75 US lawmakers support aid to Armenia and Artsakh
On Wednesday, 75 lawmakers sent a letter to the US House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs requesting assistance to Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) for the Fiscal Year 2021, reported the Armenian Assembly of America.
The letter, spearheaded by the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chair Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) along with Co-Chair Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) and Vice-Chair Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), highlights the “continued and demonstrable humanitarian need” for landmine clearance in Artsakh and HALO Trust’s important work therein and calls for $1.5 million for “demining and landmine risk education.
In addition, the letter calls for $100 million to Armenia for “economic, governance, rule of law, and security assistance.”
In response to Azerbaijan’s ongoing cease-fire violations and aggression against Armenia and Artsakh, the lawmakers also recommended suspending U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan.
The number of cosigners from last year’s letter more than doubled, which shows growing Congressional support for Armenia’s democratization, the assembly said.