Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
_ancawr@anca.org_ (mailto:ancawr@anca.org)
PRESS RELEASE
January 12, 2004
Contact: Ardashes Kassakhian 818.500.1918
REPRESENTATIVE SUSAN DAVIS JOINS CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS ON ARMENIAN
ISSUES SAN DIEGO, CA – Representative Susan Davis (D-CA 53rd) today
became the newest member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian
Issues reported the Armenian National Committee of America Western
Region (ANCA WR). Representative Davis’s entrance into the Caucus
brings its membership to 132.
On July 23, 2004, representatives of the ANC of San Diego (ANC SD) and
the ANCA-Western Region, met with the Congresswoman’s staff to discuss
her joining the Caucus on Armenian Issues. ANCA-WR Executive Director
Ardashes Kassakhian, ANC SD Chair Garo Artinian and ANC SD board
member Robert Deranian met with Caridad Sanchez, Senior Community
Relations Representative for Rep. Davis.
The ANC delegation thanked Ms. Sanchez for the Congresswoman’s
support of Armenian-American issues. After a brief update of the
ANC’s local activities and an update of local San Diego initiatives,
Kassakhian presented the Congresswoman with an letter formally asking
Rep. Davis to join the over 34 Members of Congress from California
that are already a part of the Caucus.
“We welcome Representative Davis joining the Armenian Issues Caucus
and look forward to working with the Congresswoman on a number of
issues of special concern to his Armenian American constituents,”
stated Garo Artinian, Chairperson of the Armenian National Committee
of San Diego.
“I look forward to working with the Armenian American community here
in San Diego, the Armenian National Committee, my colleagues on the
Armenian Issues Caucus and others to help bring attention to the
Armenian Genocide,” stated Rep. Susan Davis. “By working together,
as one voice, we will help bring attention to such crimes against
humanity and stop the cycle of Genocide in our time.” `I look forward
to working with the Armenian American community here in San Diego, the
Armenian National Committee, my colleagues on the Armenian Issues
Caucus and others to help bring attention to the Armenian Genocide and
its denial,’ stated Rep. Susan Davis. `By working together, as one
voice, we will help bring attention to such crimes against humanity
and stop the cycle of Genocide in our time,’ added Rep. Davis.
Earlier this year, Rep. Susan Davis co-signed a letter to President
George W. Bush, along with 169 other members of Congress, urging the
President to honor his campaign pledge from four years ago to properly
acknowledge the Armenian Genocide as a genocide. Rep. Davis has
co-signed a similar letter to the President for the past three years.
The Founded in 1995, the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues is a
bipartisan forum for the discussion of policies to foster increased
cooperation between the United States and Armenian governments and to
strengthen the enduring bonds between the American and Armenian
peoples. It was founded by Congressmen Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and John
Porter (R-IL) in 1995.
Rep. Davis was elected to the House of Representatives in November of
2000 and has served two terms. In Congress, Rep. Davis serves on the
House Armed Services Committee, the Education and the Workforce
Committee, and the Veterans Affairs Committee. She focuses on the
issues of defense, education, environment, health care, and veterans
affairs. Prior to her election to Congress, Rep. Davis served on the
San Diego City School Board and served three terms in the California
State Assembly.
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and
most influential Armenian American grassroots political
organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices,
chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated
organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the
concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of
issues.