Pallone amendment could deprive Azerbaijan of eligibility for US  military aid 

ArmInfo. Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) efforts to block U.S. arms and aid to Azerbaijan took another step forward today with the U.S.  House Rules Committee deciding to permit a full House vote on an amendment, led by Rep.

Frank Pallone and his Congressional Armenian Caucus colleagues, blocking U.S.   military financing and training assistance for the Azerbaijani armed  forces, the press service of ANCA informs.  The House vote on the  Pallone amendment to the FY2022 foreign aid bill (H.R.4373) can come  as early as Wednesday, July 28th. 

Pro-Artsakh/Armenia advocates can write, call, and tweet their U.S.   Representatives to vote for the amendment by visiting anca.org/alert.   "We welcome today's decision by Chairman McGovern and the Rules  Committee and look forward to the opportunity for each Member of the  House to have an opportunity to cast a long overdue 'up-or-down' vote  on whether American tax dollars should be subsidizing the army of  oil-rich Azerbaijani dictator Ilham Aliyev," said ANCA Executive  Director Aram Hamparian. "In the hours leading up to this pivotal  vote, we encourage our community and coalition partners to ask their  Representatives to vote YES on the Pallone Amendment." The Pallone  Amendment states, "None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made  available by this Act [H.R.4373] under 'International Military  Education and Training' and 'Foreign Military Financing Program' may  be made available for Azerbaijan."  The provision does not block  discretionary military equipment which may be transferred by the  Department of Defense under U.S. laws Section 333.  The ANCA is  working with Senate and House Members of the Armed Services Committee  to address those concerns by strengthening Section 907 restrictions  on U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan.  Congressional Armenian Caucus  leaders Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Adam Schiff  (D-CA), Jackie Speier (D-CA), and David Valadao (R-CA) were joined by  the following House members as cosponsors of the amendment:   Representatives Tony Cardenas (D-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), David  Cicilline (D-RI), Jim Costa (D-CA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Jared Huffman  (D-CA), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Jim  Langevin (D-RI), Andy Levin (D-MI), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Devin Nunes  (R-CA), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), and Dina Titus (D-  NV).  The ANCA has distributed to Members of Congress a  point-by-point analysis of the immediate need to block all military  aid to Azerbaijan, citing their ongoing attacks against Armenia and  Artsakh, and the encroachment of over 1000 Azerbaijani soldiers on  sovereign Armenian territory.