YEREVAN, AUGUST 9, ARMENPRESS. Congressional opposition to the Trump Administration attempts to cut U.S. aid for the Artsakh de-mining continues to grow with 22 Senators from 16 states representing 143 million Americans co-signing a letter defending this life-saving program. The Senate initiative was led by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Democrat Bob Menendez (D-NJ), ARMENPRESS was informed from the official website of the Armenian National Committee of America.

Earlier, on August 5, the U.S. House of Representatives sent a swift and powerful rebuke to the Trump Administration’s efforts to cut U.S. aid for Artsakh de-mining efforts, with 89 Members of Congress – many chairing key House committees – co-signing a letter, led by senior House Foreign Affairs Committee member Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Congressman TJ Cox (D-CA), defending this life-saving program.

The Sherman-Cox letter, an initiative supported by the ANCA, encourages USAID Administrator Mark Green to reverse course and continue U.S. funding for the Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) de-mining program. Administrator Green testified before the Foreign Affairs Committee on April 9th of this year that USAID was committed to completing the clearance of landmines and unexploded ordnances within the traditional boundaries of Nagorno Karabakh.

“Within a week, during a Congressional recess, eighty-nine U.S. Representatives from 24 states – including 10 full Committee chairs – joined with the ANCA in openly challenging the Trump Administration’s misguided attempt to end U.S. aid to Artsakh – a powerful response that speaks volumes about the scope and depth of American support for this life-saving program,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We thank Representatives Sherman and Cox for leading this effort on the House side, are actively supporting the efforts of Senator Menendez on the Senate side, and will continue our work to make Artsakh mine-free and expand the U.S. aid program to include vital rehabilitation services,” continued Hamparian.

Members of Congress received thousands of letters and calls from constituents through the ANCA Rapid Responder system and March to Justice platforms in support of continued aid to Artsakh, with the ANCA Leo Sarkisian and Maral Melkonian Avetisyan summer fellows meeting with hundreds of Capitol Hill staffers in support of the initiative. 

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan