Interns meet Congressman Pallone on the Hill

Wednesday June 25th saw the interns gather on Capitol Hill to meet with Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. who is a co-chair of the Armenian Caucus and extremely pro Armenian issues.

The interns had a brief twenty minute meeting with Congressman Pallone, during which they were able to gain an insight into his personal opinions regarding the Armenian issues at present.

Congressman Pallone represents New Jersey's Sixth Congressional District in his tenth full term in the U.S. House of Representatives.

In the 110th Congress, Rep. Pallone (D-NJ) continues to serve as a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over issues pertaining to energy, environment, health care, commerce and telecommunications. In January 2007, Pallone was chosen by his colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee to chair the powerful Subcommittee on Health.


After a photo opportunity on the steps of the Capitol made available by Voice of America, the interns visited the Cannon House Office Building where they were greeted by the ever-friendly Congressman Pallone.

Allison Sadoian, from Fresno, CA, asked Pallone if he thought Presidential candidate Senator Obama would fight for U.S. recognition of the WW1 atrocities in Armenia in 1915 as 'Genocide,' as he has promised to do in his ongoing campaign.

Congressman Pallone replied by stating that the current administration, as well as previous ones, have stressed the importance of U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide during their respective Presidential campaigns. Pallone mentioned that once elected, however, Presidents, along with their administrations, have almost "forgotten" about the promises they made during their campaign, and as often has been the case, the issue has been swept under the carpet.


Congressman Pallone was also asked whether or not the proposed Nabucco oil and gas pipeline in the Caucasus could potentially run through Armenia. He replied by stating that the Armenian conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno Karabakh would have to be settled first if there were any chance of the pipeline running via Armenia, a prospect which seems almost impossible in the near future.