New York, NY- The Armenian National Committee of America – Eastern Region (ANCA-ER) is pleased to announce that Connecticut has joined Colorado, Massachusetts, Maine and Rhode Island to become the fifth state with a complete Congressional delegation in support of both H. Res. 106 and S. Res. 106. Grassroots activists played a key role in gaining Congressional cosponsorship of the resolution.

With the recent additions of Congressmen John Larson (D-CT-1), Joseph Courtney (D-CT-2), and Christopher Murphy (D-CT-5), the Connecticut delegation now unanimously supports the Armenian Genocide resolutions in the Senate and House of Representatives. Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-3), and Congressman Christopher Shay (R-CT-4), were all original cosponsors of S. Res 106 and H. Res. 106.

In recent months, the ANCA-ER coordinated efforts with several grassroots activists, including two siblings, Harout and Sona, who felt that it was necessary to take action and get their Representatives to sign on. “As an Armenian, I felt like I had to do something. Calling my Representative was the least I could do in order to help get this recognized. We must continue to take an active role in Armenian communities throughout the Diaspora to fight for our cause,” commented Sona.

Arppie Charkoudian, a dedicated activist and Chairwoman of the ANC of Connecticut, has been working to expand the grassroots activity throughout the state. “The Connecticut Armenian community is smaller than other communities in the Eastern Region, but our persistence and continued follow up with our Representatives truly made a difference in their support of the legislation,” commented Charkoudian. “By continuing the grassroots initiatives that the ANCA has to offer we can ensure that the interests of the Armenian American community are represented properly.”

Currently, the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont have 20 of 22 Representatives signed on to H. Res 106, and nine of twelve Senators signed on to S. Res 106.

The Armenian National Committee of America is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.