InternationalWashington briefing: Armenian Caucus member takes on Congress’s European portfolio
Published: Wednesday December 02, 2009
Rep. Bill Delahunt, Democrat of Massachusetts.
Washington - Representative Bill Delahunt (D.-Mass), a veteran member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, has been selected to chair the Subcommittee on Europe of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the committee reported on December 2.
Mr. Delahunt will replace as subcommittee chair Rep. Rob Wexler (D.-Fla.), the founder of the Turkey Caucus, who is leaving Congress next month. The subcommittee oversees U.S. policy toward Armenia and other European and Eurasian states.
Ross Vartian of the U.S.-Armenia Public Affairs Committee (USAPAC) welcomed the replacement.
"Unlike his predecessor, Mr. Delahunt can be relied upon to lead the subcommittee with balance and fairness on issues that face U.S. policy generally and Armenia-related challenges specifically," Mr. Vartian told the Armenian Reporter.
A member of Congress since 1997, Mr. Delahunt joined the Armenian Caucus shortly after his election from a district that includes Quincy, Weymouth, and Cape Cod in southeastern Massachusetts.
Mr. Delahunt cosponsored and voted for House resolutions on the Armenian Genocide, most recently in 2007; but he has not signed on to H. Res. 252 in the current Congress.
Announcing the selection, the Foreign Affairs Committee listed "improving U.S.-Russian relations and working on interests that the U.S. and Europe share, such as energy security and climate change" as some of Mr. Delahunt's priorities as the new subcommittee chair.
In 2008 and 2009 congressional hearings Mr. Delahunt expressed opposition to providing economic and military support for Georgia, arguing against antagonizing Russia.
