Local News Pasadena: Rep. Young Kim Earns Top Armenian Honor – Local News Pasadena
In Glendale, the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) announced that Republican Congresswoman Young Kim (CA-40) will be honored with the organization’s 2025 “Legislator of the Year” Award at its Annual Awards Banquet Gala, taking place on Sunday, October 26, 2025, at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles.
The ANCA closely tracks the performance of every incumbent Senator and Representative across a broad array of pro-Armenian legislative metrics. It scores and grades each legislator, and then, as part of their public service mandate to voters, the group widely circulates report cards and endorsements each election cycle.
The ANCA-WR “Legislator of the Year” Award is presented annually to an elected official who has demonstrated leadership, commitment to justice, and advocacy on issues of importance to the Armenian-American community.
“I am so humbled to receive ANCA’s Legislator of the Year Award and grateful to be recognized by our local, vibrant Armenian American community I cherish so dearly,” said Congresswoman Young Kim. “Ever since my time in the State Assembly, I have consistently supported the Armenian Genocide Resolution. It is crucial that we continue working to remember and prevent further atrocities against humanity and to educate our next generation about this tragic history. Whether it be for genocide recognition or condemning Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing campaign in Nagorno-Karabakh, rest assured that I will continue to be a strong advocate for the Armenian community.”
Previous recipients of the award include Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) in 2024; State Senator Scott Wilk (R-CA) in 2022; State Senator Anthony Portantino (D-CA) in 2017; State Assemblymember Katcho Achadjian (R-CA) in 2013, and State Senator Mark Wyland (R-CA) and Councilmember Paul Krekorian (D-Los Angeles) who were jointly honored in 2019.
Rep. Kim began her political career in 2014 when she was elected to the California State Assembly, representing parts of Los Angeles and Orange counties. In 2021, she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where she currently represents communities across Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties. She is a member of the Congressional Armenian Caucus and serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
She has been at the forefront of legislative efforts to honor the memory of the Armenian Genocide, condemn Turkish and Azerbaijani aggression against Armenia, and defend the rights and security of the Armenian people of Artsakh. Her collaboration with the ANCA National Headquarters, the Western Region, and the Orange County Chapter has helped secure strong bipartisan backing for issues critical to the Armenian-American community.
Recent Armenian Legislation
In the 2025 calendar year (within the 119th Congress), the primary congressional legislation related to Armenia is H.R.2585, the Armenian Genocide Education Act, introduced in April 2025 to support education about the Armenian Genocide through the Library of Congress. Additionally, 87 U.S. Representatives signed a letter in July 2025 calling on the Trump-Vance administration to ensure the safe return of Armenians to Artsakh. In May 2024, Members of Congress urged the House Appropriations Committee to include a $250 million aid package for Armenia and sanctions against Azerbaijan in the FY2025 budget.
Rep. Kim’s support includes co-sponsoring resolutions affirming the Armenian Genocide, condemning Azerbaijan’s aggression and the blockade of Artsakh, advocating for sanctions and accountability against the Aliyev regime, and championing increased U.S. humanitarian aid to Armenia and Artsakh. Most recently, she has been a vocal advocate for a just, secure, and dignified right of return for the Armenians of Artsakh.
“Congresswoman Young Kim’s principled leadership and unwavering advocacy for justice make her deeply deserving of the ANCA-WR’s Legislator of the Year Award,” stated Oshin Harootoonian, Chairman of the ANCA-WR Board of Directors. “In this critical moment for the Armenian people, her bold voice in Congress has been a powerful force for accountability, action, and compassion.”
“Legislator of the Year’ underscores the ANCA-WR’s commitment to honoring public servants who stand firm in defense of human rights, amplify the voices of marginalized communities, and take decisive action in the face of injustice. ANCA-WR recognizes the vital role of principled, bipartisan advocacy in securing a safer future for Armenians in both the homeland and the diaspora.
