Washington, D.C. – Today at a news conference on Capitol Hill, Representative Adam Schiff announced the introduction of a resolution recognizing and commemorating the Armenian Genocide. He was joined at the news conference by original cosponsors of the resolution Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr., George Radanovich and Joe Knollenberg and Genocide survivors Mrs. Rose Baboyan and Mrs. Sirarpi Khoyan, who recently turned 100 years old.
“The United States has a compelling historical and moral reason to recognize the Armenian Genocide, which cost a million and a half people their lives," said Rep. Schiff. "But we also have a powerful contemporary reason as well -- how can we take effective action against the genocide in Darfur if we lack the will to condemn genocide whenever and wherever it occurs? With the new leadership in Congress, I am hopeful we can finally get this resolution passed.”
“The Affirmation of the U.S. Record on the Armenian Genocide” resolution has bipartisan support from over 150 Members of the House of Representatives. It calls on the President to “ensure that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding” of the “Armenian Genocide” and to “accurately characterize the systematic and deliberate annihilation of 1,500,000 Armenians as genocide.”
The resolution also has the support of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA), and US-Armenia Public Affairs Committee (USAPAC).
Rep. Schiff is a member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, the co-founder of the Democratic Study Group on National Security and a member of both the House Appropriations Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. 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.
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