GLENDALE—The The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region announced that it will be honoring human rights champion Congressman Howard Berman (CA-28-D) as Man of the Year during its annual Banquet on October 24.
The honor is among the organization’s highest awards and is being granted to Congressman Berman for his leadership on the Armenian Genocide Resolution, H. Res. 252, as well as for his years of support on issues of importance to the Armenian American community.
“We would like to pay a special tribute to Congressman Berman for his ardent support of our issues over the years,” said ANCA-WR Banquet Committee Member Raffi Kassabian. “Congressman Berman has truly demonstrated his dedication to advancing important human rights legislation and rejecting a foreign government’s ability to place a gag rule on the United States Congress. His tenacity and courage is truly worthy of special commendation.”
Despite an intense campaign of threats and coercion by the Turkish government and its lobbyists in Washington, as well as last minute opposition from the Obama Administration, the influential House Foreign Affairs Committee took a major step towards ending U.S. complicity in Turkey’s denial of the Armenian Genocide by adopting H. Res. 252 in March of 2010.
As Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Howard Berman successfully led the effort to pass H. Res. 252 in the Committee. During his remarks, Chairman Berman noted that even though the United States and Turkey are allies, there should be no justification for Turkey turning a blind eye to the reality of the Armenian Genocide.
“I don’t pretend to be a professional historian. But the vast majority of experts – the vast majority – academics, authorities in international law, and others who have looked at this issue for years, agree that the tragic massacres of the Armenians constitute genocide,” stated Chairman Berman. He also referenced Professor Yehuda Bauer, a highly respected scholar at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, who has called the Armenian Genocide “the closest parallel to the Holocaust.”
H. Res. 252, introduced in March of 2009 by lead sponsors Adam Schiff (CA-29-D) and George Radanovich (CA-19-R), and Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-chairs Frank Pallone (NJ-06-D) and Mark Kirk (IL-10-R), currently has over 140 cosponsors. A parallel Senate measure, spearheaded by Senators Bob Menendez (NJ-D) and John Ensign (NV-R), has 13 cosponsors.
The Armenian Genocide resolution calls upon the President to ensure that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the United States record relating to the Armenian Genocide.
Howard Berman: a life of leadership
Born in Los Angeles, California, Howard Berman attended U.C.L.A., where he received his B.A. in 1962 and his LL.B. in 1965. From 1967 until 1973, he practiced law in Los Angeles, specializing in labor relations. In 1973, he was elected to the California State Assembly.
In his first term in the state legislature, then-Assemblyman Berman was named Assembly Majority leader, the youngest person ever to serve in that leadership capacity. He also served as Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus and the Policy Research Management Committee of the Assembly. In 1982, Berman was elected to Congress where he was named to the Foreign Affairs and Judiciary Committees.
Following his appointment as Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in March 2008, Congressman Berman negotiated a five-year, $50 billion reauthorization of our global HIV/AIDS programs; authored legislation that removed Nelson Mandela and other members of the African National Congress from the U.S. terrorism list; and passed a bill to strengthen U.S. assistance to Israel.
In the 111th Congress, his top priorities include improving America’s diplomatic strength through a reauthorization of the State Department, assistance to fight terrorism in Pakistan, and improving the efficiency of U.S. foreign aid.
As Vice Chair of the Judiciary Committee, Congressman Berman plays a key role in shaping the copyright, trademark, and patent laws that are of vital importance to the entertainment, biotechnology, broadcasting, pharmaceutical, telecommunication, consumer electronics, and information technology industries.
As a member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law, Congressman Berman plays a key role in trade legislation, combating international copyright piracy, and immigration reform. Congressman Berman is particularly well-known for his ability to form bipartisan coalitions.
The 2010 Annual Banquet – which is set to be a sold out event – will be held on October 24th at the Universal Sheraton in Los Angeles. The Banquet represents the single largest annual gathering of Armenian American leaders and public officials in California. The Banquet is attended by more than a thousand benefactors, supporters and community allies. Individuals interested in attending the ANCA-Western Region banquet are encouraged to call (818) 500-1918.
2010 ANCA-WR Man of the Year honoree, Congressman Howard Berman (CA-28-D)
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Great congressman.
Anyone who champions the Armenian cause and works against injustice should be honoured.
Amergahyes are so easily fooled. This guy is evil, have you seen the rest of his foreign policy?
Satenik- anyone who selectively picks which just causes they support and then supports things like occupation of iraq, palestine, and lebanon is no one to be honored. this man does not work against injustice, he causes it. to me he is not genuine. the way you guys talk is like “well if hitler supports and helps us then we dont really care what his actions to other people are”. this is not the way armenians should be
Truth is not an idea GOD’S WORD is truth,,, blessed will be those that speek truth, YES IT WAS GENOCIDE!!! Thank you congressman Howard Berman for choosing the side of light , and not the dark, you deserve the honor , the honor comes from TRUTH ! He honors you… God bless and keep you,,,,, you see not everything is for sale… GOD bless the U.S.A