ArmInfo.The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) welcomes Congressman David Valadao - a longtime defender of Artsakh and Armenia on Capitol Hill - as the new co-chair of the Congress Group on Armenian Issues.
"ANCA welcomes Congressman Valadao's leadership in the Congressional Armenian Issues Group," said ANCA Chairman Raffi Amparian. "The fact that Congressman Valadao was included in the influential House Appropriations Committee earlier this month, which oversees all federal spending, will make him an even more important ally in the US humanitarian aid package that we strive to provide to the heroic people of Artsakh, "the ANCA chairman added.
In a statement released earlier today, member of the House of Representatives Valadao noted the importance of strengthening relations between the United States, Armenia and Artsakh. "Armenia is a country that many of my voters know and love," said Congressman Valadao. "During my time in Congress, I presented several resolutions recognizing the deportation and destruction of more than two million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire, and after many years the Armenian American propaganda The House of Representatives and Senate finally made this important decision. However, my fight must continue. Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh have recently been attacked by Azerbaijani troops in violation of a ceasefire agreement. Such aggression is unacceptable and must stop immediately. I am determined to work with my colleagues in Congress on this and other issues of importance to the Armenian-American community, as Co-Chair of the Congress Group on Armenian Issues. We must continue to protect the interests of the Armenian people and encourage the new administration to maintain and strengthen relations between the United States, Armenia and Artsakh, "the Congressman said. Group Co-Chair Frank Pallone welcomed Valadao to the leadership of the faction. In a statement released today, Congressman Pallone noted: "The Congressional Armenian Issues Group has always acted on a bipartisan principle, and I know that our current co-chairs continue this tradition. I am confident that we will work together to ensure that the United States' relationship with Armenia is strengthened and supported by its young, democratically elected government, which was shaken by last year's destructive aggression by Azerbaijani and Turkish forces in the region. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Caucus to ensure that the new secretary of state and defense minister are focused on reassessing our strategic relationship in the Caucasus region, upholding the principle of human rights and bringing bad actors like Turkish President Erdogan to justice. " Congressman Valadao, who returned to Congress this year after a bitter election campaign, has a long history of championing issues of particular concern to Armenians. In 2017, he traveled to Artsakh, despite objections from the State Department, and spearheaded the adoption of an amendment, according to which humanitarian aid is used to demine Artsakh. To remind, in 1995 a bipartisan group of congressmen on Armenian issues, the Armenian Caucus, was created in the US Congress. It was founded by Democrat Frank Pallone and Republican Edward Porter.