ARMENIAN CAUCUS MEMBERS TO TAKE OVER IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN THE SENATE
Public Radio. Armenia
Nov 9 2006
The balance of power shifted in Washington yesterday as Democrats
took control over the House of Representatives, paving the way for
Armenian Caucus Member Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to become the first
female Speaker of the House. As part of that power shift, House Speaker
Dennis Hastert (R-Ill) will pass the Speaker’s gavel to Pelosi, making
her the first Armenian Caucus Member to hold that position. Pelosi
has a strong record of support on Armenian-American issues and has
regularly called on the Administration to properly acknowledge the
Armenian Genocide.
Additionally, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) will run for Majority
Leader, and if elected, will be another Caucus first. Like Pelosi,
Hoyer has co-sponsored legislation reaffirming the Genocide and has
given commemoration addresses to Congress during the month of April.
"Representatives Pelosi and Hoyer have strong records on Armenian
issues of any Democratic leadership and we look forward to building
on these strong relationships, as well as others in the House, to
address issues and concerns facing Armenian-Americans, as well as
our homeland," said Board of Trustees Executive Committee Member
Annie Totah.
In total, some 50 Democratic Armenian Caucus Members are positioned
to take over important leadership positions and full committee
chairmanships including Representatives Charles Rangel (NY) House
Ways and Means, John Dingell (MI) Energy and Commerce, John Conyers,
Jr. (MI) Judiciary, George Miller (CA) Education, Henry Waxman (CA)
Government Reform, Barney Frank (MA) Financial Services, Collin
Peterson (MN) Agriculture and Nydia M. Velazquez (NY) Small Business
Committee.
Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (D-NY), who is the current Ranking
Member of the Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee and is
also poised to become a subcommittee chair and potentially the first
Armenian Caucus Member to Chair Foreign Operations. Lowey, an ardent
supporter of Armenian issues, has commemorated the Armenian Genocide
with statements on the House floor and urged Congress to retain
Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. Representatives Donald Payne
(D-NJ), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Gary Ackerman (D-NY), William Delahunt
(D-MA) and Grace Napolitano (D-CA) are positioned to Chair various
International Relations Subcommittees. Additionally, Representatives
Peter Visclosky (D-IN), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Dale E. Kildee (D-MI),
Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Robert Andrews (D-NJ), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY),
Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA)
are anticipated to become subcommittee chairs, among others.
The majority of Armenian Caucus Members were re-elected including
Co-Chairs Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ).
Representative Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) won a seat in the Senate. As
for Caucus Members of Armenian descent, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo
(D-CA) was elected for an eight term, while Congressman John Sweeney
(D-NY) was defeated after serving four years in the House, where he
championed issues facing Armenian-Americans.
Totah also noted that prior to the election, several lawmakers pledged
to join the Armenian Caucus if elected and that the Assembly will
reach out those new Members.
In other House leadership posts, Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA),
who has traditionally opposed efforts to reaffirm the Genocide, but
supported the Armenian Genocide resolution during a 2005 vote before
the International Relations Committee, is anticipated to Chair the
International Relations Committee. The Appropriations Committee
Chairmanship is expected to be filled by Congressman David Obey
(D-WI), who has also supported Armenian issues.
On the Senate side, longtime Armenian issues supporter Senator
Robert Menendez (D-NJ) faced a hard-fought race and retained his
seat, while Senators Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Lincoln D. Chafee
(R-RI) lost their re-election bids. Earlier this year, Santorum and
Menendez introduced a major bill (S. 2461) to bar assistance for
a railroad bypass of Armenia. In September, Menendez also placed a
"hold" on the nomination of Ambassador-designate Richard E. Hoagland
as America’s next Ambassador to Armenia. The move is in protest to
the Bush Administration’s flawed policy on the Armenian Genocide,
neither denying nor properly affirming the events as genocide.
"The Assembly congratulates Armenian-American supporters in the Senate
and House on their victory and looks forward to reaching out to new
members in the coming year," said Assembly Executive Director Bryan
Adouny. "To that end, we also encourage Armenian Americans to join
us in our outreach efforts and build on our advocacy successes in
the current Congress."
Ardouny noted that, with this election, the anticipated leadership of
the 110th Congress will offer new opportunities to pass an Armenian
Genocide resolution, to ensure that attempts by Armenia’s neighbors to
isolate her are addressed, and to make security issues facing Nagorno
Karabakh and Armenia priorities. When Congress returns next week for
the lame duck session, several outstanding items remain including the
rail legislation, appropriations funding for Armenia and Karabakh,
as well as the confirmation process for Ambassador-designate Richard
E. Hoagland.
Governors in 36 states were also elected. In Ohio, Armenian Caucus
Member Ted Strickland (D-OH), a cosponsor of the pan-Armenian Genocide
bill H. Res. 316 and the House rail bill H.R. 3361, was elected
governor, while in California, incumbent Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA)
defeated his Democratic challenger by a large margin. As governor,
Schwarzenegger has championed Armenian-American issues. Last month
he signed legislation authorizing the construction of a memorial for
the victims and survivors of the Armenian Genocide.
Earlier, the Governor signed into law Senate Bill 1524, enabling
Armenian Genocide victims and their families to seek legal action to
recover assets lost or stolen as result of the tragedies, as well as
Senate Bill 424, which permanently recognizes April 24 as the Day of
Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide in California.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
