By Gene Rossides

My reasoning is based on the fact that when the Democratic Party had control in 2009-2010 of the White House and both chambers of the Congress, the House and the Senate, they did not take any action on our issues. The Democratic Party was all talk and no action. It was the same for the Armenian community and its issues.

With the Republican Party gaining control of the House of Representatives the situation for most interest groups changes substantially. For the Republicans, their aim in the 2012 congressional elections and presidential election will be to keep control of the House and to gain control of the White House and the Senate.

The Democratic Party, in like manner, will seek to hold the White House and the Senate and regain control of the House of Representatives.

With that background the opportunity for Greek Americans to advance our issues is available if we concentrate on the Democratic and Republican leadership in the House and Senate, and on those districts and states where Greek American voters can make a difference.

Greek Americans are a recognizable minority in several key swing states such as Ohio and Pennsylvania. In swing states, the votes of interest groups are more important than in states which normally go either Democratic or Republican because each interest group’s votes can determine the outcome in the state in close elections.

The new Republican leadership in the House is: Speaker-Elect, Rep John Boehner (R-8th) of Ohio. The GOP Majority Leader-Elect is Rep. Eric Cantor (R-7th) of Virginia and the Majority Whip-Elect is Kevin McCarthy (R-22nd) of California.

The GOP Conference Committee Chair is Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-5th) of Texas; the Conference Vice-Chair is Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-5th) of Washington; the Conference Secretary if Rep. John Carter (R-31st) of Texas; the Republican Policy Committee Chair is Rep. Tom Price (R-6th) of Georgia; and the GOP Campaign Committee Chair is Rep. Pete Sessions (R-32nd) of Texas.

The Democratic Leadership in the House is Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-8th) of California; the Minority Whip is Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-5th) of Maryland; the Assistant Minority Leader is Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-6th) of South Carolina; the Democratic Caucus Chair is Rep. John Larsen (D-1st) of Connecticut; the caucus Vice Chair is Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-31st) of California; and the Democratic Campaign Committee Chair is Rep. Steve Israel (D-2nd) of New York.

In the Senate, the Democrats kept control. The Senate Majority Leader is Harry Reid of Nevada; the Majority Whip is Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois; Senator Chuck Schumer of New York is Conference Vice Chair and Policy Committee Chair.

On the Republican side the Senate Minority Leader remains Mitch McConnell of Kentucky who has not been helpful in the past. The Minority Whip is Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona; the Senate Republican Policy Committee Chair is Senator John Thune of South Dakota; the Conference Chair is Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee; and the Vice Chair is Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming; and the Campaign Committee Chair is Senator John Cornyn of Texas.

Ohio is an example of a swing state. In 2012, both parties will fight hard to win Ohio’s electoral votes. Ohio takes on even greater significance because Rep. John Boehner, the Republican speaker –Elect of the House is from the 8th congressional district of Ohio.

Virginia is a key state. The Republican Majority Leader-Elect, Eric Cantor (R-7th), is a rising star in the Republican Party.

Illinois is another key mid-western state. The number two leader for the Democrats in the Senate is Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois.

In dealing with our elected officials and their staffs, we should never attack their motives. We should be firm in our presentations and stress that our views are based on what we believe is in the best interests of the United States.

Stress that we support the rule of law in international affairs as in the best interests of the United States regarding the core issues of Cyprus, the Aegean, the Ecumenical Patriarchate and religious freedom in Turkey, and FYROM.

Ask for legislation withholding benefits to Turkey and placing sanction on Turkey until Turkey:

1. removes its 43,000 illegal troops and 180,000 illegal settlers/colonist from Cyprus and returns Famagusta for the resettlement of Greek Cypriot refugees;

2. returns the several thousand church properties illegally taken from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, authorizes the reopening of the Halki Patriarchal School of Theology and provides full religious freedom and protection for the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Also ask for legislation giving American the right to sue Turkey for damages for taking and using their property in the occupied territory.

Every effort should be made to visit your elected member of the House and Senate when they are in their districts and state. Call their district and state offices for appointments and also write for appointments. You can find their district and state phone numbers on http://www.contactingthecongress.org/.

If you want to be part of the American Hellenic Institute’s grass roots leadership team, contact Executive Director Nick Larigakis by phone at 202-785-8430 or email nlarigakis@ahiworld.org.

Act today, you can make a difference.

Gene Rossides is founder of the American Hellenic Institute and former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.