FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEWS RELEASE
August 1, 2007
Contact: John Rankin

DES MOINES – The Brownback for President campaign today announced that Vietnamese community leader Toan Tran will chair the newly-formed Iowa Vietnamese for Brownback Coalition.

"Senator Brownback has tirelessly fought for religious liberty and freedom for those suffering in Vietnam and authoritarian regimes across the world," said Tran. "The Vietnamese community in Iowa shares Senator Brownback's commitment to the dignity of every human being and the right to freedom of expression and religion."
 
Tran, an auto mechanic in Des Moines, emigrated from Vietnam to the U.S. and serves as president of the Vietnamese Catholic Association at St. Ambrose Cathedral in Des Moines.

 
Brownback authored the Vietnam Human Rights Act and has chaired the East Asia Subcommittee of the Foreign Relations Committee. Brownback played an influential role in bringing Vietnamese refugees to the U.S. after they had been stuck in legal and diplomatic limbo in the Philippines for more than a decade after fleeing Vietnam.

"I am deeply humbled to receive the support of the Vietnamese community, many of whom were imprisoned in gulags after fighting with America against the communist forces in their country," said Brownback. "We all have something to learn from the Vietnamese community in Iowa, who fought and paid dearly for the freedom they enjoy in America today. America must have the moral leadership to stand for freedom, human rights and the dignity of the individual at home and abroad."
 

Brownback has chaired the Helsinki Commission, which works to promote human rights around the world, and he co-founded the Religious Liberty Task Force in Congress.
 
Chair:
Toan Tran

Members:
Bao Lo
Khanh Nguyen
Dong Dau
Tai Nguyen
Si Le
Hong Ngo
Dzung Le
Tu Nguyen
Phi Ho
Xu Deo
Thong Lo
Thu Le
Tien Huynh
Mail Le
Trinh Le
 
Brownback recently launched several coalitions: Faith and Values, Catholics, Taxpayers, Pastors, and Moms for Brownback to build grassroots support for the Ames Straw Poll on August 11.