NORPAC recently sponsored Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) at a sit-down dinner hosted by Jack Halpern at Abigael’s restaurant. Sen. Landrieu has worked to strengthen collaboration between the U.S. and Israel on energy development and has authored legislation that bolsters that relationship by encouraging increased cooperation between the two countries’ academic, business, governmental, and other sectors. In October 2011, Sen. Landrieu organized the first ever oil and gas trade mission to Israel with the help of the Department of Commerce and the critical work of the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance.

Senator Landrieu is a sponsor of the bi-partisan Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act (S.1881) introduced by Senators Menendez and Kirk to impose further sanctions on Iran if it does not reach a satisfactory agreement on its nuclear program after the interim 6-month deal. She is among the 16 Democrats who signed on to the legislation, even though the bill is unpopular with the administration.

NORPAC members thanked the Senator for her staunch support, and asked her where she saw the future of U.S. relations with Iran going. She answered that, while she favors diplomacy, the bill gives President Obama the tools to make headway with Tehran’s leaders.

Senator Landrieu recently became chairwoman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee which handles issues ranging from offshore drilling and revenue sharing to nuclear power generation and the creation of national parks. She communicated her excitement at Israel’s recently discovered offshore gas fields, which could potentially keep the country energy-independent for almost a century, and she looks forward to advancing America’s joint research with Israel on energy development projects. Her new position, coupled with her strong stance on Iran and commitment to energy research and development, makes Mary Landrieu an important Member of Congress to the U.S.-Israel relationship.