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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 397 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 397

     Expressing the approval of Congress for the 50th anniversary 
 celebration of the homecoming of United States prisoners of war from 
Vietnam and in recognition of the extraordinary service and sacrifices 
            of such prisoners of war during the Vietnam War.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 15, 2023

   Mr. Wilson of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. Crow, Mrs. Kim of 
California, and Ms. Sherrill) submitted the following resolution; which 
           was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
     Expressing the approval of Congress for the 50th anniversary 
 celebration of the homecoming of United States prisoners of war from 
Vietnam and in recognition of the extraordinary service and sacrifices 
            of such prisoners of war during the Vietnam War.

Whereas more than 2,700,000 members of the United States Armed Forces served in 
        the Vietnam War;
Whereas more than 58,000 members of the United States Armed Forces lost their 
        lives and 153,000 were wounded;
Whereas, during the conflict, approximately 766 members of the Armed Forces of 
        the United States were taken captive as prisoners of war by the 
        Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the allies of that 
        Government;
Whereas many of the prisoners of war were Navy and Air Force aviators shot down 
        over the jungles of North Vietnam, and during captivity the prisoners 
        endured brutal conditions, including torture, forced labor, and 
        prolonged solitary confinement;
Whereas prisoners of war were held in more than a dozen prisons throughout North 
        Vietnam, including in the famous prison camp known as the ``Hanoi 
        Hilton'', but despite the challenging conditions, many of the prisoners 
        of war held by the North Vietnamese maintained their honor, resilience, 
        and loyalty to their country and fellow members of the Armed Forces;
Whereas the return of the prisoners of war was a nonnegotiable condition for 
        President Richard Nixon as his administration negotiated an end to the 
        Vietnam War;
Whereas, on January 27, 1973, the Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring 
        Peace in Viet-Nam (commonly known as the ``Paris Peace Accords'') was 
        signed, ending the involvement of the United States in Vietnam and 
        requiring the return of the United States prisoners of war within 60 
        days of the signing of the agreement;
Whereas, between February and March 1973, 591 members of the Armed Forces were 
        released by the North Vietnamese;
Whereas more than 114 prisoners of war died in captivity;
Whereas the return of the prisoners of war held by the North Vietnamese had a 
        tremendous effect on the formation of the Prisoner of War/Missing in 
        Action (referred to in this preamble as ``POW/MIA'') movement in the 
        United States, which is led by the National League of POW/MIA Families;
Whereas, in 1972, the National League of POW/MIA Families adopted the National 
        POW/MIA flag, which flies over Federal buildings, including the United 
        States Capitol, on days the United States flag is flown;
Whereas 50 years after the prisoners of war held by the North Vietnamese gained 
        their freedom, the resilience, courage, and patriotism of the prisoners 
        of war continues to inspire generations of citizens of the United 
        States; and
Whereas the Richard Nixon Presidential Library will host the official 50th 
        Anniversary celebration of the homecoming of United States POWs from 
        Vietnam, from May 23 to 25, 2023, in Yorba Linda, California: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses approval for the 50th anniversary celebration 
        of the homecoming of United States prisoners of war from 
        Vietnam; and
            (2) recognizes the extraordinary service and sacrifices of 
        the United States prisoners of war during the Vietnam War.
                                 <all>
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