Bill Text: CA ACR197 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Hmong American Day.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 57-14)
Status: (Engrossed) 2024-05-16 - Adopted and to Senate. (Ayes 71. Noes 0.) [ACR197 Detail]
Download: California-2023-ACR197-Introduced.html
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Concurrent Resolution
No. 197
| Introduced by Assembly Member Stephanie Nguyen (Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Bains, Mike Fong, Kalra, Lee, Low, Muratsuchi, and Ting) (Principal coauthor: Senator Min) |
May 06, 2024 |
Relative to Hmong American Day.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 197, as introduced, Stephanie Nguyen.
Hmong American Day.
This measure would recognize May 14, 2024, and that date annually thereafter, as Hmong American Day to recognize Hmong Americans for their notable accomplishments and continued contributions to California and the United States of America.
Digest Key
Fiscal Committee: NOBill Text
WHEREAS, May 14 is the anniversary of the fall of Long Cheng, a United States-Hmong airbase in Laos during the Laotian Civil War, where the Hmong fought alongside the United States against the communist forces of North Vietnam, also known as the “Secret War,” from 1961–1975; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 30,000 to 40,000 Hmong soldiers were killed during the Secret War, including many Hmong soldiers who were under 18 years of age; and
WHEREAS, The United States, starting in December 1975, helped Hmong refugees flee to Thailand and helped more than 100,000 Hmong refugees come to the United States; and
WHEREAS, May 14, 1975, was the last airlift evacuation of Hmong soldiers and families from Laos to a refugee camp in Thailand; and
WHEREAS, the Hmong population was historically displaced by political persecution in Laos, forcing many to resettle and start over in the United States, which is home to over 300,000 Hmong Americans, with over 90,000 in California being the largest Hmong population in the United States by state; and
WHEREAS, the City of Fresno houses approximately 35,000 Hmong Americans and the City of Sacramento houses approximately 27,000 Hmong Americans, the largest Hmong populations in the state and the second and third largest Hmong populations in the country by city; and
WHEREAS, the State of California celebrates and supports the Hmong community in preserving its cultural traditions, cuisine, and art, as it contributes to the social, political, and economic makeup of our state and nation as our soldiers, firefighters, educators, nurses, doctors, lawyers, athletes, elected officials, and more; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby recognizes Hmong Americans for their notable accomplishments and continued contributions to California and the United States of America and recognizes May 14, 2024, and that date annually thereafter, as Hmong American Day.
