IAPAC Ends 2010 Cycle with New Slate of Candidates
By PAAIA Government Affairs Office
Washington, D.C., October 27, 2010 – Concluding its 2010 election cycle activities, the Iranian American Political Action Committee (IAPAC) announced today its support for new slate of candidates for the U.S. Congress, as follows: Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Congressman Brian Bilbray (R-50th/CA), Congresswoman Donna Edwards (D-4th/MD), Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8th/PA), Congressman Henry Waxman (D-30/CA), and Congressman Robert Wittman (R-1st/VA).
IAPAC is the registered bipartisan connected PAC of the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA), which contributes to candidates for public office who are attuned to the domestic concerns of the Iranian American community. IAPAC focuses exclusively on domestic policy issues such as civil rights and immigration, and encourages Americans of Iranian descent to actively participate in the American electoral process.
Congressional candidates supported by IAPAC have an exceptional track record on domestic issues of importance to the Iranian American community, have articulated a readiness to engage and work with Iranian Americans, or are in a position to have influence over the domestic legislative issues of concern to the community. Foreign policy issues are not taken into consideration for supporting or opposing a particular candidate.
“Thank you to the members of IAPAC for your support and encouragement,” said Congressman Henry Waxman. Your support is especially meaningful to me as the representative of the many Iranian Americans in California’s 30th Congressional District. I look forward to continuing to work with IAPAC and its members in the next Congress.”
Congressman Waxman represents California’s 30th Congressional District, which has the single largest Iranian American population in the nation. He is a cosponsor of House Resolution 267, which recognizes the cultural and historical significance of Nowruz. As a proponent of civil liberties, Congressman Waxman has supported measures that condemn discrimination and bigotry against Iranian Americans.
Congressman Bilbray also expressed his appreciation for IAPAC’s support. “Thank you to the members of IAPAC, the connected PAC of PAAIA, for their support of my re-election to Congress. I appreciate the work that IAPAC and PAAIA do for the Iranian American community by making elected officials aware of matters of import to Iranian Americans. I look forward to working together on issues important to IAPAC and PAAIA as well as those important to all Americans.” Congressman Bilbray serves on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee and was a prominent supporter of the Nowruz Resolution.
Congresswomen Edwards shared the following thoughts: “I thank IAPAC for their support and commitment to maintaining open dialogue, sharing views, and advocating for issues on behalf of the Iranian American community. I look forward to working with IAPAC in the future.”
Established in 2002, IAPAC has supported 58 candidates to date, including 18 Iranian Americans running for public office. IAPAC has also contributed to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), and the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC). Candidates previously supported by IAPAC during the 2010 election cycle include but are not limited to: Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), Congressman Michael Honda (D-15th/CA), Congressman Frank Wolf (R-10th/VA), Mark Ameli candidate Superior Court Judge Los Angeles County, and Farrah Douglas candidate Carlsbad City Council.
Click here for a full list of candidates supported by IAPAC.
