Kevin Cramer blocks Senate passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution

The White House directed Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) to block an effort by Sens. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Thursday to pass a resolution via unanimous consent formally recognizing Turkey’s genocide of the Armenian people, according to two sources familiar with the matter, AXIOS reports.

Cramer said on the Senate floor that he doesn’t think this is “the right time” to pass the resolution, noting that President Trump has just returned from meeting with Erdogan at the NATO summit in London, and that the resolution could undermine the administration’s diplomatic efforts.
He stated on the Senate floor Thursday that he does not intend to continue objecting to the resolution.

Cramer’s objection is especially noteworthy given that he was a co-sponsor of a similar resolution during the last Congress.

For the third time, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) issued a bipartisan call for Unanimous Consent for Senate Adoption of S.Res.150 – the Armenian Genocide Resolution.