Bill Text: OR SB74 | 2011 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relating to Vietnam veterans.
Sponsorship: Unknown
Status: (Passed) 2011-03-30 - Effective date, January 1, 2012. [SB74 Detail]
Download: Oregon-2011-SB74-Enrolled.html
76th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2011 Regular Session
Enrolled
Senate Bill 74
Printed pursuant to Senate Interim Rule 213.28 by order of the
President of the Senate in conformance with presession filing
rules, indicating neither advocacy nor opposition on the part
of the President (at the request of Governor John A. Kitzhaber
for Department of Veterans' Affairs)
CHAPTER ................
AN ACT
Relating to Vietnam veterans.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. { + The Legislative Assembly finds:
(1) In 2009, the United States Congress, by separate Senate and
House Resolutions, declared that a Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans
Day should be established.
(2) The Vietnam War was fought in Vietnam from 1961 to 1975,
and involved North Vietnam and the Vietcong in conflict with the
United States and South Vietnam.
(3) 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.
(4) Members of the United States Armed Forces began serving in
an advisory role to the South Vietnamese in 1961.
(5) 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 (P.L. 88-408), on August 7, 1964, which
effectively handed over the war-making powers to President Lyndon
Johnson until such time as 'peace and security' had returned to
Vietnam.
(6) In 1965, there were 80,000 United States troops in Vietnam
and, by 1969, a peak of approximately 543,000 troops was reached.
(7) 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.
(8) On March 30, 1973, the United States Armed Forces completed
the withdrawal of combat troops.
(9) More than 58,000 members of the United States Armed Forces
lost their lives in Vietnam and more than 300,000 were wounded.
(10) 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.
(11) The Vietnam War was an extremely divisive issue among the
people of the United States.
Enrolled Senate Bill 74 (SB 74-INTRO) Page 1
(12) 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.
(13) The establishment of a Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day
is an appropriate way to honor those members of the United States
Armed Forces who served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. + }
SECTION 2. { + March 30 of every year is designated as Welcome
Home Vietnam Veterans Day to honor veterans of the Vietnam
War. + }
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Passed by Senate February 15, 2011
.............................................................
Robert Taylor, Secretary of Senate
.............................................................
Peter Courtney, President of Senate
Passed by House March 16, 2011
.............................................................
Bruce Hanna, Speaker of House
.............................................................
Arnie Roblan, Speaker of House
Enrolled Senate Bill 74 (SB 74-INTRO) Page 2
Received by Governor:
......M.,............., 2011
Approved:
......M.,............., 2011
.............................................................
John Kitzhaber, Governor
Filed in Office of Secretary of State:
......M.,............., 2011
.............................................................
Kate Brown, Secretary of State
Enrolled Senate Bill 74 (SB 74-INTRO) Page 3
