LOS ANGELES, CA – The Armenian National Committee – Western Region (ANC-WR) is proud to report that a number of prominent Republicans and Democrats serving in the U.S. House of Representatives will be serving as Honorary Chairs for the ANC-WR 23rd Annual Banquet. The ANC-WR’s Annual Banquet will be held on September 30, 2007, at the Universal Sheraton in Los Angeles. The event will feature an awards ceremony where U.S. Senator Robert Menendez and longtime ANC supporter Hacob Shirvanian will be honored.

“The ANC-WR is proud that Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle will be serving as Honorary Chairs for our banquet,” commented ANC-WR Board Member Aida Dimejian. “With support from our friends in the U.S. House of Representatives, this year’s banquet is going to be an outstanding event,” she added.

Members of Congress serving as Honorary Chairs for the ANC-WR Annual Banquet include Representatives Anna Eshoo, Grace Napolitano, George Radanovich, Adam Schiff and Brad Sherman.

Congressman Adam Schiff has provided strong leadership on issues of concern to Armenian Americans. Representative Schiff introduced H. Res. 106 [the Armenian Genocide Resolution] on January 30, 2007. The bill currently enjoys strong bipartisan support from over 225 Members of Congress. During a Congressional hearing held earlier this year Congressman Schiff demonstrated strong moral resolve in pressing Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on the State Department’s unacceptable position on the Armenian Genocide.

Congressman George Radanovich played a key role in 2000 when an Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.R. 398, nearly reached a floor vote but was pulled off at the last minute due to pressure from the Clinton Administration, the State Department and House Speaker Dennis Hastert. The Congressman pledged to fight for official acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide by Congress and welcomed the continued support of the community in these efforts. Congressman Radanovich is the co-author with Congressman Adam Schiff of H. Res. 106 and has remained steadfast in his support of Armenian American issues.

Congresswoman Anna Eshoo has a long record of broad leadership and support for issues of interest to the Armenian American community. As the only U.S. Representative of Armenian descent, and as a member of the Armenian Issues Caucus in Congress, Representative Eshoo plays a key role in the legislative process as it applies to issues of importance to Armenian Americans. She has cosponsored numerous resolutions recognizing the Armenian Genocide and has participated in several Armenian Genocide commemorations on Capitol Hill. Representative Eshoo has continuously earned an A+ rating from the ANCA’s Congressional Report Card.

Congresswoman Grace Napolitano played a key role in challenging the Bush Administration regarding the recall of former Ambassador John Evans. The Congresswoman provided pointed questions to State Department officials during testimony before the U.S. House International Relations Committee regarding reports that the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia was going to be recalled due to his public acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide. As a follow up question, addressed to Assistant Secretary of State Dan Fried, the Congresswoman asked for a clarification of any restrictions placed on State Department officials concerning the use of the word “genocide” when discussing the extermination of 1.5 million Armenians starting in 1915.

Congressman Sherman has been a tireless advocate of issues of concern to the Armenian American community over the years and has actively pursued these issues in the halls of Congress throughout his tenure representing the 27th Congressional District in California. Upon first joining the Congress, Congressman Sherman joined the Armenian Caucus and has worked side by side with the Armenian American community to ensure that the Republic of Turkey comes to terms with its genocidal past. Congressman Sherman played a key role in the Sherman Amendment of 1997 which disallowed aid to Turkey in the amount of funds that it expends annually on genocide denial efforts.

Individuals interested in attending the ANC-Western Region banquet are encouraged to contact ANC-WR Banquet Coordinator Felicia Garver at (818) 500-1918. The banquet is slated to begin at 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail hour and silent auction, with the formal program commencing at 7:00 p.m. Organizers of this event expect that it will be sold out well before September 30th.

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.