RES-2015-222RESOLUTION NO. 2015 -222
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM,
CALIFORNIA, SUPPORTING H.R. 2140, THE VIETNAM HUMAN RIGHTS
ACT OF 2015, THAT WOULD ATTACH HUMAN RIGHTS CONDITIONS TO
TRADE AND SECURITY AGREEMENTS WITH VIETNAM TO PROMOTE
FREEDOM, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND THE RULE OF LAW AS PART OF UNITED
STATES -VIETNAM RELATIONS.
WHEREAS, The City of Anaheim, recognizes the need to support human rights policies
that are designed to protect citizens across the globe; and
WHEREAS, in 2006 the United States Congress agreed to Vietnam's inclusion in the
World Trade Organization amidst assurances that the Government of Vietnam was steadily improving its
human rights record; and
WHEREAS, The Government of Vietnam's transition toward greater economic
liberalization and trade has not been matched by greater political freedom and substantial
improvements in basic human rights for Vietnamese citizens, including freedom of religion, expression,
association, and assembly; and
WHEREAS, the Government of Vietnam continues to detain, imprison, place under
house arrest, convict, or otherwise restrict persons for the peaceful expression of dissenting political or
religious views; and
WHEREAS, H.R. 2140 was introduced as a means of attaching human rights conditions to
trade and security agreements with Vietnam to promote improvements in the basic human rights for
Vietnamese citizens; and
WHEREAS, H.R. 2140 prohibits U.S. nonhumanitarian assistance to the government of
Vietnam in excess of FY2014 amounts unless the President certifies to Congress that the government of
Vietnam has made substantial progress respecting political, civil, media, Internet, religious freedoms,
minority rights, access to U.S. refugee programs, and actions to end trafficking in persons and the
release of religious and political prisoners; and
WHEREAS, H.R. 2140 seeks to designate Vietnam as a country of particular concern for
religious freedom pursuant to the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998; and
WHEREAS, H.R. 2140 also suggests that Vietnam begin to fully comply with the
minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking and that a status of compliance be a part of
the annual report to Congress;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the City Council of the City of Anaheim, urges
the 114th United States Congress to adopt H.R. 2140—The Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2015 and
support attaching human rights conditions to trade and security agreements with Vietnam and prohibit
nonhumanitarian aid unless the President certifies to Congress that the government of Vietnam has
made substantial progress respecting political, civil, media, Internet, religious freedoms, minority rights,
access to U.S. refugee programs, actions to end trafficking in persons, and the release of religious and
political prisoners.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the City Clerk is directed to send this resolution to the
President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the President
of the United States Senate, and the Honorable Members of the 114th Congress representing the City of
Anaheim.
THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION is approved and adopted by the City Council of the City of Anaheim this
21 stday of July , 2015, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Mayor Tait and Council Members Kring, Murray, and Brandman
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: Council Member Vanderbilt
CITY OF A IM
By_
MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM
ATTEST
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CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIIM