Derek Tran

Recognizing the 51st anniversary of Black April and the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975.

introduced

Carlton H. Ingram Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act

in committee

Combating Chinese Communist Party Influence Act

in committee

“Mr. TRAN. Mr. Speaker, it is with solemn remembrance that I rise today to pay tribute to a renowned commander, distinguished veteran, and principled hero, Colonel Phan Van HuMn of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. Colonel HuMn, a fixture in the Orange County Vietnamese American community, passed away on March 10, 2026, in Santa Ana, California at the age of 96. Colonel Phan Van HuMn was born in 1930 in Thura Thien, HuI, Vietnam. On October 1, 1953, following a national mobilization order, he enlisted in the military and attended Class 10 at the Vietnam National Military Academy in Da LAt. Following his graduation, he quickly established himself as a capable leader, eventually becoming commander of the 81st Airborne Ranger Group (Lien Doan 81 Bist Kich Nhay Du). The 81st Airborne Ranger Group was one of the Republic of Vietnam's elite special operations formations, and specialized in small-team airborne insertions, reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, and deep- penetration missions behind enemy lines. During Colonel HuMn's time as commander, the 81st Airborne Ranger Group earned a reputation as one of the most effective fighting units of the South Vietnamese military. The unit played important roles in several major campaigns, including the 1968 Tet Offensive, and at both An Lrc and QuVng TrG during the North Vietnam's 1972 Easter Offensive. Colonel HuMn's courageous leadership at the siege of An Lrc earned him a promotion to the distinguished rank of Colonel. Colonel HuMn was widely respected as an honest and principled officer who simultaneously placed great importance on discipline while caring deeply about the welfare of his soldiers. He was known for paying close attention to his soldiers' living conditions, morale, and recovery after combat operations, and it was his dedication that allowed the 81st Airborne Ranger Group to become known as a highly capable and battle-hardened unit. In 1975, when President DUTng Van Minh ordered the South Vietnamese Armed Forces to surrender, Colonel HuMn remained with his soldiers and was imprisoned for 13 years in hard-labor reeducation camps in Northern Vietnam. In 1988, he was released from prison in poor health due to the harsh conditions of imprisonment and lingering wounds from his military service. For the next four years, Colonel HuMn and his family lived in hardship in Ap TMn Thai STn near TMn Phu, TMn Binh District, before resettling in the United States under the Humanitarian Operation program in 1992. Colonel Phan Van HuMn is survived by his wife, Le Thi Thanh Nguyet, and their children, Dinh Van Phan, Andy Loc Phan, Son Van Phan, My Van Phan, Kevin Phan, Mimi Phan, Ann Phan, and Kristin Thuy Phan. Colonel HuMn's life remains a testament to dedication, sacrifice, and leadership in the service of his country. He will be dearly missed by his friends and family, and his legacy and service will continue to live on in the minds of everyone who has met him. ____________________”

2026-03-20 · Veterans

“Mr. TRAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Saigon Broadcasting Television Network, otherwise known as SBTN. SBTN, the first 24-hour Vietnamese-language television channel specifically for overseas audiences, provides premier news coverage and entertainment programs to millions of Vietnamese people abroad. For 25 years, SBTN has served as an example of the importance of a free press and the strength of the Vietnamese diaspora community. Headquartered in Garden Grove, California, SBTN was founded in 2001 by Truc Ho4, a Vietnamese American musician, producer, and human-rights advocate. The network provided programming for the rapidly growing Vietnamese community in the United States, and it soon established itself in Southern California before spreading to cities such as Boston, Dallas, and Washington, D.C. This growth eventually led SBTN to expand internationally, becoming one of the primary television networks for Vietnamese audiences living outside Vietnam. Today, SBTN offers both original programming and acquired content, including news, dramas, movies, documentaries, variety shows, music, talk shows, kids' programming, and more. What sets SBTN apart is its staunch support for free expression and democratic values. Since the network's founding, it has stood as a counter-narrative to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam's state-run media, refusing to air programs produced under the communist government's control. Rather than allow Vietnamese media to be dominated by an oppressive regime, SBTN has reported on human rights abuses and political dissent, providing critical coverage to millions of its international Vietnamese viewers. The network's belief system is deeply rooted in the experiences of the Vietnamese diaspora, as much of its original audience and leadership fled persecution from communist Vietnam in search of freedom and democracy. Amid ongoing repression and censorship by the Communist Party of Vietnam, SBTN remains essential in delivering trusted, independent reporting to Vietnamese-speaking audiences around the world. I am thrilled to represent such an exemplary television network in my district, especially one whose accomplishments are so dear to my family's own experiences. The network's commitment to providing dependable news, preserving the Vietnamese language and culture, and enriching the lives and experiences of the Vietnamese community is commendable. I congratulate SBTN on its 25th anniversary and continue to be grateful for its invaluable service to our Nation. ____________________”

2026-02-26 · Government Reform

“Mr. TRAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Justin Maturo, a member of my congressional staff who will soon be departing Capitol Hill after a combined fifteen years of public service. From intern to Deputy Chief of Staff, Justin has held several important roles in three congressional offices where he has directly contributed to the betterment of communities in the states of Texas and California. Born in Westchester, New York, and raised in Tappan, New York, to an Italian father and Hawaiian mother, Justin first came to Washington, D.C. as a wide-eyed college student at American University with a mountain of motivation and aspirations to shape policy. As an intern for the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, he showed promise by swiftly screening requests and manning the phones. He then served as a Staff Assistant to the late Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson from Texas, where he quickly rose in the ranks to serve as her Senior Legislative Assistant and covered a robust portfolio of legislative issues such as defense, labor, housing, campaign finance reform, and more. After a brief stint in the private sector, Justin was called back to public service where he served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director to Congressman Mark Takano from California. After several years on the Hill, Justin earned a prestigious appointment at the Department of Defense where he served as Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs to coordinate legislative affairs across all military departments and components in service to our great Nation. I was fortunate Justin agreed to come back to Capitol Hill to join my office as Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director. In the short time he has been with my team, he has worked with me to protect veteran jobs, secure additional resources for military assets in my district, call for the release of Vietnamese prisoners of conscience, and so much more. He has always taken every challenge in stride--appreciating and knowing fully well the great responsibility we have to our constituents as public servants. His colleagues--both current and former--describe him as a trusted mentor. What sets Justin apart is his superpower ability to stay above the fray and to keep his eye on the prize. Despite always operating with a full load of projects on any given day, Justin always makes time to give advice and mentor younger staff with sincerity and genuine compassion. I cannot thank Justin enough for having acted as a trusted advisor and guiding me through my first year in Congress. Together, we set a foundation that will have resounding impacts in my district for years to come. I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge that Justin's jovial spirit and words of wisdom will be sorely missed by all those who were lucky to work with him. Alas, all good things must come to an end. I wish him, his wonderful partner Jackie, and their dog Truman all the best in this next chapter of their lives. I know Justin will continue to make a positive impact in his next quest and I honor his great contributions to the people of California's 45th Congressional District. ____________________”

2026-01-14 · Government Reform