US SR542

Commemorates the 50th anniversary of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement in the United States, marking key 2025 dates including the fall of Saigon (April 30), Khmer Rouge's rise in Cambodia (April 17), and evacuation of Hmong and Lao peoples from Laos (May 1)

Recognizes more than 3,000,000 Southeast Asian Americans in the U.S. today, including Vietnamese, Hmong, Khmer, Lao, Iu Mien, Montagnards, and other ethnic groups who fled war, persecution, and genocide between 1975 and the mid-2000s

Honors sacrifices of Southeast Asian allies who served alongside U.S. forces, including the CIA's 13-year "Secret Wars" covert operation in Laos and military operations in Cambodia and Vietnam

Acknowledges ongoing challenges facing Southeast Asian American communities, including 40-50% limited English proficiency rates, health disparities, and over 60% of Cambodian refugees experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder

Affirms U.S. commitment to pursuing comprehensive policies for Southeast Asian American communities in education and health, and to embracing refugees, immigrants, and naturalized citizens