{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallone-bilirakis-min-schakowsky-sherman-amo-valadao-and-smith-introduce", "Pallone, Bilirakis, Min, Schakowsky, Sherman, Amo, Valadao and Smith Introduce Armenia Partnership Security Act", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Frank Pallone, Jr.", "P000034", "pallone.house.gov", "pallone", "https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Earlier today, Congressman Gus M. Bilirakis (FL-12) and Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), along with Representatives Dave Min (CA-47), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Gabe Amo (RI-01), David Valadao (CA-22), and Chris Smith (NJ-04) introduced the Armenia Security Partnership Act. This bipartisan legislation is designed to strengthen U.S. policy toward Armenia while holding the Government of Azerbaijan accountable for continued aggression and human rights abuses. It requires the President of the United States to certify to Congress that Azerbaijan has taken meaningful steps to:\n\nCompletely withdraw all military forces from the sovereign territory of Armenia;\n\nUnconditionally release all Armenian prisoners;\n\nCease engaging in hostilities toward Armenia; and\n\nRecognize the right of return for ethnic Armenians to their homes in Nagorno-Karabakh and commit to the preservation of Armenian cultural and religious sites in the region.\n\nIf the President is unable to make such a certification, the bill would:\n\nRequire a comprehensive review of U.S. security assistance to Armenia to identify gaps in Armenia\u2019s long-term defense needs and assess the threat posed by Azerbaijan; and\n\nProhibit the reauthorization of the waiver of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, thereby enforcing existing statutory prohibitions on U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan.\n\n\u201cArmenia is a key partner in a volatile region and deserves meaningful support as it faces continued threats to its sovereignty and security,\u201d said Congressman Bilirakis. \u201cThis legislation sends a clear message that the United States will not turn a blind eye to aggression, human rights abuses, or the forced displacement of ethnic Armenians. Accountability must be at the center of our foreign policy.\u201d\n\nCongressman Pallone added, \u201cFor far too long, Azerbaijan has been allowed to act with impunity to destabilize the South Caucasus, commit horrific human rights abuses, and threaten the Armenian people. Our bill is a great step in the right direction to finally hold the Aliyev regime accountable for ongoing crimes against humanity and threats to lasting peace in the region. I look forward to working with Congressman Bilirakis and the rest of my colleagues to pass it into law.\u201d\n\n\u201cA durable peace in the South Caucasus must be built on respect for sovereignty, human rights, and international law, not force or coercion,\u201d said Congressman Brad Sherman, Democratic Vice Chair of the Congressional Armenia Caucus. \u201cAzerbaijan\u2019s continued aggression against Armenia, the detention of Armenian prisoners, and the destruction of Armenian cultural and religious sites demands a serious response. This bipartisan legislation makes clear that the United States will not reward violations of international law and that Armenia deserves a reliable partner as it works to secure its borders and pursue a just and lasting peace.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs co-chair of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Armenia Security Partnership Act,\u201d said Congressman Valadao. \u201cAzerbaijan\u2019s aggression in the South Caucasus has gone on for far too long, and this bipartisan bill takes meaningful steps to hold them accountable for ongoing human rights abuses and hostilities against the sovereign territory of Armenia.\u201d\n\nThe Members of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, have long worked to promote policies that uphold international law, protect vulnerable populations, and support regional stability.\n\n\u201cWe thank Congressman Bilirakis for proactively introducing this important, bipartisan, legislation. Azerbaijan\u2019s continuing aggression toward Armenia and its reluctance to fully embrace the August 8 Joint Declaration must stop if a just and durable peace is to be achieved,\u201d said Timothy Jemal, President of Global ARM. \u201cWe are hopeful this bill will receive broad, bipartisan support, and that Congress will actively consider and pass this legislation to strategically bolster peace negotiations and support U.S. interests in the South Caucasus.\u201d\n\n\"The ARMENIA Security Partnership Act represents a common-sense approach to both checking Azerbaijani aggression and strengthening America's partnership with Armenia,\" said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. \"This bipartisan legislation grounds U.S. policy in concrete benchmarks for peace \u2013 the release of Armenian prisoners, the withdrawal of Azerbaijani forces from occupied Armenian land, and the protection of Armenian cultural heritage. We need to stop incentivizing continued Azerbaijani hostility, by normalizing its genocide of Artsakh and ongoing violations of international law, and start holding its Aliyev regime accountable for its crimes.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallone-bilirakis-min-schakowsky-sherman-amo-valadao-and-smith-introduce"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 3.060482908040285, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}