Garo Posted June 27, 2001 Report Share Posted June 27, 2001 URGENT UPDATE: BLOCK PROPOSED 8% CUT IN AID TO ARMENIA Contact Your Representative and Members of the U.S. House Foreign Operations Subcommittee TODAY Current StatusThe U.S. House subcommittee responsible for U.S. foreign aid will likely consider reducing U.S. aid to Armenia by eight percent, from last year's level of $90 million to approximately $83 million.The House subcommittee is set to meet the morning of Wednesday, June 27thThe foreign aid bill will also include a number of provisions of critical importance to Armenian Americans, such as: Preserving Section 907 of the Freedom Support ActProviding increased direct U.S. aid to Nagorno Karabagh What You Can Do1) Click here to send a free ANCA Webfax asking your U.S. Representative to support provisions in the foreign aid bill that are important to you. 2) Contact the members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations (list below) and urge them to block any attempt to reduce U.S. aid to Armenia to below last year's level of $90 million (see suggested phone script and sample letter below). NOTE: There is no time for regular mail. Please contact these members of Congress today by phone or fax. -------------------------------MEMBERS OF U.S. HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON FOREIGN OPERATIONS------------------------------- Chairman: ------------------------------- Rep: Jim Kolbe (AZ-R) Staff: Charlie FlicknerTel: (202) 225-2041Fax: (202) 225-03782000 Grade: "D"Notes: Position on Armenian issues unclear Ranking Democrat: ------------------------------- Rep: Nita Lowey (NY-D)Staff: Beth TritterTel: (202) 225-6506Fax: (202) 225-05462000 Grade: "A+"Notes: Very friendly on Armenian issues Members: ------------------------------- Rep: Sonny Callahan (AL-R)Staff: Nancy TippinsTel: (202) 225-4931Fax: (202) 225-05622000 Grade: "C-"Notes: Former Chairman; fair but largely unsupportive ------------------------------- Rep: Nancy Pelosi (CA-D)Staff: Jonathan StiversTel: (202) 225-4965Fax: (202) 225-82592000 Grade "A+"Notes: Former Ranking Democrat; very friendly ------------------------------- Rep: Jerry Lewis (CA-R)Staff: Alex HeslopTel: (202) 225-5861Fax: (202) 225-64982000 Grade: "F"Notes: Traditionally opposed to Armenian issues ------------------------------- Rep: Jack Kingston (GA-R)Staff: Adam SullivanTel: (202) 225-5831Fax: (202) 226-22692000 Grade: "D"Notes: Traditionally opposed to Armenian issues ------------------------------- Rep: Jesse Jackson, Jr. (IL-D)Staff: Charles DujonTel: (202) 225-0773Fax: (202) 225-08992000 Grade: "C+"Notes: Traditionally friendly to Armenian issues. ------------------------------- Rep: Joe Knollenberg (MI-R)Staff: Craig AlbrightTel: (202) 225-5802Fax: (202) 226-23562000 Grade: "A+"Notes: Co-Chairman of Armenian Caucus; leading advocate for Armenian issues ------------------------------- Rep: Carolyn Kilpatrick (MI-D)Staff: Harold BoydTel: (202) 225-2261Fax: (202) 225-57302000 Grade: "C"Notes: Traditionally friendly to Armenian issues ------------------------------- Rep: Roger Wicker (MS-R)Staff: Drew MaloneyTel: (202) 225-4306Fax: (202) 225-35492000 Grade: "D"Notes: Authored legislation on 1700th anniversary of Armenia's adoption of Christianity as a state religion ------------------------------- Rep: John Sununu (NH-R)Staff: John RichardsonTel: (202) 225-5456Fax: (202) 225-58222000 Grade: "B+"Notes: Traditionally friendly to Armenian issues ------------------------------- Rep: Steven Rothman (NJ-D)Staff: Raffi HamparianTel: (202) 225-5061Fax: (202) 225-58512000 Grade: "A+"Notes: Strong advocate of Armenian issues ------------------------------- Rep: Henry Bonilla (TX-R)Staff: Alfredo RodriguezTel: (202) 225-4511Fax: (202) 225-22372000 Grade: "F-"Notes: Very opposed to Armenian issues -------------------------------Chairman of full Appropriations Committee------------------------------- Rep: Bill Young (FL-R)Staff: David JollyTel: (202) 225-5961Fax: (202) 225-97642000 Grade: "D"Notes: Traditionally opposed to Armenian issues (Authorized to sit on this Subcommittee) -------------------------------Ranking Democrat on full Appropriations Committee------------------------------- Rep: David Obey (WI-D)Staff: William PainterTel: (202) 225-3365Fax: (202) 225-32402000 Grade: "B-"Notes: Traditionally friendly to Armenian issues (Authorized to sit on this Subcommittee) -------------------------------Sample Phone Script:------------------------------- [The phone will be answered by a receptionist. Ask to speak to the staffer who is responsible for foreign aid appropriations issues. If he or she is not available, please leave a written or voice-mail message indicating that you strongly oppose any reduction in aid to Armenia.] Hello, my name is _________________.(Give your address if you are a constituent.) I am extremely troubled to learn that the House Foreign Operations Subcommittee is considering reducing U.S. aid to Armenia by more than eight percent. Armenia has made tremendous progress on economic, democracy-building, and regional issues. Reducing aid levels would send the wrong signal at the wrong time. My family and all Armenian Americans look to you personally stand up against any reductions in aid levels to Armenia, and to protect Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. I am following the foreign aid bill very closely and look forward to hearing of your position on these issues. I can be reached by phone at __________ or by mail at ___________________. Thank you for your attention to my concerns. -------------------------------Sample Letter to Congress:------------------------------- The Honorable ________ ______________U.S. House of RepresentativesWashington, DC 20515 RE: ARMENIAN AMERICAN ISSUES IN FY 2002 FOREIGN AID BILL Dear Representative _____________________: I am extremely troubled to learn that the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations is considering an 8% reduction in aid to Armenia, from last year's level of $90 million to $83 million. As a member of this panel, I urge you to personally stand up against any reduction in assistance to Armenia. Any cut in aid to Armenia would send exactly the wrong message, at exactly the wrong time. I also look to you to oppose any weakening of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. As you know, Armenia has emerged as a leading partner of the United States in the Caucasus and among the New Independent States on a broad range of regional, economic, and democracy-building initiatives. Cooperation on Economic Issues:Armenia has taken tremendous strides on economic issues - last month hosting an investors conference in New York City with the U.S. Government, the World Bank and International Finance Corporation, and just last week helping to foster increased U.S.-Armenia trade at a successful trade show in Los Angeles. Cooperation on Regional Issues:On regional issues, Armenia has been a consistently reliable partner in the search for peace and regional cooperation in the Caucasus, extending its full cooperation to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's peace process for Nagorno Karabagh. Armenia's support for the peace process contrasts sharply with the position taken by Azerbaijan, which, according to the statements of its own leaders, bears responsibility for the failure of the most recent round of negotiations. Cooperation on Security Issues:Armenia is cooperating with the Departments of State, Defense, and Energy on a number of projects concerning counter-proliferation, cooperative threat reduction, export control and border security assistance. Armenia is an active member of the NATO Partnership for Peace, and participates extensively in the International Science and Technology Center, the U.S. Civilian Research and Development Foundation, and other institutions involved in anti-terrorism, de-mining, and other security issues. Cooperation on Energy and Environmental Issues:Armenia is cooperating extensively with the United States on energy sector reforms, nuclear reactor safety programs, and on regional environmental projects to protect the natural resources of the entire Caucasus region. At the request of Armenian officials, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has provided environmental impact training in Armenia. Thank you for doing everything you can to block proposed cuts in aid to Armenia. For more information, please contact the Armenian National Committee of America at (202) 775-1918 or anca@anca.org. Sincerely, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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