Vote Explanation for H.Res. 296

Yesterday, I voted for a resolution to formally recognize the Armenian Genocide. I was a proud co-sponsor of H.Res. 296, and I’m encouraged that it overwhelmingly-passed the House of Representatives this evening by a vote of 405–11.
This resolution states that it is United States policy to commemorate the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians between 1915 to 1923 as the Armenian Genocide, where Armenians were systematically killed in the Ottoman Empire, which is now modern-day Turkey. It also rejects any efforts of the U.S. government to deny the existence of the Armenian Genocide. Genocide is a meaningful term that Turkey strongly opposes because it maintains that the mass killings of Armenians were part of World War I conflicts between Ottoman forces and Russia, whom Armenian groups allegedly supported. The House passed two joint resolutions that recognized the genocide in 1975 and 1984, but neither were considered by the Senate.
The United States has a long history of recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide, rejecting efforts to deny it in order to prevent similar crimes against humanity against other communities. Over the last five years, I am proud to have endorsed legislation that calls for a fair, just, and comprehensive international resolution to the Armenian Genocide (H.Res. 154 in the 114th Congress) as well as legislation that urges public understanding of the relevance of the Armenian Genocide to modern-day crimes against humanity (H.Res. 220 in the 115th Congress & H.Res. 296 in the 116th Congress, that advanced today).
This measure passed the House at a critical moment in United States-Turkish relations. Immediately following the vote on H.Res. 269, the House voted on the Protect Against Conflict by Turkey or “PACT” Act. The bill holds Turkey accountable for its invasion of northeastern Syria by imposing strong, targeted sanctions on Turkish military officials and other leaders that have led the Turkish incursion into northeastern Syria this month.
