May 20, 2009 - 15:34 AMT
Armenian Genocide Resolution cosponsors grow to 125
With the addition today of Congressmen Bruce Braley, Peter Defazio, Bobby Rush, and John Yarmouth, the number of U.S. House cosponsors of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.Res.252, reached 125, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

The Armenian Genocide Resolution specifically "1) calls upon the President to ensure that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the United States record relating to the Armenian Genocide and the consequences of the failure to realize a just resolution; and 2) calls upon the President in the President's annual message commemorating the Armenian Genocide issued on or about April 24, to accurately characterize the systematic and deliberate annihilation of 1,500,000 Armenians as genocide and to recall the proud history of United States intervention in opposition to the Armenian Genocide."

The measure was introduced on March 17th of the year by lead sponsors Adam Schiff and George Radanovich, and Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-chairs Frank Pallone and Mark Kirk. It is identical to legislation in the House and Senate in the 110th Congress that was adopted by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and publicly endorsed by then-candidate for President Barack Obama, current Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

H.Res.252 has been referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee.