Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01) today led Reps. Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Ted Lieu (CA-36) and David Valadao (CA-22) in reintroducing the Armenian Genocide Education Act to promote accurate and effective education about the Armenian Genocide during which the lives of 1.5 million Armenians and hundreds of thousands of Assyrians, Greeks, Syriacs, Arameans, Maronites, and other Christians were lost at the hands of the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th Century.

The Armenian Genocide Education Act establishes a new program in the Library of Congress tasked with developing resources, including digital resources, to foster understanding of why and how the Armenian Genocide happened. These resources will be incorporated into curricula at schools across the country. The bill authorizes $2 million annually for the program over five years and allows the Library of Congress to supplement this funding with private donations.

“By equipping students with educational resources to understand the Armenian Genocide, this bill combats genocide denialism while honoring the memory of the victims,” said Rep. Titus. “This bill is a commitment to truth, justice, and the power of education to build a more informed and compassionate world for future generations.”

“Our darkest moments as a human race have come during times when those who knew better stood silently, making excuses for passivity and allowing injustice and persecution to reign. We must acknowledge the atrocities of the past so that we might hopefully prevent them in the future,” said Rep. Bilirakis. “One of the best ways to achieve this goal is through education and awareness, which is why I am proud to co-lead the Armenian Genocide Education Act again.

“The Armenian Genocide caused the loss of over 1.5 million lives at the hands of the Ottoman Empire, and it’s crucial that dark chapter isn’t forgotten,” said Rep. Valadao. “Teaching Americans about this tragedy is essential, and as the co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, I’m proud to support this effort to strengthen educational efforts and reaffirm our commitment to truth and remembrance.”

“The Armenian Genocide was a horrific manifestation of evil,” said Rep. Lieu. “Though we cannot go back 110 years to prevent the senseless killing of roughly 1.5 million Armenians, we can use education to ensure the victims are never forgotten. The horrors of this atrocity have left a lasting impact on Armenia and its diaspora. It is imperative that we ensure future generations learn about this massacre so nothing like it can ever happen again. I am pleased to join Congresswoman Titus and my Congressional colleagues in co-leading the Armenian Genocide Education Act to provide resources for Armenian Genocide education.”

“We welcome today’s reintroduction of the Armenian Genocide Education Act – a much-needed measure to ensure that American students learn the truth about the Armenian Genocide and the enduring lessons of this still unpunished crime against humanity,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

“As we solemnly remember the Armenian Genocide of 1915 and tirelessly work to reverse the Artsakh Genocide of 2023, we stand with Armenians worldwide in thanking Congresswoman Titus for her leadership in spearheading this Act and in expressing our appreciation to Representatives Bilirakis, Lieu, and Valadao for joining with her in this bipartisan genocide education and prevention initiative.”

Background

Between 1915 and 1923, 1.5 million Armenians, and hundreds of thousands of Assyrians, Greeks, Syriacs, Arameans, Maronites, and other Christians were systematically slaughtered at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. Millions more were displaced and forced to start anew. For more than a century, nations failed to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide because of their relationship with Turkey. As of 2023, 31 United Nations member states had formally recognized the genocide, along with Pope Francis and the European Parliament. On April 24, 2021, President Joe Biden declared the United States’ formal recognition of the Armenian Genocide.