Providing for Consideration of H. Res. Affirming the United States Record on the Armenian Genocide

Floor Speech

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Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. McGovern for bringing this rule up today, and I rise in support of the rule to bring up the Armenian genocide resolution.

As Judy Chu said--and I just came back from Armenia at the same time--we were at the genocide memorial in Yerevan. I was actually there a few years ago, on the 100th anniversary of the genocide, with our two Armenian Members of Congress, Anna Eshoo and Jackie Speier.

I have to say, it was unfortunate for us. We were proud to be there for the 100th commemoration, but we still were very upset over the fact that the United States had not recognized the Armenian genocide in recent years. And, of course, this has been a goal of the Armenia caucus and the Armenia diaspora for over 30 years that this day, this historic day, would finally occur.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, who has made this day possible.

This resolution is important. It commemorates the victims of the Armenian genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Turks over 104 years after it took place.

For too long, Congress has failed to recognize the indisputable fact that the Ottoman Turks perpetrated the first genocide of the 20th century. This crime against humanity would serve as the blueprint for other genocides in the Nazi concentration camps and massacres in Poland, Germany, and eastern Europe and, more recently, in Bosnia and Rwanda.

Today, we will finally acknowledge what historians have documented with clear evidence: that the Turkish campaign of slaughter and forced displacement of millions of Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, and other religious minorities was, in fact, a genocide.

The passage of this resolution is an important step in raising awareness and showing the world that we have a commitment to human rights and the dignity of every human life.

In the words of George Santayana: ``Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.''

We stand today to show that the House of Representatives will not be complicit in covering up past atrocities in the 20th century nor turn our back when ethnic or religious minorities are threatened in the 21st century.

We must also urge Turkey to come to terms with its own history and look beyond the thinly veiled facade of denial that covered up one of the most horrific crimes in world history.

We must urge Turkey to join the rest of the world in recognizing the sanctity of human life, even if it is someone who doesn't look like you, speaks a different language, or attends a different house of worship.

Turkey has a long history of repressing ethnic minorities, including the Kurds, whom they are killing as we speak. And it doesn't matter whether they are Christians or Muslims; many of the Kurds are their Muslim brethren.

I am also a strong supporter of the bipartisan Turkey sanctions bill that will also be considered this week.

It is unfortunate that it took the abandonment of our allies in northern Syria to get to this point, but I am pleased to see that we are working across the aisle to finally push back against the bully that is President Erdogan.

We cannot trust the Turkish, Russian, or Syrian Governments to uphold peace and protect innocent lives in the region. We must stand up to authoritarian leaders like Erdogan, Putin, and Assad to defend our regional partners and innocent lives.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman for bringing up this rule. I want to thank Chairman Schiff, the sponsor of this resolution; Chairman Engel; the House leadership; and other members of the congressional caucus for their support of strong American leadership and for their work to finally get this passed.

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