DEMOCRATS WIN CONTROL OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ARMENIAN CAUCUS MEMBER REP. PELOSI SET TO BECOME SPEAKER
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Nov 9 2006
The balance of power shifted in Washington yesterday as Democrats
took control over the House of Representatives, paving the way for
Armenian Caucus Member Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to become the first
female Speaker of the House. Pelosi’s anticipated rise, coupled with
the likelihood of numerous Caucus Democrats picking up important
leadership positions, will expand the scope and influence of this
important body in the next congressional session.
According to the information DE FACTO got at the Armenian Assembly of
America (AAA), as a part of that power shift, House Speaker Dennis
Hastert (R-Ill) will pass the Speaker’s gavel to Pelosi, making
her the first Armenian Caucus Member to hold that position. Pelosi
has a strong record of support on Armenian-American issues and has
regularly called on the Administration to properly acknowledge the
Armenian Genocide. She is currently a cosponsor of H. Res. 316 – a
bill that affirms the attempted annihilation of the Armenian people as
genocide. Last year, Pelosi participated in a Capitol Hill observance
of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and in April 2001,
spoke on the floor of the House saying that "the Armenian Genocide
is a historical fact. The Republic of Turkey has adamantly refused to
acknowledge that the Genocide happened on its soil, but the evidence
is irrefutable….We must learn from the past and never forget the
victims of the Armenian Genocide."
Additionally, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) will run for Majority
Leader, and if elected, will be another Caucus first. Like Pelosi,
Hoyer has co-sponsored legislation reaffirming the Genocide and has
given commemoration addresses to Congress during the month of April.
In total, some 50 Democratic Armenian Caucus Members are positioned
to take over important leadership positions and full committee
chairmanships including Representatives Charles Rangel (NY) House
Ways and Means, John Dingell (MI) Energy and Commerce and others.
The majority of Armenian Caucus Members were re-elected including
Co-Chairs Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ).
"The Assembly congratulates Armenian-American supporters in the Senate
and House on their victory and looks forward to reaching out to new
members in the coming year," said Assembly Executive Director Bryan
Ardouny. "To that end, we also encourage Armenian Americans to join
us in our outreach efforts and build on our advocacy successes in
the current Congress."
When Congress returns next week for the lame duck session, several
outstanding items remain including the rail legislation, appropriations
funding for Armenia and Karabakh, as well as the confirmation process
for Ambassador-designate Richard E. Hoagland.