KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Washington

HR4649 • 2026

Southeast Asian refugees

Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Southeast Asian refugee resettlement.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Representative Thai, Representative Entenman, Representative Duerr, Representative Ryu, Representative Abell, Representative Parshley, Representative Eslick, Representative Zahn, Representative Chase, Representative Taylor, Representative Cortes, Representative Santos, Representative Thomas, Representative Nance, Representative Walen, Representative Burnett, Representative Leavitt, Representative Berg
Last action
2025-04-07
Official status
H Adopted
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Southeast Asian refugees

Southeast Asian refugees

What This Bill Does

  • Southeast Asian refugees

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-07 House

    Adopted.

Official Summary Text

Southeast Asian refugees

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
WHEREAS, In the spring of 1975, the withdrawal of American troops 1
from Vietnam and the reduction of aid displaced hundreds of thousands 2
of Southeast Asian refugees; and 3
WHEREAS, In response, Governor Daniel Evans of Washington state 4
recognized the humanitarian crisis and took decisive action to 5
welcome refugees seeking safety and new opportunities; and6
WHEREAS, President Gerald Ford initiated Operation Babylift to 7
bring Vietnamese orphans to the United States, with a Pan Am 747 8
carrying 407 orphans landing at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport 9
on April 6, 1975; and 10
WHEREAS, Washington Secretary of State Bruce Chapman emphasized 11
America's moral obligation to support displaced people and provide 12
them with opportunities for resettlement; and 13
WHEREAS, Governor Evans declared Washington's readiness to 14
accommodate refugees, creating a task force to oversee their 15
resettlement and ensure their successful integration; and16
WHEREAS, On May 20, 1975, the first group of 34 refugees arrived 17
at Camp Murray, where pre-World War II cottages were refurbished to 18
provide temporary housing; and 19
WHEREAS, The Washington community demonstrated extraordinary 20
support by donating resources, volunteering, and establishing host 21
family programs; and 22
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2025-4649 , by Representatives Thai, Entenman, Duerr,
Ryu, Abell, Parshley, Eslick, Zahn, Chase, Taylor, Cortes, Santos, Thomas, Nance,
Walen, Burnett, Leavitt, and Berg
p. 1 HR 4649
WHEREAS, President Ford provided support for the nationwide 1
relocation of refugees and appointed Governor Evans to a Presidential 2
Refugee Advisory Committee; and 3
WHEREAS, By Christmas 1975, 4,052 Southeast Asian refugees had 4
settled in Washington, making it home to the fifth-largest 5
Indochinese refugee population in the United States; and6
WHEREAS, Additional waves of Indochinese refugees, including 1.6 7
million Boat people, resettled to third-party countries between 1975 8
and 1997; and 9
WHEREAS, Upwards of 600,000 individuals lost their lives due to 10
economic sanctions and political persecution; and 11
WHEREAS, Recognizing the ongoing need for support, refugee 12
leaders convened in 1977 for the first conference focused on 13
continued assistance and integration efforts; and 14
WHEREAS, A third wave of refugees resettled in the 1980s, further 15
enriching the cultural and economic fabric of Washington State; and16
WHEREAS, Governor Evans declared that closing the door to 17
refugees would be "the worst kind of hypocrisy," reaffirming 18
Washington's long-standing commitment to humanitarian efforts and 19
inclusion; 20
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State House 21
of Representatives commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 22
Vietnamese, Lao, Cambodian, and Hmong refugee resettlement in our 23
state; and 24
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That Washington State continue to uphold 25
the values of compassion and inclusion and support refugees who seek 26
safety, a bright future, and the promise of America.27
--- END ---
p. 2 HR 4649