Teaneck—Representative Eric Cantor (R-VA) was hosted on Sunday morning by Drs. Mort & Esther Fridman in Teaneck. Representing Virginia’s 7th District, Eric Cantor has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2001. He was elected by his colleagues in the House to serve as the Majority Leader for the 112th and 113th Congresses.

Rep. Cantor addressed dozens of Bergen residents on the recent developments in Syria, and the especially on the importance of preventing the development and use of chemical weapons internationally. An important dilemma facing the U.S. and intervention in the Syria, explained Mr. Cantor, is that both factions in the country are supported by parties which are unfriendly to America and its interests in the region—namely, the Assad regime receives support from Tehran, while the rebels are supported by Al Qaeda and its affiliates. He also discussed the implications of the election of Hassan Rouhani as President of Iran, seeing little difference in his actions – and in his ability or willingness to change the situation on nuclear weapons development – over his predecessor.

In Congress, Rep. Cantor has been a leading voice and strong supporter of the U.S.-Israel relationship. In the past, he has been named one of the Forward 50 by The Forward and has served as a board member for the U.S. Holocaust Museum. He recently supported tightening sanctions on Iran via the House Nuclear Iran Prevention Act of 2013 (H.R. 850) which NORPAC members advocated for on this year’s Mission to Washington. Eric has repeatedly called for the leaders in Tehran to peacefully abandon their pursuit of nuclear weapons and support of terrorism.

Every other year, Rep. Cantor travels to Israel with a delegation of House members and in August 2013 he returned from a trip where over two dozen members of Congress met with both Israeli and Palestinian officials to discuss the newly revived peace process, and the ongoing political developments in the greater Middle East.

Eric and his wife, Diana, reside in Richmond, Virginia. They have three children: Evan, a graduate of The University of Virginia; Jenna, a senior at the University of Michigan; and Michael, a second year student at The University of Virginia.