Urging the United States House of Representatives to Pass House Resolution 210, Entitled, "Affirming and recognizing the Khmer, Laotian, Hmong, and Montagnard Freedom Fighters and the People of Cambodia and Laos for their support and defense of the United States Armed Forces and freedom in Southeast Asia."

WHEREAS, On April 17, 2015, Congressman Sean Duffy, Congressman Glen Grothman, Congressman Robert Brady, and Congressman Edward Perlmutter submitted House Resolution 210 in the United States House of Representatives. The resolution is entitled, “Affirming and recognizing the Khmer, Laotian, Hmong, and Montagnard Freedom Fighters and the People of Cambodia and Laos for their support and defense of the United States Armed Forces and freedom in Southeast Asia”; and

WHEREAS, House Resolution 210 has 42 cosponsors in the United States House of Representatives as of April 27, 2016, with equal sponsorship between Republicans and Democrats; and

WHEREAS, The Khmer, Laotian, Hmong, and Montagnard Freedom Fighters fought and died with the United States Armed Forces during conflict in Southeast Asia; and

WHEREAS, The Khmer, Laotian, Hmong, and Montagnard Freedom Fighters rescued United States pilots shot down in enemy-controlled territory and provided food, shelter, and support to the United States Armed Forces; and

WHEREAS, The Khmer and National Armed Forces of Cambodia facilitated the evacuation of the United States Embassy in Phnom Penh on April 12, 1975, by continuing to fight Khmer Rouge forces as the forces advanced upon the capital; and

WHEREAS, Veterans of the Khmer Mobile Guerrilla Forces, the Laotian Special Guerrilla Units, the Khmer Republic Armed Forces, the Hmong, and the Montagnard defended human rights, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of representation and association; and

WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia has sent many citizens into the United States Armed Forces, a number of whom fought in the areas of conflict in Southeast Asia; and

WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia is home to thousands of veterans of the United States Armed Forces, with over 100 veterans organizations across the City; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we urge the United States House of Representatives to Pass House Resolution 210, entitled, “Affirming and recognizing the Khmer, Laotian, Hmong, and Montagnard Freedom Fighters and the People of Cambodia and Laos for their support and defense of the United States Armed Forces and freedom in Southeast Asia.”

End