Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email.anca@anca.org
Internet

PRESS RELEASE

May 27, 2009
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

GENOCIDE AWARENESS ACT MOVES TO CALIFORNIA SENATE FLOOR FOR VOTE

— "Justice for Genocide Victims" bill on deadline for vote in CA
Assembly committee

SACRAMENTO, CA — Senate Bill 234 (SB 234), authored by California
Senator Mark Wyland (R-northern San Diego County) is now on its way
to the full Senate floor for consideration. Known as the "Genocide
Awareness Act", the bill instructs the California State Curriculum
Commission to consider the inclusion of an oral history component
in its already mandated genocide education curriculum.

"Senator Wyland has been a champion of this issue for over a
decade. His efforts continue to ensure that California remains at
the forefront in educating our next generation about genocide and
the role we can play as a society to confront this terrible crime
against humanity," remarked Gayana Badalyan, Chairwoman of the ANC
of San Diego County.

Turkish Coalition of America Board Member Bruce Fein traveled from
Washington, DC in an effort to undermine SB 234 as well as Assembly
Bill 961 (AB 961), the "Justice for Genocide Victims Bill,"
introduced by Assembly Member Paul Krekorian. Fein’s presentation
before the Senate panel, in which he denies the Armenian Genocide
as well as the Cambodian and Sudan genocides, may be viewed at:

Kr ekorian’s AB 961 would prevent California from awarding contracts
to companies that have profited from genocide. The bill awaits a
vote in the CA Assembly Appropriations Committee, which must
consider the bill before the end of this week for it to be able to
continue to the full Assembly floor for consideration.

The ANCA has encouraged California residents to contact Assembly
Speaker Karen Bass and Appropriations Committee Chairman Kevin de
Leon to urge swift action committee action on the measure. Free
ANCA Webmails can be sent from:
=13395506&type=CU

In the past weeks, the Asbarez Armenian Daily Newspaper covered
this issue in a feature article titled "Anti-Genocide Legislation
Showdown in Sacramento," detailing Turkish Government opposition to
the measures under consideration.

With today’s action, California comes one step closer to ensuring
that survivor and witness accounts are used in classrooms
throughout the state to help broaden the community’s understanding
of genocide.

Speaking about the legislation after it was unanimously approved by
the California Senate Education Committee, Senator Wyland noted
that "the ultimate purpose is to make students even more aware of
these horrible crimes against humanity, so ultimately, these
occurrences do not happen again."