WASHINGTON DC — 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.
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.