Senator John Ensign (R-NV) and Senate Democratic Whip Richard Durbin (D-IL) recently introduced Armenian Genocide legislation (S.Res.320) in the U.S. Senate.

This measure reaffirms the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide and calls on 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."

In the House of Representatives, two Armenian Genocide resolutions (H.Res.316 and H.Con.Res,195) are pending. H.Res.316, which is similar to the Senate resolution (S.Res.320), was introduced by Congressmen George Radanovich (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and has over 140 bipartisan cosponsors. H.Con.Res.195 was introduced by Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) and has over 85 cosponsors.

Despite opposition from the Turkish lobby and the Administration, the House International Relations Committee overwhelmingly adopted both measures on September 15th. (To see the Committee vote, click here.) This approval sets the stage for the consideration of Armenian Genocide legislation by the full House of Representatives - but only if the top leadership of the House, most notably Speaker Dennis Hastert, allows a vote to take place.