FRESNO, CA – Central California Democrat Jim Costa (20th Dist.) today became the most recent in a line of Representatives who have become members of the Congressional Armenian Issues Caucus. He joins Representatives Jeb Bradley (R-NH), Ben Chandler (R-KY), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), and Joe Schwarz (R-MI), all of whom have added their names to the Caucus in the 109th Session of Congress.

Rep. Costa, who was elected to Congress by a 53-47 margin last November, was endorsed by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) based on his long record of support as a State Legislator on issues of concern to Armenian Americans in the Central Valley. The ANCA’s endorsement coupled with the ANC-Fresno’s dissemination of this news to Armenian American voters in Fresno rallied the Armenian community to support Jim Costa for Congress.

“Rep. Costa has been a staunch supporter of our issues for a long time,” stated Hygo Ohanessian who chairs ANC-Fresno. “Really, this is a person who should be on the Caucus given his history with the Armenian American community that he represents. His constituents will be as glad as I am to learn the news,” concluded Ohanessian.

Rep. Costa grew up in the Valley with Armenian farmers such as the Koligian family. Congressman Costa has carried the bond that tied his family to the Fresno Armenian Community throughout his 24-year legislative career. As early as February 2004, then candidate Costa committed to joining the Armenian Issues Caucus if elected to Congress when he met with representatives of the local ANC at the Armenian Center in Fresno.

Established in 1995 and co-chaired by Representatives Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), the Congressional Armenian Issues Caucus is a bipartisan forum for the discussion of policies to foster increased cooperation between the United States and Armenian governments and to strengthen the enduring bonds between the American and Armenian peoples.