The AHEPAN - Summer 2013 - (Page 19)

CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY AHEPA, DOP Bring Issues to Forefront on Capitol Hill More than 70 Congressional Offices Visited at Hill Day The AHEPA family brought its legislative agenda to the attention of Capitol Hill legislators and their staffs on May 22, 2013 during its annual Capitol Hill Day. More than 70 congressional offices from the Senate and House sides were visited by AHEPA family members who represented 18 states. “Our mission, which is strongly founded on our cultural heritage and our community service programs, guides our legislative agenda,” said Supreme President Dr. John Grossomanides. “As such, we have a diverse set of legislative interests, both foreign and domestic, that reflect our mission. We believe this makes the AHEPA family unique in its approach to Congress.” He added, “This year’s event rivaled our largest turnout since we started this annual event in 2006. We had representation stretching from California to Missouri to Florida. We sincerely thank all our participants who took the time out of their busy schedules to fulfill their civic responsibility.” According to Dr. Grossomanides, AHEPA family members who participated at the organization’s annual Capitol Hill Day discussed issues ranging from religious freedom for the Ecumenical Patriarchate to ending the division of Cyprus to ensuring cost-effective, job creating, and lifesaving domestic programs are preserved and maintained in the federal budget. Domestic programs of interest to the AHEPA family include senior citizen housing, medical research at NIH, and domestic violence. Also www.ahepa.org With U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin, Ahepan. With U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson. Supreme Governor John Tanionos speaks with U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy, III. With U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Ahepan. Daughters of Penelope members gather prior to departing to each of their respective meetings. included on the agenda was comprehensive immigration reform and provisions within that legislation that would allow Greek nationals to seek “highly skilled” worker visas. “In addition, our aim is to grow the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues back to the record-setting number we achieved in previous congresses,” said Dr. Grossomanides. “We are encouraged by the positive responses we received by members of Congress who are not members of the Caucus to join it. We expect to see it grow along with the newly-formed Congressional Hellenic-Israel Alliance.” The day’s events included a morning “kick-off ” reception where the AHEPA family received remarks from U.S. Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), co-chair of the Hellenic Caucus and Congressional Hellenic-Israel Alliance; and U.S. Reps. Niki Tsongas (D-MA), Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Dina Titus (D-NV). “We appreciate the strong show of support from the champions of Greek American issues,” said Dr. Grossomanides. “We look forward to Summer 2013 · The AhepAn | 19 http://www.ahepa.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The AHEPAN - Summer 2013

The AHEPAN - Summer 2013
Contents
President’s Message
AHEPA Family News
Congressional Banquet Triumphantly Returns to Washington
Annual Excursion Focuses on Humanitarian Eff orts
AHEPA Announces “Th e Demeter Initiative” to Feed Greece’s Hungry, Benefit Economy
Veterans
Civic Responsibility
The Periclean
Housing
AHEPA Family Chapter News

The AHEPAN - Summer 2013