PRESS RELEASE

ARMENPAC, The Armenian-American Political Action Committee
421 E. Airport Freeway, Suite 201
Irving, Texas 75220
Contact: Jason P. Capizzi, Esq.
Tel: (972) 635-5347
E-mail: jason.capizzi@armenpac.org
Web:

ARMENPAC APPLAUDS CARDIN (D-MD) FOR JOINING THE CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS
ON AREMENIAN ISSUES

Irving, TX – ARMENPAC is pleased to announce that Representative
Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) recently joined the Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues, which is one of the largest in the United States
House of Representatives with 158 members. “We look forward to working
with Congressman Cardin and the entire Armenian Caucus to promote
Armenian-American issues and strengthen U.S.-Armenia relations,”
said ARMENPAC Co-Chair Annie Totah.

Representative Benjamin Cardin hails from Maryland’s third
Congressional District. Mr. Cardin is a member of the Ways and Means
Committee, of which he is the ranking member of the Trade Subcommittee
and a member of the Human Resources Subcommittee. Mr.

Cardin is also the ranking member of the United States Helsinki
Commission, a United States Government Agency committed to ensuring the
political principles of “respect [for] human rights and fundamental
freedoms, including the freedom of thought, conscience religion or
belief, for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or
religion.” Additionally, Mr. Cardin is the chair of an international
committee of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly. “We are confident that Representative
Cardin will bring the same vigor and strength, which he exhibits in
support of his other causes, to the Armenian Caucus,” said ARMENPAC
Co-Chair Edgar Hagopian.

Representative Benjamin Cardin is a cosponsor of H.R.3661, the South
Caucasus Integration and Open Railroads Act of 2005, H.Res.316, the
Affirmation of the United States’ Record on the Armenian Genocide
resolution, and a signatory to the Armenian Caucus’ annual letter to
the President of the United States regarding the Armenian Genocide
in addition to the 2005 Armenian Caucus letter to the United States
Secretary of State regarding Turkey’s application for admission to
the European Union.

H.R.3661 seeks “to prohibit United States assistance to develop or
promote any rail connections or railway-related connections that
traverse or connect Baku, Azerbaijan; Tbilisi, Georgia; and Kars,
Turkey, and that specifically exclude cities in Armenia.” H.R.3661
currently has eighty-three (83) cosponsors; its companion bill in
the United States Senate, S.2461, currently has three (3) cosponsors.

H.Res.316 urges the United States President to characterize the
Armenian Genocide of 1915 as “genocide” during his April 24th
commemorative speech and “to ensure that United States policy reflects
appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to
human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the United
States record relating to the Armenian Genocide and the consequences of
the failure to realize a just resolution.” H.Res.316 currently has one
hundred fifty-eight (158) cosponsors; its companion bill in the United
States Senate, S.Res.320, currently has thirty-four (34) cosponsors.

Recently, ARMENPAC Co-Chair Annie Totah and ARMENPAC Executive
Director Jason Capizzi attended several events in support of
Representative Benjamin Cardin’s current campaign for the United
States Senate. Mr. Cardin is the frontrunner in the race for the seat
held by retiring Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD). Senator Sarbanes’ son,
John Sarbanes, Esq., is seeking the Democratic nomination to run for
Mr. Cardin’s seat in the House of Representatives. “Both Representative
Cardin and John Sarbanes are well informed of Armenian-American
issues, and will be strong advocates for our cause in each chamber
should they succeed in their respective campaigns,” said ARMENPAC
Executive Director Jason Capizzi.

ARMENPAC is an independent, bipartisan political action committee
with a nationwide membership. ARMENPAC raises awareness of,
and advocates for, policies that help create peace, security and
stability in the Caucasus region. ARMENPAC provides financial support
to federal officeholders, candidates, political action committees
and organizations that actively support issues of importance to
Armenian-Americans. For more information and how to join ARMENPAC,
please call (877) 286-1046 or visit

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