[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 24, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H3494-H3495]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      COMMEMORATING THE 103RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

  (Mr. COSTA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1

[[Page H3495]]

minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join with the Armenian 
community to commemorate the 103rd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide 
with my colleague, Congressman  David Valadao. We both represent a 
large constituency of Armenians in the San Joaquin Valley.
  On April 24, 1915, the Ottoman Empire began to systematically deport 
and kill 1.5 million Armenians, sending them to their death. It was 
systematic, it was planned. But as history has shown, the Armenian 
people are stronger than any attack, even genocide; the first genocide 
in the 20th century, by the way.
  Many Armenians settled in California's San Joaquin Valley, where I 
was raised, and now I have the honor to represent. I heard their 
stories of their losses with their families, but I also saw their 
determination, their joy, and their strength, and their contributions 
to our community and to our Nation.
  The Armenian people show us that we must move forward, but we must 
never forget where we are from and who we are; therefore, the Congress 
and the President must, sooner than later, officially go on record 
recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
  Tonight, I stand with the Armenian people and commemorate their 
spirit. As we move forward, we must never forget.

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