CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE PASSES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
by Emil Sanamyan
o/article/2010-03-04-congressional-committee-passe s-armenian-genocide-resolution&pg=2
Thursday March 04, 2010
Washington – After nearly three hours of debate, and in a drawn-out
two-hour vote, the House of Representatives’ Committee on Foreign
Affairs narrowly passed the Armenian Genocide resolution with 23
votes in favor and 22 in opposition. (A full vote tally is available
at the end of the article.)
House Resolution 252 affirms the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide
and recommends to the administration to reflect that understanding
in U.S. foreign policy.
Administration weighs in As the committee meeting got underway, it
emerged that a day earlier Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had
asked committee chair Rep.
Howard Berman (D.-Calif.) to hold off on the vote, but Mr. Berman
nevertheless proceded with the vote.
The Associated Press cited White House spokesperson Mike Hammer as
saying that Mrs. Clinton claimed that the vote would run counter to
efforts to normalize relations between Armenia and Turkey; the same
argument has been made by the Turkish government.
The secretary of state and other U.S. officials made no such arguments
when asked about the resolution in weeks before the vote. The latest
intervention reportedly came following a call placed by Turkish
President Abdullah Gul to President Barack Obama.
Arguments in favor At the end of a three-hour debate, 13 members spoke
in favor of the resolution with 14 speaking in opposition pointing
to a close vote to come.
The only Muslim member of Congress Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) in his
first remarks on the Genocide resolution spoke in favor of passage,
stressing its importance for defense of human rights.
Committee Chair Berman, Reps. Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.), Chris Smith
(R-N.J.), Don Payne (D-N.J.), Ed Royce (R-Calif.), Dana Rohrabacher
(R-Calif.), Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.), Jim Costa (D-Calif.), Gus
Bilirakis (R-Fla.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) and Brad Sherman (D-Calif.)
– all long-time affirmation supporters – also spoke in favor of
the measure.
Rep. Smith, in particular, called Turkey’s denial of the genocide
and lack of appropriate condemnation an "assault on the dignity of
the Armenian people."
For his part, Rep. Sherman urged members of Congress "not to act like
cowards" in face of "hollow" Turkish threats. He listed America’s
many contributions to Turkey’s security and development, as well as
Armenia’s efforts to assist U.S. policies, as he argued forcefully
in favor of the measure.
Rep. Sherman also noted that Armenia’s leaders supported the
resolution’s passage and argued that unless U.S. stopped deferring to
Turkey, Armenia-Turkey protocols will remain stuck due to the Turkish
government’s refusal to ratify them.
Arguments against The committee’s most senior Republican, Rep. Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) spoke repeatedly against passing the resolution
citing national security concerns.
Long-time resolution opponent Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) cited the
Armenia-Turkey protocols signed last October, and particularly the
clause on "sub-commission on historical dimension," as an argument
against the resolution.
Also citing the protocols were two past resolution supporters, Reps.
Bill Delahunt (D-Mass.) and Mike McCaul (R-Tex.) who this time vote
against, arguing that resolution’s passage would "harm Armenians."
Opposing the resolution were recently elected Committee members Reps.
Mike McMahon (D-N.Y.) and Gerald Connolly (D-Va.), who claimed that
the resolution does not help America’s foreign policy priorities.
Also speaking in opposition were Reps. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), John Tanner
(D-Tenn.), Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.), Bob Inglis (R-S.C.), Ted Poe
(R-Tex.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Russ Carnahan (D-Mo.) and Ron Paul
(R-Tex.).
A close vote Voting began at 2:15 PM EST as scheduled and continued for
an hour and a half. More resolution opponents voted early on, putting
the ultimate passage in question. It was not until minutes before
the vote was closed that a narrow majority for passage was established.
As Mr. Berman read out the final tabulated votes, 23 in favor,
22 against, the audience in the hearing room which included three
Armenian Genocide survivors broke into cheers.
Also present at the debate were three members of the Armenian
parliament and eight members of the Turkish parliament along with
ambassadors from Turkey and Armenia.
Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee and how they voted on March 4
D-N.J.
Yes
In favor
Brad Sherman
D-Calif.
Yes
In favor
Eliot Engel
D-N.Y.
No
In favor
Bill Delahunt
D-Mass.
No
Against
Gregory Meeks
D-N.Y.
No
Against
Diane Watson
D-Calif.
Yes
In favor
Russ Carnahan
D-Mo.
No
Against
Albio Sires
D-N.J.
Yes
In favor
Gerald Connolly
D-Va.
No
Against
Michael McMahon
D-N.Y.
No
Against
John Tanner
D-Tenn.
No
Against
Gene Green
D-Tex.
No
In favor
Lynn Woolsey
D-Calif.
Yes
In favor
Sheila Jackson Lee
D-Tex.
No
Didn’t vote
Barbara Lee
D-Calif.
Yes
In favor
Shelley Berkley
D-Nev.
Yes
In favor
Joseph Crowley
D-N.Y.
Yes
In favor
Mike Ross
D-Ark.
No
Against
Brad Miller
D-N.C.
No
Against
David Scott
D-Geo.
No
Against
Jim Costa
D-Calif.
Yes
In favor
Keith Ellison
D-Minn.
No
In favor
Gabrielle Giffords
D-Ariz.
No
In favor
Ron Klein
D-Fla.
No
In favor
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
R-Fla.
No
Against
Christopher Smith
R-N.J.
Yes
In favor
Dan Burton
R-Ind.
No
Against
Elton Gallegly
R-Calif.
Yes
In favor
Dana Rohrabacher
R-Calif.
No
In favor
Donald Manzullo
R-Ill.
No
In favor
Edward Royce
R-Calif.
Yes
In favor
Ron Paul
R-Tex.
No
Against
Jeff Flake
R-Ariz.
No
Against
Mike Pence
R-Ind.
No
Against
Joe Wilson
R-S.C.
No
Against
John Boozman
R-Ark.
No
Against
Gresham Barrett
R-S.C.
No
Against
Connie Mack
R-Fla.
No
Against
Jeff Fortenberry
R-Neb.
No
Against
Michael McCaul
R-Tex.
Yes
Against
Ted Poe
R-Tex.
No
Against
Bob Inglis
R-S.C.
No
Against
Gus Bilirakis
R-Fla.
Yes
In favor
Source: House.gov, Thomas.loc.gov
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress