A resolution expressing the approval of Congress for the 50th anniversary celebration of the homecoming of United States prisoners of war from Vietnam and in recognition of the extraordinary service and sacrifices of such prisoners of war during the Vietnam War.

III 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 222 Expressing the approval of Congress for the 50th anniversary celebration of the homecoming of United States prisoners of war from Vietnam and in recognition of the extraordinary service and sacrifices of such prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MAY 18, 2023 Mr. CARPER (for himself and Mr. MORAN) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Expressing the approval of Congress for the 50th anniversary celebration of the homecoming of United States prisoners of war from Vietnam and in recognition of the extraor- dinary service and sacrifices of such prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. Whereas more than 2,700,000 members of the United States Armed Forces served in the Vietnam War; Whereas more than 58,000 members of the United States Armed Forces lost their lives and more than 300,000 were wounded; Whereas, during the conflict, approximately 766 members of the Armed Forces of the United States were taken cap- tive as prisoners of war by the Government of the Demo- VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:48 May 18, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR222.ATS SR222 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 222 ATS cratic Republic of Vietnam and the allies of that Govern- ment; Whereas prisoners of war, the majority of which were avi- ators, included members of the Air Force, Navy, Army, Marine Corps, and United States civilians, and during captivity the prisoners endured brutal conditions, includ- ing torture, forced labor, and prolonged solitary confine- ment; Whereas prisoners of war were held in more than a dozen prisons throughout North Vietnam and elsewhere, includ- ing in the infamous prison camp known to the prisoners of war from the United States as the ‘‘Hanoi Hilton’’, but despite the challenging conditions, many of the pris- oners of war held by the North Vietnamese and the allies of the North Vietnamese maintained their honor, resil- ience, and loyalty to their country and fellow members of the Armed Forces; Whereas the return of the prisoners of war was a nonnego- tiable condition for President Richard Nixon as his ad- ministration negotiated an end to the Vietnam War; Whereas, on January 27, 1973, the Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Viet-Nam (commonly known as the ‘‘Paris Peace Accords’’) was signed, requir- ing the return of the United States prisoners of war with- in 60 days of the signing of the agreement; Whereas, between February and April 1973, 591 prisoners of war were released by the North Vietnamese and their al- lies; Whereas 116 prisoners of war died in captivity; Whereas the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action (referred to in this preamble as ‘‘POW/MIA’’) movement in the VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:48 May 18, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR222.ATS SR222 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 222 ATS United States, and the National League of POW/MIA Families, made a tremendous effort to return the pris- oners of war held by the North Vietnamese and their al- lies to the United States; Whereas, in 1972, the National League of POW/MIA Fami- lies adopted the National POW/MIA flag, which flies over Federal buildings, including the United States Capitol, on days the United States flag is flown; Whereas, 50 years after the prisoners of war held by the North Vietnamese gained their freedom, the resilience, courage, and patriotism of the prisoners of war continues to inspire generations of citizens of the United States; and Whereas the Richard Nixon Presidential Library will host the official 50th Anniversary celebration of the homecoming of United States POWs from Vietnam, from May 23 to 25, 2023, in Yorba Linda, California: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) expresses approval for the 50th anniversary 2 celebration of the homecoming of United States pris- 3 oners of war from Vietnam; and 4 (2) recognizes the extraordinary service and 5 sacrifices of the United States prisoners of war dur- 6 ing the Vietnam War. 7 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:48 May 18, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR222.ATS SR222 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS