WASHINGTON–ANCA interns attended the 46th annual Congressional Baseball Game for charity Monday evening, accompanied by ANCA governmental affairs director Raffi Karakashian and ANCA staffer Serouj Aprahamian. This came two days ahead of the National Phone In campaign in support of the Armenian Genocide Resolution in Congress.
During this event the ANCA representatives met with talked with Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD-5), Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI-14), Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Joe Knollenberg (R-MI-9) and representatives Joe Crowley (D-NY-7), Steve Rothman (D-NJ-9), Jim Langevin (D-RI-2), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX-18) and Joe Baca (D-CA-43).
Karakashian spoke with with Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer. He thanked each of them for their support of Armenian-American issues over the years and expressed hope that they would schedule a vote for the Armenian Genocide Resolution as soon as possible.
With a goal in sight of reaching 218 cosponsors ‘s a majority of the full U.S. House of Representatives ‘s Armenian Americans from across the country will take part on Wednesday, June 27 in a National Call-in Day for Congressional passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.
Currently, the Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.Res.106, has 211 cosponsors, more than 47 percent of the membership of the U.S. House. Supporters of the Resolution who are interested in participating in the Call-in campaign can learn more by visiting the ANCA website: www.anca.org
Based on the caller’s ZIP Code, the website will provide their Representative’s phone number and whether they are already a cosponsor of the Armenian Genocide Resolution. If they are already a supporter, the caller will be asked to express appreciation and urge him/her to encourage their House colleague to also cosponsor this legislation. If they are not a cosponsor, the caller will ask him/her to please cosponsor this human rights measure.
Calling a Congressional office is quick, convenient, and hassle-free.
Quick: The entire call will usually take less than three minutes; 180 seconds from start to finish.
Convenient: Calls can be made from home, at work, on vacation, while shopping, or from the road.
Hassle-Free: Congressional offices handle hundreds of constituent calls every week and are very polite and professional in welcoming your feedback.
In most cases (over 80 percent of the time), a caller will only have the opportunity to speak to a receptionist, who will take down a brief message. In some instances (about 15 percent of the time), the receptionist will transfer the caller to the voicemail box of a legislative aide. On rare occasion (less than 5 percent of the time), the caller will be transferred directly to the assistant handling foreign affairs.
Among the facts and argumen’s that callers are encouraged to consider presenting are the following:
Legislative Facts:
* H.Res.106 has 211 cosponsors, over 47 percent of the entire U.S. House.
* An identical resolution in the last session of Congress was verwhelmingly adopted in the International Relations Committee by a vote of 40 to 7.
* Forty U.S. states have recognized the Armenian Genocide.
Argumen’s:
* H.Res.106 respects American values: As a matter of American morality, the U.S. government should recognize and condemn all genocides – past and present.
* H.Res.106 recognizes the truth: The U.S. should not allow Turkey to use threats and blackmail to block the commemoration of a crime against humanity.
* H.Res.106 honors U.S. history: By recognizing the Armenian Genocide, we honor, as a proud chapter in American history, the U.S. diplomatic protests and relief efforts for the survivors of the Genocide.
* H.Res.106 promotes regional stability: By coming to terms with the Armenian Genocide, Turkey can lower regional tensions and open the door to improved relations with Armenia.
* H.Res.106 helps prevent future genocides: Turkey’s denial of the Armenian Genocide sets a dangerous precedent that makes future genocides more likely.
* H.Res.106 protects Armenia: Armenia cannot be safe as long as Turkey remains an unrepentant perpetrator of genocide against the Armenian nation.
* H.Res.106 encourages democracy: Turkey’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide would represent a step toward its acceptance into the European family of nations
