WATERTOWN, MA – Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI 14) today became the newest member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues reported the Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region (ANCA ER). The Congressman’s entrance into the Caucus brings its membership to 124.

The 19th-term Congressman was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1964. Rep. Conyers is the second most senior Member of the House and is the Ranking Minority Member of the House Judiciary Committee. Rep. Conyers is also one of the founders of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Rep. Conyers has continuously supported Armenian American issues. This year, he cosponsored and attended the 8th Annual ANCA Capitol Hill Observance of the Armenian Genocide. Addressing the gathering, Rep. Conyers said that recognition of the Armenian Genocide “is simple justice. Read the history, learn what happened and then act accordingly . . . Simple justice requires that we not just understand our cause but that we understand causes of injustice anywhere they occur, not just in America, but in the world . . . And so once again, I join with you, I pledge to continue to work not just to get my name on a list that I’m on the right side of the issue, but that this means as much to me as any struggle that we have in America.”

Also, in 2002, Congressman Conyers co-signed the Congressional letter urging President George W. Bush to properly characterize the Armenian Genocide as “genocide” in his annual April 24th statement.

“We are truly excited that one of the senior Members of Congress has decided to continue his support of Armenian American concerns by joining the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues,” stated Armenian National Committee of Michigan activist, Ned Apigian. oRep. Conyers has a tremendous track record in support of civil and human rights issues. We hope that our relationship with him will continue to grow as we move into the 108th Congress,” concluded Apigian.

Founded in 1995, the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues is a bipartisan forum for the discussion of policies to foster increased cooperation between the United States and Armenian governments and to strengthen the enduring bonds between the American and Armenian peoples. Today, the Caucus enjoys its highest number of members.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

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