Friend of Armenians Award:  Jeb Bush received the prestigious Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church – Eastern US Friend of Armenians Award at the 2013 Diocesan Assembly .

Armenian Genocide Proclamation: As Governor of Florida, Jeb Bush issued an Armenian Genocide proclamation on April 7, 2006.

Traveled to Armenia: As the son of then sitting vice-president and president-elect, George H. W. Bush, Jeb Bush and his son, George, traveled to earthquake stricken Armenia on December 24, 1988 to participate in the AmeriCares shipment of medical supplies, clothes, and toys.  That shipment was the first time the U.S. provided humanitarian assistance to the Soviet Union.

The ANCA does not have any record of statements or specific actions taken by Dr. Ben Carson on Armenian American concerns.

As Governor, the ANCA has no record of any proclamations or statements made by Governor Christie in support of Armenian American concerns.  On February 26, 2012, he did issue a letter commemorating the “Khojaly Massacre,” a copy of which is available here.

Cosponsor of Armenian Genocide Legislation (S.Res.140): On April 27, 2015, Senator Cruz cosponsored the Armenian Genocide Resolution (S.Res.140), spearheaded by Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Cory Gardner (R-CO).  The resolution currently has 21 cosponsors.

Armenian Genocide Commemorative Statement: On April 18, 2015, Sen. Cruz issued a statement marking the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, which was presented at the Armenian Genocide commemorative event and rally at the Texas State Capitol.

The ANCA does not have any record of statements or specific actions taken by Carly Fiorina on Armenian American concerns.

Virginia-Armenia Advisory Commission: In August 8, 2001, Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore formed Governor’s Armenian Advisory Commission to expand cooperation between the Commonwealth of Virginia and Armenia.

Armenian Genocide in School Curricula: In 2001, Jim Gilmore worked in support of a successful grassroots effort by the Richmond Armenian Martyrs Day Committee and the ANC-VA to include the Armenian Genocide in the Virginia Standard of Learning (SOL) for the Commonwealth’s public schools. As a result of these efforts, the Virginia Board of Education included the Armenian Genocide in the SOL Teachers’ Guide.

Annual Armenian Genocide Proclamations:  During his term as Governor, Jim Gilmore issued annual proclamations commemorating the Armenian Genocide.  The 1999 proclamation is available here.

Chairman of Virginia Armenian Martyrs’ Day Commemoration: As Attorney General, Jim Gilmore served as honorary chairman of the annual Armenian Martyrs’ Day program held in the state capital.

Supported VA Senate and General Assembly Armenian Genocide Legislation: As Governor, Jim Gilmore offered support for state legislation commemorating the Armenian Genocide, despite vehement opposition by the Turkish Government.  The legislation was adopted by both the VA Senate and House.

On March 27, 2001, as Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee issued a proclamation recognizing April 24, 2001 as a Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide. The declaration memorialized the “the death of at least 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Turks and the forced deportation of countless others.” The official statement also noted that “the Armenian people have not received reparations for their losses” and that the present Turkish government engages in a campaign of “denial of the Armenian Genocide.”

The Arkansas chief executive subsequently issued a proclamation also marking April 24 as a “Day of Remembrance of the Turkish and Armenian Tragedy.” The local Armenian community’s objections to the Governor’s use of this euphemistic phrasing to obscure the genocidal intent of Ottoman Turkey toward its Armenian subjects was covered by the Arkansas News Bureau, which quoted ANC-Arkansas spokesperson Leo Stepanian as saying: “It was not a tragedy. It was a genocide.”  Learn more about both proclamations here.

Celebrating Armenian Independence: Ohio Governor John Kasich and Liutenant Governor Mary Taylor issued a proclamation marking the 21st Anniversary of Armenian independence,  which was read at the Armenian festival held at Cleveland City Hall.

Congressional Record: During his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives (1983-2001) generally received the ANCA ratings of C’s, D’s and F’s – voting against a series of measures which penalized Turkey for blocking humanitarian assistance to Armenia and denying the Armenian Genocide.  In 2000, he did cosponsor the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.155).  In 1992, he cosigned to letters to President George H.W. Bush and USSR Premiere Mikhail Gorbachev in support of Artsakh independence.  In 1997, he opposed Congressional efforts to maintain Section 907 aid sanctions on Azerbaijan, due to their ongoing blockades and aggression against Armenia and Karabakh.  The ANCA supported measure was adopted.

Abstained on Senate Armenian Genocide Resolution Committee Vote: On April 10, 2014, as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Rand Paul was the only Senator not to cast a vote on the Armenian Genocide Resolution (S.Res.410).  The measure passed with 12 yeas, 5 nays and 1 non-voting (Sen. Paul).

Cosponsor of Armenian Genocide Resolution (S.Res.140): On April 22, 2015, Sen. Marco Rubio cosponsored the Armenian Genocide Resolution (S.Res.140), spearheaded by Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Cory Gardner (R-CO).  The resolution currently has 21 cosponsors.

Voted for Committee Passage of Armenian Genocide Resolution (S.Res.410): On April 10, 2014, Sen. Marco Rubio voted for passage of S. Res. 410, Armenian Genocide Resolution, during the Senate Foreign Relations Committee markup.  The measure was adopted by a vote of 12 to 5.

Senate Record on the Armenian Genocide: As Senator from 1995 – 2007, Rick Santorum was a perennial co-sponsor of Armenian Genocide legislation, including S.Res.320 (2005), S,Res. 164 (2003),  and S.Res.307 (2002).  From 2004 – 2006, he cosigned the annual letter to President Bush urging him to properly commemorate the Armenian Genocide as ‘genocide.’  After leaving the Senate, in 2007, Santorum, in a TV interview with Glenn Beck, expressed opposition to pending Armenian Genocide legislation in the U.S. House, succumbing to Turkish threats to cut US supply lines to US forces stationed in Iraq.  In April 2015, Santorum marked the centennial of the Armenian Genocide with a statement and a tweet.

Opposing the Regional Isolation of Armenia: On March 28, 2006, Sen. Santorum introduced S.2461 – the South Caucasus Integration and Open Railroads Act of 2006 – which would block U.S. support for the construction of any railways which would have traversed Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, and excluded Armenia.  The measure was adopted as part of the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank on October 2, 2006, through the efforts of Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ).

Supporter of Section 907 Restrictions on Aid to Azerbaijan: As Senator, in 1999, Santorum voted against efforts to lift Section 907 restrictions on U.S. aid to Azerbaijan due to their ongoing blockades and aggression against Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.

The ANCA has no record of statements or comments by Donald Trump on Armenian American concerns.  There are reports, however, that Trump’s corporation does business with Azerbaijani oligarchs who lobby against Armenian American priorities.

Flip-Flopping on the Armenian Genocide:  In April, 2015, Newsweek published an extensive report about Hillary Clinton’s changes in position on the Armenian Genocide – highlighting her support for Armenian Genocide legislation as Senator and later her questioning of the historical truth of the Genocide in Secretary of State.  Documentation of her various positions, in chronological order, is provided below.

107th Congress (2001-2002) – Cosponsor of S. Res. 307 – A resolution reaffirming support of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and anticipating the commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the enactment of the Genocide Convention Implementation Act of 1987 (the Proxmire Act) on November 4, 2003.

108th Congress (2003-2004) – Cosponsor of S. Res. 164 – A resolution reaffirming support of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and anticipating the commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the enactment of the Genocide Convention Implementation Act of 1987 (the Proxmire Act) on November 4, 2003.

109th Congress (2005-2006) – Cosponsor of S. Res. 320 – A resolution calling 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.

109th Congress (2005-2006) – Signed April 2005 letter to President Bush urging him to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

109th Congress (2005-2006) – Signed April 2006 letter to President Bush urging him to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

110th Congress (2007-2008) – Cosponsor of S. Res. 106 – A resolution calling 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.

January 2008 – Issued campaign statement during presidential run.

October 2008 – Offered Remarks at a Turkish Cultural Center of New York banquet where Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan was present.

October 10, 2009 – As Secretary of State, spearheaded U.S. leadership for the failed Turkey-Armenia Protocols, signed on October 10, 2009 in Zurich Switzerland.  In June, 2014, Clinton would reminisce about the experience in her memoire, Hard Choices, relevant sections of which are spotlighted in this Asbarez News article by Ara Khachatourian.

July 5, 2010 – As Secretary of State, visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan, Armenia – stating that it was only in a “private capacity.”

January 2012 – During Town Hall meeting with State Department staff, Secretary Clinton referred to the Armenian Genocide as matter for “historical debate.”

February 27, 2012 – Over 60 Members of Congress sent a letter to Secretary Clinton rebuking her claim that the Armenian Genocide is a matter for “historical debate.”

Celebrating Armenian Independence: On September 21, 2013, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley issued a proclamation marking Armenia’s Independence Day, with specific mention of  strong U.S.-Karabakh ties.

Praising the Maryland-Azerbaijan Relationship:  Gov. Martin O’Malley shared this message with participants of the U.S.-Azerbaijan Convention in 2013, held in Azerbaijan’s capitol, Baku.  The convention would give rise to an extensive U.S. Office of Congressional Ethics and House Ethics Committee investigation into illegal foreign government funding of Congressional trips to that convention as well as subsequent questionable campaign donations to legislators.

As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1991 – 2007) and U.S. Senate (2008-present), Bernie Sanders has, at various times, supported Armenian Genocide legislation, Section 907 restrictions on U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan, and efforts to secure Turkey’s return of confiscated Armenian and other Christian Churches, as noted in chronological order below.  He as, as yet, not taken action on Armenian American concerns during the 114th Congress. Review his ANCA Senate Report Card here.

104th Congress (1995-1996) – Voted for the Radanovich Amendment to the House Foreign Aid Bill cutting aid to Turkey by $3.0 million, a symbolic amount equaling the annual amount spent by the Turkish Government to lobbying against Armenian Genocide legislation and other top Turkey priorities.

104th Congress (1995-1996) – Voted for the Visclosky Amendment to the House Foreign Aid Bill strengthening the Humanitarian Aid Corridor Act, which withheld aid to any country, including Turkey, with obstructs the transit of humanitarian assistance to a third country in need.

105th Congress (1997-1998) – Voted for the Pallone-Radanovich Amendment which maintained Section 907 restrictions on U.S. aid to Azerbaijan due to that country’s ongoing blockades and aggression against Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh

105th Congress (1997-1998) – Signed a letter to the White House urging them to stop the sale of Seahawk helicopters to Turkey due to the likelihood of their use in committing human rights violations.

106th Congress (1999-2000) – Cosponsor of H. Res. 398, the United States Training on and Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide Resolution

107th Congress (2001-2002) – Signed April 2002 letter to President Bush urging him to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

108th Congress (2003-2004) – Voted for the Cunningham Amendment cutting aid to Turkey for undermining U.S. priorities in Iraq.

108th Congress (2003-2004) – Signed April 2003 letter to President Bush urging him to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

108th Congress (2003-2004) – Signed April 2004 letter to President Bush urging him to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

112th Congress (2011-2012) – Cosponsor of S. Res. 392, Return of Churches Resolution, which urges the Republic of Turkey to safeguard its Christian heritage and to return confiscated church properties.

112th Congress (2011-2012) – Cosponsor of S. Res. 399, Armenian Genocide Resolution, which calls upon the President to ensure that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the United States record relating to the Armenian Genocide, and for other purposes.