MONTHLY NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2011

Turkish-Native American Trade Bill One Vote from Passing House

On November 17 the House Committee on Natural Resources voted 27-15 to pass the Indian Tribal Trade and Investment Act, H.R. 2362. The bill will now be sent to the full House for a final vote. TCA provided oral testimony in support of the bill to the House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs on November 3. If passed by the full House H.R. 2362 will establish a demonstration project that will authorize up to six tribes or tribal consortia to partner with Turkish companies to establish commercial ties without requiring federal government approval. For media coverage and an interview (in Turkish) on Voice of America with TCA President G. Lincoln McCurdy, please visit here.

TCA and Turkish Embassy Celebrate American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month

H.E. Namik Tan, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to the United States, hosted a reception at the Turkish Embassy Residence on November 17 to mark American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. TCA organized this lively event with support from the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), the National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC), and the DC Native PR Roundtable. Please visit here for more information.

TCA Chairman to Serve on World Turkish Business Council

Dr. Yalcin Ayasli, TCA Chairman, agreed to serve on the High Advisory Board of the World Turkish Business Council (DTIK). The Council is composed of businesspeople and other high-level professionals of Turkish origin leading companies and business associations living outside of Turkey.

Members of Congress Mark Turkish Republic Day with Turkish Americans

Turkish Americans in communities spanning the nation gathered together on October 29 to mark the 88th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey. Eleven Members of Congress attended various Republic Day celebrations:

  • House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL/18th) participated in the Republic Day event organized by the Turkish Association of Northern Texas.
  • Representatives Gary Peters (D-MI/19th) and Hansen Clarke (D-MI/13th) joined the Turkish American Cultural Alliance of Michigan.
  • Congressman Steve Stivers (R-OH/15th) took part in the Turkish American Association of Central Ohio's event.
  • Congressman Earl Perlmutter (D-CO/7th) participated in the commemoration by the Turkish American Cultural Society of Colorado.
  • Representative Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA/43rd) joined the American Turkish Association of Southern California.
  • Representative Jim McDermott (D-WA/7th) joined the Turkish American Cultural Association of Washington in honoring the Turkish Republic's founding.
  • The gala organized by the American Turkish Association of Washington, DC featured special remarks by Congresswoman Donna Edwards (D-MD/4th) and Congressman Russ Carnahan (D-MO/3rd).
  • Congressman Edolphus Towns (D-NY/10th) and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-NY/11th) attended the official Turkish Republic Day ceremony in New York.
For more information about these events, please visit here.

Congressional Turkey Caucus Reaches 130 Members

The Congressional Caucus on US-Turkey Relations and Turkish Americans reached 130 members with Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-14/IL) and Rep. Cynthia Lummis (R-At Large/WY) joining in October. The Turkish Caucus is a bipartisan platform for Members of Congress to focus on issues that relate to Turkey, U.S.-Turkey relations and the Turkish American community. Contact the TCA office to learn more about the Caucus and find out how you can ask your Representative to join.

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