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
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 17, 2006
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: ckojoian@aaainc.org
SENATE DEMOCRATS & REPUBLICANS SELECT LEADERS FOR NEXT CONGRESS
Washington, DC – Following last week’s congressional battle which
gave Democrats majority control of the House and Senate, both parties
returned to Capitol Hill this week, electing Armenian issues supporters
Harry Reid (D-NV) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as leaders of their
respective parties.
Reid was elected Senate Majority Leader by the Democratic Caucus while
McConnell was chosen as the new Republican leader by his party. Reid
is a cosponsor of Armenian Genocide resolution (S. Res. 320) which
reaffirms the attempted annihilation of the Armenian people as
Genocide. He has also urged the Bush Administration to properly label
the crimes as such. McConnell also has a strong record on Armenian
issues, from spearheading the floor fight to maintain Section 907 of
the Freedom Support Act to introduction and passage of a bill, along
with lead cosponsor Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD), extending permanent
normal trade relations (PNTR) status to Armenia. He has also been
pivotal in securing robust funding for Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh
as Chairman of the Foreign Operations Subcommittee on Appropriations.
Rounding out the Democratic leadership, Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL)
and Charles Schumer (D-NY) will continue to serve as Democratic Whip
and Senate Campaign Chairman respectively. Schumer will also fill
the position of vice chairman of the Democratic Caucus and Senator
Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) will head the party steering committee. All
three lawmakers are cosponsors of the Armenian Genocide resolution.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which oversees policy
concerning Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, will be chaired by Senator
Joseph Biden (D-DE), who is also a cosponsor of S. Res. 320. In
addition, the reconfigured Senate panel will include longtime
Armenian issues supporter Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) along with
Senators-elect Ben Cardin (D-MD), Bob Casey, Jr. (D-PA) and Jim Webb
(D-VA). Earlier this year, Menendez, along with Senator Rick Santorum
(R-PA) introduced a major bill (S. 2461) to bar assistance for a
railroad bypass of Armenia. He is also a cosponsor of the Armenian
Genocide resolution, which is currently pending before the Foreign
Relations Committee. 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 was in protest to the
Bush Administration’s flawed policy on the Armenian Genocide. The
matter of Hoagland’s confirmation, as well appropriations funding
for Armenia and Karabakh and the railroad legislation, are among the
outstanding items pending in the lame duck session.
On the Republican side, Senator Trent Lott, who did not support
Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, was elected Minority Whip
making him second in command to McConnell, while Senator John Ensign
(R-NV), sponsor of the Genocide resolution, was selected to chair
the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
The Armenian Assembly is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issue. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress