ANCA welcomes introduction of amendments prohibiting U.S. military  aid to Azerbaijan 

ArmInfo. Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL),  Adam Schiff (D-CA), and David Valadao (R-CA) were joined by  Representatives Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) in  introducing a series of amendments to the Fiscal Year 2024 U.S. House  Defense Appropriations Bill (H.R. 4365) to block U.S.  military  assistance to Azerbaijan, in the face of President Aliyev's 260+ day  genocidal blockade of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh), reported the  Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

    "The Biden-Harris Administration's failure of leadership on  Azerbaijan's genocidal blockade of Artsakh underscores the urgent  need for strong Congressional leadership and strict legislative  oversight," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We welcome  each of these amendments - those in defense of Artsakh and also  banning cluster bombs - and are working alongside a broad array of  Congressional allies and coalition partners to see them enacted into  law."

    The ANCA is urging U.S. Representatives to cosponsor and support  passage of four pro-Artsakh amendments, including:

Amendment 258 (presented by Rep. Sherman) - Preventing the use of  funds to provide military assistance to Azerbaijan.

Amendment 263 (presented by Rep. Sherman) - Preventing the use of  funds to provide military assistance to Azerbaijan for use against  Armenia or Nagorno Karabakh (also known as Artsakh)

Amendment 272 (Led by Representatives Pallone, Bilirakis, Valadao,  Schiff & Malliotakis) - Prohibiting military aid and security  assistance to the defense, security, and border forces of the  Government of Azerbaijan.

Amendment 285 (Led by Representatives Pallone, Schiff & Malliotakis)  - Allocating $1 million to support Department of Defense activities  and partnerships that will help peacefully resolve the illegal Azeri  blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh and allow for the unimpeded movement of  essential humanitarian assistance, including food and medication, and  commercial activities through the Lachin Corridor.

The ANCA is also recommending support for two amendments that would  prohibit the acquisition, use, transfer and sale of cluster  munitions, citing the devastating consequences of Azerbaijan's use of  these weapons during the 2020 Artsakh war.  These amendments are:

Amendment 59 (Led by Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) and Sarah Jacobs (D-CA)-  Prohibiting funding for the acquisition, use, transfer, or sale of  cluster munitions.

Amendment 131 (Led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Sarah Jacobs (D-CA)  - Prohibiting funds made available by the bill from being used to  transfer cluster munitions.

The amendments are currently under review by the House Rules  Committee, which will determine their consideration by U.S.  Representatives upon their return to session in mid-September.  Those  ruled "in order" will be presented and voted upon during  consideration of H.R. 4365.