Amendment to Foreign Ops Spending Bill Restricts
Government of Turkey From Using U.S. Foreign Aid
to Advocate Against Armenian Genocide Resolution
WASHINGTON, DC – In an important victory for recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the House of Representatives today accepted an amendment sponsored by Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) to the FY 2005 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill (H.R. 4818). The amendment prohibits the Government of Turkey from using U.S. foreign aid to lobby against H.Res. 193, a resolution that officially recognizes the Armenian Genocide.
“We are another step closer to silencing those who would deny the murder of 1.5 million Armenians,” Congressman Schiff said. “This amendment stands true to the memory of the victims. By the House accepting this amendment, it puts Congress one step closer to recognizing the Genocide.”
Last year, Congressman Schiff joined with many House Members in co-sponsoring H.Res. 193, recognizing the Armenian Genocide and marking the 15th anniversary of President Ronald Reagan signing the 1987 Genocide Convention Implementation Act. (Also known as the Proxmire Act, this put the United States on record as being strongly opposed to the heinous crime of genocide.) H.Res. 193 was passed by the House Judiciary Committee on May 22, 2003, shortly after its introduction on April 10, 2003. However, because of significant lobbying efforts by those who deny the Genocide, the resolution has been languishing on the House calendar for over a year.
From 1915 to 1923, 1.5 million Armenians were slaughtered by the Ottoman Turks in what is now known as the Armenian Genocide. Even though modern-day Turkey was established in 1923 out of the ashes of the Ottoman Empire and was not the actual perpetrator of genocide, Turkey spends millions of dollars each year fighting the recognition of the Genocide. Congressman Schiff firmly believes in the appropriate and accurate commemoration of the Genocide, and consistently fights for official U.S. recognition on all levels. In 1948, the international community approved the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. The Convention confirms that genocide is a crime under international law and defines genocide as actions committed with intent to destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. The United States was the first nation to sign the Convention, and it was ratified by the U.S. Senate in 1986. Following Senate ratification, Congress passed the Proxmire Act to implement the Convention and criminalize genocide under U.S. law.
Congressman Schiff is the co-founder of the Democratic Study Group on National Security and a member of both the House Judiciary and International Relations committees. He represents California’s 29th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, East Pasadena, East San Gabriel, Glendale, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena and Temple City.