SRES 321 — A resolution commemorating 30 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Vietnam on July 11, 2025.

321 IntroducedAgreed into Senate (IS)](ATS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S.

which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations _______________________________________________________________________December RESOLUTION18, Commemorating2025 30Committee yearsdischarged; of diplomatic relations between the United States and Vietnam on July 11, 2025.

Whereas,considered, sinceamended, theand endagreed theto Vietnamwith War,an hundredsamended ofpreamble thousands_______________________________________________________________________ ofRESOLUTION VietnameseCommemorating have30 resettledyears inof thediplomatic Unitedrelations Statesbetween and built vibrant communities across the United States,States whichand contributeVietnam toon theJuly rich11, diversity2025. of our Nation;

WhereasWhereas, since the jointend effortsof across the administrationsVietnam War, hundreds of Presidentthousands Ronaldof ReaganVietnamese have resettled in and Presidentbuilt Georgevibrant H.W.communities across the United States, which contribute to the rich diversity of our Nation;

BushWhereas tojoint addressefforts questionsacross surrounding United States service members missing in action (MIA) set the foundationadministrations for the normalization of bilateralPresident relationsRonald betweenReagan theand UnitedPresident StatesGeorge andH. Vietnam;

Whereas,W. between 1991 to 1993, the Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs of the Senate conducted public hearings and issued an extensive report on the prisoner of war (POW) and MIA issue, helping to lay the domestic political foundation for the breakthroughs in subsequent United States- Vietnam relations;

WhereasBush the efforts to identifyaddress andquestions returnsurrounding theUnited remainsStates ofservicemembers service members missing in action on(MIA) bothset the United States and Vietnamese sides, alongside unexploded ordnance removal, dioxin remediation, disability programs supporting survivors impacted by these war remnants, and efforts to continue public education on these topics, collectively built the foundation for ongoingthe warnormalization legacy programs in Southeast Asia, which are a vital component of the bilateral relationshiprelations between Vietnam and the United States;States and Vietnam;

Whereas, between 1991 and 1993, the Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs of the Senate conducted public hearings and issued an extensive report on prisoner of war (POW) and MIA issues, helping to lay the domestic political foundation for subsequent breakthroughs in United States- Vietnam relations;

Whereas efforts to identify and return the remains of service members missing in action on both the United States and Vietnamese sides, alongside unexploded ordnance removal, dioxin remediation, disability programs supporting survivors impacted by these war remnants, and efforts to continue public education on these topics have contributed to ongoing war legacy programs, which are a vital component of the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and the United States;

Whereas, on February 4, 1994, U.S.President Bill Clinton lifted the trade embargo, which had been in place since the end of the Vietnam War, paving the way for the announcement of a normalization of relations between the United States and Vietnam on July 11, 1995;

PresidentWhereas Billsignificant Clintonprogress liftedhas ofbeen themade tradein embargothe inbilateral placerelationship since the endnormalization of thediplomatic Vietnamrelations War,between inthe turnUnited pavingStates theand wayVietnam, leading to thecooperation announcementbetween ofthe agovernments normalizationand peoples of relations between the United States and Vietnam onin Julyan 11,array 1995;of areas, extending to political, economic, and cultural ties;

Whereas significant progress has been made in the bilateral relationship since the normalization of diplomatic relations between the United States and Vietnam, leading to significant cooperation between the government and peoples of the United States and Vietnam in an array of areas, extending to political, economic, and cultural ties;

Whereas, on July 25, 2013, President Barack Obama and VietnamVietnamese President Truong Tan Sang agreed to establish a comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and the United States based on the principles of respect for the United Nations Charter, international law, respect for political institutions, independence and sovereignty, and each other's territorial integrity;

Whereas, on May 23, 2016, President Barack Obama announced the removal of remaining United States restrictions on the sale of lethal weapons and related services to Vietnam, afollowing move that followed President George W.

Whereas President Donald Trump became the first United States President to visit Vietnam twice in one presidential term, including a November 2017 state visit during which President Trump and Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang-- (1) concluded a new3-year Three Year Plan of Action for Defense Cooperation to increase bilateral naval activities;

(2) agreed on the first visit of thea United States aircraft carrier (the USS Carl Vinson) to Vietnam insince 2018;the end of the Vietnam War;

(3) celebratedreaffirmed the conclusionimportance of afreedom jointof effortnavigation, tooverflight, cleanand dioxin-unfettered contaminatedcommerce soilin the South China Sea and sedimenta inbilateral Dacommitment Nang,to Vietnam;a rules-based approach to resolving maritime disputes;

(4) welcomedcelebrated the Unitedconclusion Statesof commitmenta tojoint contributeeffort to remediationclean effortsdioxin- atcontaminated Biensoil Hoaand Airport;sediment in Da Nang, Vietnam;

and (5) tookwelcomed significantthe stepsUnited forwardStates' withcommitment anto increasecontribute into directdioxin investmentremediation inefforts Vietnamat withBien anHoa emphasisAirport; on energy cooperation;

Whereas, on September 10, 2023, President Joe Biden and General(6) Secretarypledged Nguyento Phuincrease Trong issued a Joint Communique that-- (1) officially upgraded the bilateral relationshiptrade toand theinvestment levelrelations, ofincluding Comprehensive$12,000,000,000 Strategicin Partnership;commercial agreements;

(2)Whereas, recognizedon considerableSeptember progress10, made2023, inPresident Joe Biden and General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong issued a Joint Communique that-- (1) upgraded the bilateral relationship inbetween athe shortUnited 10-yearStates period;and Vietnam to the level of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership;

and(2) (3)celebrated underscored the fundamentalexpansion principlesof guidingdioxin Unitedremediation States-at VietnamBien relations,Hoa includingAir respectBase, forextending the Unitedbilateral Nationspartnership Charter,agreement internationalinto law,2028, and respectexpanding forunexploded eachordnance other'stracking independence, sovereignty, and territorialclearance integrity;activities;

(3) recognized considerable progress made in the bilateral relationship in a short, 10-year period;

and (4) underscored fundamental principles guiding United States-Vietnam relations and respect for each other's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity;

Whereas, on October 26, 2025, the United States and Vietnam agreed to a Framework for an Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair and Balanced Trade, which will bolster United States national and economic security, expand bilateral trade, and strengthen supply chain security;

and (2) continuing programs by initiated during the administrations of President Obama, President Trump, and President Biden to help Vietnam enhance its maritime capabilities;

Whereas, throughout these positive developments, Congress has consistently offered strong bipartisan support tofor the continuation and eventual completion of war legacy programs in Vietnam as the basis on which the bilateral relationship was established 30 years ago;

Whereas the United States and Vietnam will continue to deepen cooperation in a wide range of areas, including political and diplomatic relations, economic trade and investment, science and technology, education and health, cultural and people-to-people ties, defense and security, regional and global issues, and the promotion and protection of internationally-recognized human rights, to ensure the interests of the people in the United States and in Vietnam and to contribute to peace, stability, cooperation, and prosperity around the world:

and (B) the strong and enduring relationship built by the United States and Vietnam based on mutual respect, trust, and a shared commitment to peace and prosperity;

(2) honors the contributions of Vietnamese Americans to the United States during the past 50 years, including-- (A) their tireless commitment to strengthening ties among different communities, sectors, businesses, youths, and people's organizations between the United States and Vietnam;

(5) acknowledges the significant progress in various areas of bilateral cooperation, including political and diplomatic relations, trade and economic ties, defense and security, and people-to-people-to-people peopleexchanges, exchanges;including the United States- supported Fulbright University, Vietnam's first independent nonprofit higher education institution;

and (7) expresses-- (A) the determination of the United States to continue strengthening cooperation with Vietnam across sectors;

and (B) the vital importance of the bilateral relationship between the United States and Vietnam to addressing shared challenges and promoting continued regional peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.