REP. SCHIFF LAUNCHES THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD CAMPAIGN
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American Chronicle
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May 11 2010
Congressional DeskMay 11, 2010Calls on survivors and their families
to document stories and memories of the genocide
Washington, DC – Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) 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 [email protected].
"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.
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.
On April 24, Rep. Schiff joined members of the community to commemorate
the Armenian Genocide.
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.