WASHINGTON — The Armenian Assembly of America received letters from former Vice President and Senator Joe Biden; Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA); Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY); Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Robert Menendez (D-NJ); California Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Kamala Harris (D-CA); Massachusetts Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Ed Markey (D-MA); the leadership of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues – Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Peter King (R-NY); House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raul Grijalva (D-AZ); Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA); Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA); Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-MN); Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI); Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD); and Rep. TJ Cox (D-CA) emphasizing the importance of reaffirming the United States’ record on the Armenian Genocide and congratulating Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) for receiving the Assembly’s Deukmejian Award for Public Service. The letters were sent to the Armenian Assembly for its 2019 National Advocacy Conference and Gala, which was widely attended by Armenian American leaders and activists from throughout the United States.
“The United States must reaffirm, once and for all, our record on the Armenian Genocide. As a co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, Congresswoman Speier has been an unfailing champion on this important issue. We must never forget or remain silent about this horrific and systematic campaign of extermination that resulted in the deaths of 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children and the mass deportation of 2 million Armenians from their homes,” former Vice President Joe Biden told the Armenian Assembly. “I’m proud to join the Armenian Assembly of America in honoring Congresswoman Jackie Speier’s steadfast commitment to advancing U.S.-Armenian relations. Representative Speier has demonstrated incredible leadership in Congress on issues ranging from women’s rights and national security to global human rights and the support of free and fair democracy. The people of California and the American people are fortunate to have her fighting for justice and equality at home and abroad – the world is truly better for it.”
“Please accept my warmest greetings as you gather for the Armenian Assembly of America’s Advocacy Conference and Gala. I am grateful for the opportunity to express my admiration for the outstanding work of the Armenian Assembly of America and tonight’s honoree on this wonderful occasion,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer stated.
“First, I would like to applaud the Armenian Assembly of America for their tireless efforts and advocacy in striving to deepen the relations between the United States and the Republic of Armenia,” Schumer said. “Additionally, I would like to spotlight this year’s honoree: Co-Chair of the Congressional Armenian Caucus and recipient of the Deukmejian Award for Public Service, Congresswoman Jackie Speier. I am proud to acknowledge Congresswoman Speier for her dedicated and passionate work in the Armenian community and for her commitment to strengthening United States and Armenia relations.”
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Robert Menendez said, “It is a moral imperative for us to recognize the atrocities committed against the Armenian people during the Armenian Genocide, and I will take every opportunity to advocate for American recognition of the genocide. I proud stand with the Armenian-American community on many critical issues, such as fighting for continued humanitarian support for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.”
Menendez added: “I am with you in spirit tonight as you celebrate the Armenian-American partnership and the indispensable work of the Armenian Assembly of America. Thank you for your unwavering support of democracy in the United State and Armenia and your work to ensure the interests of Armenian-Americans are heard in Congress and around the country. I have been blessed to work with the Armenian Assembly of America throughout my career and look forward to continuing that collaboration into the future.”