnamese American Day at the State Capitol and extend to each visitor here for the occasion best wishes for a memorable and enjoyable day in Austin. Vo Button Wu Farias Harper-Brown Allen Alonzo Anchia Ashby Aycock Bell Bonnen of Galveston Burkett Burnam Carter Clardy Collier Cortez Creighton Dale J. Davis of Harris Deshotel Dutton Farney Fletcher Flynn Frank Frullo Goldman Gonzales M. Gonzalez of El Paso N. Gonzalez of El Paso M. Gonzalez of El Paso N. Gonzalez of El Paso Gooden Guerra Howard Isaac Johnson Kacal King of Hemphill King of Taylor King of Zavala Kleinschmidt Kuempel Larson Lewis Longoria Lozano Menendez Miles Miller of Fort Bend Moody Morrison Munoz, Jr. Murphy Nevarez Orr Otto Patrick Perez Phillips Pickett Raney Riddle Rodriguez of Travis Rodriguez of Bexar Rose Sheffield of Coryell Sheffield of Bell Simmons Simpson Smithee Stephenson Stickland Strama Thompson of Brazoria Thompson of Harris Turner of Tarrant Villalba Walle White Zedler Zerwas Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Alonzo Gooden Otto Alvarado Guerra Paddie Anchia Guillen Parker Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Ashby Harless Perez Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bohac Herrero Pickett Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Branch Huberty Raney Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burnam Hunter Raymond Button Isaac Reynolds Callegari Johnson Riddle Canales Kacal Ritter Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Clardy King of Parker Rose Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Creighton Krause Simmons Crownover Kuempel Simpson Dale Larson Smith Darby Laubenberg Smithee Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland Deshotel Longoria Strama Dukes Lozano Taylor Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Elkins Martinez Toth Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miles Villalba Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Frank Moody Walle Frullo Morrison White Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Giddings Murphy Wu Goldman Naishtat Zedler Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1400 was adopted by the House on April 17, 2013, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House