Derek Tran
Representative for California · Democratic · United States
“Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of this en bloc package of bipartisan amendments that includes my amendment, Tran No. 65, which supports the annual U.S.-Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue and reaffirms Congress' commitment to advancing fundamental freedoms and human rights in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.”
House of Representatives15 July 2026Source ↗
“A stronger economic and security partnership between our two nations cannot come at the expense of the democratic values and universal freedoms that the United States has long championed.”
House of Representatives15 July 2026Source ↗
“I am honored and humbled by the trust the Little Saigon community has placed in me as the first Vietnamese-American Congressman to represent the largest Vietnamese diaspora in the world. It is a privilege to share the story of my family and community with my colleagues in Congress and ensure that our history is never forgotten.”
House of Representatives30 April 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to mark the most solemn day of the year for the people of the Vietnamese diaspora. Black April, Thang Tu Den, is not just a solemn day in history. It is a reminder of the day we lost everything--our homes, our livelihood, and our beloved country.”
House of Representatives30 April 2025Source ↗
“Speaker, as we reflect on the past 50 years since the fall of Saigon, we do so in solemn remembrance but in celebration of what we have built together. From the ashes of war, we have risen. We celebrate today the trailblazers who have risen from this legacy: generals and admirals in the U.S.”
House of Representatives29 April 2025Source ↗
“As the first Vietnamese American to represent Orange County's Little Saigon community in Congress, I am humbled by the responsibility to carry this history forward. Little Saigon, home to the largest Vietnamese diaspora in the world, is a beacon of hope and a reminder of the resilience that has defined our community.”
House of Representatives29 April 2025Source ↗
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“A stronger economic and security partnership between our two nations cannot come at the expense of the democratic values and universal freedoms that the United States has long championed. My amendment supports a critical diplomatic tool to press the Vietnamese Government on these concerns, including the immediate release of prisoners of conscience. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support these amendments en bloc.”
House of Representatives15 July 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of this en bloc package of bipartisan amendments that includes my amendment, Tran No. 65, which supports the annual U.S.-Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue and reaffirms Congress' commitment to advancing fundamental freedoms and human rights in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. As the United States continues to deepen its engagement with Vietnam, human rights must remain central to the bilateral relationship. The Vietnamese Government continues to restrict freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and peaceful political expression. Independent journalists like Le Huu Minh Tuan, human rights activists, religious leaders, and ordinary citizens face harassment, arbitrary detention, and imprisonment simply for exercising their basic rights.”
House of Representatives15 July 2026Source ↗
“I am honored and humbled by the trust the Little Saigon community has placed in me as the first Vietnamese-American Congressman to represent the largest Vietnamese diaspora in the world. It is a privilege to share the story of my family and community with my colleagues in Congress and ensure that our history is never forgotten. This is a painful day, a day for reflection, remembrance, and mourning. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in not only remembering the hardships we faced but also in celebrating the incredible resilience of the Vietnamese people. ____________________”
House of Representatives30 April 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to mark the most solemn day of the year for the people of the Vietnamese diaspora. Black April, Thang Tu Den, is not just a solemn day in history. It is a reminder of the day we lost everything--our homes, our livelihood, and our beloved country.”
House of Representatives30 April 2025Source ↗
“Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in not only remembering the hardships we face, but also in celebrating the incredible resilience of the Vietnamese people. Let us honor the lives of those who sacrificed everything for freedom: The United States Army veterans and the veterans of the former Republic of Vietnam. As we commemorate this solemn milestone, let us reaffirm our commitment to the values that matter most: democracy, human rights, and our unshakeable will to be free. ____________________”
House of Representatives29 April 2025Source ↗
“As the first Vietnamese American to represent Orange County's Little Saigon community in Congress, I am humbled by the responsibility to carry this history forward. Little Saigon, home to the largest Vietnamese diaspora in the world, is a beacon of hope and a reminder of the resilience that has defined our community. I stand on the shoulders of the Vietnamese leaders in California and across the country who have paved the way for future generations to succeed. I am proud to be the third Vietnamese American ever elected to Congress, following Congressman Joseph Cao of Louisiana and Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy of Florida. I am reminded every day of our strength, our determination, and our unyielding commitment to preserving our history and to ensuring that no Communist regime can rewrite our history. Mr.”
House of Representatives29 April 2025Source ↗
“Speaker, as we reflect on the past 50 years since the fall of Saigon, we do so in solemn remembrance but in celebration of what we have built together. From the ashes of war, we have risen. We celebrate today the trailblazers who have risen from this legacy: generals and admirals in the U.S. military, award-winning scientists, titans of business, educators, doctors, and artists. Our community has nurtured leaders in all walks of life, turning adversity into opportunity in just five short decades. Many of these people are children of refugees or refugees themselves, and they represent just a few of the countless contributions that Vietnamese Americans continue to make across every sector of society. Our journey from tragedy to triumph has only just begun, and the story of our people will continue to inspire generations to come.”
House of Representatives29 April 2025Source ↗
“We mourn not only those who fought for freedom but the countless innocent lives lost during the war, those who perished at the hands of the Communist regime and the aftermath and the brave souls who were lost fleeing repression on boats. We have no choice but to honor those precious souls who were lost by giving the most we can to this life that we have been blessed with. I share my own story with hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese Americans born to parents who fled our homeland with nothing. Boat people did not let the hardship of the journey define the life that they built in America. We have built communities that are unparalleled in strength, prosperity, and commitment to preserving our history. Mr.”
House of Representatives29 April 2025Source ↗
“Hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese refugees would follow, most of them boarding boats on uncharted waters, not knowing what awaited them on the other side of the journey. In Vietnam, the conditions under the Communist regime grew more brutal. Many were imprisoned in concentration camps, losing not just their homes but their freedom, their dignity, and, in too many cases, their lives. This is a painful day, a day for reflection, for remembrance, and for mourning. Over 58,000 United States soldiers and more than 250,000 South Vietnamese soldiers gave their lives in service. These brave men and women made the ultimate sacrifice, and they deserve our continued and unwavering gratitude.”
House of Representatives29 April 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to mark the most solemn time of the year for the people of the Vietnamese diaspora. ``Black April,'' ``Thang Tu Den,'' is not just a solemn day in history, but it is a reminder of the day when we lost everything: our homes, our livelihoods, and our beloved country. It was 50 years ago, on April 30, 1975, that South Vietnam fell to the Communist regime. American troops airlifted 6,000 American and Vietnamese people to safety.”
House of Representatives29 April 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, in 1787, after the Second Continental Congress, Benjamin Franklin was asked: Do we have a monarchy or a republic? He solemnly replied: a republic, if you can keep it. For nearly 250 years, those immortal words have lived at the heart of our Republic. Representative democracy is not just something that appears, it doesn't happen by accident, and it isn't maintained by sheer inertia.”
House of Representatives26 March 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I rise to wish all those who celebrate a happy lunar new year. Lunar new year is observed by many Asian countries around the world, including the incredible east and southeast Asian communities in my district. As the son of Vietnamese refugees, I represent Little Saigon in Orange County, California.”
House of Representatives23 January 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my deepest sympathies to the residents of Los Angeles County and Ventura County who have been impacted by the devastating wildfires in southern California. I deeply appreciate the firefighters, first responders, and local leaders who have been working tirelessly to battle these fires.”
House of Representatives16 January 2025Source ↗