ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY CONGRATULATES INCOMING DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADERS
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[06:35 pm] 21 November, 2008
The House Democratic Caucus met this week to select its leaders for
the 111th Congress reported the Armenian Assembly. Armenian Caucus
Member, and long-time supporter of Armenian Genocide Reaffirmation,
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) retained her position as
Speaker of the House while Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), a fellow supporter
and Caucus Member, will continue to serve as Majority Leader.
At the April 24th Armenian Genocide Commemoration on Capitol Hill
last year, Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer reiterated their
strong support for genocide reaffirmation. Pelosi remarked "It is long
past time for the President and Congress to formally recognize the
Armenian Genocide… We must provide the leadership to ensure that
this human tragedy is not repeated." And Hoyer stated "Denial is the
child of repetition. If one does not remember that which happened,
and recognize it for what it was — a genocide, then the risk of it
being repeated is far greater."
Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) will keep his position as Majority Whip
while another member of the Armenian Caucus and H. Res 106 cosponsor,
Rep. John Larson (D-CT), moves up to the position of Democratic Caucus
Chairman. Rep. Larson replaces Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) who will be
serving as Chief of Staff for the Obama Administration. Larson’s
Armenian Caucus colleague Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA) was elected
to serve as the Vice-Chairman of the Caucus. A longtime friend of
Armenian-Americans, Rep. Becerra has cosponsored every Genocide
Resolution dating back to the 106th Congress and has signed multiple
letters to President Bush, urging for reaffirmation of the Armenian
Genocide.
Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) will continue to serve as the Chair
of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Additionally,
he will take on an expanded role as a special assistant to Speaker
Pelosi. As part of his new duties, he will coordinate policy
discussions with the incoming Obama Administration. Rep. Van Hollen is
a member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, a cosponsor
of H.Res. 106, the Armenian Genocide Resolution and H.Res. 102,
the Hrant Dink Bill.
"I am honored by my re-election and privileged to have the opportunity
to serve this country and my constituency," said Rep. Van Hollen. "In
the coming 111th Congress, I look forward to working closely with
the Armenian Assembly and the community to advance important policy
initiatives."
"We congratulate the incoming leaders of the 111th Congress, and are
pleased to have so many Armenian Caucus Members with their ranks. We
look forward to continuing to work together to further strengthen the
U.S.-Armenia and U.S.-Karabakh relations — from economic development
in Armenia to reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide in America,"
stated Bryan Ardouny, Executive Director of the Armenian Assembly.