LOS ANGELES, CA – Representatives of the San Gabriel Valley ANC and the regional ANCA-WR office met with Congresswoman Hilda Solis (D-31) on May 29. Leading the delegation of ANC officials was longtime community activist and the chairman of the San Gabriel Valley ANC chapter, Serge Samoniantz.

Since her election to the U.S. House of Representatives in November of 2000, Congresswoman Solis has been an active supporter of Armenian issues. She is an active member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues and has been a leader in efforts to secure full and appropriate U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Most recently, she signed a letter to President Bush that urged him to use the word genocide in his April 24th statement.

“Hilda Solis is a true friend of the Armenian-American community,” remarked Samoniantz after the meeting with the Congresswoman.and members of her staff. “Our meeting today reaffirmed our long friendship with the Congresswoman. From her days in the State Assembly and later the State Senate, and now the U.S. House of Representatives, Solis has always been there for our local ANC chapter and for members of our community,” he added.

“The San Gabriel Valley ANC is pleased to share the Congresswoman’s pro-active stand on Armenian issues with our grassroots supporters, many of whom are also her constituents,” Samoniantz commented. “Our ANC chapter knows that all politics is local and so we look forward to working this year to keep Hilda Solis in the U.S. Congress,” he emphasized.

The San Gabriel Valley ANC, which has a long tradition of establishing solid and lasting political relationships with area public officials, conducted their meeting with Congresswoman Solis as part of a broad outreach campaign. Later this year, the San Gabriel ANC will begin an ambitious voter registration drive. This effort will target Armenian-Americans living in Montebello and those in surrounding cities who are not yet registered to vote.

Congresswoman Solis currently represents California’s 31st Congressional District, which includes parts of El Monte, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Rosemead, and Monterey Park. Because of redistricting, her new district will change considerably, bringing her 200,000 new constituents living in towns like West Covina and surrounding municipalities in the eastern San Gabriel Valley. Congresswoman Solis presently serves on the House Education and Workforce Committee and the House Resources Committee.

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.

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