,,iii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #fjg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #d1 #bjbj,mr4 ,gardner 7for himself and ,mr4 ,markey7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,,resolution ,recognizing that in the #be years since normalizing diplomatic relations1 the ,socialist ,republic of ,vietnam and the ,united ,states of ,america have worked toward increased stability1 prosperity1 and peace in ,southeast ,asia1 and expressing the sense of the ,senate that the ,united ,states will continue to remain a strong1 reliable1 and active partner in the ,southeast ,asian region4 ,whereas cooperation between the ,governments and people of the ,united ,states and ,vietnam can help realize their common goals of a peaceful1 prosperous1 and open ,indo-,pacific rooted in a rule-based order that promotes security1 opportunity1 and respect for sovereignty2 ,whereas ,vietnam is serving as the #bjbj ,chair for the ,association of ,southeast ,asian ,nations 7,,asean7 under the theme of ,cohesive and ,responsive ,,asean1 and will co-chair the ,u4,s4-,,asean ,special ,summit when it is rescheduled from the original planned ,march #ad1 #bjbj1 date2 ,whereas ,vietnam has demonstrated a willingness to stand up for freedom of navigation and international law in the ,south ,china ,sea and opened a new chapter in bilateral cooperation on these shared goals2 ,whereas ,vietnam deployed its first military officers to ,united ,nations peacekeeping operations in #bjad1 and contributed a field hospital to ,united ,nations peacekeeping operations in ,south ,sudan in #bjah2 ,whereas both countries have sought to assist each other in accounting for the over #a1bjj ,americans and as many as #cjj1jjj ,vietnamese still missing from the ,vietnam ,war2 ,whereas the ,united ,states ,government has worked with the ,government of ,vietnam to remove unexploded ordnance and to treat victims maimed by it through funding under the ,leahy ,war ,victims ,fund and the ,department of ,state1 ,foreign ,operations1 and ,related ,programs ,act1 #bjai 7division ,f of ,public ,law #aaf-f71 including #ae1jjj1jjj for humanitarian demining operations as well as ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development 7,,usaid7 programs2 ,whereas the ,united ,states ,government has completed the cleanup of dioxin at ,da ,nang airport1 and is working with the ,government of ,vietnam of the cleanup of ,bien ,hoa airport2 ,whereas the ,united ,states ,government has assisted the ,government of ,vietnam in strengthening its maritime capabilities1 including by providing coast guard vessels and assisting the ,government of ,vietnam in strengthening its maritime domain awareness2 ,whereas the ,united ,states ,government remains committed to working with the ,government of ,vietnam on its compliance with international commitments and obligations to protect internationally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms1 including freedom of religion1 expression1 the press1 and assembly1 in order to advance the fundamental dignity of all people1 a key to maintaining stability1 promoting economic growth1 and strengthening good governance2 ,whereas1 in the #be years since the ,united ,states and ,vietnam normalized diplomatic relations1 the people of ,vietnam have benefited from greater prosperity and integration into the global economy2 ,whereas the ,united ,states and ,vietnam signed a bilateral trade agreement in ,july #bjjj1 and granted one another permanent normal trade relations in #bjjh1 ushering in a more than tenfold increase in trade flows in both directions over the past #bj years1 exceeding #gg1jjj1jjj1jjj in #bjai2 ,whereas the ,governments of the ,united ,states and ,vietnam cooperate on a range of public health issues1 particularly combating ,,hiv-,,aids under the ,united ,states ,president's ,emergency ,plan for ,,aids ,relief 7,,pepfar7 program1 and more broadly on health1 governance1 education1 infrastructure1 and environmental issues through the ,lower ,mekong ,initiative2 ,whereas1 in #bjbj1 ,vietnam celebrates #ge years since declaring independence2 ,whereas more than #a1hjj1jjj ,vietnamese-,americans have made contributions to the ,united ,states in a variety of fields ranging from law to science to defense and the arts2 ,whereas the ,united ,states hosts nearly #cj1jjj young ,vietnamese students1 the #fth largest group of international students studying at ,united ,states universities1 contributing #a1jjj1jjj1jjj annually to the ,united ,states economy2 ,whereas bilateral cooperation transformed debts of the former ,south ,vietnamese government to the ,united ,states into ,fulbright ,university ,vietnam1 ,vietnam's first independent1 not-for-profit university2 and ,whereas sister city relationships link our citizens in-- 7#a7 ,seattle1 ,washington and ,haiphong2 7#b7 ,madison1 ,wisconsin and ,bac ,giang2 7#c7 ,pittsburgh1 ,pennsylvania and ,da ,nang2 7#d7 ,san ,francisco1 ,california and ,ho ,chi ,minh ,city2 7#e7 ,oakland1 ,california and ,da ,nang2 7#f7 ,angel ,fire1 ,new ,mexico and ,quang ,tri ,town2 7#g7 ,new ,haven1 ,connecticut and ,hue2 7#h7 ,maryland ,state1 ,maryland and ,ninh ,thuan ,province2 and 7#i7 ,newport ,beach1 ,california and ,vung ,tau ,province 7,friendship ,city73 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 reaffirms the importance of the ,united ,states-,vietnam comprehensive partnership1 including the full implementation of provisions of the ,asia ,reassurance ,initiative ,act of #bjah 7,public ,law #aae-dji7 with regard to elevating the ,united ,states relationship with ,vietnam2 7#b7 welcomes ,vietnam's leadership in #bjbj as ,,asean ,chair in cooperation with its ,,asean partners1 especially as ,,asean and the ,people's ,republic of ,china negotiate a ,code of ,conduct2 7#c7 welcomes ,vietnam playing a productive role as a member of the ,united ,nations ,security ,council during its #bjbj-bjba term2 7#d7 reiterates ,congress' findings in section #dja of the ,asia ,reassurance ,initiative ,act of #bjah 7,public ,law #aae-dji2 #acb ,stat4 #edjg7 that-- 7,a7 the promotion of human rights and respect for democratic values in the ,indo-,pacific region is in the ,united ,states national security interest2 7,b7 continued support for human rights1 democratic values1 and good governance is critical to a successful ,united ,states diplomatic strategy in the ,indo-,pacific2 7,c7 strong support for human rights and democracy in the ,indo-,pacific region is critical to efforts to reduce poverty1 build rule of law1 combat corruption1 reduce the allure of extremism1 and promote economic growth2 and 7,d7 there are serious concerns with the rule of law and civil liberties in ,vietnam1 which has been identified by ,freedom ,house as ,not ,free2 7#e7 reaffirms that it is important that ,vietnam's rights and interests under international law1 regardless of size1 power1 and military capabilities1 are respected2 and 7#f7 appreciates ,vietnam's ongoing cooperation to account for the #a1bdf ,united ,states service members who remain unaccounted for since the ,vietnam ,war4