LAS VEGAS–The nation’s largest Armenian-American grassroots political action committee issued an endorsement for Senator John Ensign this week. The Armenian National Committee-Political Action Committee urges all Armenian Americans in Nevada to vote for Senator Ensign when they head to the polls on November 7, 2006. "John Ensign is a Congressional leader on Armenian issues who has earned the respect and votes of the ANC-PAC’s supporters in Las Vegas, Henderson, Reno and throughout the state," remarked Ara Shirinian who serves as Co-Chairman of the Nevada ANC. "We are proud of the solid track record of support the Senator has built over the years in our community and proud to have the ANC-PAC endorsing him." Fellow Nevada ANC Co-Chairman, Dr. Armen Hovanessian, added that, "Our community respects Senator Ensign for introducing a bill to recognize the Armenian Genocide in November of 2005 and for keeping an open channel of communication with our community. While this legislation was not adopted this year, we know Senator Ensign will keep fighting until the Congress goes on record acknowledging the crime against humanity committed against the Armenian people in 1915." On September 29 of this year, Senator Ensign took to the Senate floor to share with his colleagues his concerns over the "unacceptable" recall of US Ambassador John Evans, who, according to media reports, was dismissed from office for properly recognizing the Armenian Genocide. Upon his introduction last year of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, Senator Ensign remarked, "It is as important as ever that American foreign policy reflect our nation’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide. It is my hope that by acknowledging such atrocities we might help avoid them in the future. I applaud the Armenian people for their courage and persistence in bringing this horrible chapter in history to light." The Ensign 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." In the 109th Congress, 34 Senators co-sponsored S.Res. 320. On July 21 supporters of the ANC-PAC gathered in Las Vegas to honor Senator Ensign and raise funds for his reelection campaign. The event drew a broad cross section of community members, illustrating the broad appeal the Senator has among all Armenian Americans living in Nevada. At the event, ANC-PAC official Ara Bedrosian presented Senator Ensign with the Nevada ANCA Freedom Award in recognition of his leadership in advancing the cause of human rights and genocide recognition. Senator Ensign is presently the Vice Chairman of the Republican Steering Committee, the group that shapes the party’s legislative agenda. He is expected to take over the leadership of the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee later this year, replacing Senator Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) in that prestigious and powerful post. The ANC-PAC is a non-partisan federally registered political action committee established to support campaign committees for Members of Congress who share the values of the Armenian American community. The ANC-PAC is at the forefront of efforts to ensure that the voice of the Armenian American community is clearly heard in our nation’s capital. The ANC-PAC continues a century old tradition of Armenian Americans engagement on the public policy issues facing national political leaders, both in the US Congress and the White House.
