During Armenian Genocide Remembrance Week, Maloney And Bilirakis Introduce Bipartisan Legislation On Armenian Genocide Education

Press Release

Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) today, with Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), introduced the Armenian Genocide Education Act, legislation modeled after her Never Again Education Act that will give teachers across the United States the resources they need to educate our children on the atrocities of the Armenian Genocide and the consequences of intolerance and hate. Congresswoman Maloney and Congressman Bilirakis serve as Co-Chairs of the Bipartisan Hellenic Caucus. The bill was introduced with 49 original cosponsors.

"As the saying goes, if we do not learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it," said Congresswoman Maloney. "That is why I am proud to introduce the Armenian Genocide Education Act to teach the horrors and lessons of the Armenian Genocide accurately and effectively. Both chambers of Congress voted with overwhelming bipartisan majorities to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide, and last year President Biden made it clear that it is the official position of the United States that these systematic killings were genocide. It is imperative that we now ensure Americans have access to the resources they need to learn and teach about this atrocity."

"Our darkest moments as a human race have come during times when those who knew better stood silently, making excuses for passivity and allowing injustice and persecution to reign. We must acknowledge the atrocities of the past so that we might hopefully prevent them in the future," said Congressman Bilirakis. "One of the best ways to achieve this goal is through education and awareness, which is why I am proud to co-introduce the Armenian Genocide Education Act with Carolyn Maloney."

The ANCA welcomes this landmark launch of the Armenian Genocide Education Act," remarked Armenian National Committee of America Chairman Raffi Hamparian. "With White House and Congressional recognition of the Armenian Genocide secured - we must now ensure that America's school children are taught about the historical lessons and present-day consequences of this crime against Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs, Arameans, Maronites, and other Christians. The ANCA looks forward to working with Congresswoman Maloney, Congressman Bilirakis, and their growing bipartisan list of Congressional cosponsors to advance this timely measure. We are committed to challenging genocide denial at every turn, with the clear goal of securing a just resolution for all the victims of Turkey's crimes - past and present,"

"We commend Representatives Maloney and Bilirakis for their continued efforts to further the cause of genocide education and prevention," said Armenian Assembly of America Congressional Relations Director Mariam Khaloyan. "This legislation seeks to enhance education and awareness about the first genocide of the 20th century, which was officially recognized by President Biden last April 24, 2021 following the passage of legislation in the House and Senate affirming the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide."

The original cosponsors of the bill are: Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Jackie Speier (CA-14), David Valadao (CA-21), Adam Schiff (CA-28), Dina Titus (NV-01), Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At Large), Katie Porter (CA-45), J. Luis Correa (CA-46), Juan Vargas (CA-51), Grace F. Napolitano (CA-32), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Anna Eshoo (CA-18), John Garamendi (CA-03), Brian Higgins (NY-26), Grace Meng (NY-06), Eric Swalwell (CA-15), Katherine Clark (MA-5), Brad Sherman (CA-30), John Sarbanes (MD-03), Ted Lieu (CA-33), Josh Harder (CA-10), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), David Cicilline (RI-01), Young Kim (CA-39), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Karen Bass (CA-37), Scott Peters (CA-52), Tony Cárdenas (CA-29), Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), Brenda Lawrence (MI-14), Abigail Spanberger (VA-07), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Jim Costa (CA-16), Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Doug LaMalfa (CA-1), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Christopher H. Smith (NJ-04), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Sara Jacobs (CA-53), Ro Khanna (CA-17).

This legislation is endorsed by: Armenian National Committee of America, Armenian Assembly of America, Armenian Legal Center for Justice and Human Rights, Armenian National Institute, The Genocide Education Project, International Association of Genocide Scholars, Assyrian Policy Institute, Hellenic American Leadership Council, Hindu American Foundation, In Defense of Christians, Middle East Forum, Promise Institute for Human Rights

Background:

The Armenian Genocide Education Act will:

* Empower the Library of Congress to support Armenian Genocide education
* Provide for the development and national dissemination of accurate, relevant, and accessible resources to promote understanding about how and why the Armenian Genocide happened, including digital resources
* Allocate $2 million every year for five years to the Library of Congress to carry out these duties

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