WASHINGTON, DC – Support for pro-U.S./Armenia trade legislation continued to gain broad bi-partisan support this week, as the list of House cosponsors for H.Res.528 reached 103, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

Introduced by Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairmen Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ), the legislation would provide permanent normal trade relations status to the Republic of Armenia. This would ensure lower tariffs on Armenian imports to the U.S. and give greater Armenian access to U.S. government credit facilities on a permanent basis. The move follows Armenia’s formal entry into the World Trade Organization in February of this year.

“We are encouraged by the growing support for this legislation and look forward to its adoption by the Congress at the first opportunity,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “The broad-based support for this measure reflects an appreciation, on both sides of the aisle, that increased U.S.-Armenia trade represents a key element of Armenia’s continued economic growth and an important foundation for the further development of the warm and long-standing ties between the American and Armenian peoples.”

H.Res.528 is currently under consideration by the House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, which invited public comment on the issue earlier this year. In the ANCA letter to the Trade Subcommittee, Hamparian cited the importance of adopting H.Res.528 at the first opportunity.

Since its introduction, ANCA chapters and activists across the nation have contacted their Representatives in support of H.Res.528. Most recently, the ANCA 2003 Leo Sarkisian interns have conducted an intensive Congressional awareness campaign in support of the measure. These nine university students from across the country will continue to contact Congressional offices in the final three weeks of their program in Washington, DC. “I am glad to be part of the effort to increase Congressional support for normalizing trade relations between the U.S. and Armenia,” explained Villanova junior Niherie Miller. “I look forward to its swift consideration on the House floor.”

Permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) status ensures lower duties on Armenian imports to the U.S., creating incentives for increased trade and investment opportunities between the two countries. As such, the measure strengthens bilateral relations between the two countries and helps reinforce the enduring friendship between the American and Armenian peoples. Increased U.S.-Armenia trade and investment also helps to offset the impact of the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades, estimated by the World Bank at up to $720 million a year.

Joining Reps. Knollenberg and Pallone as sponsors of H.R.528 are the following Representatives: Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Tom Allen (D-ME), Robert Andrews (D-NJ), Joe Baca (D-CA), Charles Bass (R-NH), Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Howard Berman (D-CA), Michael Bilirakis (R-FL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jeb Bradley (R-NH), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Dave Camp (R-MI), Eric Cantor (R-VA), Michael Capuano (D-MA), Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), John Conyers (D-MI), Jerry Costello (D-IL), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Duke Cunningham (R-CA), Calvin Dooley (D-CA), David Dreier (R-CA), Vernon Ehlers (R-MI), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Philip English (R-PA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Tom Feeney (R-FL), Mike Ferguson (R-NJ), Bob Filner (D-CA), Mark Foley (R-FL), Martin Frost (D-TX), Elton Gallegly (R-CA), Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Gil Gutknecht (R-MN), J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ), Joe Hoeffel (D-PA), Michael Honda (D-CA), Steve Israel (D-NY), Darrell Issa (R-CA), Jesse Jackson (D-IL), Sue Kelly (R-NY), Mark Kennedy (R-MN), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Dale Kildee (D-MI), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), James Langevin (D-RI), William Lipinski (D-IL), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Edward Markey (D-MA), Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), Jim McDermott (D-WA), James McGovern (D-MA), John McHugh (R-NY), Michael McNulty (D-NY), Martin Meehan (D-MA), Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA), Candice Miller (R-MI), James Moran (D-VA), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Devin Nunes (R-CA), John Olver (D-MA), Ron Paul (R-TX), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Collin Peterson (D-MN), George Radanovich (R-CA), Jim Ramstad (R-MN), Charles Rangel (D-NY), Mike Rogers (R-MI), Steven Rothman (D-NJ), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Edward Royce (R-CA), Bobby Rush (D-IL), Paul Ryan (R-WI), Martin Olav Sabo (D-MN), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), H. James Saxton (R-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Christopher Shays (R-CT), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Christopher Smith (R-NJ), Hilda Solis (D-CA), Mark Souder (R-IN), John Sweeney (R-NY), Ellen Tauscher (D-CA), Lee Terry (R-NE), John Tierney (D-MA), Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Fred Upton (R-MI), Christopher Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Visclosky (D-IN), Diane Watson (D-CA), Henry Waxman (D-CA), Anthony Weiner (D-NY), Robert Wexler (D-FL), and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA).