Please support demining in Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia

Dear Representative/Senator,

As your constituent, I'm writing to encourage your office to support State Department demining programs to remove explosive hazards in Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia and address war legacy issues. 

August 14th, 2023 marks the 50th anniversary since the last recorded U.S. bombing of Laos. Decades have passed, but casualties of Vietnam War-era conflicts continue to this day. Landmines and unexploded ordnance still litter Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia - threatening families and keeping precious land out of use.  

The U.S. can and must do more to fulfill its responsibility to clean up its legacy ordnance. I hope I can count on your office to support increased funding for UXO removal and related humanitarian mine action programs in southeast Asia and address war legacy issues.

Specifically, I am asking you to support life-saving demining programs in the following ways:
- Please support $290 million for global Conventional Weapons Destruction (NADR-CWD) programs in the FY24 budget.
- Please support $80 million for demining programs in Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia, as included in the House FY24 budget draft.
- Please co-sponsor the Legacies of War Recognition & Unexploded Ordnance Removal Act (led by Senator Baldwin and Rep Bera) that authorizes funding for demining programs in southeast Asia.
- Join the UXO/Demining Caucus by reaching out to the offices of co-chairs Reps. Chrissy Houlahan or Bill Johnson.

With your help, this region can fully recover from conflict and thrive. 

Thank you for your consideration of this important issue.