{"id":16767,"date":"2019-10-25T15:47:49","date_gmt":"2019-10-25T15:47:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ancnews.info\/?p=16767"},"modified":"2019-10-25T15:47:49","modified_gmt":"2019-10-25T15:47:49","slug":"anca-joins-congressional-armenian-caucus-in-welcoming-u-s-house-vote-to-lock-in-u-s-recognition-of-the-armenian-genocide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ancnews.info\/?p=16767","title":{"rendered":"ANCA Joins Congressional Armenian Caucus in Welcoming U.S. House Vote to Lock in U.S. Recognition of the Armenian Genocide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Launches Nationwide H.Res.296 Congressional Call Campaign via ANCA.ORG\/CALL<\/h3>\n

WASHINGTON, DC \u2013<\/strong> For the first time in more than 30 years, the U.S. House of Representatives is set, over the course of the coming week, to hold an up-or-down vote on the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.296), a bipartisan measure locking in U.S. recognition that would, if adopted, strike a powerful blow against the gag-rule that Ankara has long enforced against honest American remembrance of this crime, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).<\/p>\n

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) announced that the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.296) would be on the House docket the week of October 28th, along with H.R.4695, the Protect Against Conflict by Turkey Act that would impose harsh sanctions on Turkey over its recent invasion of northern Syria, which has displaced hundreds of thousands, killed hundreds.
\n<\/p>\n

[espro-slider id=16770]<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the president caving-in to Erdogan, it\u2019s up to Congress to speak out for America,\u201d ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian told Yahoo News. He added that the resolution would be a \u201csignal\u201d to the Turks that \u201cthat Washington won\u2019t be bullied, U.S. policy can\u2019t be hijacked, and American principles are not for sale.\u201d The full Yahoo News article is available here.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The ANCA has worked closely with House and Senate leaders to secure votes on H.Res.296 and its Senate counterpart \u2013 S.Res.150 \u2013 since their introduction in April, 2019. The ANCA Quick Connect Call-Alert \u2013 anca.org\/call<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 is the latest nationwide campaign to support for the measure, directly connecting advocates to speak with their legislators with just a few clicks. Thousands of letters have already been sent to Congress by ANCA Rapid Responders and Armenian American advocates through the ANCA online portal \u2013 anca.org\/genocide<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

In Washington, DC, ANCA staff and volunteer advocates from throughout the U.S. have been visiting Congressional offices non-stop, encouraging co-sponsorship and votes for the measure. Over the past two days, 11 U.S. Representatives have cosponsored or shared their support for H.Res.296, including Representatives Sanford Bishop (D-GA), William Lacy Clay (D-MO), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Warren Davidson (R-OH), Dan Kildee (D-MI), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), and Mike Thompson (D-CA).<\/p>\n

The complete list of cosponsors is available on the ANCA website at:
\nhttps:\/\/anca.org\/ag-cosponsors\/<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

U.S. Representatives Speak Out; Bring Unprecedented Momentum leading to House Vote<\/strong><\/p>\n

Congressional Armenian Caucus leaders Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Rep. Peter King (R-NY), Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA), Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), welcomed the opportunity for a House floor vote on the Armenian Genocide Resolution. \u201cAt a time when Turkey has launched a campaign into Northern Syria, which has killed hundreds and displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians, it is all the more important that the House speak clearly and directly about crimes against humanity, whether they occurred a century ago or in the present day. Next week, all Members of the House can go on record to state clearly the historic fact of the genocide, joining 49 U.S. states and many of our closest allies that have already taken this important step,\u201d stated the Armenian Caucus leaders.<\/p>\n

Rep. Adam Schiff, who along with Rep. Gus Bilirakis introduced and is spearheading the bipartisan measure, added, \u201cThis is a moment that has been years in the making, and I\u2019m grateful for the tireless advocacy of so many who insisted that the United States must never be a party to genocide denial.\u201d He went on to note, \u201cRecent weeks have brought images of families and children fleeing their homes in terror, headed to nowhere except away from the bombs and mortars. These images make the memory of one hundred years ago feel like yesterday. Denial of genocide causes pain to the survivors, yes, but it also gives succor to human rights abusers of today, who can rest easy that the passage of time and the accumulation of power will wipe clean their reputation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Over the past week, members of Congress have been making a steady stream of references to the Armenian Genocide on social media and during Congressional hearings focusing on Turkey\u2019s invasion of northern Syria.<\/p>\n

During an October 23rd House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing titled \u201cThe Betrayal of our Syrian Kurdish Partners: How Will American Foreign Policy and Leadership Recover?\u201c, senior Committee member Rep. Brad Sherman, (D-CA) was blunt in his questioning of Ambassador James Jeffrey, Special Representative for Syria Engagement and Special Envoy to the Global Coalition To Defeat ISIS, and Mr. Matthew Palmer, Deputy Assistant Secretary, State Department Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I came here 23 years ago, one of the things I thought was morally incumbent upon Congress was to recognize the first genocide of the 20th century \u2013 the Armenian Genocide. We were told \u2018But Turkey is a great ally of the United States; don\u2019t put that at risk.\u2019 How\u2019s that working out for us?,\u201d asked Rep. Sherman. He continued, noting, \u201cDoes the dishonoring of America and the undercutting of our reputation of speaking the truth, was that worth it? Did we get some great help, alliance, love, loyalty from Erdogan?\u201d<\/p>\n

Video of Rep. Sherman\u2019s exchange with the State Department representatives is available here:<\/p>\n