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Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.armenianassembly.org
PRESS RELEASE
November 9, 2006
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]
ARMENIAN ISSUES SUPPORTERS TO LEAD IN DEMOCRATIC SENATE
REID, DURBIN & BIDEN POISED FOR KEY POSITIONS
Washington, DC - One day after winning majority control in the House of
Representatives, Democrats took back the U.S. Senate, with Armenian
issues supporters Senators Harry Reid (D-NV) and Richard Durbin (D-IL)
positioned to serve as Majority Leader and Majority Whip respectively,
in the 110th Congress. Senator Joseph Biden, Jr. (D-DE), also a staunch
supporter, is expected to chair the powerful Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, which oversees policy concerning Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh.
All three Senators have raised awareness of the Armenian Genocide as
cosponsors of S. Res. 320, a resolution reaffirming the U.S. record
which is currently pending before the Foreign Relations Committee.
Reid, Durbin and Biden also voted to maintain Section 907 of the Freedom
Support Act in an historic Senate floor fight in 1999 of which, Senators
Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) led the effort in
maintaining Section 907 at that time. Sarbanes announced his retirement
from the Senate earlier this year and did not seek re-election. The
Assembly awarded him for his longstanding support of Armenian issues
during the National Advocacy Conference and Banquet in March of this
year.
"The Assembly will continue its bipartisan approach in the Senate and
looks forward to working with our Senate friends, as well as reaching
out to the new class of incoming Senators," said Executive Director
Bryan Ardouny. "We have much at stake and will continue to promote an
aggressive agenda to ensure a strong, prosperous and democratic
Armenia."
Ardouny also noted that Reid and Durbin, along with House Speaker-to-be
Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Steny Hoyer (D-MD), who is running for Majority
Leader, have been consistent supporters of Armenian issues. Their
anticipated leadership positions in the next Congress will provide new
opportunities for advancing key issues.
Additionally, Senator John Ensign (R-NV), who introduced S. Res. 320
with Durbin last year, was re-elected for a second term. Supporters of
the resolution who also won re-election include Senators Maria Cantwell
(D-WA), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Edward
Kennedy (D-MA), Herbert Kohl (D-WI), Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), Robert
Menendez (D-NJ), Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).
Senate Democrats Russ Feingold (WI), John Kerry (MA), Barbara Boxer (CA)
and Christopher Dodd (CT), who also support S. Res. 320, are positioned
for Subcommittee Chairmanships on the Foreign Relations Committee.
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) is in line to chair the important State,
Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee, a position
currently held by Republican Senator Mitch McConnell. The Kentucky
lawmaker, who has been instrumental in securing humanitarian, technical
and economic development assistance for Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, is
expected to serve as the Subcommittee's Ranking Member in the next
Congress.
Several other Armenian issues supporters are slated to chair full
committees, including Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA) - Health,
Education, Labor and Pensions; John Kerry (D-MA) - Small Business and
Entrepreneurship; Carl Levin (D-MI) - Armed Services; Tim Johnson (D-SD)
- Select Committee on Ethics; Herbert H. Kohl (D-WI) - Select Committee
on Aging; and Christopher Dodd (D-CT) - Banking, Housing and Urban
Affairs. Furthermore, Senators Charles Schumer (NY), Jack Reed (RI),
Dianne Feinstein (CA), Tom Harkin (IA), and Barbara Mikulski (MD) - are
all poised to chair various subcommittees.
Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV), who has worked against the Armenian
community's efforts to reaffirm the U.S. record on the Genocide, is in
line to chair the full Appropriations Committee.
Senator George Allen (R-VA), an ardent supporter of Armenian issues,
conceded his re-election bid today, while Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues Members Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Benjamin Cardin (D-MD)
both won seats in the Senate. Brown and Cardin both voted for Section
907 in the House floor fight in 1998 and support Armenia-specific
legislation in the current Congress.
As previously reported, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) was re-elected
for a second term, while Republican Rick Santorum was defeated in
Pennsylvania's Senate contest.
The Armenian Assembly is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issue. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
####
NR#2006-098
Editor's Note: Photographs available on the Assembly's Web site at the
following link:
http://www.aaainc.org/images/press/2006-098 /2006-098-1.jpg
Caption: Senator Richard J. Durbin (D-IL) with Board of Trustees
Executive Committee Member Lisa Esayian.
http://www.aaainc.org/images/press/2006- 098/2006-098-2.jpg
Caption: Senator Paul S. Sarbanes (D-MD) with Board of Trustees
Executive Committee Member Annie Totah at the Assembly's National
Advocacy Conference and banquet in March 2006.
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.armenianassembly.org
PRESS RELEASE
November 9, 2006
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]
ARMENIAN ISSUES SUPPORTERS TO LEAD IN DEMOCRATIC SENATE
REID, DURBIN & BIDEN POISED FOR KEY POSITIONS
Washington, DC - One day after winning majority control in the House of
Representatives, Democrats took back the U.S. Senate, with Armenian
issues supporters Senators Harry Reid (D-NV) and Richard Durbin (D-IL)
positioned to serve as Majority Leader and Majority Whip respectively,
in the 110th Congress. Senator Joseph Biden, Jr. (D-DE), also a staunch
supporter, is expected to chair the powerful Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, which oversees policy concerning Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh.
All three Senators have raised awareness of the Armenian Genocide as
cosponsors of S. Res. 320, a resolution reaffirming the U.S. record
which is currently pending before the Foreign Relations Committee.
Reid, Durbin and Biden also voted to maintain Section 907 of the Freedom
Support Act in an historic Senate floor fight in 1999 of which, Senators
Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) led the effort in
maintaining Section 907 at that time. Sarbanes announced his retirement
from the Senate earlier this year and did not seek re-election. The
Assembly awarded him for his longstanding support of Armenian issues
during the National Advocacy Conference and Banquet in March of this
year.
"The Assembly will continue its bipartisan approach in the Senate and
looks forward to working with our Senate friends, as well as reaching
out to the new class of incoming Senators," said Executive Director
Bryan Ardouny. "We have much at stake and will continue to promote an
aggressive agenda to ensure a strong, prosperous and democratic
Armenia."
Ardouny also noted that Reid and Durbin, along with House Speaker-to-be
Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Steny Hoyer (D-MD), who is running for Majority
Leader, have been consistent supporters of Armenian issues. Their
anticipated leadership positions in the next Congress will provide new
opportunities for advancing key issues.
Additionally, Senator John Ensign (R-NV), who introduced S. Res. 320
with Durbin last year, was re-elected for a second term. Supporters of
the resolution who also won re-election include Senators Maria Cantwell
(D-WA), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Edward
Kennedy (D-MA), Herbert Kohl (D-WI), Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), Robert
Menendez (D-NJ), Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).
Senate Democrats Russ Feingold (WI), John Kerry (MA), Barbara Boxer (CA)
and Christopher Dodd (CT), who also support S. Res. 320, are positioned
for Subcommittee Chairmanships on the Foreign Relations Committee.
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) is in line to chair the important State,
Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee, a position
currently held by Republican Senator Mitch McConnell. The Kentucky
lawmaker, who has been instrumental in securing humanitarian, technical
and economic development assistance for Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, is
expected to serve as the Subcommittee's Ranking Member in the next
Congress.
Several other Armenian issues supporters are slated to chair full
committees, including Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA) - Health,
Education, Labor and Pensions; John Kerry (D-MA) - Small Business and
Entrepreneurship; Carl Levin (D-MI) - Armed Services; Tim Johnson (D-SD)
- Select Committee on Ethics; Herbert H. Kohl (D-WI) - Select Committee
on Aging; and Christopher Dodd (D-CT) - Banking, Housing and Urban
Affairs. Furthermore, Senators Charles Schumer (NY), Jack Reed (RI),
Dianne Feinstein (CA), Tom Harkin (IA), and Barbara Mikulski (MD) - are
all poised to chair various subcommittees.
Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV), who has worked against the Armenian
community's efforts to reaffirm the U.S. record on the Genocide, is in
line to chair the full Appropriations Committee.
Senator George Allen (R-VA), an ardent supporter of Armenian issues,
conceded his re-election bid today, while Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues Members Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Benjamin Cardin (D-MD)
both won seats in the Senate. Brown and Cardin both voted for Section
907 in the House floor fight in 1998 and support Armenia-specific
legislation in the current Congress.
As previously reported, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) was re-elected
for a second term, while Republican Rick Santorum was defeated in
Pennsylvania's Senate contest.
The Armenian Assembly is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issue. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
####
NR#2006-098
Editor's Note: Photographs available on the Assembly's Web site at the
following link:
http://www.aaainc.org/images/press/2006-098 /2006-098-1.jpg
Caption: Senator Richard J. Durbin (D-IL) with Board of Trustees
Executive Committee Member Lisa Esayian.
http://www.aaainc.org/images/press/2006- 098/2006-098-2.jpg
Caption: Senator Paul S. Sarbanes (D-MD) with Board of Trustees
Executive Committee Member Annie Totah at the Assembly's National
Advocacy Conference and banquet in March 2006.