Ask the U.S. House Leadership to Allow a Vote on H.Res.220
Bipartisan Genocide-Prevention Resolution Draws on Lessons of the Armenian Genocide

Sign the petition asking Speaker Ryan and Majority Leader McCarthy to schedule an immediate up-or-down vote on H.Res.220, a bipartisan genocide-prevention measure that draws upon the lessons of the Armenian Genocide.

Key points:

— H.Res.220 has over 120 cosponsors – including the bipartisan leadership of both the Foreign Affairs and Intelligence committees.

— Speaker Ryan, Majority Leader McCarthy, Minority Leader Pelosi, and Minority Whip Hoyer are all on record supporting U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide – as are Chairman Royce and Ranking Democrat Engel of the Foreign Affairs Committee and Chairman Nunes and Ranking Democrat Schiff of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

— With Turkey escalating its open hostility against America, Ankara has far fewer advocates on Capitol Hill, clearing the way for an overwhelming bipartisan vote in support of H.Res.220.

Petition Text

Dear Speaker Ryan & Majority Leader McCarthy:

I am writing to ask you to schedule an immediate floor vote on H.Res.220.

As you know, H.Res.220 is a humanitarian measure that encourages the U.S. government to draw upon the lessons of the Ottoman Empire’s 1915-1923 genocide of Armenians and other Christians in order to help prevent modern-day atrocities against religious and ethnic minorities.

This measure enjoys broad, bipartisan support. Among its 122 current cosponsors are the Chairmen and Ranking Democrats on the Foreign Affairs and Intelligence committees. The Armenian Genocide has already been recognized by 48 U.S. states and more than a dozen NATO allies, including Germany and France. The Eisenhower and Reagan administrations each went on record recognizing the Armenian Genocide, but recent U.S. administrations have, regrettably, avoided using this term, in deference to Turkey’s irrational sensitivities.

The only opposition to H.Res.220 comes from Turkey’s Erdogan government – an undemocratic foreign regime that openly insults and undermines America and our allies – purchasing Russian S-400 missiles, jailing Pastor Andrew Brunson, and crushing democratic opposition. For far too long, Turkey has acted as though its entitled to a veto over U.S. policy on its treatment of Christians and other at-risk populations.

It’s time for honest American remembrance of the World War I-era genocidal destruction and exile of Armenian, Greek, Assyrian, Chaldean, Syriac, Aramean and other Christians. H.Res.220 would honor the victims of this crime by helping to ensure that the lessons of this horrific experience are applied by the U.S. government to preventing future atrocities – in the Middle East and around the world.

I ask that you please bring H.Res.220 to the House floor for an up-or-down vote. If you choose to block a vote on this measure, please respond in writing with your reasons so that I can share them with my friends, colleagues, family, and community.

Sincerely,