TCA President G. Lincoln McCurdy and Project Coordinators Liz Clark and Sezan McDaniel present Mr. Ed Whitfield with a traditional tavla (Turkish backgammon) set to commemorate his contributions to the Turkish American community while in Congress
On Friday, October 21, the Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) hosted a reception for the Hon. Ed Whitfield (R-KY, 1995-2016) upon his retirement from Congress for his contributions to the Turkish American community and the U.S.-Turkey relationship. As co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on U.S.-Turkey Relations and Turkish Americans, he was an ardent supporter of the U.S.-Turkey relationship and a voice on Capitol Hill for Turkish Americans.
Members and friends of the Turkish American community attended the reception along with a delegation of Turkish Women Politicians. The delegation was in Washington to learn more about the upcoming U.S. election as part of the TCA-sponsored and U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress (USAFMC)-organized 2016 Pre-Election Study Tour to Washington, DC.
As the Republican co-chair, Whitfield founded the Turkey Caucus in 2001 along with his Democratic counterpart, former Congressman Robert Wexler of Florida. Their original objective was to have 25 members in the Caucus. The growth of the Caucus, however, exceeded expectations. At the time of Whitfield’s retirement from Congress, Caucus membership was 155, with 43 of the 50 states and all six territories represented.
