The House voted overwhelmingly in favor of a resolution that recognizes and condemns the century-old slaughter of hundreds of thousands of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire.
The legislation was approved by a 405-11 vote and represents a rebuke to NATO ally Turkey, which has long lobbied for the killings not to be referred to as a genocide. Between 1915 and 1923, some 1.5 million Armenians were killed by the Ottoman Empire.
“Genocides, whenever and wherever they occur, cannot be ignored, whether they took place in the 20th century by the Ottoman Turks or mid-20th century by the Third Reich and in Darfur,” Republican Rep. Gus Bilirakis of Florida said Tuesday.
“Today we end a century of international silence that will not be another period of indifference or international ignorance to the lives lost to systematic murder,” he added.
The resolution was introduced by Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of California and had 137 cosponsors.
Turkey has pulled its ambassadors from the U.S. over votes recognizing the genocide at the committee level in both 2007 and 2010. The new full House recognition will likely generate backlash from Turkey, which is already experiencing icy relations with the U.S. after its invasion of Syria and attacks against U.S.-allied Kurdish forces.
The new legislation reflects that it is the policy of the U.S. to: “(1) commemorate the Armenian Genocide through official recognition and remembrance; (2) reject efforts to enlist, engage, or otherwise associate the United States Government with denial of the Armenian Genocide or any other genocide; and (3) encourage education and public understanding of the facts of the Armenian Genocide, including the United States role in the humanitarian relief effort, and the relevance of the Armenian Genocide to modern-day crimes against humanity.”
Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Texas said on Twitter that he was “proud” to support the “long overdue” resolution, adding that the bill “commemorates the many innocent lives lost and destroyed in the #ArmenianGenocide and acknowledges the historic reality of this horrible event.”
Recognizing this tragic period in history is long overdue.
I’m proud to cosponsor this resolution, which commemorates the many innocent lives lost and destroyed in the #ArmenianGenocide and acknowledges the historic reality of this horrible event. https://t.co/4t2r1G9D4m
— Rep. Dan Crenshaw (@RepDanCrenshaw) October 29, 2019
Joe Biden and Schiff also praised the move on social media.
I welcome the House’s passage of H Res 296, which recognizes and condemns the Armenian Genocide of 1915-23. By acknowledging this genocide we honor the memory of its victims and vow: never again.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 29, 2019
The House just voted to recognize the Armenian Genocide – a vote I fought for 19 years to make possible, that tens of thousands of my Armenian American constituents have waited decades to see.
We will not be party to genocide denial. We will not be silent. We will never forget. pic.twitter.com/R8Ex2lqYEb
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) October 29, 2019
