Tuesday, May 04, 2004 Contact: Sean Oblack (202) 225-4176 Armenian Bar Association Endorses Schiff Genocide Insurance Bill Senate Version of Legislation Also Introduced WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Adam Schiff announced today that the Armenian Bar Association has endorsed his legislation, H.R. 3323, the Armenian Victims Insurance Fairness Act.  Schiff also welcomed the introduction of identical legislation in the U.S. Senate, S. 2344, by Senator Barbara Boxer. "I am honored to have the Armenian Bar Association officially endorse this important piece of legislation that would provide long overdue relief for countless victims and their families," said Congressman Schiff.  "And it is a significant step forward to have the bill introduced in the United States Senate and to have the support of Senator Barbara Boxer.” The Schiff/Boxer bill, the Armenian Victims Insurance Fairness Act, allows states, like California, to require insurance companies conducting business in the state to disclose Armenian Genocide era insurance information.  The failure of insurance companies to open their archives makes it impossible for many Armenian Genocide survivors and their heirs to collect on policies, which were faithfully paid before their families fell victim to the Ottoman Turks. In a letter to Schiff, the Armenian Bar Association’s Chair Robert Cannuscio wrote: “The Armenian Bar Association wholeheartedly supports and officially endorses this important piece of legislation that would provide long overdue relief for countless victims and their families.  To this day, insurance companies still have not provided the benefits due on the thousands of policies sold to Armenians in the Ottoman Empire at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries.  Most of these policies were purchased by individuals who later became victims of the systematic campaign of ethnic cleansing undertaken by the Ottoman Empire that claimed the lives of 1.5 million Armenians from 1915-1923.  Many families have tried to obtain these owed benefits for years, but insurance companies have not been forthcoming with information or assistance in order to resolve these matters.  H.R. 3323 would greatly assist these efforts by permitting states to collect insurance information for victims and survivors of the Armenian Genocide.” The legislation would provide the legal vehicle to allow records that have long been withheld and hidden to be opened so that benefits can be paid to the heirs.  Although there is a potential settlement in one case where descendants of Armenian Genocide victims filed a lawsuit against the New York Life Insurance Co. claiming that the company failed to honor valid claims, many other policyholders of other insurance companies remain uncompensated. “The New York Life case represents only one component of the effort to provide Armenian victims and their families with the benefits that they are due,” said Schiff.  “Recognition of what took place – the Genocide itself and the aftermath with regard to victims’ families -- is long overdue.” ***For a complete copy of the letter of endorsement, or for more information about the legislation, please contact Rep. Adam Schiff’s office at 202-225-4176.*** Schiff is a long-time advocate for ensuring justice to victims of the Armenian Genocide. As a California State Senator, Schiff co-authored legislation (S.B. 1915) to assist Armenian Genocide victims in recovering outstanding insurance claims. The bill essentially gave survivors and heirs a "right of action," or the right to sue for un-recovered insurance claims. Since being elected to Congress in 2000, Rep. Schiff has continued to pursue the full recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the United States. Schiff has urged his House colleagues each year to recognize the Armenian Genocide and he introduced the Genocide Resolution in the current Congress with Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA). Schiff is a member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, a bi-partisan group of over 70 lawmakers who work together on issues dealing with the Republic of Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh, the Armenian Genocide and human rights.  He represents California’s 29th Congressional District, including the communities of Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, East Pasadena, East San Gabriel, Glendale, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena and Temple City.