Bill Would Authorize $2 million for Human Rights Defenders in Vietnam Washington, D.C. – Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) today voted in favor of Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2007, which focuses on Vietnam ’s suppression of religious liberty and the pro-democracy movement. The bill, which Rep. Lofgren co-sponsored, includes provisions to fund human rights work in Vietnam and to fund jamming override technology for Radio Free Asia. It also includes provisions to extend U.S. refugee programs to Vietnamese who would have previously been eligible but missed deadlines because of circumstances beyond their control or are suffering persecution in Vietnam . The bill includes the following provisions: o Authorizes $2 million for FY 2008 and FY 2009 for NGOs, the Human Rights Defenders Fund and individuals and organizations that promote universally recognized human rights in Vietnam o Authorizes $9.1 million for FY 2008 in and $1.1 million in FY 2009 for radio jamming override technology o Prohibits an increase in nonhumanitarian U.S. assistance to Vietnam in FY 2008 o Calls upon the Secretary of State to issue an annual report that includes an explanation of the President’s determination on nonhumanitarian foreign assistance, the status of protection of human rights, progress towards rule of law, a comprehensive victims list, progress towards securing transmission of Radio Free Asia o Establishes as U.S. policy the extension of the U.S. refugee programs to Vietnamese who would have previously been eligible but missed deadlines because of circumstances beyond their control or are suffering persecution in Vietnam The article includes a message in Vietnamese from Dr. Thang D. Nguyen, director of Boat People SOS, who included the posting from the office of Rep. Chris Smith (R - N.J.) Congressman Smith authored the bill, and took the opportunity to ask his colleagues in the U.S. Senate to do their part now and pass a similar bill "without regard to their own economic interests."   more »