Burbank Leader, CA
Oct 20 2007
Genocide resolution fading
House speaker sounds less certain about bringing symbolic,
controversial measure to a House vote.
By Ryan Vaillancourt
GLENDALE – A week after the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed a
controversial resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide, sworn
backers of the bill are withdrawing their support as opponents warn
that its passage would threaten crucial U.S. military relations with
Turkey.
At one point, House Resolution 106 had garnered 236 co-sponsors – a
majority of the House and the most sponsors ever attached to a
genocide resolution.
But by Friday, that number was whittled down to 211 by
representatives who have begun to echo President Bush’s warning that,
with up to 70% of U.S. military supplies now flowing into Iraq from
Turkey, now is not the time to anger that nation.
Supporters of the bill have urged fellow advocates not to cave in to
the threats.
`When you have people who have co-sponsored the resolution who are
unwilling to stand up and be candid when you actually have to vote is
disappointing,’ said resolution co-author Rep. Adam Schiff, whose
district includes Glendale and Burbank. advertisement
`But I do think there is a strong sense among members of Congress
that genocide took place, and that we will recognize the Armenian
Genocide, and we’re going to press forward and make sure that we do.’
Though the resolution no longer has a majority of House members
signed on as co-sponsors, the dwindling support does not mean a
majority of members won’t vote in favor of the bill if Speaker Nancy
Pelosi, a supporter, brings it to the floor, said Aram Hamparian,
executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America.
Most congressional resolutions, after all, don’t amass hundreds of
co-sponsors before going before a vote, he said.
Still, the perceived deterioration of support was highlighted
Wednesday by Pelosi when, after saying Sunday that the measure would
make it to the floor, she told reporters in Washington that it
`remains to be seen’ whether she would bring it for a vote.
Though the statement marked a shift in certainty, Pelosi remains an
ardent supporter of genocide recognition, Schiff said.
`The speaker is absolutely committed to recognition of the genocide,
and she has been just a tremendous ally in this fight, so when we’re
confident that we have the votes to pass it, she will bring it up for
a vote, but we want to be confident that we’re going to win that
vote,’ he said.
Similar bills were passed in committee in 2000 and 2005, but former
Speaker Dennis Hastert failed to bring them to the House floor for a
vote.
Since then, however, the debate has evolved, Hamparian said.
Even the committee members who voted against the resolution last week
largely acknowledged and condemned the genocide, he said.
`We were gratified that the debate has moved beyond the point that
there’s denial as part of the equation,’ he said.
But that shift alone is unsatisfactory if the resolution fails, he
said.