Chico, CA – Members of the local Armenian American community met with Congressman Wally Herger from California’s 2nd Congressional District on July 6, 2007. The meeting, held in Chico, California, [ninety miles north of Sacramento] included a discussion of a range of topics important to the Congressman’s Armenian American constituents. “I was pleased with our meeting with Congressman Herger,” explained ANCA-WR Board Member John Boghossian after conferring with the Congressman. “He is a straight shooter and so he understands what Armenian Christians endured during the Armenian Genocide – I am hopeful that he will join over 218 of his colleagues in cosponsoring H. Res. 106,” Boghossian added. The meeting with Congressman Wally Herger included the participation of his district director Fran Peace, ANCA-WR Board Member John Boghossian, ANCA-WR Executive Director Andrew Kzirian, Mrs. Silva Boghossian, and local Chico resident Lori Adrian. Boghossian and Kzirian provided the Congressman with a background of the Armenian American community in his District. The delegation also shared with Congressman Herger the long history of Armenian American political participation in the State of California.

Congressman Herger heard from his constituent Lori Adrian about the importance of H. Res. 106, the Armenian Genocide Resolution. Adrian and the group shared with the Congressman why it is vital to acknowledge the unprecedented humanitarian relief effort that America launched for the victims of the Armenian Genocide. Boghossian and Kzirian noted the strong support of Republican Congressmen Duncan Hunter, Dave Reichert, Mark Kirk, Ed Royce and others who have cosponsored the Armenian Genocide Resolution. The group also discussed the anti-free speech environment in Turkey that led to the assassination of journalist Hrant Dink. Finally, Kzirian provided the Congressman with an overview of various documents, ranging from gubernatorial proclamations on the Armenian Genocide to trade charts demonstrating vast increases in trade volume between Turkey and countries that have officially recognized the genocide.

Congressman Herger was born in Sutter County in 1945. He was raised on a cattle ranch in a small community called Rio Oso, located south of Yuba City/Marysville. Growing up, he worked on his family’s ranch, and was also involved in the family’s small business. He got his start in elected office as a member of the East Nicolaus School Board. He was elected to the California State Assembly in 1980, serving there until his election to the United States House of Representatives by the people of California’s Second Congressional District. In 2006, Herger was elected to his 11th term in Congress. He is married to Pamela, and they currently reside in Chico. They are the parents of nine children, and have five grandchildren. The Second District of California represented by Congressman Herger is located in rural Northern California and stretches over 250 miles from north to south. The district is composed of all or parts of ten counties–Siskiyou, Trinity, Shasta, Tehama, Butte, Glenn, Colusa, Yuba, Sutter, and Yolo. Nearly encompassing 22,000 square miles, the district is larger than nine states. The Armenian National Committee of America is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

Photo caption: Congressman Wally Herger (R-CA-02) is joined by Boghossian, Kzirian, Silva Boghossian and Lori Adrian.