Washington, D.C., July 8, 2003 -The Iranian American Political Action Committee (IAPAC) will be holding a cocktail reception on July 22, 2003, from 5:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. The reception will take place at the Phoenix Park Hotel, located at 520 North Capital Street NW, Washington D.C. The reception will mark the official l aunching of IAPAC, and provide an opportunity for influential business and civic leaders of the Iranian-American community to meet with IAPAC's founding members as well as members of the U.S. Congress and their staffs, to discuss issues of critical importance to Iranian Americans and to devise strategies which will serve to increase Iranian American participation in the electoral process.

Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Senator Thomas R. Carper (D-DE), Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-5th MD and House Minority Whip), Congressman Darrell Issa (R-39th CA)- pending his schedule - will be our featured guests at the event.

The purpose of IAPAC is to fulfill the necessary task of establishing an effective political voice for the growing Iranian American community. There are approximately one million people of Iranian descent in the United States. Iranian Americans are among the most successful of American ethnic groups. Although they have made impressive contributions to virtually every area of American life, Iranian Americans are underrepresented in the political process. IAPAC will work to increase political participation by Iranian Americans, and will seek to influence political leaders concerning domestic issues important to the Iranian American community. Our mission includes giving support and promoting the election of candidates, regardless of party affiliation, who are attuned to the domestic needs and issues of the Iranian American community, as well as encouraging Iranian Americans to register to vote and run for political office.

IAPAC will work to ensure that the voice of Iranian Americans is heard concerning issues critical to the security and well-being of the United States. Two issues of paramount importance are civil liberties and immigration. While it is the duty of the United States government to protect its citizens from the threat of terrorism, IAPAC is deeply concerned that the "war on terrorism" may result in an erosion of the very constitutional rights and liberties that make America the great country that it is. IAPAC will work to elect officials who demonstrate a concern with maintaining an appropriate balance between security and freedom.

IAPAC will also work diligently to influence the immigration policy of the United States. It is vitally important that law-abiding, hard-working foreign nationals not be unfairly discriminated against due to the threat of terrorism. Congress and the Justice Department are currently considering a denial of visas to non-immigrants from countries designated by the State Department as supporters of terrorism, including Iran. IAPAC is deeply concerned that the denial of visas to non-immigrants from these countries may result in Iranian Americans and others being unable to be united with relatives in cases of medical and family emergencies. IAPAC will work to ensure that federal regulations governing the issuance of immigrant and non-immigrant visas for Iranian nationals are fairly executed and justly administered.

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Paid for by the Iranian American Political Action Committee. The Iranian American Political Action Committee is a registered federal political committee that contributes to candidates for federal office. Contributions are not tax-deductible as charitable deductions for federal tax purposes.