WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Co-Chairs of the Congressional Vietnam Caucus, Representatives Lou Correa (CA-46) and Michelle Steel (CA-45) introduced a bipartisan resolution alongside their colleagues to commemorate the 48th Anniversary of Black April, the Fall of Saigon, and the tragic collapse of the Republic of Vietnam.
In April of 1975, North Vietnam began an offensive campaign attacking cities in South Vietnam with the goal of overtaking the country, blatantly violating the terms of the Paris Peace Accord. On April 30, communist forces invaded the Republic of Vietnam’s capital city in an event known as the “Fall of Saigon.” Each year, Vietnamese American communities across the United States commemorate and mourn these events during the month of “Black April.”
“As one of the representatives of the largest Vietnamese-American communities in the United States, it is an honor to work alongside my colleague, Congresswoman Steel, to remember those one million Vietnamese individuals and nearly sixty thousand American servicemembers who lost their lives in a quest for freedom,” said Correa. “Congresswoman Steel and I have both represented Little Saigon since we began our careers in public service, and we will never relent in my commitment to keeping alive the memory of those lost, and defending democracy—at home, and abroad.”
“I am honored to join the Vietnamese American community in Orange County’s Little Saigon and around the world in remembering those who lost their lives pursuing freedom and how blessed we are to live in the greatest country in the world,” said Steel. “Communism has caused suffering to so many. On the 48th anniversary of Black April, we reaffirm our commitment to defending democracy and preserving the memory of those who were lost.”
Background: Rep. Correa represents Orange County’s Little Saigon, the largest Vietnamese community outside of Vietnam. The resolution honors the service members of the United States, the Republic of Vietnam, and allied forces that fought and died during the Vietnam War, the hundreds of thousands who lost their lives attempting to flee Vietnam, the millions more that found safety in nations around the world, and the accomplishments and contributions of Vietnamese Americans to our nation over the past 47 years.
You can read the full text of the resolution HERE.
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ABOUT LOU: Congressman Lou Correa is a longtime Orange County resident, with deep local roots. To this day, he lives only three miles from his childhood neighborhood in Anaheim. He is the son of working-class parents whose hard work gave him a chance at success, and has spent his career fighting to protect the American Dream, and ensure anyone can reach the middle class, just as he did. In 2016, Lou was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives to continue his work by representing the community he has spent the past 20 years serving, fighting to give everyone access to the same opportunity he had. Congressman Correa is committed to working across party lines to strengthen the middle class and give everyone a shot at the American Dream by investing in education, healthcare, and our fading infrastructure, and has introduced legislation to protect the legal rights of immigrants, care for veterans, and fight against the wasteful spending of taxpayer money.
