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ARMENIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY LEADERS MEET WITH US CONGRESSMAN
news.am
Aug 31 2011
Armenia
VAN NUYS. - A number of Armenian community leaders and activists
met with Congressman Howard Berman (CA-28-D-Van Nuys) on Wednesday,
August 17, to discuss a broad range of issues that are of concern to
the Armenian American community.
The event took place at Berman's Van Nuys District Office, where the
member of Congress briefed Armenian American community leaders from
the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region (ANCA-WR),
Asbarez newspaper, the Armenian General Athletic Union (Homenetmen),
the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF), the Armenian American Chamber of
Commerce, and the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA) on the work that
he and his staff have done to address issues ranging from American
affirmation of the Armenian Genocide to advancing US-Armenia relations.
He reiterated his strong support of the Armenian American community
throughout the United States, and encouraged those in attendance to
candidly discuss with him any further issues of importance that he
might pursue.
"I want to thank the community leaders who attended this event. Your
commitment to civic engagement is unparalleled," said Congressman
Howard Berman. "I have long been passionate about the issues of
importance to the Armenian-American community, and I am proud that we
are partners in so many critical causes. Our meeting, if anything,
strengthened my commitment on these issues. It was informative and
productive, and I look forward to taking the thoughts and concerns
shared during our open discussion back with me to Washington."
Berman is presently the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, of which he was the former chairperson. During his tenure
as the committee's chairperson in the 111th Congress, he shepherded
H.Res.252, the Armenian Genocide Resolution, to a successful vote
in committee.
Most recently, he was instrumental the passage of the Berman-Cicilline
Amendment to the State Department Authorization Bill which calls on
the Republic of Turkey to respect religious freedom and urges the
return of church properties in present-day Turkey to their rightful
Christian owners. The amendment was inspired by H.Res.306 a resolution
on the same subject jointly authored by Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues co-Chair Congressman Ed Royce (CA-40-R-Orange) and
Congressman Berman.
"We welcome this effort by Congressman Berman to proactively engage
the Armenian American community," said Zareh Sinanyan, a member of
the ANCA-WR Board of Directors who attended the meeting. "The ANCA-WR,
working with community organizations - especially youth organizations
such as the AYF and Homenetmen - feels that these opportunities to
connect Members of Congress with their constituencies are a vital
part of our community's ever growing civic engagement."
Berman represents California's 28th Congressional District, which
comprises much of the San Fernando Valley, including the city of
San Fernando, and the communities of Pacoima, Arleta, Panorama City,
Sylmar, North Hollywood, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, Studio City,
and the Hollywood Hills at the east end of the Santa Monica Mountains.
The 28th Congressional District encompasses a number of vibrant and
thriving Armenian enclaves; several Armenian day schools and Armenian
churches; a host of Armenian-owned business, and tens of thousands
of Armenian American constituents.
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.
news.am
Aug 31 2011
Armenia
VAN NUYS. - A number of Armenian community leaders and activists
met with Congressman Howard Berman (CA-28-D-Van Nuys) on Wednesday,
August 17, to discuss a broad range of issues that are of concern to
the Armenian American community.
The event took place at Berman's Van Nuys District Office, where the
member of Congress briefed Armenian American community leaders from
the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region (ANCA-WR),
Asbarez newspaper, the Armenian General Athletic Union (Homenetmen),
the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF), the Armenian American Chamber of
Commerce, and the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA) on the work that
he and his staff have done to address issues ranging from American
affirmation of the Armenian Genocide to advancing US-Armenia relations.
He reiterated his strong support of the Armenian American community
throughout the United States, and encouraged those in attendance to
candidly discuss with him any further issues of importance that he
might pursue.
"I want to thank the community leaders who attended this event. Your
commitment to civic engagement is unparalleled," said Congressman
Howard Berman. "I have long been passionate about the issues of
importance to the Armenian-American community, and I am proud that we
are partners in so many critical causes. Our meeting, if anything,
strengthened my commitment on these issues. It was informative and
productive, and I look forward to taking the thoughts and concerns
shared during our open discussion back with me to Washington."
Berman is presently the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, of which he was the former chairperson. During his tenure
as the committee's chairperson in the 111th Congress, he shepherded
H.Res.252, the Armenian Genocide Resolution, to a successful vote
in committee.
Most recently, he was instrumental the passage of the Berman-Cicilline
Amendment to the State Department Authorization Bill which calls on
the Republic of Turkey to respect religious freedom and urges the
return of church properties in present-day Turkey to their rightful
Christian owners. The amendment was inspired by H.Res.306 a resolution
on the same subject jointly authored by Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues co-Chair Congressman Ed Royce (CA-40-R-Orange) and
Congressman Berman.
"We welcome this effort by Congressman Berman to proactively engage
the Armenian American community," said Zareh Sinanyan, a member of
the ANCA-WR Board of Directors who attended the meeting. "The ANCA-WR,
working with community organizations - especially youth organizations
such as the AYF and Homenetmen - feels that these opportunities to
connect Members of Congress with their constituencies are a vital
part of our community's ever growing civic engagement."
Berman represents California's 28th Congressional District, which
comprises much of the San Fernando Valley, including the city of
San Fernando, and the communities of Pacoima, Arleta, Panorama City,
Sylmar, North Hollywood, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, Studio City,
and the Hollywood Hills at the east end of the Santa Monica Mountains.
The 28th Congressional District encompasses a number of vibrant and
thriving Armenian enclaves; several Armenian day schools and Armenian
churches; a host of Armenian-owned business, and tens of thousands
of Armenian American constituents.
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.