West OC Times

Representative Michelle Steel has introduced House Resolution 1477 to designate September as "Boat People Awareness Month." This initiative aims to recognize the hundreds of thousands of refugees who fled Vietnam after the fall of Saigon.

Rep. Steel delivered a speech on the House floor to honor those who risked their lives at sea to escape the Communist regime.

Following the Vietnam War and the fall of Saigon, nearly 800,000 Vietnamese people fled by boat in hopes of reaching another country. These individuals became known as boat people. Many perished during their journey due to pirates, overcrowded boats, storms, and other dangers.

Survivors settled worldwide, including in Rep. Steel’s congressional district of California-45, where they have formed a vibrant community.

“‘Boat People Awareness Month’ will honor refugees who fled Communist Vietnam to find freedom and community in places like Little Saigon, California,” said Rep. Steel. “This recognition will honor the courage of all those who fled Vietnam by boat in search for a better life, including the lives that were tragically lost.”

Approximately 725,000 Vietnamese refugees settled in the United States following the war. More than 50,000 settled in Southern California.

Rep. Steel represents parts of Los Angeles County and Orange County, including Little Saigon, which has the largest population of Vietnamese outside Vietnam.