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Armenian Assembly Congratulates Jackie Speier On Election To Congres

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  • Armenian Assembly Congratulates Jackie Speier On Election To Congres

    ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY CONGRATULATES JACKIE SPEIER ON ELECTION TO CONGRESS

    armradio.am
    10.04.2008 10:47

    The Armenian Assembly of America congratulated former California State
    Senator Jackie Speier (D) on winning a special election to fill the
    House seat of the late Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA), avoiding a runoff in
    the contest to replace Lantos, who endorsed her before his death in
    February. With her win on Tuesday, Speier now joins fellow California
    lawmaker Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), as the second American of Armenian
    descent to serve in the 110th Congress.

    "The Armenian Assembly congratulates Jackie Speier on her resounding
    victory," said Assembly Board of Trustees Member Peter Kezirian,
    Jr. "As the newest Armenian-American representative in Congress,
    she will be a strong voice on behalf of her constituents and the
    Armenian-American community. As a member of the California Legislature,
    she was known as a dynamic and innovative legislator, and the Assembly
    is pleased she will bring these talents to our nation's capital."

    During her tenure in the California Legislature, the Assembly worked
    closely with Speier to advance Armenian issues in the state. In 2003,
    she served as mistress of ceremonies for the Assembly's National Gala
    in Palm Desert, CA.

    The daughter of a German immigrant and a first-generation
    Armenian-American, Speier has authored over a dozen bills related to
    Armenian issues during the course of her career in the California
    State Legislature. She has spearheaded legislation to commemorate
    the Armenian Genocide, and in 2005, she coauthored a bill to place
    the commemoration into permanent law. Before leaving the State
    Senate, Speier introduced a measure (SB 1524),whichprovides relief
    to California Armenian Genocide victims, and their families, who are
    seeking legal action to recover assets that were lost or stolen during
    the atrocities against the Armenian people. California Governor Arnold
    Schwarzenegger signed the measure into law in December 2006.

    After announcing that he had been diagnosed with cancer in early
    January, Lantos said that he would not seek reelection after
    concluding his 14th term in Congress. As Chairman of the Foreign
    Affairs Committee, Lantos supported adoption of H. Res. 106, which
    affirms the historical truth of the Armenian Genocide. This resolution
    passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee by a vote of 27 to 21.

    "One of the problems we have diplomatically globally is that we have
    lost our moral authority which we used to have in great abundance,"
    Lantos said.

    "People around the globe who are familiar with these events will
    appreciate the fact that the United States is speaking out against
    a historic injustice. This would be like sweeping slavery under the
    rug and saying slavery never occurred."

    Lantos also supported an identical measure during the 109th Congress,
    expressing strong concern over Turkey's refusal in 2003 to provide
    U.S. troops a northern front in the war against Iraq.
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