July 25, 2006—Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02) along with Dr. Bill and Kathy Magee, Co-founders of Operation Smile, welcomed Vietnam’s Minister of Health, H.E. Tran Thi Trung Chien, at a reception to celebrate the ongoing relationship between Operation Smile and the Vietnamese government. 

 “The United States is a country full of compassionate people who want liberty and hope for all mankind, especially the world's children. Operation Smile has enabled America to place a noble and compassionate face on the forces of freedom throughout the corners of the world from Vietnam to Iraq,” said Congressman Franks.

 The spirit of cooperation and volunteerism began 17 years ago when then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Vessey asked Operation Smile to send a medical education team to Vietnam in an effort to help the two governments resolve the MIA/POW issues surrounding the Vietnam War.  Since 1989, more than 3600 children and young adults have received life altering surgery, and Operation Smile has provided hundreds of hours of education and training to Vietnamese doctors. 

 “I stand here tonight surrounded by friends who share a common goal – that one day, every child who is born with a facial deformity has access to the medical procedure that will give them the chance at a better life,” Dr. Magee said. 

 In 24 years, Operation Smile's volunteers have provided free reconstructive surgery to nearly 100,000 children and young adults in 30 countries who have cleft lips and cleft palates, and trained thousands of healthcare professionals globally.

Trent Franks is the Congressman from the 2nd Congressional District of Arizona.  He is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, the House Judiciary Committee and Vice Chairman of the Constitution Subcommittee