Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
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PRESS RELEASE
May 6, 2004
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
NEW HAMPSHIRE SENATORS COSPONSOR GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
— Support for S.Res.164 Reaches 39 in the Senate
WASHINGTON, DC – New Hampshire Senators Judd Gregg (R) and John
Sununu (R) agreed to cosponsor the Genocide Resolution, S.Res.164,
bringing the total number of cosponsors to thirty-nine, reported
the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
Both senators heard regularly from their New Hampshire constituents
on this matter over the past several months, reflecting the growing
activism of the Armenian American community in northern New
England. Rhode Island Senator Lincoln Chafee (R) is the only New
England area Senator yet to cosponsor the legislation. Most
recently, a New Hampshire delegation of activists including Mike
Manoian, Harry Alexanian and Jeannette John spoke with
representatives of both Senators, at meetings coinciding with the
ANCA Armenian Genocide Observance on Capitol Hill, held on April
28th. Dr. Peter Balakian, whose recently published book, “The
Burning Tigris” extensively documents U.S. humanitarian response to
the Armenian Genocide, detailed the importance of supporting
Genocide prevention legislation during the meeting with Sen.
Gregg’s office.
“We join with the Armenian community of New Hampshire in welcoming
the support of Senators Gregg and Sununu for the Genocide
Resolution” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “With the
89th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide commemorated just a few
weeks ago, and the prospect of yet another genocide developing in
the Sudan as we speak, support for legislation like S.Res.164 has
never been more vital. We must, as a nation, reaffirm our
commitment to the aims of the Genocide Convention and ensure that
the lessons of past genocides are applied in the prevention of
future crimes against humanity.”
A two-term Member of the Senate, Sen. Gregg is Chairman of the
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and serves on the
Appropriations and Budget Committees. Sen. John Sununu, now in his
first term, serves on the Foreign Relations, Banking, Governmental
Affairs and Joint Economic committees.
The Genocide resolution was introduced in the Senate in June, 2003
by Senators John Ensign (R-NV) and Jon Corzine (D-NJ). Its
companion House measure, H.Res.193, led by Representatives George
Radanovich (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Congressional Armenian
Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI),
was adopted unanimously by the House Judiciary Committee last May
and has 111 cosponsors. The resolution cites the importance of
remembering past crimes against humanity, including the Armenian
Genocide, Holocaust, Cambodian and Rwandan genocides, in an effort
to stop future atrocities. Support for the measure has been
widespread, with a diverse coalition of over 100 ethnic, religious,
civil and human rights organizations calling for its passage,
including American Values, National Organization of Women, Sons of
Italy, NAACP, Union of Orthodox Rabbis, and the National Council of
La Raza.
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