Jackie Speier: “My mother, Nancy Kanchelian, was born in 1915 in Fresno, California, the same year the Ottoman Empire began its…”

“My mother, Nancy Kanchelian, was born in 1915 in Fresno, California, the same year the Ottoman Empire began its systematic killing and deportation of millions of her fellow Armenians and members of her own family. A year ago this week, my mother passed away at the age of 93. And for her entire life on Earth, her country, the United States of America, refused to officially acknowledge what we know to be true. Our own Ambassador to Armenia at the time, Henry Morgenthau, informed the Secretary of State: `` . . . excesses against peaceful Armenians is increasing, and it appears that a campaign of race extermination is in progress.'' Mr. Speaker, the facts here are not in dispute. The one thing left to question is not whether the Armenian genocide took place but, rather, if we in this Chamber have the moral and political backbone to stand for truth. The House Foreign Affairs Committee will have the opportunity this week to pass H. Res. 252 and stand up for truth.”