For Immediate Release: June 19, 2006
Contact: Kimberly Allen, (202) 226-8364; (202) 420-1524 [cell]
Rep. Rothman Helps Secure a Total of $71.3 Million in U.S. Aid for Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh
Year after year, this 'Friend of the Armenians' Proves to be a Powerful Advocate
(Washington, DC)— As a member of the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Congressman Steve Rothman (D-NJ) helped secure $66.3 million in economic and military support for Armenia and $5 million in humanitarian aid for Nagorno-Karabakh. These funds were allocated through the Foreign Operations spending bill for Fiscal Year 2007, which the House approved Friday, June 9 on a vote of 373-34.
"It is imperative that the U.S. continue to support the Armenian people as they build a democratic and secure society and grow their economy. Year after year, I advocate for this funding and I am pleased that my colleagues and I were able to secure this critical aid for Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, which is $12 million more than the President requested," said Rothman.
In March, Rothman supported the Millennium Challenge Corporation's (MCC) decision to allow the release of $235.5 million in additional foreign aid to Armenia. The MCC compact with Armenia acknowledges that Armenia is moving forward in three key areas that indicate a government's success: governing justly, investing in their citizens, and encouraging economic freedom.
Since joining the Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations in 2001, Rothman has helped secure approximately $510 million in economic assistance and military aid for Armenia, and $23 million for Nagorno-Karabakh. He is also an active member of the Congressional Armenia Issues Caucus and received the "2006 Friend of the Armenians" award from Archbishop Khajag Barsamian during the Diocesan Assembly in March.
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