ANCA-WR to Honor Rep. Anna G. Eshoo with ‘Lifetime Achievement’ Award at October 20 Gala
BY KATY SIMONIAN
The Armenian National Committee of America–Western Region will bestow Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA-16) with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 Awards Gala which will take place on October 20 at The Beverly Hilton.
Congresswoman Eshoo, who is currently the only sitting member in Congress of Armenian descent, recently announced her retirement after three decades of leadership in the House. She continues to champion issues of human rights, national security and education as well as many other causes of great importance to the Armenian-American community at home and abroad.
It was a bright September day in 2022 that marked one of the darkest periods of Armenia’s history. A plane carrying the U.S. Congressional delegation landed on the tarmac – packed with crowds of reporters and anxious onlookers. It was a time of great anxiety and uncertainty for the country with the recent Azeri attacks against Artsakh and additional threats of invasion into Armenia’s sovereign borders. The doors opened, and there descended the comforting and reassuring presence of Armenia’s American allies, including Representative Anna G. Eshoo. Led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Representative Eshoo was joined by Congressman Frank Pallone and now-retired, former recipient of the ANCA-WR Lifetime Achievement Award, Congresswoman Jackie Speier. Their presence in Armenia was more than a symbolic gesture – it stood as a reminder of America’s commitment to peace and democracy across the region and a show of diplomatic force to reaffirm the U.S.’s stance to prevent genocide and further crimes against humanity perpetrated against Armenians.
Her participation on this historic trip is a poignant tribute to her Armenian heritage. Born in Connecticut, she grew up with a strong sense of responsibility to honor her family’s roots and the many sacrifices they made to come to America. Her mother, an Armenian who fled from Armenia to Iraq before settling in the United States and her father, who is of Assyrian descent, instilled in her the values of hard work and the importance of embracing the beauty of their cultural identity.
After moving to the West Coast during the earlier years of her education, she went on to graduate with a degree in English from Cañada College in Redwood, California and is a graduate of the CORO Foundation. She was later awarded an Honorary Degree from Menlo College.
Her political career began while serving as Chair of the San Mateo Democratic Party from 1978-1982. She was elected to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors for ten years, serving as President of the Board in 1986.
After her successful Congressional run in 1992, Representative Eshoo began her storied career in the House, marked by her devotion to her community and an impressive legislative record, including being voted by her colleagues to serve as the Democratic Whip at large in the early 2000s.
Through her dedication to public service, she has spearheaded legislation on a number of House Resolutions to advocate for the Armenian Cause including:
H.R.7555 (2020) – Armenia Support Act – This bill, which Eshoo supported, aimed to provide U.S. assistance to Armenia, especially in the context of Azerbaijan’s unprovoked invasion of Artsakh. It was also part of her broader efforts to ensure that Armenia received the necessary humanitarian and military assistance needed to combat Turkish-backed Azeri aggression.
H.R. 296 (2019), which Eshoo co-sponsored, formally recognized the Armenian Genocide. The resolution passed the House of Representatives, and later the Senate, with overwhelming support, marking a significant moment in U.S. history as it officially recognized the Armenian Genocide as a formal U.S. policy.
H.R. 354 (2017) – Condemning the Violence and Persecution in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) – Eshoo was the co-sponsor of this resolution, condemning Azerbaijan’s violence in Artsakh and calling for a peaceful resolution to the conflict which continues to threaten Armenia’s sovereignty.
Eshoo maintains her commitment to safeguarding Armenia’s security, consistently taking action to build appropriations and amendments to foreign aid that provide assistance to Armenia and Artsakh. By ensuring that the U.S. maintains its allegiance to Armenia, Representative Eshoo upholds the principles of justice that have guided her policies throughout her years of public service – highlighting the sacred link between preserving American democracy and defending Armenia’s right to freedom in securing its sovereignty for generations to come.
Last year on April 24, to mark Armenian Remembrance Day, Representative Eshoo introduced the Armenian Genocide Education Act, a bipartisan legislative effort to promote accurate and effective education about the Armenian Genocide. The program, which works in conjunction with the Library of Congress, will produce and provide resources for schools across the country to ensure students have an understanding of how the Armenian Genocide happened, the unconscionable danger of genocide denialism, and the need to prevent future genocides from occurring in the name of global democracy and peace.
On the historic nature of this legislation and the significance of its bipartisan support, Eshoo said, “By ensuring students have access to the resources necessary to understand why and how the Armenian Genocide occurred, the Armenian Genocide Education Act preserves the legacies of the victims, combats genocide denial, and ensures that future generations learn the lessons of this dark chapter of history.”
“This legislation honors the memories of my ancestors and all those who perished at the hands of the Ottoman Empire,” she continued, reflecting on the need for all people to recognize the interconnectedness of our shared experiences – a fitting piece of legislation that reflects Eshoo’s trademark spirit of political courage.
As the proud mother of her two children, Karen and Paul, as a member of Congress, and as a leader who has never strayed from her guiding principles, Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo’s legacy is one of vision and courage, decency and honor, action and deep empathy – one that will inspire generations of Americans, Armenians and all who seek to build a better world.
