ArmInfo.Powerful Congressional, community, and coalition advocacy contributed to today's U.S. House passage of four Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)-backed amendments demanding Baku's release of Armenian prisoners of war (POWs), calling for investigations into Azerbaijani war crimes, reporting on the impact of U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan, and placing restrictions on the sale of F-16s to Turkey.
Three of the measures were adopted as part of larger groupings, or blocs, of amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA - H.R.7900).
The fourth, placing restrictions on F-16 sales to Turkey, passed by a vote of 244 to 179, withstanding powerful opposition from pro-Erdogan lobbyists during final days of consideration of the measure.
The U.S. House is expected to pass the underlying NDAA measures later Thursday evening.
"The ANCA thanks the Congressional leaders, coalition partners, and tens of thousands of ANCA activists from across the United States who made today's victories possible," said ANCA Chairman Raffi Hamparian. "Working together - against deeply entrenched and powerfully vested interests - we are helping to protect Artsakh, promote Armenia, hold Azerbaijan accountable, and stop the flow of U.S. arms to Turkey."