GLENDALE, CA – Southern California Democrat Linda Sanchez (39th Dist.) is the most recent in a line of Representatives who have become members of the Congressional Armenian Caucus. She joins Representatives Ben Chandler (R-KY), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Joe Schwarz (R-MI), all of whom have added their names to the Caucus over the past three weeks.

Since her election to Congress in 2002, Rep. Sanchez has consistently been active on issues of concern to the Armenian American community. In the 108th Congress, she was a cosponsor of a measure, which granted permanent normal trade relations status (PNTR) to Armenia. She has also been vocal in urging President Bush to properly commemorate the Armenian Genocide, joining over 160 of her colleagues in cosigning letters to the President regarding the topic in April 2003 and 2004.

“We appreciate Rep. Linda Sanchez’s leadership and advocacy on issues of concern to her Armenian American constituency,” commented ANCA Western Region Executive Director Ardashes Kassakhian. “It is through exemplary leadership like hers that we will see the membership of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian issues continue to grow.”

An attorney by profession prior to her election to office, Rep. Sanchez currently serves on the House Government Reforms, Small Business and Judiciary Committees. She convincingly defeated Republican Tim Escobar in the 2004 Congressional elections, garnering 61% of the vote.

Established in 1995 and co-chaired by Representatives Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), the Congressional Armenian Caucus is a bipartisan forum for the discussion of policies to foster increased cooperation between the United States and Armenian governments and to strengthen the enduring bonds between the American and Armenian peoples.