BILL NUMBER: ACR 78 CHAPTERED BILL TEXT RESOLUTION CHAPTER 150 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 27, 2013 ADOPTED IN SENATE SEPTEMBER 12, 2013 ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 30, 2013 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 30, 2013 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 22, 2013 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Members Logue and Pan (Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Dickinson and Patterson) (Coauthors: Assembly Members Achadjian, Alejo, Ammiano, Atkins, Bigelow, Bloom, Bocanegra, Bonilla, Bonta, Bradford, Brown, Buchanan, Campos, Chau, Chávez, Chesbro, Conway, Cooley, Dahle, Daly, Donnelly, Eggman, Fong, Fox, Frazier, Beth Gaines, Garcia, Gatto, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gordon, Gorell, Gray, Grove, Hagman, Hall, Roger Hernández, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Levine, Linder, Lowenthal, Maienschein, Mansoor, Medina, Melendez, Mitchell, Morrell, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, Nestande, Olsen, Perea, John A. Pérez, V. Manuel Pérez, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Rendon, Salas, Skinner, Stone, Ting, Wagner, Waldron, Weber, Wieckowski, Wilk, Williams, and Yamada) AUGUST 19, 2013 Relative to Hmong History Month. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST ACR 78, Logue. Hmong History Month. This measure would recognize September 2013 as Hmong History Month, urge all citizens to join in celebrating the accomplishments of the Hmong people during Hmong History Month, and encourage the people of California to recognize the many talents, achievements, and contributions that the Hmong people make to their communities. WHEREAS, The history of the Hmong people here in the United States, as well as throughout the ages, is indeed unique and vibrant, and it is appropriate to celebrate this history during the month of September 2013, which has been recognized as Hmong History Month; and WHEREAS, The Lao-Hmong, or free people, are greatly respected and admired for their dedicated service and valiant support of the United States Armed Forces and its allies during the Vietnam war; and WHEREAS, Many Lao-Hmong served in the "Secret Army," which was funded by the CIA and included Special Guerilla units and other Special Forces, to thwart the Pathet Lao and North Vietnamese Army in Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand from 1960 to 1975; and WHEREAS, The members of this Laotian hill tribe are known for their warrior traditions, loyalty, and bravery, as evidenced by their contributions to guarding United States personnel and Air Force radar installations, gathering critical intelligence on enemy movement and operations, performing rescue missions to save downed United States pilots, and fighting in conventional and guerilla combat against overwhelming forces, including several North Vietnamese divisions, to disrupt the flow of troops and supplies along the Ho Chi Minh Trail; and WHEREAS, A conservative estimate of over 35,000 brave Lao-Hmong men, women, and children lost their lives; more than 50,000 were wounded; and more than 2,500 are missing in action; and WHEREAS, These numbers do not include the devastating loss of 30,000 lives when the Lao-Hmong fell victim to retributive ethnic cleansing starting in 1975 and continuing to this day, nor the thousands forced into reeducation camps or who perished attempting to cross the Mekong River into Thailand; and WHEREAS, In addition to the devastation to their homes and way of life, thousands of Lao-Hmong soldiers and their families became a countryless people when they commenced their perilous flight to seek safe refuge in other countries, such as Argentina, Canada, China, France, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States--a mass exodus that continues to this day; and WHEREAS, The Lao-Hmong's heroic and significant contributions to the United States during their fighting efforts in Laos and the positive influence they have since had upon the American way of life will not be forgotten; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature takes great pleasure in recognizing September 2013 as Hmong History Month, extends deep appreciation to the Hmong men, women, and children who served the United States with loyalty and bravery, urges all citizens to join in celebrating the accomplishments of the Hmong people during Hmong History Month, and encourages the people of California to recognize the many talents, achievements, and contributions that the Hmong people make to our communities; and be it further Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.