ARMENPAC - The Armenian American Political Action Committee

About Albio
Congressman Albio Sires, elected to serve the 13th Congressional District of New Jersey in the United States House of Representatives, served two terms as New Jersey Speaker of the General Assembly from 2002 to 2006. Albio Sires is the first legislator of Hispanic origin to be named Assembly Speaker, and the first Cuban in the Nation.

As Assembly Speaker, Albio Sires led the legislative effort to create the Office of Lieutenant Governor. He was the lead Assembly Sponsor of the state law that raised the minimum wage from $5.15 in 2005 to $7.15 in October 2006. Mr. Sires also helped New Jersey's economy by expanding job training programs, increasing job opportunities for low-income workers, and giving tax credits to businesses that create jobs in the community.

As Speaker, Mr. Sires also created the Assembly Committee on Homeland Security and State Preparedness, wrote the law to overhaul New Jersey's Department of Motor Vehicles so that terrorists cannot obtain access to fake driver's licenses, helped local communities with the cost of homeland security, improved coordination in the event of a terrorist attack and increased homeland security funding for the state police. He also sponsored some of the toughest anti-gun laws in the state, and as Mayor of West New York, he put more police on the streets and cut crime.

Mr. Sires was born in 1951 in the Cuban town of Bejucal, where he grew up in the waning years of pre-Communist Cuba. His family fled Cuba in January 1962 with the help of relatives in America. They eventually settled in West New York, where Mr. Sires became a star basketball player at Memorial High School.

Mr. Sires earned his undergraduate degree from St. Peter's College, where he received a four-year basketball scholarship. He attained a master's degree at Middlebury College, Vermont. He also studied Spanish in Madrid, Spain.
Mr. Sires' wife, Adrienne, is a school administrator. He has a stepdaughter, Tara Kole, who served a U.S. Supreme Court clerkship with Justice Antonin Scalia after graduation from Harvard Law School last year. She now works for a private law firm in Los Angeles.

On Armenian Issues
As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Albio Sires has established himself as an outspoken friend of the Armenian community. Just into his second term in the House, Sires is well known for his support of H.Res.106, the Armenian Genocide recognition resolution and in 2007 famously stated on the house floor that the he felt the Turkish lobby in the U.S. was “putting a Turkish sword” over his head in an attempt not to support the resolution. Sires made this statement right before voting “yes” on the resolution.

Previously while serving in the New Jersey State Assembly, including time as Speaker and Acting Governor, Sires was a reliable and consistent supporter of Armenian issues in the state. He will no doubt continue s outspoken support of Armenian issues on the federal level.

On issues most important to the Armenian American community, Congressman Albio Sires is a loyal friend, support and ally and is a deserving recipient of ARMENPAC’s May 2008, Member of the Month Honor.