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In Next Elections, Armenian Caucus
Can Become Majority in Congress
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
In the past eleven years, 163 members of the House of Representatives have
joined the bipartisan "Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues." The Caucus
addresses the concerns of the Armenian American community and helps improve
relations between the United States and Armenia.
With a new concerted effort by Armenian Americans, the Armenian Caucus could
easily surpass 218, which would constitute a majority of the 435 House
members. The Congressional elections on November 7 provide the perfect opportunity
to reach this goal, thus providing the Armenian American community with a
powerful political base in Washington, D.C.
Last Saturday, Cong. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), the co-chair of the Armenian
Caucus, visited Glendale and briefed the Armenian community on several Armenian
issues now pending in the U.S. Congress. Earlier this month, Cong. Joe
Knollenberg (R- Mich.), the other co-chair of the Caucus, also met with Armenians in
Southern California. The co-chairs and the members of the Caucus have played a
key role in pushing for the successful consideration by the House of
Representatives of various Armenian issues over the years, ranging from foreign aid to
Armenian Genocide resolutions.
The Armenian Caucus is currently the second largest ethnic Caucus in the
House, after the India Caucus which has 182 members. Given the many tight races
in the upcoming elections, congressional candidates are eager to court the
support of voters. This is the ideal time to ask the candidates to promise that
they would join the Armenian Caucus, should they win a seat in the House. Unless
they pledge to join the Caucus, no candidate, whether Republican or Democrat,
should receive the votes, campaign contributions or the endorsement of
Armenian individuals or organizations. Incumbents who are running for re-election
should be asked to join the Armenian Caucus immediately -- before November 7 --
as a pre-condition for endorsement or support in the upcoming elections. Most
candidates would eagerly oblige, once they are informed of the existence of
the Armenian Caucus and told that their membership in that Caucus is an
important consideration in gaining the backing of the Armenian American community. To
check if a particular Congressman is a member of the Armenian Caucus or not,
Armenian American voters can contact the Armenian National Committee of America
or the Armenian Assembly of America. Should the congressional candidate make
a pledge to join the Caucus, the above groups should be advised so that they
can to follow up with that candidate and secure his or her membership in the
Caucus after the election.
A new initiative must be launched to form an Armenian Caucus in the U.S.
Senate where an India Caucus exists ever since 2004, but not one for Armenia.
Imagine the political and psychological impact on both the supporters as well as
opponents of the Armenian Cause when 218 or more House and 51 or more Senate
members join the Armenian Caucus. While this would not be an ironclad majority
on every Armenian-related issue, it would provide a tremendous boost to the
political clout of the Armenian American community.
It is also important that the Armenian American community keep an eye on the
growing strength of "the Congressional Caucus on Turkey and Turkish
Americans" which currently has 70 members and "the Azerbaijani Friendship Group" which
has 17 House members. Armenian Americans should be aware of the names of the
members of the Turkish and Azeri caucuses and make sure not to support their
re-election. They should, in fact, vote for candidates running against members
of these two caucuses in the November elections. The list of the Turkish and
Azeri caucus members could be obtained by contacting the ANCA and the Armenian
Assembly.
Having a majority of House and Senate members join the Armenian Caucus by
this November would solidify the recent political gains registered by the
Armenian American community, particularly after the showdown in the Senate with the
Bush administration over the nomination of Richard Hoagland, the nominee for
Ambassador to Armenia, following the dismissal of Amb. John Evans for uttering
the words Armenian Genocide. The "hold" placed on the confirmation of Amb.
Hoagland forced the State Department to have a greater respect for the political
clout of the Armenian American community.
After the November elections, should the Armenian Caucus acquire a majority
in both the House and the Senate, the Bush administration as well as Turkey
and Azerbaijan would think twice before challenging the interests of the
Armenian American community in the U.S. Congress.
Can Become Majority in Congress
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
In the past eleven years, 163 members of the House of Representatives have
joined the bipartisan "Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues." The Caucus
addresses the concerns of the Armenian American community and helps improve
relations between the United States and Armenia.
With a new concerted effort by Armenian Americans, the Armenian Caucus could
easily surpass 218, which would constitute a majority of the 435 House
members. The Congressional elections on November 7 provide the perfect opportunity
to reach this goal, thus providing the Armenian American community with a
powerful political base in Washington, D.C.
Last Saturday, Cong. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), the co-chair of the Armenian
Caucus, visited Glendale and briefed the Armenian community on several Armenian
issues now pending in the U.S. Congress. Earlier this month, Cong. Joe
Knollenberg (R- Mich.), the other co-chair of the Caucus, also met with Armenians in
Southern California. The co-chairs and the members of the Caucus have played a
key role in pushing for the successful consideration by the House of
Representatives of various Armenian issues over the years, ranging from foreign aid to
Armenian Genocide resolutions.
The Armenian Caucus is currently the second largest ethnic Caucus in the
House, after the India Caucus which has 182 members. Given the many tight races
in the upcoming elections, congressional candidates are eager to court the
support of voters. This is the ideal time to ask the candidates to promise that
they would join the Armenian Caucus, should they win a seat in the House. Unless
they pledge to join the Caucus, no candidate, whether Republican or Democrat,
should receive the votes, campaign contributions or the endorsement of
Armenian individuals or organizations. Incumbents who are running for re-election
should be asked to join the Armenian Caucus immediately -- before November 7 --
as a pre-condition for endorsement or support in the upcoming elections. Most
candidates would eagerly oblige, once they are informed of the existence of
the Armenian Caucus and told that their membership in that Caucus is an
important consideration in gaining the backing of the Armenian American community. To
check if a particular Congressman is a member of the Armenian Caucus or not,
Armenian American voters can contact the Armenian National Committee of America
or the Armenian Assembly of America. Should the congressional candidate make
a pledge to join the Caucus, the above groups should be advised so that they
can to follow up with that candidate and secure his or her membership in the
Caucus after the election.
A new initiative must be launched to form an Armenian Caucus in the U.S.
Senate where an India Caucus exists ever since 2004, but not one for Armenia.
Imagine the political and psychological impact on both the supporters as well as
opponents of the Armenian Cause when 218 or more House and 51 or more Senate
members join the Armenian Caucus. While this would not be an ironclad majority
on every Armenian-related issue, it would provide a tremendous boost to the
political clout of the Armenian American community.
It is also important that the Armenian American community keep an eye on the
growing strength of "the Congressional Caucus on Turkey and Turkish
Americans" which currently has 70 members and "the Azerbaijani Friendship Group" which
has 17 House members. Armenian Americans should be aware of the names of the
members of the Turkish and Azeri caucuses and make sure not to support their
re-election. They should, in fact, vote for candidates running against members
of these two caucuses in the November elections. The list of the Turkish and
Azeri caucus members could be obtained by contacting the ANCA and the Armenian
Assembly.
Having a majority of House and Senate members join the Armenian Caucus by
this November would solidify the recent political gains registered by the
Armenian American community, particularly after the showdown in the Senate with the
Bush administration over the nomination of Richard Hoagland, the nominee for
Ambassador to Armenia, following the dismissal of Amb. John Evans for uttering
the words Armenian Genocide. The "hold" placed on the confirmation of Amb.
Hoagland forced the State Department to have a greater respect for the political
clout of the Armenian American community.
After the November elections, should the Armenian Caucus acquire a majority
in both the House and the Senate, the Bush administration as well as Turkey
and Azerbaijan would think twice before challenging the interests of the
Armenian American community in the U.S. Congress.
