In welcoming the support of U.S. Senator Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) with his cosponsorship of S.Res. 316, the Armenian Genocide resolution, the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) also renewed its call for passage of this bipartisan legislation by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

"We appreciate Senator Cardin's continued commitment to the cause of U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide," stated Assembly Board Member Annie Totah. "Given the Turkish government's ongoing campaign of denial and recent threat to deport Armenians from Turkey, we strongly urge the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to adopt S.Res. 316 and help address the ongoing dangers of denial and its consequences," continued Totah. Senator Cardin's cosponsorship follows a recent meeting and letter in which Totah emphasized the importance of U.S. affirmation as part of the Assembly's increased outreach efforts during the 95th anniversary year of the Armenian Genocide.

S.Res. 316 was introduced by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) along with Senator John Ensign (R-NV), and calls upon the President of the United States to properly characterize the Armenian Genocide in the President's annual April 24th statement. S.Res. 316 is currently pending before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. On March 4, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, led by Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA), adopted an identical measure, H.Res. 252, which was introduced by Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA).

A member of the House of Representatives prior to his election to the U.S. Senate in 2006, Maryland Senator Cardin serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as well as the Budget, Environment and Public Works, Judiciary, and Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committees.

"We urge our activists to contact their Senators to support S.Res. 316," added the Assembly's Grassroots Director Taniel Koushakjian.