H.C.R. No. 258 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION WHEREAS, The display of the flag of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on the central campus of the University of Houston, as well as on other campuses of higher learning, has caused great distress to many members of the Vietnamese American community; and WHEREAS, This flag, which features a yellow star on a red background, was first adopted by the Indochinese Communist Party in the mid-20th century; it represents a source of anguish to countless people who fled to the United States as a welcoming haven of liberty and tolerance; to these esteemed citizens, the display of this flag is interpreted as a lack of respect for their historic struggles; and WHEREAS, In contrast, the Freedom and Heritage Flag symbolizes both the Vietnamese cultural heritage and a deeply rooted resilience and yearning for democracy; this flag, which bears three red stripes on a background of golden yellow, was flown for the first time at a ceremony marking the official recognition by France of Vietnamese unity and independence; and WHEREAS, The University of Houston and other institutions of higher learning can express their respect for Vietnamese American culture and their support for the ideals of liberty and democracy by replacing the flag of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam with the Freedom and Heritage Flag; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas hereby urge the University of Houston and other institutions of higher education to cease displaying the red flag of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and to instead fly the golden yellow Freedom and Heritage Flag that has been embraced by the Vietnamese American community; and, be it further RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official copy of this resolution to the commissioner of higher education as an expression of the sentiment of the house of representatives and senate. Vo Hilderbran Vo Hilderbran Vo Hilderbran Pitts Dunnam Pitts Dunnam Pitts Dunnam Taylor Alonzo Taylor Alonzo Taylor Alonzo Alvarado Bohac Alvarado Bohac Alvarado Bohac Bolton Brown of Brazos Bolton Brown of Brazos Bolton Brown of Brazos Button Chisum Button Chisum Button Chisum Davis of Dallas Driver Davis of Dallas Driver Davis of Dallas Driver Dutton Edwards Dutton Edwards Dutton Edwards Frost Gallego Frost Gallego Frost Gallego Geren Gonzalez Toureilles Geren Gonzalez Toureilles Geren Gonzalez Toureilles Guillen Gutierrez Guillen Gutierrez Guillen Gutierrez Harper-Brown Hernandez Harper-Brown Hernandez Harper-Brown Hernandez Herrero Hochberg Herrero Hochberg Herrero Hochberg Hodge Hopson Hodge Hopson Hodge Hopson Hughes Hunter Hughes Hunter Hughes Hunter Isett Jones Isett Jones Isett Jones Keffer Kent Keffer Kent Keffer Kent Kolkhorst Laubenberg Kolkhorst Laubenberg Kolkhorst Laubenberg Legler Lewis Legler Lewis Legler Lewis Maldonado Mallory Caraway Maldonado Mallory Caraway Maldonado Mallory Caraway Marquez Martinez Marquez Martinez Marquez Martinez McClendon Merritt McClendon Merritt McClendon Merritt Miller of Comal Orr Miller of Comal Orr Miller of Comal Orr Ortiz, Jr. Otto Ortiz, Jr. Otto Ortiz, Jr. Otto Paxton Phillips Paxton Phillips Paxton Phillips Quintanilla Rios Ybarra Quintanilla Rios Ybarra Quintanilla Rios Ybarra Rose Sheffield Rose Sheffield Rose Sheffield Shelton Smith of Harris Shelton Smith of Harris Shelton Smith of Harris Thibaut Vaught Thibaut Vaught Thibaut Vaught ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 258 was adopted by the House on May 25, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 148, Nays 0, 0 present, not voting. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 258 was adopted by the Senate on May 30, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: __________________ Date __________________ Governor Vo Hilderbran Pitts Dunnam Taylor Alonzo Alvarado Bohac Bolton Brown of Brazos Button Chisum Davis of Dallas Driver Dutton Edwards Frost Gallego Geren Gonzalez Toureilles Guillen Gutierrez Harper-Brown Hernandez Herrero Hochberg Hodge Hopson Hughes Hunter Isett Jones Keffer Kent Kolkhorst Laubenberg Legler Lewis Maldonado Mallory Caraway Marquez Martinez McClendon Merritt Miller of Comal Orr Ortiz, Jr. Otto Paxton Phillips Quintanilla Rios Ybarra Rose Sheffield Shelton Smith of Harris Thibaut Vaught