Senators Allard and Santorum Back Armenian Genocide Resolution
Two Senate Republicans - Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and Wayne Allard of Colorado joined the supporters of the Armenian Genocide Resolution in the Senate. The addition of two new Republicans brings the total number of Senators supporting the Armenian Genocide Resolution, S.Res.320, to twenty-seven, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). Senator Santorum has been a consistent supporter of Armenian Genocide legislation throughout his tenure in the Senate and dating back to his years in the U.S. House of Representatives. Senator Allard, who has not traditionally supported Armenian Genocide resolutions, backed the measure after hearing from the increasingly vibrant Colorado Armenian community about the importance of the U.S. government demonstrating moral clarity on issues of genocide. "We want to thank Senator Santorum for, once again, lending his support to Armenian Genocide legislation - and look forward to assisting his efforts, as Republican Conference Chairman - to see this measure brought to a vote of the full Senate at the first opportunity," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We join, as well, with the Armenian community of Colorado in warmly welcoming Senator Allard's principled support for this genocide recognition and prevention initiative."
S. Res. 320, which was introduced last November by Senator John Ensign (R-NV) and Senate Minority Whip Richard Durbin (D-IL), calls on the President to "ensure that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding" of the "Armenian Genocide" and to "accurately characterize the systematic and deliberate annihilation of 1,500,000 Armenians as genocide" in the President's annual message. The Senate version compliments House resolution 316 which was introduced in June 2005 by Congressmen George Radanovich (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ). The House bill, which has more than 144 cosponsors to date, passed the House International Relations Committee by a resounding vote in September.
S. Res. 320, which was introduced last November by Senator John Ensign (R-NV) and Senate Minority Whip Richard Durbin (D-IL), calls on the President to "ensure that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding" of the "Armenian Genocide" and to "accurately characterize the systematic and deliberate annihilation of 1,500,000 Armenians as genocide" in the President's annual message. The Senate version compliments House resolution 316 which was introduced in June 2005 by Congressmen George Radanovich (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ). The House bill, which has more than 144 cosponsors to date, passed the House International Relations Committee by a resounding vote in September.
