Last week, the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) submitted testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations and Related Programs on the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 U.S. budget, reported the Assembly. Also last week, the Assembly reported that the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, led by Co-Chairs Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY), sent a letter to Subcommittee Chairwoman Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) and Committee Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY) highlighting U.S. foreign aid priorities for Armenia and Artsakh.

 "The Armenian Assembly urges the Subcommittee to allocate not less than $40 million in assistance to Armenia, including at least $1.7 million in Foreign Military Financing, and $600,000 in International Military Education Training assistance to Armenia," the Assembly testimony reads in part. "In addition, the Assembly requests at least $5 million in assistance to Nagorno Karabakh as well as directing funds to the largely Armenian populated Samtskhe-Javakheti region of Georgia and ensuring assistance to Christian and other minority communities at risk in the Middle East, and especially given the recent developments in Kessab, Syria."

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