Recognizing Armenian Genocide and Turkish Invasion

Floor Speech

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Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a concerned American, concerned because our country stands at a crossroads in foreign policy and history, I might add.

In recent days, we have seen this administration cynically abandon our Kurdish allies in northeast Syria and open the door to a Turkish invasion. These decisions were made without consulting our allies, our distinguished diplomats, and regional experts like Ambassador Jeffrey.

Much damage has been done. Yesterday, President Putin and President Erdogan signed an agreement, I believe, that harms American interests in that part of the world.

Hundreds of people have been killed. Tens of thousands have been displaced. Dangerous ISIS prisoners, who have been killing and wounding Americans, are now on the loose, threatening increased international terrorist actions in Europe and the United States. This is a real threat.

Turkey's actions have shown it to be a dangerous actor on the international stage, but it is not the first time. We must immediately impose sanctions to show our commitment to a stable international order and the rule of law, and Turkey must understand that.

Clearly, the international reputation of the United States has, I think, been deeply damaged.

As chairman of the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue, I know. Our European partners ask me all the time: Are we together? Do we share the same values of the rule of law, of democratic freedoms?

The United States should never, ever end up standing alone. The past few days also reminds us of another injustice that must be rectified.

In 1915, the Ottoman Empire embarked upon systematic deportation of 1.5 million Armenians. These innocent men, women, and children became the first genocide in the 20th century. Yet, as I stand here this morning, the brutal atrocity has still not received the official recognition by our government that it deserves.

Turkey outrageously continues to ignore the voices of the survivors and the descendants around the world. Many of these survivors settled in my district in the San Joaquin Valley where they have lived and where they have raised their children in the blessings of liberty, and they made it in the American way.

But this is not justice. The road to justice begins with full recognition of the Armenian people's suffering. Both Turkey and the United States, immediately, should recognize that the Armenian genocide occurred, as the European Union has done.

I am proud to support H. Res. 296 which, over the objections of Ankara, would establish permanent U.S. recognition and ongoing American remembrance of the Armenian genocide. That is the right thing to do.

I call upon my colleagues who have yet to publicly endorse this bipartisan resolution to join me, with over 110 cosponsors, in calling for a long-overdue passage by the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, the horrors of the Armenian genocide can never ever be undone. Words alone cannot comfort those who suffered nor dry the tears of another mother or grandmother who has lost her children or grandchildren. By acknowledging the suffering of the victims through the official recognition of the Armenian genocide, we can at least ensure that future generations will never ever forget this atrocity to mankind. Election Interference

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Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the growing serious threat to our democracy and the interference in elections of foreign adversaries. Yes, these things are all related.

With the 2020 elections fast approaching, now is the time to take action by supporting the SHIELD Act. The SHIELD Act puts four commonsense bipartisan reforms to improve our defenses against anyone meddling in our elections. No one should do that, and every American should take issue. It closes loopholes, strengthens reporting requirements, restricts exchange of information between campaigns, and limits any involvement with foreign agents.

As public officials, we raise our hand to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. We must rise to this occasion to do just that. That is what we should do as Members of the House of Representatives. Our constituents expect it from us to ensure that every vote is counted and that no one--no foreign source--can meddle in American elections, ever, as took place in 2016.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join with Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren and others who have worked very hard on this important legislation to pass the SHIELD Act this week. It is the right thing to do.

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