I think you know the U.S. government asked our people to stand by her in the Vietnam War. We stood side by side with our American brothers and sisters with pride. We sacrificed ourselves for the principles of freedom and American values. Today, your great country is our only hope of getting our remaining eligible families out of Vietnam. In the last year since the Jackson-Vanik waiver, the conditions for emigration for our people are worse.
Families continue to suffer separated from loved ones.
It is such a privilege to be here today in this free country. In Vietnam, my Montagnard people and other Vietnamese citizens do not have the freedom to speak out. Most of our people live in fear because Vietnam is a police state. Those of you on the Trade Subcommittee, along with Honorable Ambassador Peterson, are concerned about investment in Vietnam, economic normalization and the United States and Vietnam being partners in the global community. This is a good thing.