Anh "Joseph" Cao

Mr. Speaker, the International Religious Freedom Act, or IRFA, requires the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom to prepare an annual report on the state of religious freedom throughout the world. IRFA also provides that any country which commits systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom be placed on a list of

countries of particular concern, or CPC, which opens these nations up to economic sanctions by the United States.

After several years of urging from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, Vietnam was eventually designated a Country of Particular Concern in 2004 and 2005, and this designation led to modest but unprecedented improvements in the government's treatment of worshippers.

Since 2006, however, the U.S. State Department has declined to designate Vietnam as a CPC, and during the ensuing 4 years there have been no further significant improvements and even some backtracking in the progress made on the ability for those of faith to freely practice their religion.

The October 2009 report of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom found:

``There continue to be far too many serious abuses and restrictions of religious freedom in Vietnam. Individuals continue to be imprisoned or detained for reasons related to their religious activity or religious freedom advocacy. Police and government officials are not held fully accountable for abuses; independent religious activity remains illegal; and legal protection for government-approved religious organizations are both vague and subject to arbitrary or discriminatory interpretation based on political factors.''

``In addition, improvements experienced by some religious communities are not experienced by others, including the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, independent Hoa Hao, Cao Dai, and Protestant groups, and some ethnic minority Protestants and Buddhists. Also, over the past year property disputes between the government and the Catholic Church in Hanoi led to detention, threats, harassment, and violence by contract thugs against peaceful prayer vigils and religious leaders.''

There are disturbing reports from the northern highland of public officials forcing believers to renounce their faith and documented cases in the central highland of religious prisoners being taken. Elsewhere, violent actions against Catholics at Tam Toa, Bau Sen, Loan Ly, and against Buddhists at Bat Nha and Phuoc Hue seem to have increased in frequency and intensity.

More systematically, property seizure has been used as a means to control religious practice. Since the complete takeover of South Vietnam in 1975, the Communist government of Vietnam has seized many religious institutions and effectively banned their existence. A prime example is the complete property seizure of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam in 1981, leading to its dissolution. The Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam has been outlawed since, and its religious leaders have been constantly harassed. Other religions such as the Hoa Hao Buddhist and the Cao Dai have suffered a similar fate.

Almost as a rule, all land disputes against the Catholic Church in Vietnam result in violence. A great number of Catholic institutions in North Vietnam have been seized in the 1950s and in South Vietnam since the takeover in 1975.

Parishioners of Thai Ha Church in Hanoi were beaten by police and government thugs while attending a prayer vigil for the return of the church's properties. They also proceeded to desecrate or destroy religious symbols and properties. Those who were perceived to be leaders of these protests were arrested. This pattern of abuse has been repeated the last few years at parishes, including Dong Chiem and the St. Paul of Chartres Monastery in the Diocese of Vinh Long.

More recently, the government of Da Nang City ordered the Catholic town of Con Dau, among surrounding towns, to vacate their homes, farmlands, and their historic cemetery to make way for a high-end resort to be built by a joint venture with private companies.

When the people of Con Dau resisted the order, violence broke out during the funeral procession of a member of the parish. The police seized the casket and cremated the body of the deceased, against her last wish. Many members of the funeral procession were beaten, arrested, convicted and sentenced to prison on trumped-up charges. Others have fled the country and are seeking asylum. Mr. Nguyen Nam, a member of the funeral procession, was interrogated numerous times and died after severe beatings.

Mr. Speaker, does anyone in this distinguished Chamber doubt the need for us to take action? How can we as a Nation stand by idly while a government that we increasingly supported with improved ties over the past 15 years commits such atrocities against its own people?

As a Vietnamese American, I ask for the passage of House Resolution 20, calling on the State Department to list the Socialist Republic of Vietnam as a Country of Particular Concern.

Thank you very much.

In this recent trip to Vietnam that I made with Chairman Faleomavaega, I happened to visit my sister in the outskirts of Saigon. I was there for about 15 minutes. As soon as I left, guess who showed up? The police. The police showed up and interrogated my brother-in- law. They asked him why we were there, how many people were there, what did we talk about.

Now, if they were to do that to a family member of a U.S. Congressman, what would they do to the normal Vietnamese citizen in Vietnam?

There are no protections whatsoever. There is a difference between practicing your religion and practicing your faith. In practicing religion, you can go in there and pray, which is good; but practicing faith is when you have to advocate for people's rights to worship, for people's rights to defend their families, to defend their property, and to defend their faiths and their views. In that regard, the Vietnamese Government has been lacking in every aspect.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the gentleman and legislator from Minnesota's 8th Congressional District, Jim Oberstar. I have had the immense pleasure of getting to know Chairman Oberstar and have had the pleasure of working with him on important issues, ranging from high-speed rail to FEMA reform. I have enjoyed private conversations with him that have educated me, inspired me, and reminded me of the true meaning of public service. Chairman Oberstar will be remembered by all with whom he served in this Chamber as someone who loved this Nation and loved public service.

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His service will be remembered by its selflessness and true intentions.

As the distinguished chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, his goal was to keep America safe and moving forward. I recall fondly the hours he and I spent discussing proposals to reform the Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The legislation on which we collaborated always had the goal of bettering those two institutions and assisting my district of New Orleans, a love of which we shared.

His transportation policies and initiatives embodied the very meaning of change. He had the creativity to see challenges this Nation will face and to put forward recommendations for how to address them. They will live on within this body as testament to his vision.

I will miss our conversations in committee and on the floor. I could always count on the chairman as the voice of reason and friendship. As he and I leave this great Hall at the end of this session, it is my honor to commend him for his accomplishments and to wish him well.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of this important resolution. I also congratulate my friend and colleague, Mr. Lewis, for his leadership in bringing this to the floor today. I have the greatest pleasure of standing by Mr. Lewis, and I value his friendship greatly.

In 1956, at a time when race relations were stressed in the South, the Orleans Parish School Board was ordered to develop a plan to desegregate its schools. After a 4-year delay, a plan designed by the United States Eastern District Court of Louisiana was ordered to be carried out.

It was at that moment that a young girl by the name of Ruby Bridges became one of the first black children to attend an integrated school.

Upon her arrival, every white parent came to remove their child from the elementary school Ms. Bridges was attending. All but one white teacher refused to teach, and it was that teacher who instructed Ruby in a room by herself for a full year.

This experience did not deter Ruby who not only completed her education, but went on to found the Ruby Bridges Foundation, which has a clear and profound message: To promote the value of tolerance, respect, and appreciation of all differences.

I was honored to meet Ms. Bridges in my New Orleans office last October. She is truly an extraordinary woman who has dedicated her life to service. At a time when my district is still fighting to rebuild its schools and provide for a stable and safe environment for our children, I am thankful to have her as an inspiration for all in rebuilding our communities today, tomorrow, and beyond.

I am proud to note that as we reflect on a turning point in our Nation's history, it was the bravery of one New Orleanean who helped make it happen.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution honoring the 50th anniversary of Ruby Bridges.