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]
[H. Res. 1018 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1018
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 House of
Representatives that the United States will continue to remain a
strong, reliable, and active partner in the Southeast Asian region.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 24, 2020
Mr. Yoho (for himself and Mr. Bera) submitted the following resolution;
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
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 House of
Representatives 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 benefitted 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
sixth 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) The State of Maryland and Ninh Thuan Province; and
(9) Newport Beach, California, and Vung Tau Province (Friendship City):
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(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 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.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and Nonproliferation.
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