NORPAC

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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 display strong support for this relationship, daily emails regarding the situation in the Middle East, and the annual Mission to Washington.

[edit] Organization leadership

[edit] Supported issues

Each year, before its annual Mission to Washington, NORPAC selects 5 issues or bills it will discuss that year. Currently, NORPAC supports:

1. Foreign Aid to Israel
2. IFSA, the Iran Freedom Support Act (H.R.282/S.333), which imposes sanctions on Iran in response to nuclear activity.
3. USIECA, the US-Israel Energy Cooperation Act (H.R.2730/S.1862), which supports joint alternative energy research.
4. 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.
5. 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.

[edit] Activities

[edit] Mission to Washington

Each year, NORPAC sends an ever-larger group of active members to meet with members of Congress and discuss various issues related to Israel and the Middle East. The most recent mission, on May 21, 2008, brought approximately 900 participants (including many rabbis and students) to meet with 500 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.

[edit] Political fundraising

NORPAC frequently hosts fundraisers for various political candidates who have proven themselves dedicated to the U.S.-Israel relationship. These usually take the form of a parlor meeting hosted in a NORPAC member's house, where the candidate will speak and then answer questions from the assembled participants.

Past NORPAC-backed candidates have included Representative Steve R. Rothman (D-NJ), Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT), Representative Eric Cantor (R-VA), Senator George Allen (R-VA), and Representative Shelley Berkley (D-NV), among many others.

Congressman Steve Rothman (second from left) poses with (l-r) NORPAC president Dr. Ben Chouake, Bob Goodman, and NORPAC vice-president Dr. Mort Fridman at a fundraiser for the Congressman.

[edit] Other Meaning

NORPAC also refers to the North Pacific Confederation, a fantasy creation of the 1990's Sci-fi TV series seaQuest DSV.

[edit] See also

• AIPAC
• Political action committee

[edit] 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 Commission