Gottheimer’s Co-led Bill Passes House ; Officially Recognizes Armenian Genocide of 1.5 Million

U.S. House passes recognition of genocide of 1.5 million Armenians and others between 1915 and 1923

WASHINGTON – Today, Tuesday, October 29, 2019, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) voted to pass H.Res. 296, Affirming the United States Record on the Armenian Genocide, of which he was an original cosponsor.

Gottheimer is a member of the bipartisan Congressional Armenian Caucus.

“I am incredibly proud that the House voted today to pass this historic resolution affirming the U.S. government’s recognition of the massacre of 1.5 million Armenians and Greeks, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs, Arameans, Maronites, and other Christians by the Ottoman Empire during the twentieth century’s first genocide,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “We have a responsibility to bear witness and tell the truth about genocide, so that we may learn from history and prevent modern-day atrocities.”

The resolution states that it is the sense of the House of Representatives that it is the policy of the United States to:

• Commemorate the Armenian Genocide through official recognition and remembrance;

• Reject efforts to enlist, engage, or otherwise associate the United States Government with denial of the Armenian Genocide or any other genocide; and

• Encourage education and public understanding of the facts of the Armenian Genocide, including the United States role in the humanitarian relief effort, and the relevance of the Armenian Genocide to modern-day crimes against humanity.

The resolution also highlights historical recognition of the Armenian Genocide by U.S. government bodies, politicians, diplomats, and others around the world, including Henry Morgenthau, President Ronald Reagan, and others.

###