An Advocate For Those Who Are Left Behind

"I have been deeply moved by the stories of Vietnamese torture survivors and re-education camp survivors. I commend Boat People SOS for ... the effort to promote access to health, mental health, and support services, ... to bring together Vietnamese trauma survivors and seniors to identify their own needs and work with the support of scholars, issue experts, and service providers to develop a joint action plan to address those needs. It is an honor to provide service to people who have led heroic lives and suffered greatly."

Kelly Ryan, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State (PRM)

"Boat People SOS's task is one of the more challenging: to work with insular, often isolated, Vietnamese communities. An estimated 50,000 Vietnamese live along the Gulf Coast, including 'boat people' who settled in the area after fleeing Southeast Asia in the 1970s and '80s."

The Washington Post

“Từ thời sinh viên chúng tôi đã tham gia và được học hỏi rất nhiều từ BPSOS trong những ngày đầu. Chúng tôi rất vui khi thấy BPSOS đã lớn mạnh và có nhiều chi nhánh trên toàn thế giới đề giúp đồng hương chúng ta về an sinh xã hội và tỵ nạn. PBSOS đã gầy dựng được với sự thương mến, hậu thuẫn và giúp đỡ của nhiều cộng đồng người Mỹ gốc Việt và rất nhiềuc ác cơ quan Hoa Kỳ để chúng ta có được một tổ chức mang tầm vóc quốc gia. Ðây là sự hy sinh và đóng góp của rất nhiều thiện nguyện viên.

Trong 30 năm qua, BPSOS đã giúp hàng vạn người Việt Nam để chúng ta có cơ hội an cư lạc nghiệp và sống được một cuộc sống tự do ngày hôm nay.” - Dân biểu tiểu bang Trần Thái Văn (CA)

"BPSOS did not only write its own organizational success story but also make many great contributions to the development of the Vietnamese American community during the past thirty years, such as its successful advocacy effort in United States Congress to permit 18,000 repatriated Vietnamese refugees into the U.S. via ROVR program, re-opening the H.O. program, its work on anti-human trafficking, refugee, and welfare reform issues, etc." - Lan Nguyen, Esq., former LAVAS volunteer

"BPSOS không những làm việc hữu hiệu riêng cho tổ chức này mà còn đem lại nhiều kết quả tốt giúp cả cộng đồng Việt Nam trong suốt 30 năm qua, như vận động Quốc Hội Hoa Kỳ cho 18 ngàn người được định cư sau khi bị hồi hương theo chương trình ROVR, mở lại chương trình HO, các vấn đề di dân và cải tổ trợ cấp, chống nạn buôn người, v.v...” - LS Nguyễn Quốc Lân, cựu thiện nguyện viên LAVAS

 “Những hình ảnh đồng hương vượt biển do BPSOS can thiệp được định cư khiến tôi khó quên. Tôi luôn theo dõi hoạt động của TS Nguyễn Ðình Thắng và khi nào tôi cũng nghĩ mình là một cảm tình viên, được may mắn giúp một bàn tay.”  - Ms. Thanh Thu, BPSOS volunteer & supporter

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An International Leader On Crisis Response and Recovery, from Hurricanes Katrina and Ike:

"Some of these [Katrina] storm victims have sought shelter at a local Buddhist temple, while others continue to live in trailers, tents, and even cars while they work to salvage what, if anything, is left of their homes and fishing boats. Because for many of these victims, English is a second language, they may need extra assistance to process insurance claims and to access other resources they need. The Leadership Council applauds the efforts of Boat People SOS to address the needs of the Vietnamese Gulf Coast community."

The Leadership Council on Human Rights

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To the BP Oil Spill:

BPSOS has “the resources and the people with the language skills to help many of the Vietnamese-Americans here.”

Congressman Joseph Cao, NPR interview on May 27, 2010

I applaud the great works of community organizations like Boat People SOS (BPSOS) in assisting the Vietnamese American fishermen and families who need help. We highly value their inputs and contributions. 

Claims Administrator Kenneth Feinberg, at public meeting on new claims process in New Orleans on August 11, 2010

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Proven Track Record On refugee/immigrant integration and community development:

"I support the 'Vietnamese Refugees Day' resolution because it highlights the extraordinary work and the contributions made by Vietnamese Americans and the work of groups like Boat People SOS and the work of people like Dr. Thang, who have welcomed Vietnamese asylum seekers fleeing reeducation camps, harassment, and religious persecution, labor violations and other human rights abuses."

Congressman Christopher Smith (R-NJ)

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"By designat[ing] May 2, 2009, as 'Vietnamese Refugees Day,'... we enshrine in the hearts and consciousness of Americans the tragic, heroic and uplifting stories of perseverance and the pursuit of freedom of millions of Vietnamese refugees to ensure those stories will stand as an inspiration to generations of Americans to come.

Congressman Anh "Joseph" Cao (R-LA)

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A Culture Of Service: 

"We all have dreams that we want to pursue, thoughts that we want to share, ideals that we want to follow, wishes to serve… to me, BPSOS helped me to accomplish those things... [t]he 'Culture of BPSOS' - in which the main spirit is to serve others, to respond to those in need, to help other organizations and bring different peoples together, to help them sustain and be independent, to serve instead of to command, to collaborate instead of to order, I think this “culture” is very good and very beautiful."

Professor Quyen Di

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A Beacon For Freedom And Liberty:

Throughout the past years, I have listened with great interest and admiration to the poignant stories of hardship and triumph that many members of the Vietnamese community have shared with me. I am deeply moved by their dedication to the principles of liberty that have distinguished our American experience. This is expressed in the difficult decisions to leave their beloved homeland of Vietnam and to embrace our Nation's founding principles, principles that those of us who have never experienced life under oppression and communism invariably run the risk of taking for granted.

Congressman Jeffrey Fortenberry (R-NE)

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"Millions of Boat People and other Vietnamese refugees endured harrowing voyages to escape the tyranny and depravation of communist Vietnam. Hundreds of thousands of those refugees reached the United States, and we are all better for it. Like so many immigrants before and since, they came seeking freedom, and in turn became valuable members of their new communities. I have the privilege of representing many Vietnamese-Americans in San Jose, California, and can attest to this first-hand."

Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)

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"In light of the civic achievements of Vietnamese-Americans, I am pleased to support, and urge my colleagues to support this resolution, designating May 2, 2009 as "Vietnamese Refugees Day" in order to commemorate the arrival of Vietnamese refugees in the United States, to document their harrowing experiences and subsequent achievements in their new homeland, to honor the host countries that welcomed the boat people, and to recognize the voluntary agencies and nongovernmental organizations that facilitated their resettlement, adjustment, and assimilation into mainstream society in the United States."

Congressman Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA)

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