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AAA: Rep. Porter Will Join Armenian Caucus

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  • AAA: Rep. Porter Will Join Armenian Caucus

    Armenian Assembly of America
    122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
    Washington, DC 20001
    Phone: 202-393-3434
    Fax: 202-638-4904
    Email: [email protected]
    Web: www.armenianassembly.org

    PRESS RELEASE
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    September 2, 2004
    CONTACT: David Zenian
    E-mail: [email protected]

    CONGRESSMAN PORTER WILL JOIN ARMENIAN CAUCUS:
    ASSEMBLY ACTIVISTS VISIT SEVERAL DISTRICT OFFICES

    Washington - The Armenian Assembly Thursday welcomed the decision by
    first-term Congressman Jon C. Porter (R-NV) to join the Congressional
    Caucus on Armenian Issues, thus boosting the Caucus membership to 137.

    "We commend Congressman Porter for his support. We welcome his decision
    to join the Caucus which continues to be the strongest bridge between
    the United States, Armenia and the Armenian-American community,"
    Assembly Executive Director Ross Vartian said.

    Rep. Porter announced his decision at a meeting in his Henderson
    district office, during a meeting with the Assembly's Western Office
    Director Lena Kaimian along with Assembly members Lenna Hovanessian
    and Seta Der Garabedian-Barnes.

    "I would be honored to join the Caucus and work with my fellow members
    and the Armenian American community both here in my constituency
    and elsewhere in support of your core issues," Rep. Porter told
    his visitors.

    Rep. Porter is a member of the Education & the Workforce and
    the Transportation & Infrastructure Committees. He signed the
    2004 congressional letter to President George W. Bush urging him
    to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide in his April 24th
    commemorative address.

    During the lengthy and candid meeting, Rep. Porter and his guests
    reviewed several questions on such issues of importance to the
    Armenian-American community as the U.S.-Armenia trade bill, military
    parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan, U.S. foreign aid in general,
    the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and other matters.

    "I have never been to Armenia and I think it is important to see
    first hand the situation on the ground. I definitely want to go and
    see things for myself," he told his visitors.

    Rep. Porter's decision to join the Armenian Caucus came during a
    week when Assembly activists and staff stepped up their year-round
    contacts with legislators across the country, visiting the district
    offices of their elected officials in Congress and the Senate to
    thank legislators for their support and discuss issues of concern to
    the Armenian-American community.

    The week-long meetings were spearheaded by the Assembly's
    Washington-based Grassroots Director Nancy Yerian Hiteshue who
    traveled to New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut, and Western
    Office Director Lena Kaimian who visited Nevada.

    Among the key issues discussed at all meetings were military aid
    parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2005
    Foreign Operations bill and legislation granting permanent normal
    trade relations (PNTR) to Armenia.

    "These district meetings are a great opportunity for our members and
    friends to directly and personally get involved in the democratic
    process. This was one of the key themes at the Assembly's National
    Conference last year and remains a year-round endeavor," Hiteshue said.

    The series of meetings began with a visit Tuesday to the district
    office of Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), who represents Patterson,
    Passaic and Bloomfield, during which Hiteshue was joined by Jane
    Giragossian Hastings for an in-depth discussion of military parity
    between Armenia and Azerbaijan, trade and other issues with the New
    Jersey Congressman's Chief of Staff.

    Pascrell, who is a member of the Armenian Caucus and serves on the
    Transportation and Infrastructure and Homeland Security Committees,
    has a solid record of support for Armenian issues.

    On Wednesday, Hiteshue joined Assembly member Sonia Hagopian, George
    Yakoubian of the Knights of Vartan and Antoine Bazarashian from
    the Tekeyan Cultural Association at meetings in Philadelphia with
    the District Directors of Rep. Joseph Hoeffel (D-PA) and Sen. Arlen
    Specter (R-PA), and the District Director of Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA)
    in Upper Darby.

    Hoffel and Welden are also members of the Armenian Caucus and strong
    supporters of Armenian issues.

    Traveling to Wethersfield, Connecticut on Thursday, Hiteshue and
    Assembly activists Mr. and Mrs. Paul DerBogossian met the District
    Director of Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT). Later the same day, Hiteshue
    had a meeting with the District Director of Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
    in New Haven.

    Sen. Dodd and Rep. DeLauro have voted in support of several issues
    of interest to the Armenian-American community.

    The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
    nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of
    Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

    NR#2004-079

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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