Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: info@aaainc.org
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PRESS RELEASE
October 11, 2006
CONTACT: Karoon Panosyan
E-mail: kpanosyan@aaainc.org

CONGRESSMAN RENZI JOINS THE ARMENIAN CAUCUS
Cosponsors Bill Prohibiting Aid for Bypass Rail Link

Washington, DC – At the urging of the Armenian Assembly of America,
Congressman Rick Renzi (R-AZ) joined the Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues and signed on as a cosponsor of H. R. 3361, a bill that
would prohibit funding for a rail link connecting Turkey, Georgia and
Azerbaijan while bypassing Armenia.

"The Armenian Assembly appreciates Congressman Renzi’s support of the
rail legislation and welcomes him to the Armenian Caucus," said Assembly
Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "We look forward to working with him
to strengthen the U.S.-Armenia relationship."

The South Caucasus Integration and Open Railroads Act, introduced by
Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), along with Co-Chair
Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Caucus Member George Radanovich (R-CA), is
supported by nearly 100 lawmakers to date. Last month, the House
approved the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 2006, which
included an amendment which was strongly supported by the Assembly and
sponsored by Representatives Joseph Crowley (D-NY), together with
Congressmen Edward Royce (R-CA) and Brad Sherman (D-CA). The provision
ensures that no Export-Import funding is used for a costly and
unnecessary rail line that would exclude Armenia from economic and
regional transportation opportunities.

The amendment, adopted by the House Financial Services Committee, states
that "The [Export-Import] Bank shall not guarantee, insure, extend
credit, or participate in an extension of credit in connection with the
development or promotion of any rail connections or railway-related
connections that do not traverse or connect with Armenia, and do
traverse or connect Baku, Azerbaijan, Tbilisi, Georgia, and Kars,
Turkey."

Renzi is the second member from the state of Arizona to join the
Armenian Caucus. He serves on the House Financial Services Committee,
the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Resources
Committee.

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.

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NR#2006-089

Photograph available on the Assembly’s Web site at the following link:

/2006-089-1.jpg

Caption: Congressman Rick Renzi (R-AZ) flanked by Assembly Executive
Director Bryan Ardouny (left) and Kevin Borland of Roundtable
Strategies, LLC.