Anti-blockade resolution launched in U.S. House with broad bipartisan  backing

ArmInfo.A broad-bipartisan coalition of U.S. Representatives introduced Anti-Blockade legislation today, spearheaded by the Congressional Armenian Caucus,  backed by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), and  supported by a wide array of American civil society coalition  partners, increasing U.S. pressure on Azerbaijan to end its two-month  long blockade of 120,000 Armenians in their indigenous Artsakh  homeland.   "The strong bipartisan backing for the Anti-Blockade resolution  reflects and powerfully reinforces the American consensus around both  holding Azerbaijan accountable for its genocidal winter blockade, and  also helping the Armenians of Artsakh survive and thrive in freedom  and security," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA.  "Armenians and allied Americans can voice support for this measure by  visiting anca.org/resolution." 

In a letter to Congressional colleagues encouraging support for the  anti-blockade resolution, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), founding  Co-Chair of the Armenian Caucus, explained: "The Aliyev regime is  taking premeditated steps to remove the indigenous Armenian  population from Artsakh and deprive them of the opportunity to live  freely, democratically, and with dignity in the land of their  ancestors - a clear sign of ethnic cleansing that we cannot ignore."  Rep. Pallone asserted, "The United States must act immediately and  use every diplomatic tool available to reopen the corridor before  this humanitarian crisis becomes catastrophic." 

Joining Representatives Pallone and Brad Sherman (D-CA) as early  supporters of the anti-blockade resolution are Congressional Armenian  Caucus Co-chairs Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and David  Valadao (R-CA) and over 60 U.S. Representatives including: Jake  Auchincloss (D-MA), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Tony Cardenas (D-CA),  Judy Chu (D-CA), David Cicilline (D-RI), Jim Costa (D-CA), Danny  Davis (D-IL), Nanette Diaz Barragan (D-CA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA),  Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Jared Golden (D-ME),  Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Brian Higgins (D-NY),  Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Tom Kean (R-NJ), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Raja  Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Greg Landsman (D-OH),  John Larson (D-CT), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Susie Lee  (D-NV), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA),  Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Betty McCollum  (D-MN), James McGovern (D-MA), Rob Menendez (D-NJ), Grace Meng  (D-NY), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes  Norton (D-DC), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Chellie  Pingree (D-ME), Katie Porter (D-CA), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Jamie  Raskin (D-MD), Raul Ruiz (D-CA), C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD),  Linda Sanchez (D-CA), John Sarbanes (D-MD), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL),  Brad Schneider (D-IL), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Haley Stevens  (D-MI), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Rashida Tlaib  (D-MI), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Norma Torres (D-CA), Lori Trahan (D- MA),  David Trone (D-MD), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ),  and Susan Wild (D- PA).  

The Anti-Blockade resolution lead co-sponsors were outspoken on the  need to hold Azerbaijan accountable.  

"I stand with my colleagues today in condemning Azerbaijan's ongoing  blockade of Artsakh. It's clear that Azerbaijan's blockage of the  Lachin Corridor is coordinated and intended to shut off the only  supply route for much of Artsakh's food, medical supplies and  transport, and other essential goods," said Rep. Pallone.  "We stand  united in telling Azerbaijan to end this intentional humanitarian   crisis." 

"The coordinated efforts by the Azerbaijani government to block  essential goods and services such as food, medical supplies, and  transportation in and out of the Republic of Artsakh is  unconscionable. We need to hold Azerbaijan accountable for their role  in this humanitarian crisis," said Rep. Bilirakis.  

"The humanitarian crisis in Artsakh caused by the blockage of the  Lachin Corridor grows more dire by the day, and the United States  must take decisive action to help the tens of thousands of people cut  off from their families, loved ones, and livelihoods," said Rep.  Schiff. "This bipartisan condemnation of Baku must be just the  beginning - and signal the end of assistance to Azerbaijan. I will  always stand with the people of Armenia and Artsakh and call on the  President of the United States to use all diplomatic tools at our  disposal to ensure the safety of the people of Artsakh amid the  growing crisis in the region." 

"The United States must act. That's why my Armenia Caucus colleagues  and I have introduced a resolution that will put Congress on the  record as unequivocally condemning this deadly blockade," said Rep.   Sherman. "Let's be clear about what this is - an attempt by  Azerbaijan to force Artsakh's ethnic Armenian population out of their  homes by making life in Artsakh impossible. The tactic is blockade.  The effect is civilian deprivation. The object is ethnic cleansing." 

"The aggression from Azerbaijan towards the Armenian people in  Artsakh is unacceptable. Not only are these actions in direct  violation of international agreements, but they are preventing  deliveries of food, medicine, and other basic necessities - a blatant  violation of human rights," said Rep. Valadao. "I am proud to  cosponsor this critical resolution which strongly condemns the Azeri  government's appalling actions and calls on the United States to use  every diplomatic tool at our disposal to end this dangerous  blockade." 

Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), who is working with colleagues to lead  similar efforts in the Senate, stated, "Azerbaijan's blockade of the  Lachin Corridor-the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh)  to Armenia-is inhumane and unacceptable," said Senator Padilla. "This  blockade has created a humanitarian crisis, rendering the 120,000  Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh without access to food, water,  medicine, and other basic necessities. Our resolution would make it  clear that the United States must take action to hold Azerbaijan  accountable." 

Last week, hundreds of ANCA Eastern Region activists converged on  Capitol Hill urging U.S. House members to cosponsor the Anti-Blockade  resolution, and support the pending Senate measure. Pro-Artsakh  advocates are continuing their outreach through letters, calls, and  tweets from the ANCA action portal - anca.org/resolution - to  encourage broad-based support for the effort.  

In addition to forcefully condemning Azerbaijan's actions, the  resolution would place the U.S. House of Representatives on record in  favor of five practical remedies to the worsening humanitarian crisis  in Artsakh caused by Azerbaijan's blockade of food, medicine, and  other vital necessities:  

1) U.S. leadership in rallying the global community to petition  international and multinational courts to investigate Azerbaijani war  crimes.  

2) U.S. cooperation with international partners, including Artsakh  authorities, in securing the deployment of international observers to  the Lachin Corridor.  

3) Presidential action to immediately suspend any U.S. military or  security assistance to Azerbaijan, and to enforce Section 907 of the  FREEDOM Support Act 

4) Presidential enforcement of statutory sanctions authority against  Azerbaijani officials responsible for the blockade of Artsakh and  other human rights violations 

5) A robust program of sustained U.S. humanitarian relief and  longer-term development assistance to the Armenian victims of  Azerbaijani aggression in Artsakh.and the Congressional Armenian  Caucus leadership are spearheading a bi-partisan resolution to break  the brutal blockade that oil-rich Azerbaijan put in place on December  11th against the 120,000 Christian Armenians living in their  indigenous Artsakh homeland.