Representative Adam Schiff praised the House Foreign Affairs Committee's passage of a resolution he authored recognizing and commemorating the Armenian Genocide. The House Foreign Affairs Committee passed the resolution by a vote of 23-22. The bipartisan measure currently has 137 cosponsors, and it 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.

"The facts of history are clear, well documented, and non-negotiable. One and a half million Armenians were deliberately murdered in the first genocide of the 20th century. If we are to avoid this horrific crime in the future, we must be willing to condemn genocide whenever and wherever it occurs." said Schiff. "Today's Committee passage clears a major hurdle in moving this resolution forward. I will be working with my colleagues to ensure floor action for this important bill."

"The Affirmation of the U.S. Record on the Armenian Genocide" resolution 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."

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.