SAN DIEGO, CA — Representative Susan Davis (D-CA 53rd) today became the newest member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues reported the Armenian National Committee of America Western Region (ANCA WR). Representative Davis’s entrance into the Caucus brings its membership to 132.

On July 23, 2004, representatives of the ANC of San Diego (ANC SD) and the ANCA-Western Region, met with the Congresswoman’s staff to discuss her joining the Caucus on Armenian Issues. ANCA-WR Executive Director Ardashes Kassakhian, ANC SD Chair Garo Artinian and ANC SD board member Robert Deranian met with Caridad Sanchez, Senior Community Relations Representative for Rep. Davis. The ANC delegation thanked Ms. Sanchez for the Congresswoman’s support of Armenian-American issues. After a brief update of the ANC’s local activities and an update of local San Diego initiatives, Kassakhian presented the Congresswoman with an letter formally asking Rep. Davis to join the over 34 Members of Congress from California that are already a part of the Caucus.

“We welcome Representative Davis joining the Armenian Issues Caucus and look forward to working with the Congresswoman on a number of issues of special concern to his Armenian American constituents,” stated Garo Artinian, Chairperson of the Armenian National Committee of San Diego.

“I look forward to working with the Armenian American community here in
San Diego, the Armenian National Committee, my colleagues on the Armenian
Issues Caucus and others to help bring attention to the Armenian Genocide,”
stated Rep. Susan Davis. “By working together, as one voice, we will help bring attention to such crimes against humanity and stop the cycle of Genocide in our time.”

Earlier this year, Rep. Susan Davis co-signed a letter to President George W. Bush, along with 169 other members of Congress, urging the President to honor his campaign pledge from four years ago to properly acknowledge the Armenian Genocide as a genocide. Rep. Davis has co-signed a similar letter to the President for the past three years.

Founded in 1995, the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues 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. It was founded by Congressmen Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and John Porter (R-IL) in 1995.

Rep. Davis was elected to the House of Representatives in November of 2000 and has served two terms. In Congress, Rep. Davis serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the Education and the Workforce Committee, and the Veterans Affairs Committee. She focuses on the issues of defense, education, environment, health care, and veterans affairs. Prior to her election to Congress, Rep. Davis served on the San Diego City School Board and served three terms in the California State Assembly.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) 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.