The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) welcomed the rise of Congressman David Valadao (R-CA), from California’s Central Valley, to his new role as Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues.
A longstanding friend of Armenians from Fresno and across America, he takes on this new post ready to work with his Caucus colleagues in support of a broad range of ANCA-supported priorities, including a U.S.-Armenia Double Tax Treaty, the prospect of a new Millennium Challenge Corporation grant for Armenia, continued direct U.S. aid to Artsakh, and the regulatory framework needed to initiate direct international flights from airports in the United States to Zvartnotz airport in Yerevan.
“We are honored to see Congressman Valadao – a proud son of our Central Valley – take on this pivotal leadership position in the Congressional Armenian Caucus,” remarked ANCA Central California activist Sevag Tateosian “It holds special meaning for those of us in and around Fresno – one our nation’s first Armenian communities – to see our U.S. Representative helping to lead a bipartisan legislative effort to ensure that our voices are heard and our views are respected in Washington, DC. We look forward to vigorously working with him hand in hand in advancing the many issues on our shared agenda.”
Valadao was born and raised in Hanford, California in the center of the agriculturally rich Twenty First Congressional District. As a lifelong resident of the Central Valley, he has been active in agriculture and dairy industry groups, as well as many local causes including Children’s Hospital Central California, 4-H, Future Farmers of America, and various Catholic charities. The Valadao family emigrated from the Azores Islands of Portugal to the United States in 1969. After settling in the Central Valley, Valadao’s father started a small dairy farm in the Central Valley in 1973. Valadao was born on April 14, 1977.
In 2010, Valadao was elected to represent California’s 30th State Assembly District. Valadao served on several California Assembly Committees including the Agriculture Committee, where he held the position of Committee Vice-Chair. In 2012, Valadao was elected to represent California’s 21st Congressional District, which includes Kings County and portions of Fresno, Kern, and Tulare Counties. He was reelected for his second term in November 2014. Valadao is proud to serve on the influential House Appropriations Committee, which is the committee responsible for funding the federal government and determining where American tax dollars are spent.
The Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues was founded by Representatives Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and former Congressman John Porter (R-Ill.) in 1995. Since that time, the bipartisan panel has been at the forefront of Congressional action on a broad range of Armenian American concerns – from justice for the Armenian Genocide, to self-determination for Nagorno-Karabakh, stronger U.S.-Armenia ties, and support for Armenian communities in Georgia and oppressed Armenian and other Christian communities around the world.