|
|
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
|
|
WHEREAS, After the Vietnam War ended, a large number of |
|
Vietnamese refugees immigrated to the United States, and many moved |
|
to the metropolitan areas and coastal regions of Texas; and |
|
WHEREAS, These first-generation Vietnamese Americans worked |
|
hard and flourished in Texas, and now the state is home to the |
|
second largest Vietnamese population in the United States, with |
|
more than 210,000 residents, nearly half of those living in the |
|
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown area; and |
|
WHEREAS, Vietnamese Americans have fully embraced the |
|
freedoms of speech and religion and all of the democratic |
|
principles that the United States offers; and |
|
WHEREAS, Vietnamese Americans have denied the authority of |
|
the Vietnamese Communist Flag and pushed for governments to |
|
officially recognize the Vietnamese Heritage and Freedom Flag, |
|
which symbolizes both the Vietnamese cultural heritage and a deeply |
|
rooted resilience and yearning for democracy; and |
|
WHEREAS, Vietnamese Americans strongly support education, |
|
and their children are graduating from high schools and higher |
|
education institutions at high rates; and |
|
WHEREAS, The Lone Star State has benefited enormously from |
|
the contributions of its Vietnamese American residents; and |
|
WHEREAS, The Vietnamese American community plays a vital role |
|
in the business, professional, and cultural life not only of the |
|
Lone Star State but also of the country; the number of small |
|
businesses owned by Vietnamese Americans has grown substantially, |
|
and these firms have created more than 166,000 jobs nationwide, |
|
adding billions of dollars to the economy; in addition, Vietnamese |
|
Americans contribute to their communities in a myriad of ways, as |
|
teachers, lawyers, writers, actors, doctors, mayors, judges, and |
|
public servants; among the many Vietnamese Americans who have led |
|
notable careers are astronaut Eugene H. Trinh, former Dallas Cowboy |
|
Dat Nguyen, and scientist Nguyet Anh Duong, who developed the |
|
thermobaric weapon, which has been vital to U.S. military efforts; |
|
and |
|
WHEREAS, Under Chapter 443, Government Code, and rules of the |
|
State Preservation Board, a portion of the north Capitol grounds is |
|
available for new monuments, subject to legislative approval, |
|
specified procedural requirements, the provision of funding from |
|
private donors, conformity to a certain size and design limitations |
|
and parameters, and completion on a timely basis; and |
|
WHEREAS, For many decades, people of Vietnamese descent have |
|
excelled in our society and economy, enriched our cultural |
|
tapestry, and helped enhance and secure the Lone Star State's |
|
reputation as a land of promise and possibility, and members of the |
|
house of representatives and senate find a commemorative structure |
|
in honor of Vietnamese Americans to be a worthy addition to the |
|
Capitol grounds; now, therefore, be it |
|
RESOLVED, That the 83rd Legislature of the State of Texas |
|
hereby authorize the State Preservation Board, subject to state law |
|
and rules of the board, to approve and permit the construction of a |
|
monument on the Capitol grounds recognizing Vietnamese Americans |
|
for their contributions to this state and nation; and, be it further |
|
RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward an |
|
official copy of this resolution to the executive director of the |
|
State Preservation Board. |