Title: A resolution recognizing that in the 25 years since normalizing diplomatic relations, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the United States of America have worked toward increased stability, prosperity, and peace in Southeast Asia, and expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States will continue to remain a strong, reliable, and active partner in the Southeast Asian region.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
This resolution (1) expresses support for ongoing cooperation between the United States and Vietnam, (2) recognizes Vietnam's increased role in certain multilateral institutions, and (3) reiterates the importance of promoting human rights and democracy in Vietnam and throughout the Indo-Pacific.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 607 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 607

     Recognizing that in the 25 years since normalizing diplomatic 
 relations, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the United States of 
 America have worked toward increased stability, prosperity, and peace 
  in Southeast Asia, and expressing the sense of the Senate that the 
 United States will continue to remain a strong, reliable, and active 
                 partner in the Southeast Asian region.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              June 4, 2020

   Mr. Gardner (for himself and Mr. Markey) submitted the following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Recognizing that in the 25 years since normalizing diplomatic 
 relations, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the United States of 
 America have worked toward increased stability, prosperity, and peace 
  in Southeast Asia, and expressing the sense of the Senate that the 
 United States will continue to remain a strong, reliable, and active 
                 partner in the Southeast Asian region.

Whereas cooperation between the Governments and people of the United States and 
        Vietnam can help realize their common goals of a peaceful, prosperous, 
        and open Indo-Pacific rooted in a rule-based order that promotes 
        security, opportunity, and respect for sovereignty;
Whereas Vietnam is serving as the 2020 Chair for the Association of Southeast 
        Asian Nations (ASEAN) under the theme of ``Cohesive and Responsive 
        ASEAN'', and will co-chair the U.S.-ASEAN Special Summit when it is 
        rescheduled from the original planned March 14, 2020, date;
Whereas Vietnam has demonstrated a willingness to stand up for freedom of 
        navigation and international law in the South China Sea and opened a new 
        chapter in bilateral cooperation on these shared goals;
Whereas Vietnam deployed its first military officers to United Nations 
        peacekeeping operations in 2014, and contributed a field hospital to 
        United Nations peacekeeping operations in South Sudan in 2018;
Whereas both countries have sought to assist each other in accounting for the 
        over 1,200 Americans and as many as 300,000 Vietnamese still missing 
        from the Vietnam War;
Whereas the United States Government has worked with the Government of Vietnam 
        to remove unexploded ordnance and to treat victims maimed by it through 
        funding under the Leahy War Victims Fund and the Department of State, 
        Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Act, 2019 (division F of Public 
        Law 116-6), including $15,000,000 for humanitarian demining operations 
        as well as United States Agency for International Development (USAID) 
        programs;
Whereas the United States Government has completed the cleanup of dioxin at Da 
        Nang airport, and is working with the Government of Vietnam of the 
        cleanup of Bien Hoa airport;
Whereas the United States Government has assisted the Government of Vietnam in 
        strengthening its maritime capabilities, including by providing coast 
        guard vessels and assisting the Government of Vietnam in strengthening 
        its maritime domain awareness;
Whereas the United States Government remains committed to working with the 
        Government of Vietnam on its compliance with international commitments 
        and obligations to protect internationally recognized human rights and 
        fundamental freedoms, including freedom of religion, expression, the 
        press, and assembly, in order to advance the fundamental dignity of all 
        people, a key to maintaining stability, promoting economic growth, and 
        strengthening good governance;
Whereas, in the 25 years since the United States and Vietnam normalized 
        diplomatic relations, the people of Vietnam have benefited from greater 
        prosperity and integration into the global economy;
Whereas the United States and Vietnam signed a bilateral trade agreement in July 
        2000, and granted one another permanent normal trade relations in 2008, 
        ushering in a more than tenfold increase in trade flows in both 
        directions over the past 20 years, exceeding $77,000,000,000 in 2019;
Whereas the Governments of the United States and Vietnam cooperate on a range of 
        public health issues, particularly combating HIV-AIDS under the United 
        States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program, and 
        more broadly on health, governance, education, infrastructure, and 
        environmental issues through the Lower Mekong Initiative;
Whereas, in 2020, Vietnam celebrates 75 years since declaring independence;
Whereas more than 1,800,000 Vietnamese-Americans have made contributions to the 
        United States in a variety of fields ranging from law to science to 
        defense and the arts;
Whereas the United States hosts nearly 30,000 young Vietnamese students, the 6th 
        largest group of international students studying at United States 
        universities, contributing $1,000,000,000 annually to the United States 
        economy;
Whereas bilateral cooperation transformed debts of the former South Vietnamese 
        government to the United States into Fulbright University Vietnam, 
        Vietnam's first independent, not-for-profit university; and
Whereas sister city relationships link our citizens in--

    (1) Seattle, Washington and Haiphong;

    (2) Madison, Wisconsin and Bac Giang;

    (3) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Da Nang;

    (4) San Francisco, California and Ho Chi Minh City;

    (5) Oakland, California and Da Nang;

    (6) Angel Fire, New Mexico and Quang Tri Town;

    (7) New Haven, Connecticut and Hue;

    (8) Maryland State, Maryland and Ninh Thuan Province; and

    (9) Newport Beach, California and Vung Tau Province (Friendship City): 
Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) reaffirms the importance of the United States-Vietnam 
        comprehensive partnership, including the full implementation of 
        provisions of the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018 
        (Public Law 115-409) with regard to elevating the United States 
        relationship with Vietnam;
            (2) welcomes Vietnam's leadership in 2020 as ASEAN Chair in 
        cooperation with its ASEAN partners, especially as ASEAN and 
        the People's Republic of China negotiate a Code of Conduct;
            (3) welcomes Vietnam playing a productive role as a member 
        of the United Nations Security Council during its 2020-2021 
        term;
            (4) reiterates Congress' findings in section 401 of the 
        Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-409; 
        132 Stat. 5407) that--
                    (A) the promotion of human rights and respect for 
                democratic values in the Indo-Pacific region is in the 
                United States national security interest;
                    (B) continued support for human rights, democratic 
                values, and good governance is critical to a successful 
                United States diplomatic strategy in the Indo-Pacific;
                    (C) strong support for human rights and democracy 
                in the Indo-Pacific region is critical to efforts to 
                reduce poverty, build rule of law, combat corruption, 
                reduce the allure of extremism, and promote economic 
                growth; and
                    (D) there are serious concerns with the rule of law 
                and civil liberties in Vietnam, which has been 
                identified by Freedom House as ``Not Free'';
            (5) reaffirms that it is important that Vietnam's rights 
        and interests under international law, regardless of size, 
        power, and military capabilities, are respected; and
            (6) appreciates Vietnam's ongoing cooperation to account 
        for the 1,246 United States service members who remain 
        unaccounted for since the Vietnam War.
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