REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMEN JOIN AS HONORARY CHAIRS FOR ANC-WR ANNUAL BANQUET

armradio.am
12.09.2007 10:40

The Armenian National Committee – Western Region (ANC-WR) reports that
a number of prominent Republicans and Democrats serving in the US
House of Representatives will be serving as Honorary Chairs for the
ANC-WR 23rd Annual Banquet. The ANC-WR’s Annual Banquet will be held
on September 30, 2007, at the Universal Sheraton in Los Angeles. The
event will feature an awards ceremony where US Senator Robert Menendez
and longtime ANC supporter Hacob Shirvanian will be honored.

"The ANC-WR is proud that Members of Congress from both sides of the
aisle will be serving as Honorary Chairs for our banquet," commented
ANC-WR Board Member Aida Dimejian. "With support from our friends in
the US House of Representatives, this year’s banquet is going to be
an outstanding event," she added.

Members of Congress serving as Honorary Chairs for the ANC-WR Annual
Banquet include Representatives Anna Eshoo, Grace Napolitano, George
Radanovich, Adam Schiff and Brad Sherman.

Congressman Adam Schiff has provided strong leadership on issues of
concern to Armenian Americans. Representative Schiff introduced H.

Res. 106 [the Armenian Genocide Resolution] on January 30, 2007. The
bill currently enjoys strong bipartisan support from over 225 Members
of Congress. During a Congressional hearing held earlier this year
Congressman Schiff demonstrated strong moral resolve in pressing
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on the State Department’s
unacceptable position on the Armenian Genocide.

Congressman George Radanovich played a key role in 2000 when an
Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.R. 398, nearly reached a floor vote
but was pulled off at the last minute due to pressure from the Clinton
Administration, the State Department and House Speaker Dennis Hastert.

The Congressman pledged to fight for official acknowledgement of the
Armenian Genocide by Congress and welcomed the continued support of
the community in these efforts. Congressman Radanovich is the co-author
with Congressman Adam Schiff of H. Res. 106 and has remained steadfast
in his support of Armenian American issues.

Congresswoman Anna Eshoo has a long record of broad leadership and
support for issues of interest to the Armenian American community. As
the only US Representative of Armenian descent, and as a member of the
Armenian Issues Caucus in Congress, Representative Eshoo plays a key
role in the legislative process as it applies to issues of importance
to Armenian Americans. She has cosponsored numerous resolutions
recognizing the Armenian Genocide and has participated in several
Armenian Genocide commemorations on Capitol Hill. Representative Eshoo
has continuously earned an A+ rating from the ANCA’s Congressional
Report Card.

Congresswoman Grace Napolitano played a key role in challenging the
Bush Administration regarding the recall of former Ambassador John
Evans. The Congresswoman provided pointed questions to State Department
officials during testimony before the US House International Relations
Committee regarding reports that the US Ambassador to Armenia was
going to be recalled due to his public acknowledgment of the Armenian
Genocide. As a follow up question, addressed to Assistant Secretary
of State Dan Fried, the Congresswoman asked for a clarification of
any restrictions placed on State Department officials concerning the
use of the word "genocide" when discussing the extermination of 1.5
million Armenians starting in 1915.

Congressman Sherman has been a tireless advocate of issues of concern
to the Armenian American community over the years and has actively
pursued these issues in the halls of Congress throughout his tenure
representing the 27th Congressional District in California. Upon first
joining the Congress, Congressman Sherman joined the Armenian Caucus
and has worked side by side with the Armenian American community to
ensure that the Republic of Turkey comes to terms with its genocidal
past. Congressman Sherman played a key role in the Sherman Amendment
of 1997 which disallowed aid to Turkey in the amount of funds that
it expends annually on genocide denial efforts.