ArmInfo. Armenian National Committee of Armenia launches grassroots letter campaign at anca.org/takeaction to address key Pro-Armenian appropriations and defense measures on the Docket, the press service of ANCA informs.
The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have returned from the August recess and are set to begin consideration of two key Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)-backed pro-Armenia and Artsakh measures dealing with expanded U.S. assistance to the region and efforts to ensure Artsakh security.
First, the Senate Appropriations Committee will be voting on the Fiscal Year 2020 foreign aid bill, a far-ranging multi-billion measure that touches on a number of ANCA policy priorities. Prior to the August recess, the U.S. House had adopted two ANCA- backed amendments that we are encouraging Senators to include in their version of the foreign aid bill. The first, the Speier Amendment, allocates an additional $40 million in democracy development assistance, while the second, the Cox Amendment, appropriated continued funding for de-mining and other humanitarian programs in Artsakh.
Meanwhile, key leaders of the U.S. House and Senate Armed Services Committees will be meeting to serve on a "conference committee" responsible with reconciling the House and Senate versions of a major defense authorization bill - known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). During negotiations, legislators are encouraged to ensure that two vital pro-Artsakh amendments - the Sherman and Chu Amendments - are included in the final version of this legislation that is sent to the White House for the President's signature.
ANCA advocates across the U.S. have been contacting their legislators through the organization's March to Justice action portal - anca.org/takeaction - to encourage legislators to ensure expanded U.S. assistance to Artsakh and Armenia and defend the key pro-Artsakh amendments to the NDAA.