Los Angeles, CA – The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) recently met with Congressman Xavier Becerra (D-CA-31) at his district office in Los Angeles, CA to discuss issues relating to the Armenian American community. Constituent Maurice Soudjian and ANCA-WR Executive Director Andrew Kzirian joined the Congressman on Tuesday, March 18, 2008.

“Congressman Becerra is a principled leader and strong supporter of ending the cycle of genocide,” stated Kzirian. “The universal nature of genocide is a scourge upon humanity as a whole – and we must continue to educate elected officials as to why they must not back down due to threats made by Turkey.”

During the meeting, Becerra, Soudjian and Kzirian discussed H. Res. 106 (the Armenian Genocide resolution) and the community’s efforts to continue raising genocide awareness in the face of opposition from the Turkish and American governments. The Congressman also discussed foreign aid to Armenia, the Millenium Challenge Account and the importance of maintaining stability in the Caucuses.

Becerra, who serves as Assistant to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-08), represents the 31st Congressional District of California which includes parts of Los Angeles County. The district covers areas such as Echo Park, Eagle Rock, Atwater Village, Hollywood, Silverlake, Koreatown, El Sereno, Historic Filipino town and various other neighborhoods. Becerra, the first Latino and only Member from Southern California serving on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, was first elected to the House in 1992. The first in his family to graduate from college and the son of working-class immigrants, Becerra earned his college degree in Economics and his law degree from Stanford University.

The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANC-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

Photo caption: Becerra (right) joined by Kzirian and Soudjian (from left to right).