MosJan Posted July 10, 2001 Report Share Posted July 10, 2001 Congressional Action AlertU.S. Senate7/10/2001 URGE KEY SENATE PANEL TO SUPPORTARMENIAN PROVISIONS IN FOREIGN AID BILL -- Ask Senators to Maintain U.S. Aid Level to Armenia at Least at $90 Million; Defend Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act ================================================================Status:================================================================ The U.S. Senate subcommittee responsible for U.S. foreign aid is scheduled to meet as early as the third week of July to finalize its version of the fiscal year 2002 foreign aid bill. Among the issues this panel will consider include: * Assistance levels for Armenia * Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act * Aid to Nagorno Karabagh On June 27th, the U.S. House Subcommittee responsible for foreign aid approved a fiscal year 2002 foreign aid bill that reduced U.S. aid to Armenia by eight percent, from $90 million to $82.5 million. The Senate can help restore this aid by including an "earmark" for at least $90 million for Armenia in its version of the foreign aid bill. ================================================================Action:================================================================ 1) Visit http://www.anca.org to send a free ANCA WebFax urging your two Senators to support Armenian provisions in the foreign aid bill. Just type in your ZIP Code and follow the simple directions. 2) Contact the members of the Senate panel (see list below) and urge them to support Armenian provisions in the foreign aid bill (see suggested phone script and sample letter). NOTE: Email, particularly from out-of-state, is not generally seen as an effective form of communication with Congressional offices. ---------------------------------------------------------------- MEMBERS OF U.S. SENATE APPROPRIATIONSSUBCOMMITTEE ON FOREIGN OPERATIONS ----------------------------------------------------------------Chairman of Foreign Operations Subcommittee----------------------------------------------------------------Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) -- ChairmanStaff: Tim ReiserTel: (202) 224-4242Fax: (202) 224-3595Notes: Voted to defend Section 907 in June of 1999. ----------------------------------------------------------------Ranking Member of Foreign Operations Subcommittee----------------------------------------------------------------Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) -- Ranking MemberStaff: Billy PiperTel: (202) 224-2541Fax: (202) 224-2499Notes: Long-time leading advocate for Armenian provisions in the foreign aid bill. Led effort on Senate floor in 1999 to defend Section 907. ----------------------------------------------------------------Members of Foreign Operations Subcommittee (alphabetically)---------------------------------------------------------------- Sen. Robert Bennett (R-UT)Staff: Bill TriplettTel: (202) 224-5444Fax: (202) 228-1168Notes: Voted to defend Section 907 in June of 1999. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Sen. Christopher Bond (R-MO)Staff: James PitchfordTel: (202) 224-5721Fax: (202) 224-8149Notes: Voted to defend Section 907 in June of 1999. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL)Staff: Sue HardestyTel: (202) 224-2152Fax: (202) 228-0400Notes: Voted to defend Section 907 in June of 1999. Consistently supports Armenian American issues. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH)Staff: Frank BarcaTel: (202) 224-3324Fax: (202) 224-4952Notes: Voted to defend Section 907 in June of 1999. Consistently supports Armenian American issues. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)Staff: Bill GouldTel: (202) 224-3254Fax: (202) 224-9369Notes: Voted to defend Section 907 in June of 1999. Consistently supports Armenian American issues. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI)Staff: Christine Alston-EadsTel: (202) 224-3934Fax: (202) 224-6747Notes: Voted to defend Section 907 in June of 1999. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD)Staff: Ian MarquardtTel: (202) 224-5842Fax: (202) 228-5765Notes: Voted to defend Section 907 in June of 1999. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)Staff: Jason MatthewsTel: (202) 224-5824Fax: (202) 224-9735Notes: Voted against Section 907 in June of 1999. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)Staff: Frederick BaronTel: (202) 224-4654Fax: (202) 224-8858Notes: Voted to defend Section 907 in June of 1999. Consistently supports Armenian American issues. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO)Staff: James DeanTel: (202) 224-5852Fax: (202) 224-1933Notes: Voted to defend Section 907 in June of 1999. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL)Staff: Joseph SummersTel: (202) 224-5744Fax: (202) 224-3416Notes: Voted against Section 907 in June of 1999. Consistently opposes Armenian American issues. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA)Staff: Karen RogersTel: (202) 224-4254Fax: (202) 228-1229Notes: Voted to defend Section 907 in June of 1999. Consistently supports Armenian American issues. ----------------------------------------------------------------Full Appropriations Committee Chairman----------------------------------------------------------------Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) -- Appropriations ChairmanStaff: Eric RavenTel: (202) 224-3954Fax: (202) 228-0002Notes: Leading Senate opponent of Armenian American issues. Successfully filibustered Armenian Genocide Resolution in 1990. (Authorized to sit on this Subcommittee) ----------------------------------------------------------------Full Appropriations Committee Ranking Member----------------------------------------------------------------Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) -- Appropriations Ranking MemberStaff: George LoweTel: (202) 224-3004Fax: (202) 224-2354Notes: Voted to defend Section 907 in June of 1999. (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 from the Senator's state.) I am calling to ask the Senator to support provisions in the foreign aid bill that strengthen our ties with Armenia. Specifically, I urge the Senator to make sure that aid to Armenia remains at least at last year's level of $90 million. In addition, please help end Azerbaijan's blockade of Armenia by defending Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act and also support continued aid to Nagorno Karabagh. Armenia has made tremendous progress on economic, democracy-building, and regional issues. Reducing aid levels to Armenia would send the wrong signal at the wrong time. 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 Senators:---------------------------------------------------------------- The Honorable ________ ______________United States SenateWashington, DC 20510 RE: ARMENIAN AMERICAN ISSUES IN FY 2002 FOREIGN AID BILL Dear Senator _________________________: I am writing to ask you to actively support provisions in the foreign aid bill that strengthen our ties with Armenia. Of special concern to me is the need to maintain fiscal year 2002 U.S. aid levels to Armenia at least at the fiscal year 2001 level of $90 million. I am also very committed to maintaining Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. Despite the challenges presented by the devastating 1988 earthquake, the collapse of the Soviet Union, rapid market reforms, instability in Georgia, and the ongoing, ten-year blockade by Azerbaijan and Turkey, 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 issues. Among these are: * Cooperation on Economic Issues: U.S. aid to Armenia has substantially helped Armenia's economic development. Armenia's GDP has grown steadily, inflation has been drastically lowered, the exchange rate is stable, and the deficit has been brought under control. Foreign direct investment rose 29% last year, and real GDP growth of 6% or more, with 3% inflation, is expected through 2003. Last month Armenia hosted an investors conference in New York City with the U.S. Government, the World Bank and International Finance Corporation, and just two weeks ago helped to foster increased U.S.-Armenia trade at a successful trade show, attended by over 5,000, 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, Agricultural 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. Agricultural programs, notably those organized by the Fresno-California based Armenian Technology Group (ATG), have created much needed jobs, while promoting private sector agribusiness and increased trade. In each of these areas, U.S. assistance has been vital. Please help to further expand U.S.-Armenia cooperation and to strengthen the enduring bonds between the American and Armenian peoples by supporting Armenian provisions in the fiscal year 2002 foreign aid bill. For more information, please contact the Armenian National Committee of America at (202) 775-1918 or anca@anca.org. Sincerely, ANCA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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