Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Representative Edward Royce (R-CA) was selected to serve as Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee for the 113th Congress, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly). Rep. Royce will succeed Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who stepped down as Chair due to term limits.
“We congratulate Congressman Royce, who since first coming to Congress in 1993 has been a leading voice on human rights,” stated Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. “We look forward to working with Chairman Royce and the members of the Committee to advance mutually shared goals,” added Ardouny.
A long-time advocate of U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, Congressman Royce has consistently demonstrated his strong support on a variety of key issues concerning the Armenian-American community: spearheading H.Res. 306 urging the Republic of Turkey to safeguard its Christian heritage and to return confiscated church properties to their rightful owners; maintaining Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, which was adopted into law as a result of Azerbaijan’s hostile actions against Armenia; cosponsoring Armenian Genocide resolutions; and taking many other actions supportive of Armenian issues.
Congressman Royce has served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee since 1993, and has served as chairman or ranking member of the Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade Subcommittee for the past eight years. Royce also chaired the Africa Subcommittee for eight years, and has been active on the Asia and the Pacific Subcommittee.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.