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Washington, D.C. - Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) introduced bipartisan legislation that would facilitate the Library of Congress to enhance education and awareness on the Armenian Genocide, and allocate $2 million per year for five years to enable this initiative, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).
“As the saying goes, if we do not learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it,” said Congresswoman Maloney. “That is why I am proud to announce the Armenian Genocide Education Act to teach the horrors and lessons of the Armenian Genocide accurately and effectively. Both chambers of Congress voted with overwhelming bipartisan majorities to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide, and last year President Biden made it clear that it is the official position of the United States that these systematic killings were genocide. It is imperative that we now ensure Americans have access to the resources they need to learn and teach about this atrocity.”
The Armenian Genocide Education Act will provide for the development and national dissemination of accurate, relevant, and accessible resources to promote understanding about how and why the Armenian Genocide happened, including public access to digital resources.
“Our darkest moments as a human race have come during times when those who knew better stood silently, making excuses for passivity and allowing injustice and persecution to reign. We must acknowledge the atrocities of the past so that we might hopefully prevent them in the future,” said Congressman Bilirakis. “One of the best ways to achieve this goal is through education and awareness, which is why I am proud to co-introduce the Armenian Genocide Education Act with Carolyn Maloney.”
"We commend Representatives Maloney and Bilirakis for their continued efforts to further the cause of genocide education and prevention," said Assembly Congressional Relations Director Mariam Khaloyan. "This legislation seeks to enhance education and awareness about the first genocide of the 20th century, which was officially recognized by President Biden last April 24, 2021 following the passage of legislation in 2019 in the House and Senate affirming the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide.”
In addition to Reps. Maloney and Bilirakis the following Members have joined as original cosponsors: Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Karen Bass (D-CA), Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), David Cicilline (D-RI), Katherine Clark (D-MA), J. Luis Correa (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), John Garamendi (D-CA), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Josh Harder (D-CA), Brian Higgins (D-NY), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Young Kim (R-CA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Grace Meng (D-NY), Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Scott Peters (D-CA), Katie Porter (D-CA), Linda Sánchez (D-CA), John Sarbanes (D-MD), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Lori Trahan (D-MA), David Valadao (R-CA), and Juan Vargas (D-CA).
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