ArmenPress
Aug 19 2004
OREGON CONGRESSMAN EARL BLUMENAUER JOINS ARMENIAN CAUCUS
Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly welcomed the official
announcement today that Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) has joined
the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, bringing the total to
133. The news follows an August 10 district meeting with the Armenian
Assembly held August 10 in Portland, Oregon.
“As the congressional representative of many Armenians in
Portland, I’m proud to be the latest member of the Congressional
Caucus on Armenian Issues, an ever-growing group of those of us in
Congress who want to give these issues the attention they deserve,”
said Congressman Blumenauer.
“I look forward to working with my colleagues and the members of
the Armenian community in my home town and around the world on issues
of importance to Armenians,” he continued. Assembly Western Office
Director Lena Kaimian, who led this week’s meeting, said: “We welcome
Congressmen Blumenauer’s membership to the Armenian Caucus. He brings
experience, enthusiasm and commitment to the Caucus and we look
forward to working with him and his congressional colleagues on
issues pertinent to the community.”
“Assembly supporters worked closely with our Los Angeles staff to
encourage the Congressman’s membership to the Caucus,” Kaimian
continued. “I would especially like to thank activists Greg Geokjian
and Les Margosian for participating in this meeting and advocating on
behalf of our issues.”
Congressman Blumenauer, who has represented Oregon’s Third
Congressional District since 1996, is a well-known supporter of
Armenian-American issues. As such, he has urged President George W.
Bush to appropriately acknowledge the Armenian Genocide, voted to
maintain Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act and supported the
Humanitarian Aid Corridor Act.
The Congressman also serves on the International Relations
Committee and is a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee. He joins fellow Oregon lawmaker, Congresswoman Darlene
Hooley (D-OR) in representing Armenian-American interests on the
Caucus.