[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 60 (Thursday, April 23, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H2422]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

  (Mr. DOLD asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, as I stand before you today, it is with a 
heavy heart that I think back to the events and to the atrocities that 
began 100 years ago.
  This week, millions of us will gather around the world to mark the 
centennial of the Armenian genocide. Today, I stand to remember the 1.5 
million Armenians who perished from 1915 to 1923.
  As a crime against all humanity, the Armenian genocide has left an 
indelible mark on all of us. Unfortunately, Turkey, the successor to 
the Ottoman Empire, has never accepted responsibility for these 
atrocities. Instead, Turkey continues to hide behind the bullying 
tactics that conceal violations of human rights.
  As a world leader and as a country that stands for freedom and 
justice for all, we must recognize the events that occurred and work to 
change the policies that ignore the actions of the Ottoman Empire 
against the people of Armenia. The continued campaign of denial sets a 
dangerous precedent that makes future atrocities and genocides more 
likely. As the greatest force for human dignity in the world, the 
United States is long overdue to stand with the Armenian people. We 
cannot continue to play politics with something that is this important.
  For me, it is incredibly disappointing that the administration will 
not follow in the footsteps of many world leaders, most recently those 
of Germany, Austria, and the Vatican, who have recognized this genocide 
on its 100th anniversary.

                          ____________________