H.Res. 1235

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1235 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1235

Recognizing the 51st anniversary of Black April and the Fall of Saigon 
on April 30, 1975.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 29, 2026

Mr. Tran (for himself, Mrs. Kim, Mr. Correa, Ms. Lofgren, Ms. Chu, Mrs. 
Torres of California, Mr. Min, Mr. Doggett, Ms. Bynum, Mr. Khanna, and 
Ms. Dexter) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on 
Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

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RESOLUTION

Recognizing the 51st anniversary of Black April and the Fall of Saigon 
on April 30, 1975.

Whereas, since 1975, hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese fled the Vietnamese 
communist regime, resettled in the United States, and built vibrant 
communities across the United States which contribute to the rich 
diversity of the Nation;
Whereas, on April 30, 1975, the Republic of Vietnam was overthrown by Communist 
forces in an event known as the ``Fall of Saigon'';
Whereas, every year on April 30, Vietnamese-American communities across the 
United States observe ``Black April'' as a solemn day of remembrance;
Whereas ``Black April'' is known as ``Thang Tu Den'' in the Vietnamese language;
Whereas the Fall of Saigon led to the forced displacement of millions of 
Vietnamese who sought refuge across the world;
Whereas, in 1975, Congress passed the Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance 
Act (Public Law 94-23), allocating roughly $455,000,000 to facilitate 
the evacuation and resettlement of refugees from South Vietnam fleeing 
political persecution, oppression, and economic hardship;
Whereas members of the South Vietnamese military fought side by side with the 
United States Armed Forces and troops from other allied nations in 
defense of the ideals of democracy, freedom, and human dignity;
Whereas the evacuation of thousands of Vietnamese and Americans during Operation 
Frequent Wind stands as one of the most significant humanitarian efforts 
in modern United States military history;
Whereas the United States carried out multiple subsequent aerial evacuation 
missions, including Operation Babylift, Operation New Life, and 
Operation New Arrivals, which collectively evacuated tens of thousands 
of Vietnamese refugees to the United States;
Whereas the journey of Vietnamese refugees was marked by immense hardship, with 
many enduring perilous ocean voyages, time in refugee camps, and 
struggles of cultural adaptation;
Whereas Vietnamese Americans persevered to build new lives and contribute to the 
social, economic, and political fabric of the United States;
Whereas Vietnamese Americans have continuously advocated for freedom and 
democracy in Vietnam, and spoken out against human rights abuses by the 
Vietnamese Government;
Whereas the Communist Party of Vietnam continues to hold one of the worst 
records on human rights in the region, violating religious freedom, 
obstructing freedom of press, restricting its own citizens' freedom of 
speech and assembly, and detaining prisoners of conscience;
Whereas, in 2023, the Vietnamese American community numbers over 2,300,000 
people, becoming an integral part of American society and excelling in 
diverse fields such as public service, business, science, education, 
medicine, and the arts; and
Whereas the customs of traditions of Vietnamese Americans are celebrated and 
deeply woven into the fabric of our Nation: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the significance of the 51st anniversary of 
Black April and the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975;
(2) honors the contributions of Vietnamese Americans to the 
United States over the last 51 years and their tireless 
commitment to upholding freedom, human rights, and democracy in 
Vietnam;
(3) reaffirms the commitment of the United States to 
upholding the values of democracy, human rights, and freedom 
for all people, including in Vietnam where people continue to 
seek enhanced civil liberties and freedom of press;
(4) honors the service of members of the United States 
Armed Forces and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam who fought 
in the Vietnam war, including those who gave their lives;
(5) honors the memory of the Vietnamese who lost their 
lives in search of freedom and democracy while attempting to 
flee communist Vietnam; and
(6) encourages all citizens of the United States to 
solemnly observe Black April and the Fall of Saigon, remember 
the more than 58,000 United States soldiers and 260,000 Army of 
the Republic of Vietnam soldiers who served and sacrificed in 
the name of freedom, and honor the contributions of the 
Vietnamese American community and the indomitable spirit of the 
Vietnamese diaspora.
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