9/23/2014: Tweeted condemning the ISIS attack on the Armenian Genocide Memorial and Church in Der Zor, Syria. '?I strongly condemn the reported desecration of an Armenian Genocide memorial in Syria by the Islamic State' - http://asbarez.com/127192/members-of-congress-express-outrage-over-der-zor-destruction/

08/13/14 - Tweeted his condemnation of Azerbaijani aggression against Armenia and NKR. 'Deeply concerned and saddened by the violence in Nagorno-#Karabakh. We must stand with our #Armenian friends and stop Azeri aggression.'

4/24/2014: Offered moving remarks at the ANCA Central California flag raising ceremony at the City Hall in in Fresno, CA commemorating the Armenian Genocide. Watch it here: http://youtu.be/m9SdbbnOLfg?t=23m17s

4/9/2014: Tweeted about his participation at the Congressional Armenian Genocide Commemoration on Capitol Hill - 'Remembering the 99th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide tonight w/ @ANCA_DC'

03/11/14 - Submitted Statement for the Congressional Record on Sumgait - Mr. Speaker, today I rise as I do every year in recognition of the anniversary of the pogroms aqainst the people of Armenian descent in Sumgait , Azerbaijan. On February 27, 1988, anti-Armenian forces began killing Armenians and driving them from their homes. Scores of Armenians were killed, hundreds were wounded, and thousands were left as refugees without their homes or livelihoods. The violence went on for three days as Armenian women and girls were viciously raped.

Days before this massacre, the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh began peacefully protesting against the Soviet Azerbaijani oppression and discrimination. From this peaceful protest and the fires of the pogroms arose the spark that started the democracy movement that ultimately brought down the Soviet Empire.

Sadly, anti-Armenian rhetoric and cross-border attacks continue at the hands of the Azerbaijani government. Azerbaijan has consistently obstructed the peace process, walked away from its own agreements, and continued to threaten war. This is unacceptable, and the violence and harmful words must come to an end.

Today, I ask my colleagues to stand with me in remembrance of the Sumgait pogroms, in support of a true and lasting peace in the region, and in recognition of the contributions of Armenian Americans to the San Joaquin Valley I call home and the entire Nation.

01/10/14 - Statement submitted for the Congressional Record - Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay to tribute to the life of Ernest Armen Bedrosian who passed away on January 1, 2014 at the age of 80. Ernie had a significant role in the raisin industry, and his advocacy on behalf of farmers throughout California will undoubtedly be missed.

Ernie grew up in Parlier, California with his two brothers; Krikor and Kenneth, and his sister, Clara. His parents, Murad and Elizabeth, were first generation immigrants who survived the Armenian Genocide. Growing up in an immigrant family with strong parents, Ernie quickly developed great values and principles.

In 1955, Ernie graduated from Fresno State College with a Bachelor's Degree in agriculture. Upon graduation, he joined the United States Army and became a food specialist. A year into his service, Ernie married the love of his life, Carlotta Ketchian. They raised two children; Bryan and Tammy.

In 1958, Ernie completed his time with the Army and went back to work on his family farm. Ernie and his brothers began a grape harvesting business, and in his spare time, Ernie served on various raisin boards and met stakeholders who farmed throughout the Valley. In 1966, he formed the Raisin Bargaining Association (RBA). Ernie served as the first president of the RBA and guided the association through its early years. Today, the RBA is the most successful and largest raisin bargaining association in the country.

While Ernie was establishing the RBA, he and his brothers were also expanding their farming operation. In 1967, they decided to go into the raisin packing business and opened National Raisin Company (NRC). The Bedrosian brothers and their partner Harry Rustigian developed the ``Champion'' brand. Ernie served as the president and was responsible for sales and daily operations. The NRC had a strong beginning and decades later, it still continues to prosper. It is the largest independent raisin, prune, and dried fruit operation in the world.

It is obvious that Ernie was an extremely successful businessman, but he never took full responsibility for his accomplishments. He attributed his success to Carlotta and his sister in-laws; Katherine and Jane, who served as a support system to the Bedrosian brothers while they were forming their business. Ernie loved the raisin industry, but family always came first. He was a loving and devoted husband and a supportive father. He also enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren; Corney, Tyler, Armen, and Lillian.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to the life of Ernest Armen Bedrosian . His presence will be greatly missed, but his legacy will surely live on in the Central Valley.

12/13 - Issued statement condemning Azerbaijan for killing of Armenian soldier, Hrant Poghosyan, who was killed in the Tavush region.

09/09/13 - Statement submitted for the Congressional Record on Holy Trinity Armenian Church - Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Holy Trinity Armenian Church during their celebration of the 100th Blessing of the Grapes ceremony. This is a very special time for the Armenian community as they gather on this holy day.

The blessing of grapes is a special tradition within the Armenian Church. The ceremony takes place on a major feast day, ``Assumption of St. Mary'' which is a celebration of St. Mary being assumed into Heaven. Grapes have a symbolic significance in the Christian faith, and on this day they are considered to be forbidden fruit before being blessed by the Priest at the closing of the ceremony.

Holy Trinity Armenian Church is an historical landmark in Fresno, California. The first Armenian Church was destroyed in a fire in 1913, and the Holy Trinity Armenian Church was built at an alternate location. Armenian architect, Lawrence Cone, created the magnificent church as a sacred place for the Armenian community. It was the first traditional Armenian Church in the United States.

The Central Valley is home to thousands of Armenians, and as a community we must also celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the Holy Trinity Armenian Church. They have made everlasting contributions to the City of Fresno, and our entire country.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 100th Ye ar Anniversary of the Blessing of the Grapes Ceremony at the Holy Trinity Armenian Church. Their mission to provide an infinite amount of faith, hope, and love to the public is highly respected and praised.

04/23/13 - Remarks offered on the House Floor on the Armenian Genocide - The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Costa) for 5 minutes.

Mr. COSTA. I rise today in recognition of the Armenian genocide .

Tomorrow, April 24, marks the 98th anniversary of the horrific Armenian genocide that took place approximately between 1915 and 1923. The citations, the history, and the atrocities are well documented. They have been recognized by the European parliament and historians around the world. Sadly, I believe the United States Congress has not gone on record, despite repeated attempts, in recognizing this horrific genocide --the first genocide that took place in the 20th century.

As we all know, history has a way of repeating itself, both for the good and for the bad. While the Armenian genocide was the first in the 20th century that was documented, we all know what took place later with the Holocaust and the attempted genocide of the Jewish people. And today, throughout the 20th century and into the 21st century, we see repeated attempts where genocide has been practiced in Africa and in other parts of the world.

It is not enough simply to condemn those actions, but rather as a people we must come together and acknowledge that there have been very, very difficult and sad times when man's inhumanity to their fellow man has taken place. What has occurred at the Holocaust has been documented in museums here in the United States and in Israel. The attempt to make that similar reflection on the Armenian genocide is still a work in progress.

This week, the Armenian communities throughout America will remind us once again that this injustice to mankind should not only be acknowledged and documented but should never, ever be forgotten. And that's what we will do tomorrow in recognizing the 98th anniversary of this Armenian genocide .

I grew up in a community in the San Joaquin Valley with many wonderful Armenian families. As a young boy, I learned about the history from our neighbors, my friends. And while, sadly, the Turkish Government today is still in denial as to the events that took place between 1915 and 1923, I would hope some day, just as the German Government and others have recognized the fact that there are parts of our history that we would just as soon forget or overlook, we know that if we recognize them, we have greater assurances that they will not repeat themselves.

That's why I rise today to recognize this very sad, sad event that took place in the 20th century. I think we reach out to all the Armenian communities not only in the United States but throughout the world and stand with them in realizing that their suffering, their pain, and the loss of some 1 million-plus Armenians has been all of our collective loss.

I want to close by saying that tomorrow we recognize the 98th anniversary. We continue to urge our fellow Members of Congress to recognize that we should go on record, in my view, just as we have gone on record on numerous other important events that have taken place in our Nation's history and in world history. I think tomorrow all Americans will stand with our Armenian Americans and Armenians throughout the world in recognizing that, in fact, this genocide did take place; and our thoughts and hearts and prayers go with those who have lost their lives.

3/26/2013: Rep. Costa's District staff Melissa Mata presents a plaque to NKR Representative to the U.S. Robert Avetisyan, with the statement read into the Congressional Record by Congressman Costa on the 25th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. https://www.facebook.com/ancagrassroots/posts/312720985520545

03/12/13 - Statement submitted for the Congressional Record on Sumgait - Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the twenty-fifth anniversary of the pogroms against people of Armenian descent in Sumgait, Azerbaijan . This ungodly massacre in 1988 resulted in the murder of scores of Armenians. Tragically, women and girls were viciously raped and hundreds of Armenians were wounded. The chaos led to thousands of Armenian refugees who were left without homes or livelihoods. It was from the ashes of these terrible fires that arose the Nagorno Karabakh democracy movement that has, after many terrible years of Azerbaijani war, blockades, and aggression, resulted in hard-won freedom and democracy for the proud citizens of this ancient Christian land.

As we recognize this tragedy, it is also proper that we celebrate the courage of the people of Nagorno Karabaldi as the first to rise up against the Soviet Union and to demand their right to freedom and self-governance. We celebrate the self-determination of the people of Nagorno Karabakh, their declaration of independence more than two decades ago, and their role in ending the Soviet threat to America. We should never forget the brave efforts of this small nation in sparking the democracy movement that ended decades of dictatorial rule in the USSR and eventually led to the fall of the Soviet Union.

Sadly, over the past quarter century, the Azerbaijani government has attacked the people of Karabakh with a clenched fist. Azerbaijan has consistently obstructed the peace process, walking away from its own agreements, and instead sought to incite hatred within its own population with anti-Armenian rhetoric and regular cross border attacks and threats of renewed war. Perhaps the most telling example was the President of Azerbaijan's decision to pardon, praise, and even promote Ramil Safarov, an Azerbaijani soldier who was sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murder of unarmed Armenian Army officer Gurgen Margaryan in Budapest in 2004.

Today, I ask my colleagues to stand with the proud people of Nagorno Karabakh because our two peoples share so many of the same foundational ideals including a commitment to the values of freedom, human rights, self-determination, and democracy.