InternationalFrank Pallone, Jr., and Joe Knollenberg for Congress
Published: Tuesday September 23, 2008
Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (right) and Joe Knollenberg (center) presented with an album featuring artwork by children of Artsakh by Nelly Martirosyan. Armenian Reporter
Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (right) and Joe Knollenberg (center) presented with an album featuring artwork by children of Artsakh by Nelly Martirosyan. Armenian Reporter
Today we would like to focus on two extraordinary leaders,Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., Democrat of New Jersey, and Rep. Joe Knollenberg,Republican of Michigan.
These two members of Congress deserve the active support ofArmenian-American constituents and of Armenian-Americans across the UnitedStates.
As co-chairs of the House Caucus on Armenian Affairs, theyhave worked together across the aisle to bring about the outcomes we, asArmenian-Americans, have sought. They have worked hard, they have workedconsistently, and they have been creative and hands-on in their approach.
They have had a key role in each of the issues we havepursued in Washington. This means they have worked closely with Armenianadvocacy groups, with fellow members of Congress, and with the administrationto frame and promote these issues.
Their steadfastness was clear to all during the debate onthe timeliness of the House resolution acknowledging the U.S. record on the ArmenianGenocide last fall - a debate that played out on the front pages on nationalnewspapers, with extraordinary pressure on both leaders from powerful and savvyopponents.
Mr. Knollenberg, who sits on the House Foreign OperationsSubcommittee and is thus especially well-placed to influence matters ofinterest to Armenia and Karabakh, has consistently opposed U.S. military aid toAzerbaijan. This summer he fought to eliminate a $3.9 million allocation ofmilitary aid to Azerbaijan. (He had heralded his intentions in an article forthe ArmenianReporter, "Enough is enough, Azerbaijan," June 21, p. 22.)
Mr. Pallone has campaigned for increased U.S. engagementwith Karabakh outside the mediation process. He has also called for additionalaid to Armenia in response to the losses suffered through the Georgia-Russiawas this August.
As co-chairs of the Armenian Caucus, Mr. Pallone and Mr.Knollenberg have helped secure funding for the settlement of about 1,000Iraqi-Armenian refugees in Armenia. At the beginning of this Congress - whichcoincided with the murder of Turkish-Armenian editor Hrant Dink in Istanbul -they took the initiative to lead Congress in taking sad note of the fact, butalso to call for the repeal of the "defaming Turkishness" law under which Mr.Dink had been prosecuted.
When it comes to Frank Pallone and Joe Knollenberg, we haveno hesitation or reservations: they have earned and deserve our respect, ourgratitude, our support, and our votes in November.
http://www.pallonefornewjersey.com http://www.joeknollenberg.net
