Asian American Press, News Report, Posted: May 07, 2012

  Chief author Representative Bob Dettmer sponsored two bills to aid the Hmong and Lao veterans in obtaining burial rights guaranteed to other veterans.

House File 2260 is a Resolution to Congress, the President and the legislatures of other states to recognize the contributions of these veterans in fighting for American freedom and democracy and saving the lives of U.S. soldiers; and House File 2261 permits burial rights providing the veterans respect, dignity and honor.

Because the Hmong and Lao veterans were part of America’s “Secret War in Laos” conducted by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), they have not been properly recognized and have been kept from receiving benefits and rights of other veterans.

Recruited and trained to fight as American soldiers, the Hmong and Lao veterans helped the U.S. at great personal sacrifice. When the U.S. pulled out of Laos, many Hmong and Lao veterans who were left behind were held hostage, tortured, sent to concentration camps, and killed. As American soldiers and American citizens, Capt. Tschang said they “paid the price to be here” and now seek to “rest in honor with their deceased brothers.”

Among the testifies support HF 2260 and HF 2261 were, SGU Veterans & Families Development Chair Chue Chue Tschang, Zachor Lee, Sia Lo, Military Action Group Chair Ralph Donais, Michael Yang, Jean Lee, President/Exec. Dir.of Children’s Hope Intl/R & R Family Ctrs & APAHC-the Asian Pacific American Housing Consortium. Read more here.