ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY CONGRATULATES JACKIE SPEIER ON ELECTION TO CONGRESS

armradio.am
10.04.2008 10:47

The Armenian Assembly of America congratulated former California State
Senator Jackie Speier (D) on winning a special election to fill the
House seat of the late Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA), avoiding a runoff in
the contest to replace Lantos, who endorsed her before his death in
February. With her win on Tuesday, Speier now joins fellow California
lawmaker Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), as the second American of Armenian
descent to serve in the 110th Congress.

"The Armenian Assembly congratulates Jackie Speier on her resounding
victory," said Assembly Board of Trustees Member Peter Kezirian,
Jr. "As the newest Armenian-American representative in Congress,
she will be a strong voice on behalf of her constituents and the
Armenian-American community. As a member of the California Legislature,
she was known as a dynamic and innovative legislator, and the Assembly
is pleased she will bring these talents to our nation’s capital."

During her tenure in the California Legislature, the Assembly worked
closely with Speier to advance Armenian issues in the state. In 2003,
she served as mistress of ceremonies for the Assembly’s National Gala
in Palm Desert, CA.

The daughter of a German immigrant and a first-generation
Armenian-American, Speier has authored over a dozen bills related to
Armenian issues during the course of her career in the California
State Legislature. She has spearheaded legislation to commemorate
the Armenian Genocide, and in 2005, she coauthored a bill to place
the commemoration into permanent law. Before leaving the State
Senate, Speier introduced a measure (SB 1524),whichprovides relief
to California Armenian Genocide victims, and their families, who are
seeking legal action to recover assets that were lost or stolen during
the atrocities against the Armenian people. California Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger signed the measure into law in December 2006.

After announcing that he had been diagnosed with cancer in early
January, Lantos said that he would not seek reelection after
concluding his 14th term in Congress. As Chairman of the Foreign
Affairs Committee, Lantos supported adoption of H. Res. 106, which
affirms the historical truth of the Armenian Genocide. This resolution
passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee by a vote of 27 to 21.

"One of the problems we have diplomatically globally is that we have
lost our moral authority which we used to have in great abundance,"
Lantos said.

"People around the globe who are familiar with these events will
appreciate the fact that the United States is speaking out against
a historic injustice. This would be like sweeping slavery under the
rug and saying slavery never occurred."

Lantos also supported an identical measure during the 109th Congress,
expressing strong concern over Turkey’s refusal in 2003 to provide
U.S. troops a northern front in the war against Iraq.