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Calendar No. 243
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 88
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
NOVEMBER 14, 2001
Received and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
NOVEMBER 29, 2001
Reported by Mr. LEAHY, without amendment
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Congress that the President
should issue a proclamation to recognize the contribution
of the Lao-Hmong in defending freedom and democracy
and supporting the goals of Lao-Hmong Recognition
Day.
Whereas the Lao-Hmong, which means ‘‘free people’’, are
Laotian members of the Hmong tribe and are noted for
their warrior tradition, loyalty, and bravery;
Whereas beginning in 1960 the United States recruited thou-
sands of the Lao-Hmong to fight against the Communist
Pathet Lao and North Vietnamese Army regulars in
Laos;
HCON 88 RS
Whereas the United States relied heavily on the Lao-Hmong
Special Guerrilla Units to engage in direct combat with
North Vietnamese troops from 1960 to 1975;
Whereas the Lao-Hmong conducted tactical guerrilla actions,
flew thousands of deadly combat missions in support of
the Armed Forces and the Central Intelligence Agency,
and fought in conventional and guerrilla combat clashes
with extreme casualties;
Whereas the Lao-Hmong, although outnumbered, fought
against enemy forces to disrupt the flow of troops and
war supplies along the Ho Chi Minh Trail;
Whereas the Lao-Hmong protected United States personnel,
guarded United States Air Force radar installations,
gathered critical intelligence about enemy operations, and
undertook rescue missions to save the lives of downed
United States pilots;
Whereas more than 35,000 of the Lao-Hmong lost their lives
defending the democratic way of life, and many more
were seriously injured and disabled;
Whereas thousands of Lao-Hmong suffered grievous injuries
and permanent disabilities, and thousands more were
captured and sent to Communist concentration camps;
Whereas after the conclusion of the war, many Lao-Hmong
soldiers were the victims of acts of retribution and atroc-
ities by the Pathet Lao, causing many of the Lao-Hmong
to flee to neighboring Thailand and become refugees; and
Whereas beginning with the City Council of Golden, Colo-
rado, in 1995, various State and local governments have
issued proclamations declaring July 22 as Lao-Hmong
Recognition Day, and the issuance of a Presidential proc-
lamation supporting the goals of Lao-Hmong Recognition
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Day would recognize the bravery, sacrifice, and loyalty to
the United States exhibited by the Lao-Hmong in South-
east Asia: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that the
President should issue a proclamation—
(1) supporting the goals of Lao-Hmong Rec-
ognition Day; and
(2) calling on the people of the United States
to recognize the service and sacrifice of the men and
women of the Lao-Hmong with appropriate cere-
monies and activities.
Passed the House of Representatives November 13,
2001.
Attest:
JEFF TRANDAHL,
Clerk.
Calendar No. 243
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 88
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Congress that the
President should issue a proclamation to recog-
nize the contribution of the Lao-Hmong in de-
fending freedom and democracy and supporting
the goals of Lao-Hmong Recognition Day.
NOVEMBER 29, 2001
Reported without amendment