InternationalSenators need to hear from Armenian-Americans
Published: Friday July 10, 2009
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Senate appropriators on July 9 decided to endorse President Barack Obama's request for $30 million in aid to Armenia in Fiscal 2010. House appropriators in June had adjusted that number upward, to $48 million, the figure for Fiscal 2009.
Whereas House appropriators allocated $10 million in humanitarian aid to Nagorno-Karabakh, which the president had not requested, senators did not earmark any funds for Karabakh.
Mr. Obama had promised, during his presidential election campaign, to maintain Armenia aid levels. In response to criticism about his decision to ask for $18 million less for Armenia than was allocated for 2009, Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch has repeatedly said that Congress is sure to adjust the number upward.
Senators this week showed that an upward adjustment is not guaranteed.
What now?
Negotiators from the House and Senate will have to meet to reconcile the various differences in the two version of the appropriations bill. The reconciled version will go to the full House and Senate for approval and to the president for his signature.
In reconciling the two versions, House and Senate negotiators are sure to take into account what they hear from constituents as well as colleagues. It is up to us to call on them to agree to the House version of the bill insofar as it relates to Armenian-American concerns.
Specifically, we seek to maintain at least the current levels of aid to Armenia and $10 million in humanitarian aid to Karabakh. Moreover, we oppose any military aid to Azerbaijan, which is preparing for war over Karabakh. At the very least, parity of military aid to Azerbaijan and Armenia should be maintained, as it is in the House version of the bill. In addition, the House version reinforces Section 907, which restricts military aid to Azerbaijan, requiring the president to consult with Congress if he chooses to waive the provisions of Section 907.
The Senate subcommittee includes members who have been quite supportive of Armenian-American issues. On the Democratic side, they include Dick Durbin of Illinois, Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, and Barbara Mikulski of Maryland. On the Republican side, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has championed appropriations to Armenia.
Our calls and letters can make all the difference. But only if we each make the effort promptly. We urge you to call or write your senator today. If you have not yet contacted House appropriators to say thank you for supporting Armenia and Karabakh - and to urge them to stand by their version in the reconciling process - we urge you to do that too.
To reach the Senate switchboard, call 1-202-224-3121. To reach the House, call 1-202-225-3121.
Democratic Subcommittee Members:
- Senator Patrick Leahy, chairperson (Vt.)
- Senator Daniel Inouye (Hi.)
- Senator Tom Harkin (Iowa)
- Senator Barbara Mikulski (Md.)
- Senator Richard Durbin (Ill.)
- Senator Tim Johnson (S.Dak.)
- Senator Mary Landrieu (La.)
- Senator Frank Lautenberg (N.J.)
- Senator Arlen Specter (Pa.)
Republican Subcommittee Members:
- Senator Judd Gregg, ranking member (N.H.)
- Senator Mitch McConnell (Ky.)
- Senator Robert Bennett (Utah)
- Senator Christopher Bond (Mo.)
- Senator Sam Brownback (Ks.)
- Senator George Voinovich (Ohio)
