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  Home > Bay Area Elected Officials > Grading Criteria: U.S. Representatives
   
 

 

At the end of each Congressional term, the ANC grades Senators and Representatives based on their support for Armenian American issues. The ANCA considers a broad range of factors in determining the grade for each Member, including:

•  Support for aid to Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh
•  Co-sponsorship and votes on key legislation
•  Favorable public statements
•  Advocacy at the Committee level
•  Relations with local Armenian Community

 

   
 

Among the key legislation and other Congressional initiatives considered by the ANC when grading Representatives of the 108th Congress were:

 

Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues
The Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues is a bipartisan forum for the discussion of policies to foster increased cooperation between the U.S. and Armenian governments and to strengthen the enduring bonds between the American and Armenian peoples. The Caucus, which is co-chaired by Reps. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), has over one hundred and thirty-five members.

H.Res.193 - Genocide Resolution
This legislation commemorates the U.S. implementation of the Genocide Convention, and calls on the U.S. Government to apply the lessons of the Armenian Genocide, Holocaust, and other genocides in order to prevent future atrocities. This measure has over 110 cosponsors, but has not been scheduled for a vote. In July of 2004, the U.S. House adopted the Schiff Amendment to block the Turkish government from using U.S. foreign aid to lobby against this human rights measure.

H.Res.528 - PNTR for Armenia
This legislation, initiated by Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Joe Knollenberg, helps to expand U.S.-Armenia trade by granting Permanent Normal Trade Relations status to Armenia. It has over 110 cosponsors and was approved by the U.S. House as part of a larger bill.

H.R.3323 - Armenian Victims Insurance Fairness Act
This legislation seeks to provide states with the authority to assist survivors of the Armenian Genocide in making insurance claims. If adopted, it will allow states to require insurance companies to disclose Armenian Genocide era insurance information. The legislation explicitly expresses Congressional disapproval of any Executive branch policy or agreement that preempts state efforts in this area.

H.Res.39 - Armenian accession to the WTO
This legislation congratulates Armenia on its December 2002 accession to the World Trade Organization. It cites the importance of providing Armenia with greater access to world markets and creating new opportunities for employment, while praising Armenia's "excellent trade relations with the United States."

Cunningham Amendment cutting aid to Turkey (04/03)
This amendment sought to strike a one billion dollar appropriation for Turkey on the grounds that Turkey refused to allow Coalition Forces to open a northern front in the war against Iraq. The Amendment failed by a vote of 110 to 315.

Letter to Reps. Kolbe / Lowey on Foreign Ops (01/03)
This Congressional letter urged the Chairman and Ranking Democrat on the panel that writes the foreign aid bill to support aid to Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh and other pro-Armenia provisions in the fiscal year 2004 foreign aid bill.

Letter to Reps. Kolbe / Lowey on Foreign Ops (04/03)
This Congressional letter urged the Chairman and Ranking Democrat on the panel that writes the foreign aid bill to support aid to Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh and other pro-Armenia provisions in the fiscal year 2004 foreign aid bill.

Letter to Sec. Powell on Turkish Blockade (07/03)
This Congressional letter urged the Secretary of State to press Turkey to lift its devastating blockade of Armenia.

Letter to Reps. Kolby / Lowey on Aid to Iraqi Armenians (09/03)
This Congressional letter urged the Chairman and Ranking Democrat on the panel that writes the foreign aid bill to allocate post-war emergency relief and reconstruction funds for the Armenian community of Iraq.

Letter to Reps. Kolbe / Lowey on Foreign Ops. (11/03)
This Congressional letter urged the Chairman and Ranking Democrat on the panel that writes the foreign aid bill to support aid to Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh and other pro-Armenia provisions in the fiscal year 2004 foreign aid bill.

Letter to Pres. Bush on Turkish Blockade (01/04)
This Congressional letter urged President Bush to press Turkey to lift its devastating blockade of Armenia.

Letter to Reps. Kolbe / Lowey on Military Parity (02/04)
This Congressional letter urged the Chairman and Ranking Democrat on the panel that writes the foreign aid bill to maintain parity in U.S. military aid levels to Armenia and Azerbaijan. The signatories argued that breaking the long-standing parity agreement would destabilize the region and undermine the role of the U.S. as an impartial mediator of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict.

Letter to Reps. Kolbe / Lowey on Foreign Ops (04/04)
This Congressional letter urged the Chairman and Ranking Democrat on the panel that writes the foreign aid bill to support aid to Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh and other pro-Armenia provisions in the fiscal year 2005 foreign aid bill.

Letter to Pres. Bush on April 24th Statement (04/03)
This Congressional letter urged the President to honor his campaign pledge to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide. The letter was signed by 167 Representatives.

Letter to Pres. Bush on April 24th Statement (04/04)
This Congressional letter urged the President to honor his campaign pledge to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide. It was signed by 169 Representatives.

Letter to Speaker Hastert re: H.Res.193 (02/04)
This Congressional letter urged the Speaker of the House to schedule a vote on the Genocide Resolution, H.Res.193.

Letter to Speaker Hastert re: H.Res.193 (08/04)
This Congressional letter urged the Speaker of the House to schedule a vote on the Genocide Resolution, H.Res.193, and voiced opposition to the Congressional leadership's statements against the Schiff Amendment. This Amendment, which was approved by voice vote as part of the fiscal year 2004 foreign aid bill, prohibits Turkey from using U.S. foreign aid to lobby against the Genocide Resolution.

Armenian Genocide Special Order Speeches (04/03)
Each April Members of Congress participate in House floor speeches marking the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

Armenian Genocide Special Order Speeches (04/04)
Each April Members of Congress participate in House floor speeches marking the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

ANCA Genocide Observance on Capitol Hill (2003)
Several dozen Members of Congress participated in the annual Armenian Genocide Observance on Capitol Hill.

ANCA Genocide Observance on Capitol Hill (2004)
Several dozen Members of Congress formally co-hosted and participated in the annual Armenian Genocide Observance on Capitol Hill.

   

 

 

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