Bill Text: CA AB717 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Chaptered

California Assembly Bill 717 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 12-3)

Status: (Passed) 2009-09-25 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 158, Statutes of 2009. [AB717 Detail]

Download: California-2009-AB717-Chaptered.html

BILL NUMBER: AB 717	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  158
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 25, 2009
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 25, 2009
	PASSED THE SENATE  SEPTEMBER 11, 2009
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 12, 2009
	AMENDED IN SENATE  SEPTEMBER 11, 2009
	AMENDED IN SENATE  SEPTEMBER 10, 2009
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 20, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Members Cook and Lieu
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members De Leon, DeVore, Fuller, Gilmore,
Harkey, Jeffries, Niello, and Silva)
   (Coauthors: Senators Cogdill, Correa, Cox, Denham, and Huff)

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2009

   An act to add Section 37222.5 to the Education Code, and to add
Section 6715 to the Government Code, relating to state observances.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 717, Cook. Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
   Existing law requires the Governor to proclaim various days as
holidays and days of remembrance. Existing law also designates
certain days in each year as having special significance for purposes
of encouraging schools to observe those days and conduct suitable
commemorative exercises.
   This bill would require the Governor to annually proclaim March 30
of each year as "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day." The bill would
additionally encourage schools to conduct exercises on March 30 of
each year to recognize the contributions of those involved in the
Vietnam conflict.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) In 2007, the United States Congress, by separate Senate and
House Resolutions, declared that a Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day
should be established.
   (b) The Vietnam War was fought in Vietnam from 1961 to 1975, and
involved North Vietnam and Viet Cong in conflict with the United
States and South Vietnam.
   (c) The United States became involved in Vietnam because
policymakers in the United States believed that if South Vietnam fell
to a communist government, communism would spread throughout the
rest of southeast Asia.
   (d) Members of the United States Armed Forces began serving in an
advisory role to the South Vietnamese in 1961.
   (e) As a result of the Gulf of Tonkin incidents on August 2 and
August 4, 1964, the United States overwhelmingly passed the Gulf of
Tonkin Resolution (Public Law 99-408), on August 7, 1964, which
effectively handed over the war-making powers to President Johnson
until such time as "peace and security" had returned to Vietnam.
   (f) In 1965, there were 80,000 United States troops in Vietnam,
and by 1969 a peak of approximately 543,000 troops was reached.
   (g) On January 27, 1973, the Treaty of Paris was signed, which
required the release of all United States prisoners of war held in
North Vietnam and the withdrawal of all United States Armed Forces
from South Vietnam.
   (h) On March 30, 1973, the United States Armed Forces completed
the withdrawal of combat troops from Vietnam.
   (i) More than 58,000 members of the United States Armed Forces
lost their lives in Vietnam and more than 300,000 were wounded.
   (j) In 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in the
District of Columbia to commemorate those members of the United
States Armed Forces who died or were declared missing in action in
Vietnam.
   (k) The Vietnam War was an extremely divisive issue among the
people of the United States.
   (l) Upon their return home, members of the United States Armed
Forces who served bravely and faithfully for the United States during
the Vietnam War were caught in the crossfire of public debate about
the involvement of the United States in the war.
   (m) The establishment of a Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day would
be an appropriate way to honor those members of the United States
Armed Forces who served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War.
  SEC. 2.  Section 37222.5 is added to the Education Code, to read:
   37222.5.  (a) In addition to the days specified in Section 37222,
the day of March 30 in each year shall be designated and set apart as
Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
   (b) On the day designated in subdivision (a), all public schools
and educational institutions are encouraged to observe that day and
to conduct exercises recognizing the contributions of all those
involved in the Vietnam War and remembering the sacrifices they made
for their country.
   (c) It is the intent of the Legislature that the exercises
encouraged in this section be integrated into the regular school
program, and be conducted by the school or institution within the
amount otherwise budgeted for educational programs.
  SEC. 3.  Section 6715 is added to the Government Code, to read:
   6715.  The Governor shall annually proclaim March 30 as Welcome
Home Vietnam Veterans Day.