ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY CONGRATULATES ARMENIAN CAUCUS MEMBERS IN HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP
armradio.am
25.11.2008 12:55
The House Republican Conference met last week to select its leaders
for the 111th Congress, reported the Armenian Assembly of America
(Assembly).
Representative Eric Cantor (R-VA), a member of the Congressional
Caucus on Armenian Issues and a cosponsor of H.Res. 106, the Armenian
Genocide resolution, was elected to serve as Republican Whip. As the
second highest ranking person in Republican Leadership, Rep. Cantor
is responsible for mobilizing votes, coordinating strategy and acting
as a liaison between rank and file Members and the leadership.
At the 2005 Armenian Genocide Commemoration event on Capitol Hill,
Rep. Cantor stated, "April 24th marks the anniversary of one of the
most horrible tragedies of the 20th century, the genocide that was
committed against the Armenian people by the Ottoman Empire. Over
the years many Armenian-Americans have helped to enrich and enhance
our Nation’s character; we have remained committed to peace in the
region and will continue to help Armenia with its economic prosperity
and strengthening of its democracy."
Minority Whip Cantor replaces outgoing Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO), who
voted against H.Res. 106 in the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
in October of 2007.
Armenian Caucus Member and H.Res. 106 cosponor, Representative
Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), will also serve in the House Republican
leadership. Rep.
McCotter was re-elected as Chairman of the Republican Policy
Committee. In this role, McCotter will be responsible in crafting
winning policies that can help the Republicans regain control of the
House, which they lost in 2006.
In addition to cosponsoring H.Res. 106, McCotter also supported
H..Res.102, honoring the life and legacy of slain Turkish-Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink and calling for the repeal of Article 301
of Turkey’s Penal Code that effectively punishes discussion of the
Armenian Genocide.
Representative Cathy McMorris (R-WA), cosponsor of the H.Res.106
and cosigner of the 2006 Armenian Genocide letter, will serve as
Republican Conference Vice-Chair.
Rounding out the other posts, Representative John Boehner (R-OH) won
re-election as Republican Leader and followed the Administration’s
opposition to H.Res. 106; Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), who voted against
H.Res.
106 in the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, will serve as Republican
Conference Chairman; Rep. John Carter (R-TX) will be Republican
Conference Secretary and Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) will serve as
National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman.
"The new Congress and Administration will provide important
opportunities on a wide variety of issues. We look forward to working
with the incoming leadership, and in particular, Armenian Caucus
members and supporters Reps.
Cantor, McCotter and McMorris, especially as we gear up for our March
2009 Advocacy Conference," stated Bryan Ardouny, Executive Director
of the Assembly.