H. Res. 227: Why You Should Care and How You Can Help

ANCA Desk
If you haven’t already heard, the ANCA partnered with several of our friends in Congress to introduce House Resolution 227: the Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Resolution. The resolution was introduced by Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.), Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), and Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.).
This isn’t the first time an Armenian Genocide resolution has been introduced in the U.S. Congress, and it certainly won’t be the last. But H. Res. 227 is exciting because it calls upon the president to work toward equitable, constructive, and durable Armenian-Turkish relations based upon the Republic of Turkey’s full acknowledgement of the facts and ongoing consequences of the genocide, and a fair, just, and comprehensive international resolution of this crime against humanity.
H. Res. 227 also includes prior instances of U.S. recognition of the genocide, as far back as the Woodrow Wilson Administration. The text from H. Res. 304 from the 112^th Congress described the facts and the American response to the genocide while calling upon the president to ensure that the foreign policy of the U.S. reflects the facts of the genocide, urging him to call it a genocide in his annual April 24^th statement.
So why should you care? We all realize the genocide is 98 years past, but that doesn’t mean we have stopped pursuing recognition in the U.S. and in Turkey. It doesn’t mean we can’t continue to hope for a peaceful solution to Armenian-Turkish relations. As an Armenian-American citizen, you should care about the future of our homeland and work to make every day just a little bit easier for our people there now.
This resolution, like those in years past, is going to mean something if you take action. The only way your Congressman is going to consider co-sponsoring H. Res. 227 is if s/he hears from constituents. Our lobby can be a powerful one if you and a few people you know step up. Think about it—it’s not just Armenians who can call on their representatives to pass a resolution. Invite your friends, your colleagues, your dog walker, we don’t care! Have them click on this Action Alert and take 60 seconds out of their day to help H. Res. 227 pass in the House of Representatives: www.anca.org/action_alerts/action_disp.php?aaid=62676046
The form takes a minute to fill out and it will send an ANCA webmail on your behalf directly to your Congressman.
If you want to go a step further, feel free to give your representative a call at his or her Washington office; all it takes is a quick Google search to obtain the number.
Or, you can reach out to the ANCA Eastern Region office by e-mailing ancaer@anca.org, and we’ll be happy to help you connect to your Congressman. It’s that simple and it makes a world of difference.
H. Res. 227 is significant even if you think Armenians need to focus on issues other than genocide recognition. It is just one of many topics on the ANCA’s to do list, but one that we take very seriously.
As Congressman Pallone, co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, said: “Armenia stands as a resilient ally of the United States and a nation dedicated to democracy and regional stability, and the resolution introduced…shows that we will not stand idly by when the truth of this genocide is distorted by the Turkish government.”
Please help us pass H. Res. 227 today