Rep. Schiff Launches Armenian Genocide Congressional Record Campaign

Calls on survivors and their families to document stories and memories of the genocide

WASHINGTON, DC–Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) on Wednesday launched an effort to parallel H. Res. 252, the Congressional resolution he introduced to recognize and commemorate the Armenian Genocide, by calling on survivors of the genocide carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, as well as their family members and descendants, to submit their stories and memories for inclusion into the Congressional Record.

Survivors of the genocide and their families from throughout the country are encouraged to send Congressman Schiff the story of what happened to their family during the genocide.  The Congressman will then make these accounts a part of the Congressional Record — the nation’s enduring record of proceedings before Congress.

Please send your family’s story to Mary Hovagimian in the Congressman’s Pasadena office.  She can be reached at mary.hovagimian@mail.house.gov.

“Let us fill the Congressional Record with the personal histories of those who survived the genocide and their families,” Rep. Schiff said. “While there are still some survivors left, we can use the official record of the Congress to document the first genocide of the last century.  This can become an important resource for historians, a vital part of our nation’s archives, and a part of the continuing effort to educate Members of Congress as we move forward with the genocide resolution.”

While the Armenian Genocide has been recognized by more than 20 nations including Canada, Italy, Sweden, France, Argentina and Russia, as well as the European Parliament, it has not been formally recognized by the U.S. Congress in decades.

Congressman Schiff is the primary sponsor of H. Res. 252, the Affirmation of the U.S. Record on the Armenian Genocide, which calls on the President and the U.S. Government to properly recognize the atrocities that occurred in Armenia beginning in 1915, and which resulted in 1.5 million deaths, as genocide. To read the text of H. Res. 252, click here.

On April 22, Rep. Schiff sent a letter to President Obama, again urging him to properly characterize the murder of 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children as “genocide” in his statement marking the April 24 anniversary of the start of the genocide. The President’s statement fell tragically short, failing to speak plainly of the genocide, to the great consternation of the survivors and their descendants. To read the full text of the letter, click here.

On April 24, Rep. Schiff joined members of the community to commemorate the Armenian Genocide. To see video of the Rep. Schiff’s remarks on his YouTube channel, click here.

Rep. Schiff is also the co-author of the California State law allowing family members of Armenian Genocide victims to request payment on the life-insurance policies of relatives. He represents California’s 29th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, East Pasadena, East San Gabriel, Glendale, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena and Temple City.