Category: 2021

Overwhelmingly Adopts ANCA-Backed Pallone Amendment to FY2022 Foreign Aid Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. House of Representatives today voted overwhelmingly to restrict U.S. foreign military financing and training assistance to Azerbaijan, passing a bipartisan, ANCA-backed amendment led by Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and twenty of his House colleagues. The vote sends a powerful signal to Azerbaijan’s dictatorial Aliyev regime that their ongoing aggression against Armenia and Artsakh will not be rewarded with U.S. taxpayer-funded military assistance.

“The House today took a principled, bipartisan stand against Azerbaijan – overwhelmingly voting down U.S. military aid in response to Baku’s ethnic-cleansing of Artsakh and ongoing aggression against Armenia,” said ANCA Chair Raffi Hamparian.  “With power and purpose, the ANCA will continue our legislative advocacy until not a single U.S. tax dollar is sent to the army of the rogue, racist oil-rich dictator of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev.”

The Pallone Amendment states, “None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act [H.R.4373] under ‘International Military Education and Training’ and ‘Foreign Military Financing Program’ may be made available for Azerbaijan.”  The provision does not block discretionary military equipment, which may be transferred by the Department of Defense under U.S. laws Section 333.  The ANCA is working with Senate and House Members of the Armed Services Committee to address those concerns by strengthening Section 907 restrictions on U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan.

Congressional Armenian Caucus leaders Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jackie Speier (D-CA), and David Valadao (R-CA) were joined by the following House members as cosponsors of the amendment: Representatives Tony Cardenas (D-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), David Cicilline (D-RI), Jim Costa (D-CA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Jim Langevin (D-RI), Andy Levin (D-MI), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Devin Nunes (R-CA), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), and Dina Titus (D-NV).

The House vote on the Pallone amendment was included in a bi-partisan series of amendments voted “en bloc,” and overwhelmingly adopted. The House will vote on the broader Fiscal Year 2022 Foreign Aid Bill (H.R.4373) later Wednesday night. That broader bill is accompanied by a report which calls for not less than $50 million in U.S. assistance to Armenia, “for economic development, private sector productivity, energy independence, democracy and the rule of law, and other purposes.”  It urges not less than $2 million for demining activities in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).  The recommendation for U.S. assistance to Armenia is over twice that requested by President Biden in his FY2022 proposed budget, which remains silent on U.S. assistance to Artsakh.

With regard to President Biden’s waiver of Section 907, the report accompanying H.R.4373 states, “The Committee is concerned by the disparity in military assistance provided to Azerbaijan in comparison to Armenia that is enabled by the annual waiver of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act by the Secretary of State, including the most recent waiver signed by the Secretary on April 23, 2021. The Committee directs the military balance between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the diplomatic consequences of such disparity in military assistance be considered by the Secretary in any decision with respect to the renewal of the Section 907 waiver during fiscal year 2022.”

The ANCA distributed a point-by-point analysis of the immediate need to block all military aid to Azerbaijan to Members of Congress, citing their ongoing attacks against Armenia and Artsakh, and the encroachment of over 1000 Azerbaijani soldiers on sovereign Armenian territory.  The document is available online.

Passes FY2022 Foreign Aid Bill Urging $52 Million in U.S Aid to Artsakh and Armenia; Cutting Military Aid to Azerbaijan

WASHINGTON—The U.S. House expressed concern over President Joe Biden’s April 23rd waiver of Section 907 restrictions on U.S. aid to Azerbaijan, citing its contribution to the disparity in U.S. military assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan, in a report accompanying the Fiscal Year 2022 Foreign Aid Bill (H.R.4373), adopted this evening by a vote of 217 to 213, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

“We welcome today’s U.S. House report language as a meaningful step, alongside today’s adoption of the Pallone Amendment, toward rolling back President Biden’s reckless waiver of Section 907 and, more broadly, stopping all U.S. arms and aid to Azerbaijan’s oil-rich, racist, and openly anti-Armenian Aliyev regime,” said ANCA Government Affairs Director Tereza Yerimyan. “Not a single U.S. tax dollar should ever be shipped to the Azerbaijani military to kill, cripple, or capture Armenians.”

The report accompanying the H.R.4373 also calls for not less than $50 million in U.S. assistance to Armenia, “for economic development, private sector productivity, energy independence, democracy and the rule of law, and other purposes.”  It urges not less than $2 million for demining activities in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).  The recommendation for U.S. assistance to Armenia is over twice that requested by President Biden in his FY2022 proposed budget, which remains silent on the matter of U.S. assistance to Artsakh.

Earlier in the day, the U.S. House voted to amend H.R.4373 to restrict U.S. foreign military and training assistance to Azerbaijan, adopting the ANCA-backed Pallone Amendment, which was led by Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ), with the support of 19 Armenian Caucus colleagues.

In remarks offered on the House Floor, Rep. Pallone thanked House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations Chair, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), for her leadership in supporting pro-Artsakh/Armenia measures in the FY2022 Foreign Aid Bill. “I know that she has been a supporter of the Armenian people for many years. [I’ve] been to her district and seen some of the Armenian Americans who really love her,” stated Rep. Pallone, who spotlighted the need for expanded U.S. aid to Armenia and Artsakh. “This unprecedented commitment in funding will go a long way in helping economic, governance, and rule of law reforms, while further strengthening America’s strategic partnership with this young democracy. The language included in this bill also helps address the humanitarian needs in Artsakh as a result of the 44-day war perpetrated by Azerbaijan and Turkey last fall, and directs an additional two million dollars for demining programs.”

Rep. Pallone also had special praise for Chairman Jim McGovern (D-MA) and the House Rules Committee, which permitted the full U.S. House vote on the amendment to block foreign military and training funds to Azerbaijan.  “So, let me be clear, Madam Speaker, this bill sends a clear signal that we will not aid or tolerate authoritarian regimes that threaten peace and security, especially when those actions are aimed at a fellow democracy,” stated Rep. Pallone.

Rep. Pallone’s remarks were live-streamed by the ANCA on social media channels.

Rep. Speier concurred, noting, “As the Co-Chair of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, I commend my colleagues for including my request of $50 million in assistance to Armenia in the report language of the State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill.  This investment will help bolster Armenia’s economy, rule of law, and provide much-needed humanitarian assistance to Armenians affected by and displaced by last year’s horrific fighting in Artsakh.”  In a statement issued to the ANCA earlier this evening, Rep. Speier went on to state, “I was also proud to co-sponsor an amendment that will bar any International Military Education and Training (IMET) program funds and any Foreign Military Financing (FMF) funds from going to Azerbaijan. The U.S. must take a stand against Azerbaijan’s assaults against Armenia, not least to protect Armenia’s young democracy against Azerbaijan’s aggressive and autocratic government.”

Earlier in the day, Rep. Speier had met with ANCA Leo Sarkisian, Maral Melkonian Avetisyan, and Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Summer interns, where she explained the importance of strengthening the U.S.-Armenia relationship and stopping U.S. funding of Azerbaijan’s anti-Armenian aggression.

The U.S. Senate has yet to review its version of the FY2022 foreign aid bill. The ANCA continues to work closely with Senate appropriators to cut military aid to Azerbaijan and expand U.S. aid to Armenia and Artsakh.  

The ANCA’s testimony outlining its FY2022 foreign aid priorities was submitted by Government Affairs Director Tereza Yerimyan in June.

To honor the memory of the recently deceased Satig Der Ohanessian, her husband, Meher Der Ohanessian, heeded a suggestion from Western Prelate Bishop Torkom Donoyan and established the “Satig Der Ohanessian” Fund, with $110,000. The fund will be under the supervision of the Prelate and will be allocated to the Prelacy’s cultural efforts, specifically to bolster its musical endeavors.

The Prelate welcomed Meher Der Ohanessian, the Vice-President of the Prelacy Executive Council, who was accompanied by his sons, Ari and Saro and their spouses. Prelate Donoyan, once again, praised the Der Ohanessian family for their continued commitment to the Prelacy, and welcomed the family’s decision to heed his request.

Meher Der Ohanessian thanked the Prelate for his genuine suggestion for the creation of the fund to memorialize his beloved wife, Satig. Der Ohanessian said that he was proud that in honor of Satig, this fund will continuously work within the Western Prelacy and pledged that he and his family will support all the programs of the “Satig Der Ohanessian” Fund.

The $110,000 fund was created from the Der Ohanessian’s family’s generous support during the sad passing of Satig Der Ohanessian, as well as the in lieu of flowers donations from Satig’s family and friends.