NORPAC
Encyclopedia
NORPAC is a bipartisan, multi-candidate political action committee
(PAC) working to strengthen the United States
-Israel
relationship. Its activities include fundraising for Senators
and Members of the United States Congress
who support this relationship, regular emails regarding the situation in the Middle East
, and the annual Mission to Washington.
National Officers
Regional Officers
This year's trip showed a dramatic increase in the number of participants then past years, and participation has been consistently increasing.
NORPAC has supported candidates including Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN), Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Sen. John Sununu (R-NH), Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA), Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN), Rep. Steven Rothman (D-NJ), Rep. Harold Ford, Jr. (D-TN), Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY), and Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ), among many others.
Political action committee
In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a...
(PAC) working to strengthen the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
relationship. Its activities include fundraising for Senators
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
and Members of the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
who support this relationship, regular emails regarding the situation in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, and the annual Mission to Washington.
Organization leadership
National Officers
| Founding Chairman | Rabbi M. Genack |
| Chairman Emeritus | David Schlussel |
| President | Dr. Ben Chouake |
| Vice-President | Dr. Mort Fridman |
| Vice-President | Jerry Gontownik |
| Vice-President | Robert Gottesman |
| Vice-President | Drew Parker |
| Treasurer | Kevin Lemmer |
| Director of Membership, Mission to Washington Coordinator | Joel Davidson |
Regional Officers
| President, Riverdale chapter | Josh Landes |
| Vice-President, Riverdale chapter | Jeff Daube |
| President, Edison chapter | Jeff Weinstein |
| Vice-President, Edison chapter | Harry Bernstein |
| President, NY chapter | Jason Muss |
Supported issues
Each year, before its annual Mission to Washington, NORPAC selects 5 issues or bills it will discuss that year. Currently, NORPAC supports:- Foreign Aid to Israel
- IFSA, the Iran Freedom Support Act (H.R.282/S.333), which imposes sanctions on Iran in response to nuclear activity.
- USIECA, the US-Israel Energy Cooperation Act (H.R.2730/S.1862), which supports joint alternative energy research.
- PATA, the Palestinian Anti-Terror Act (H.R.4861/S.2370), which restricts aid to the Hamas-dominated Palestinian Authority (while still allowing humanitarian aid) unless certain actions opposing terror are taken.
- The Saudi Arabia Accountability Act (H.R.2037/S.1171), which imposes sanctions on Saudi Arabia unless it clearly shuts down terrorist organizations within the country and ends support for such organizations outside the country.
Mission to Washington
Each year, NORPAC sends an ever-larger group of active members to meet with Senators and Members of Congress to discuss the U.S.-Israel relationship. The most recent mission, on May 20, 2009, brought approximately 900 participants to meet with more than four hundred Senators and Members of Congress.This year's trip showed a dramatic increase in the number of participants then past years, and participation has been consistently increasing.
Political fundraising
NORPAC frequently hosts fundraisers for various political candidates who are supportive of the U.S.-Israel relationship.NORPAC has supported candidates including Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN), Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Sen. John Sununu (R-NH), Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA), Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN), Rep. Steven Rothman (D-NJ), Rep. Harold Ford, Jr. (D-TN), Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY), and Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ), among many others.
External links
- NORPAC website
- NORPAC's list of supported issues (talking points)
- NORPAC-related articles
- NORPAC 2005-2006 data as reported to the Federal Trade CommissionFederal Trade CommissionThe Federal Trade Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act...