Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW,
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
[email protected]
Internet: www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
October 10, 2007
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ADOPTS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
-- Clears Way for Full House Consideration of the Human Rights
Measure
WASHINGTON, DC - With a vote of 27 to 21, the influential panel of
the U.S. House of Representatives took a major step toward ending
U.S. complicity in Turkey's denial of the Armenian Genocide,
adopting H.Res.106, the Armenian Genocide, over in intense campaign
of threats and intimidation by the Turkish government and its
lobbyists in Washington, DC, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).
The Committee decision opens the way for full house consideration
of the measure.
"The Foreign Affairs Committee's adoption today of the Armenian
Genocide Resolution represents a meaningful step toward reclaiming
our right - as Americans - to speak openly and honestly about the
first genocide of the 20th Century, free from the gag-rule that
Turkey has, for far too long, sought to impose on nation's elected
officials," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA.
"As Americans, we must always remain free to speak openly about
human rights and should never outsource our nation's foreign policy
- or our morality - to another nation."
Voting in support of the measure were Representatives Gary Ackerman
(D-NY), Howard Berman (D-CA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Steve Chabot
(R-OH), Jim Costa (D-CA), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), William Delahunt
(D-MA), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Eni F. H. Faleomavaega (D-SM*), Elton
Gallegly (R-CA), Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), Gene Green (D-TX),
Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Ron Klein (D-FL), Tom Lantos (D-CA),
Donald Manzullo (R-IL), Michael McCaul (R-TX), Donald Payne (D-NJ),
Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Edward Royce (R-CA), Linda Sanchez (D-CA),
Brad Sherman (D-CA), Albio Sires (D-NJ), Christopher Smith (R-NJ),
Diane Watson (D-CA), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), and David Wu (D-OR),
Voting against the measure Gresham Barrett (R-SC), Roy Blunt (R-
MO), John Boozman (R-AR), Dan Burton (R-IN), Russ Carnahan (D-MO),
Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), Luis Fortuno (R-PR),
Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX), Bob Inglis (R-SC), Connie Mack (R-FL),
Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Brad Miller (D-NC), Mike Pence (R-IN), Ted
Poe (R-TX), Illeana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), David Scott (D-GA), Adam
Smith (D-WA), Thomas Tancredo (R-CO), John Tanner (D-TN), and
Robert Wexler (D-FL). Representatives Ron Paul (R-TX) and Joe
Wilson (R-SC) did not vote.
"We want to thank Chairman Lantos, who scheduled this measure for
consideration by the Foreign Affairs Committee and voted for its
passage, Representatives Adam Schiff and George Radanovich, the
lead authors of this legislation, Representatives Brad Sherman and
Ed Royce, who spearheaded the panel's adoption of the legislation,
Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone and Joe Knollenberg, who
generated the broad-based bipartisan support for H.Res.106 and
Armenian American Congresswoman Anna Eshoo - all of whom have
worked tirelessly as the resolution moves toward passage by the
full House of Representatives."
Introduced on January 30th by Rep. Adam Schiff along with
Representative George Radanovich (R-CA), Congressional Armenian
Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI),
Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Rep. Thaddeus
McCotter (R-MI), the Armenian Genocide resolution calls upon the
President to ensure that the foreign policy of the United States
reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning
issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide
documented in the United States record relating to the Armenian
Genocide. The resolution is cosponsored by 226 Members of Congress
from 39 states. A similar resolution in the Senate (S.Res.106),
introduced by Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sen.
John Ensign (R-NV) currently has 31 cosponsors, including Senate
Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and presidential candidate
Hillary Clinton (D-NY).
Over the past nine months, Armenian Americans and human rights
advocates have joined with Members of Congress in educating their
colleagues about the Armenian Genocide and the importance of proper
recognition of this crime against humanity. The ANCA has mounted
several national grassroots initiatives including the highly
successful "Click for Justice" and "Call for Justice" campaigns as
well as the "End the Cycle of Genocide" Advocacy Days, cosponsored
with the Genocide Intervention Network.
Expanded coverage will follow.
#####
NOTE TO THE EDITOR: Photos sent under separate cover.
1711 N Street, NW,
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
[email protected]
Internet: www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
October 10, 2007
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ADOPTS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
-- Clears Way for Full House Consideration of the Human Rights
Measure
WASHINGTON, DC - With a vote of 27 to 21, the influential panel of
the U.S. House of Representatives took a major step toward ending
U.S. complicity in Turkey's denial of the Armenian Genocide,
adopting H.Res.106, the Armenian Genocide, over in intense campaign
of threats and intimidation by the Turkish government and its
lobbyists in Washington, DC, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).
The Committee decision opens the way for full house consideration
of the measure.
"The Foreign Affairs Committee's adoption today of the Armenian
Genocide Resolution represents a meaningful step toward reclaiming
our right - as Americans - to speak openly and honestly about the
first genocide of the 20th Century, free from the gag-rule that
Turkey has, for far too long, sought to impose on nation's elected
officials," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA.
"As Americans, we must always remain free to speak openly about
human rights and should never outsource our nation's foreign policy
- or our morality - to another nation."
Voting in support of the measure were Representatives Gary Ackerman
(D-NY), Howard Berman (D-CA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Steve Chabot
(R-OH), Jim Costa (D-CA), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), William Delahunt
(D-MA), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Eni F. H. Faleomavaega (D-SM*), Elton
Gallegly (R-CA), Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), Gene Green (D-TX),
Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Ron Klein (D-FL), Tom Lantos (D-CA),
Donald Manzullo (R-IL), Michael McCaul (R-TX), Donald Payne (D-NJ),
Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Edward Royce (R-CA), Linda Sanchez (D-CA),
Brad Sherman (D-CA), Albio Sires (D-NJ), Christopher Smith (R-NJ),
Diane Watson (D-CA), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), and David Wu (D-OR),
Voting against the measure Gresham Barrett (R-SC), Roy Blunt (R-
MO), John Boozman (R-AR), Dan Burton (R-IN), Russ Carnahan (D-MO),
Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), Luis Fortuno (R-PR),
Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX), Bob Inglis (R-SC), Connie Mack (R-FL),
Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Brad Miller (D-NC), Mike Pence (R-IN), Ted
Poe (R-TX), Illeana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), David Scott (D-GA), Adam
Smith (D-WA), Thomas Tancredo (R-CO), John Tanner (D-TN), and
Robert Wexler (D-FL). Representatives Ron Paul (R-TX) and Joe
Wilson (R-SC) did not vote.
"We want to thank Chairman Lantos, who scheduled this measure for
consideration by the Foreign Affairs Committee and voted for its
passage, Representatives Adam Schiff and George Radanovich, the
lead authors of this legislation, Representatives Brad Sherman and
Ed Royce, who spearheaded the panel's adoption of the legislation,
Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone and Joe Knollenberg, who
generated the broad-based bipartisan support for H.Res.106 and
Armenian American Congresswoman Anna Eshoo - all of whom have
worked tirelessly as the resolution moves toward passage by the
full House of Representatives."
Introduced on January 30th by Rep. Adam Schiff along with
Representative George Radanovich (R-CA), Congressional Armenian
Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI),
Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Rep. Thaddeus
McCotter (R-MI), the Armenian Genocide resolution calls upon the
President to ensure that the foreign policy of the United States
reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning
issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide
documented in the United States record relating to the Armenian
Genocide. The resolution is cosponsored by 226 Members of Congress
from 39 states. A similar resolution in the Senate (S.Res.106),
introduced by Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sen.
John Ensign (R-NV) currently has 31 cosponsors, including Senate
Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and presidential candidate
Hillary Clinton (D-NY).
Over the past nine months, Armenian Americans and human rights
advocates have joined with Members of Congress in educating their
colleagues about the Armenian Genocide and the importance of proper
recognition of this crime against humanity. The ANCA has mounted
several national grassroots initiatives including the highly
successful "Click for Justice" and "Call for Justice" campaigns as
well as the "End the Cycle of Genocide" Advocacy Days, cosponsored
with the Genocide Intervention Network.
Expanded coverage will follow.
#####
NOTE TO THE EDITOR: Photos sent under separate cover.
