Subject: ARAMAC News Update: Over 100 Members of Congress Cosponsor Genoci de Resolution Date: Mon, 19 May 2003 10:20:12 -0400 From: aramac ARAMAC would like to bring to your attention the following recent news update. **************************************************************************** ****** The Armenian Assembly of America 122 C Street, NW, Suite 350 Washington, DC 20001 Phone: 202-393-3434 Email: info@aaainc.org Web: www.armenianassembly.org PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 29, 2003 CONTACTS: Joan Ablett, AAA - (202) 393-3434 Elizabeth S. Chouldjian, ANCA-(202) 775-1918 Over 100 Members of Congress Cosponsor Genocide Resolution -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner (D-WI), Ranking Democrat John Conyers (D-MI) among Growing List of Supporters WASHINGTON, DC - Support for the U.S. House resolution marking the 15th Anniversary of the U.S. implementation of the Genocide Convention (H.Res.193) continues to grow, with the cosponsor list reaching over 100 only a month after its introduction, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA) and the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). The resolution was introduced on April 10th by Representatives George Radanovich (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairmen Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) with 65 original cosponsors. The legislation specifically cites the importance of learning the lessons of the Holocaust as well as the Armenian Genocide, and the Cambodian and Rwandan genocides in an effort to prevent the repetition of similar atrocities in the future. The resolution is similar to legislation introduced in the Senate during the last term that garnered the support of over thirty Senators. "We join with all our friends in welcoming the growing bipartisan support for H.Res.193 and in expressing our appreciation for the principled leadership of its lead sponsors - Representatives Radanovich, Schiff, Knollenberg, and Pallone - in helping to ensure that the lessons of past genocides are used to help prevent future genocides," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We look forward to working with all our partners toward the adoption of the Genocide Resolution." "This legislation applies facts of history as reaffirmation of America's commitment to human rights," said Assembly Executive Director Ross Vartian. "The United States, under President Harry Truman, was the first of 133 nations to sign the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and it was finally implemented in 1988 under President Ronald Reagan. Remembrance of past instances of crimes against humanity, particularly when powerful forces assert that it is politically inexpedient to do so, is essential for U.S. moral leadership and credibility around the world." House Resolution 193 has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee, chaired by Wisconsin Republican James Sensenbrenner, who has already cosponsored the resolution. Other key cosponsors include Judiciary Committee Ranking Democrat John Conyers (D-MI), House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, and 2004 Democratic Presidential candidate Dick Gephardt (D-MO). Rep. Conyers, during a speech at the April 9th ANCA Capitol Hill Observance of the Armenian Genocide, cited the support of the Congressional Black Caucus for the measure. "As a member of the Armenian Caucus my support and the support of the Congressional Black Caucus is unwavering. We support you 100 percent," explained Rep. Conyers. Similar expressions of support were voiced by Members of Congress at the Armenian Assembly's April 7th Capitol Hill advocacy conference. The current cosponsors for H.Res.193 include: Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Tom Allen (D-ME), Robert Andrews (D-NJ), Joe Baca (D-CA), Charles Bass (R-NH), Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Howard Berman (D-CA), Michael Bilirakis (R-FL), Jeb Bradley (R-NH), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Steve Buyer (R-IN), Michael Capuano (D-MA), Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), William Lacy Clay (D-MO), John Conyers (D-MI), Jerry Costello (D-IL), Christopher Cox (R-CA), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Duke Cunningham (R-CA), Danny Davis (D-IL), William Delahunt (D-MA), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Calvin Dooley (D-CA), David Dreier (R-CA), Rahm Emanuel (D-IL), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Bob Filner (D-CA), Mark Foley (R-FL), Barney Frank (D-MA), Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ), Richard Gephardt (D-MO), Mark Green (R-WI), James Greenwood (R-PA), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Luis Guttierez (D-IL), Jane Harman (D-CA), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Joe Hoeffel (D-PA), Tim Holden (D-PA), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Steve Israel (D-NY), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Sue Kelly (R-NY), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Dale Kildee (D-MI), Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-MI), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Gerald Kleczka (D-WI), Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), James Langevin (D-RI), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Robert Matsui (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Sander Levin (D-MI), William Lipinski (D-IL), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Edward Markey (D-MA), Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), Jim McDermott (D-WA), James McGovern (D-MA), Michael McNulty (D-NY), Martin Meehan (D-MA), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), George Miller (D-CA), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Charlie Norwood (R-GA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Devin Nunes (R-CA), John Olver (D-MA), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Collin Peterson (D-MN), George Radanovich (R-CA), Mike Rogers (R-MI), Steven Rothman (D-NJ), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Bobby Rush (D-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), F. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), Christopher Shays (R-CT), Brad Sherman (D-CA), John Shimkus (R-IL), Christopher Smith (R-NJ), Hilda Solis (D-CA), Mark Souder (R-IN), Pete Stark (D-CA), John Sweeney (R-NY), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Fred Upton (R-MI), Christopher Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Visclosky (D-IN), Diane Watson (D-CA), Henry Waxman (D-CA), Anthony Weiner (D-NY), and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA). The Genocide Resolution is supported by all the leading Armenian American organizations, including: the Apostolic Exarchate for Armenian Catholics (New York, NY), Armenia Fund USA (New York, NY), Armenian American Democratic Leadership Council (San Francisco, CA), Armenian Assembly of America (Washington, DC), Armenian Bar Association (Los Angeles, CA), Armenian Evangelical Union of North America (Paramus, NJ), Armenian Evangelical World Council (Paramus, NJ), Armenian General Benevolent Union (New York, NY), Armenian Missionary Association of America (Paramus, NJ), Armenian National Committee of America (Washington, DC), Armenian Relief Society (Watertown, MA; Glendale, CA), Armenian Youth Federation (Watertown, MA; Glendale, CA), Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church - East (New York, NY), Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church - West (Burbank, CA), Hamazkayin Armenian Cultural Organization (Watertown, MA; Glendale, CA), Homenetmen Armenian General Athletic Union (Watertown, MA; Glendale, CA), Knights of Vartan (New York, NY), National Organization of Republican Armenians (Washington, DC), Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church - East (New York, NY), Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church - West (Glendale, CA), Tekeyan Cultural Association (Watertown, MA), United Armenia Fund (Glendale, CA). ##### NR#2003-052 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.