09/02/16 - The Congressional Armenian Caucus Leadership congratulates the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh on 25 years of independence.
Read about it here. 07/13/16 Congressional Armenian Caucus CoChairs Pallone and Dold announced the expansion of the Armenian Caucus leadership in a news item. Representatives Jackie Speier (D-CA) and David Valadao (R-CA) are joining Reps. Pallone and Dold as Caucus Co-Chairs; Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA) and David Trott (R-MI) will serve as Armenian Caucus Vice-Chairs.
06/02/2016 - Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone and Robert Dold issued a statement welcoming Germany's recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
Read the statement here. 04/07/16 - Speaking on behalf of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, Co-Chairs Robert Dold (R-IL) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ) issued strong, bipartisan calls, asking President Obama to forcefully condemn Azerbaijans military offensive and urging top U.S. House appropriators to zero-out U.S. military assistance to Ilham Aliyevs armed forces.
Read the letters here. 04/16 - Attended Times Square genocide commemoration.
04/04/16 Rep. Pallone condemns Azerbaijani attacks against Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), stating: "I strongly condemn Azerbaijans escalation of hostilities against Nagorno Karabakh, and I join the Obama Administration in urging an immediate de-escalation of the conflict. President Aliyev continues to defy international calls to reach a negotiated settlement that will ensure a lasting peace in the region. It is unacceptable for Azerbaijan to continue on its current belligerent path, and I urge the Obama Administration and the OSCE Minsk Group to demand accountability on the part of Azerbaijan and continue to work toward implementing proposals that promote peace."
02/26/16 - Statement submitted for the Congressional Record on Sumgait. - "Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the Sumgait pogroms, one of the most horrific attacks against the Armenian people, committed at the hands of Azerbaijanis 28 years ago.
On February 27, 1988, hundreds of Armenian civilians living in the city of Sumgait in Azerbaijan were indiscriminately killed, raped, maimed, and even burned alive for no reason other than their ethnicity. This senseless violence was instigated by hostile, anti-Armenian rhetoric from Azerbaijani citizens and officials against innocent Armenians.
For nearly three decades, Azerbaijan has taken steps to cover up these crimes against humanity and dismiss the atrocities at Sumgait. Even more disturbing is that perpetrators of this event and similar violent attacks have since been lauded as national heroes.
I condemn these horrific attacks. Tragically, the Azerbaijani government's approach toward the Armenian people has not changed much since these attacks were perpetrated. In 2016, we hear the same violent rhetoric and witness the intimidation tactics by the Azerbaijani government against the people of Nagorno Karabakh.
If we do not condemn crimes against humanity and allow them to go unpunished and unrecognized we only strengthen the resolve of those seeking to perpetrate these crimes in the future. The Armenian people have known this for too long, as we prepare to commemorate the 101st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in April.
I will continue to work with my colleagues on the Congressional Armenian Issues Caucus to remember the victims of the pogroms at Sumgait and to condemn all acts of violence against people who are targeted simply because of their existence. I hope my colleagues will join me in rejecting violent rhetoric and intimidation and renewing our commitment to achieving a collective peace."
12/18/2015 - Just hours after U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Daniel Baers statement citing Turkey's "valuable" role in Nagorno Karabakh mediation efforts was released, Rep. Pallone expressed serious concerns about the top diplomats controversial assessment.
Read his statement. 05/14/2015 - Rep. Pallone welcomes U.S.-Armenia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement.
Read more here. 05/15 - Attended National Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide banquet in DC.
04/15 - Attended opening of Brookdale Community College Armenian Genocide exhibit in Monmouth County.
04/15 - Attended Times Square genocide commemoration.
02/27/15 - Statement submitted for the Congressional Record on Sumgait - "Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the Sumgait pogroms - violent riots that resulted in the murder of hundreds of Armenians. This was perhaps one of the most gruesome atrocities in a series of hostile acts against the Armenian people.
In 1988, Armenians living in the town of Sumgait in Azerbaijan were burned alive, thrown from windows and senselessly murdered by Azerbaijanis. Hundreds of people were killed, raped, and maimed simply because they were Armenians.
The police forces turned a blind eye towards the situation and allowed the crimes to continue for three days without intervention. Since then, Azerbaijan has sought to cover up these crimes and rewrite history.
As we prepare to observe 100 years since the Armenian Genocide, these more recent acts of violence against Armenians remind us that the work towards peace in the region continues.
Today, we recognize the anniversary of the Sumgait pogroms and to call attention to the work we have ahead of us. We have a shared responsibility to speak out when groups of people are targeted with oppression and violence just because of their ethnicity.
Along with my colleagues on the Congressional Armenian Issues Caucus, I continue my efforts to try and shed light on these events so that those lives lost are not forgotten. We will continue to promote mutual understanding and security through the Caucasus region.
It is my hope that we can all join together in condemning acts of violence in the past, and renew our commitment to vigilance in the future."
