To acknowledge the courage and sacrifice of veterans of the Vietnam war and formally apologize for the treatment they received upon returning home.

H.J. Res. 19 is a joint resolution introduced in the 119th Congress on January 15, 2025 by Rep. Crenshaw and a group of co-sponsors. Its purpose is to acknowledge the courage and sacrifice of U.S. veterans who served in the Vietnam War and to formally apologize for the mistreatment they faced when returning home. The resolution provides a historical overview of U.S. involvement in Vietnam, notes the high casualties and exposure to chemical herbicides, and highlights domestic divisiveness and hostile acts experienced by veterans. It also notes that Vietnam Veterans Day will be observed on March 29, 2025. The operative provisions—if enacted and signed—urge the President to formally acknowledge the mistreatment as part of Vietnam War commemoration, request a long-overdue apology to veterans and their families, and support increased education in schools about the veterans’ courage, sacrifice, and the lack of recognition they faced. In short, the measure is largely ceremonial. If adopted, it would express moral and historical sentiment, call for a formal presidential apology, and promote educational emphasis on Vietnam veterans’ experiences. It does not itself appoint funding or create new programs.