Bay Area Armenian National Committee

Bay Area Armenian National Committee

The Bay Area Armenian National Committee (ANC-SF) is a grassroots public affairs organization serving to inform, educate, and act on a wide range of issues concerning Armenian Americans throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. More

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

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 Senators of the 108th Congress were:

S.Res.164 - Genocide Resolution (108th Congress)
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, introduced by Senators John Ensign (R-NV) and Jon Corzine (D-NJ) in June, 2003, currently has 40 cosponsors, but has not been scheduled for a vote.

S.1557 - PNTR for Armenia (108th Congress)
This legislation, introduced by Senators Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) helps to expand U.S.-Armenia trade by granting Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status to Armenia. It has over 20 cosponsors in the Senate. Earlier this year, the Senate approved a larger trade measure, which did not include PNTR for Armenia.

S.2344 - Armenian Victims Insurance Fairness Act (108th Congress)
This legislation, introduced by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), 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.

S.Res.307 - Genocide Resolution (107th Congress)
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. The measure, introduced by Senator Robert Torricelli (D-NJ), had 31 cosponsors, but was not scheduled for a vote.

McConnell Amendment Maintaining Section 907 (106th Congress)
This amendment to the Senate Foreign Aid bill in June, 1999, maintained the U.S. ban on foreign aid to Azerbaijan, first adopted in 1992 as Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act.

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 22 Senators.

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.

Armenian Genocide Special Order Speeches (annually, 04/99 – 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 (annually, 1999-2004)
Several dozen Members of Congress participated in the annual Armenian Genocide Observance on Capitol Hill.