Local congressional rep David Valadao appointed as co-chair of Armenian caucus

“Armenia is a nation so many of my constituents know and love,” said Valadao. “During my time in Congress, I introduced several resolutions formally recognizing the Ottoman Empire's deportation and extermination of over two million Armenian people and, after years of Armenian-American advocacy for this cause, the House and the Senate finally passed House Resolution 29, affirming the United States record on the Armenian Genocide.”

However, Valadao went to say that his fight on behalf of my Armenian-American constituents must continue. According to the local congressman, Armenians living in Nagorno Karabakh recently faced attacks from Azerbaijani forces in violation of their decade-old ceasefire agreement. He said that this kind of aggression is unacceptable and must end immediately. He is committed to working with his colleagues in Congress on this issue and other important issues to the Armenian-American community as co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues.

“We must continue to advocate for the Armenian people and encourage the new Administration to maintain and strengthen relationships between the United States, Armenia, and Artsakh,” he continued.

Committee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) said that the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues has always operated in a bipartisan fashion, and “I know our current co-chairs will continue this tradition.” he said.  “I’m confident we will work together to ensure the United States strengthens its relationship with Armenia and supports its young, democratically elected government that was shaken by last year’s devastating aggression by Azeri and Turkish forces in the region. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Caucus to ensure the incoming Secretaries of State and Defense are focused on reassessing our strategic relationships in the Caucasus region, upholding the principle of human rights, and holding bad actors like Turkish President Erdogan accountable.”

Armenian National Committee of America Chairman Raffi Hamparian said he was encouraged by Valadao’s appointment. “The fact the Congressman Valadao was named to the powerful House Committee on Appropriations earlier this month – which controls all federal spending – will make him an even more important ally for the U.S. humanitarian aid package we are seeking to secure for the heroic people of Artsakh,” the ANCA chairman added.

Congressman Valadao joins co-chairs Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., Congressman Gus Bilirakis, Congresswoman Jackie Speier, and Vice-Chair Adam Schiff.