WHEREAS, The end of the Vietnam conflict produced an exodus of over two million Vietnamese who sought a new life; and
     WHEREAS, Many of these refugees settled in Washington State, and over 100,000 Vietnamese-Americans and residents of Vietnamese descent live in and have a long history of contributing to the business, economic development, and culture of our state; and
     WHEREAS, Vietnamese-Americans have distinguished themselves through community service and in our nation's armed forces; and
     WHEREAS, Vietnamese-Americans own and operate approximately 3,000 businesses in Washington that have gross sales and receipts of $446 million annually, pay $56 million in taxes per year, and employ many Washingtonians; and
     WHEREAS, Since the United States reestablished diplomatic relations with Vietnam, our state and nation have benefited from increased trade and cultural exchange; and
     WHEREAS, The Vietnamese people have a long and distinguished history of cultural, academic, and scientific achievement; and
     WHEREAS, Vietnamese-Americans have excelled in engineering, government, architecture, education, medicine, acting, singing, sculpture, and writing; and
     WHEREAS, Washington's quality of life is greatly enhanced by the Vietnamese-American community in our state;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Washington recognize the contributions of the Vietnamese-American community to business, economic development, and culture in Washington; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the Senate shall immediately transmit copies of this resolution to the recognized leaders of the Vietnamese Community in Washington.