James Abourezk

James George Abourezk (born February 24, 1931) is a former Democratic United States Representative and United States Senator , and was the first Arab-American to serve in the United States Senate. He represented South Dakota in the U.S. Senate from 1973 until 1979.

James George Abourezk (born February 24, 1931) is a former Democratic United States Representative and United States Senator , and was the first Greek Orthodox Christian of Lebanese - Antiochite descent to serve in the United States Senate, where he was generally viewed as critical of US foreign policy in the Middle-East and North Africa (MENA) area—notably regarding Palestine and Israel . He represented South Dakota in the U.S. Senate from 1973 until 1979.

American attorney and politician James George Abourezk (born February 24, 1931) is an American attorney and politician who had served as a United States Representative and United States Senator from South Dakota . He was the first Greek Orthodox Christian of Lebanese - Antiochite descent to serve in the United States Senate. He was generally viewed as critical of US foreign policy in the Middle-East and North Africa (MENA) area, particularly regarding Palestine and Israel . A Democrat , he represented South Dakota in the United States Senate from 1973 until 1979. He was the author of the Indian Child Welfare Act , passed by Congress in 1978 to try to preserve Indian families and tribal culture, by arranging for placement of Indian children in homes of their cultures, as well as to reunite them with families. It gives preference to tribal courts in custody of Indian children domiciled on reservations, and concurrent but presumptive jurisdiction in cases of children outside the reservation.

American attorney and politician (1931–2023) James George Abourezk ( / ˈ æ b ər ɛ s k / AB -ur-esk ; February 24, 1931 – February 24, 2023) was an American attorney and politician from South Dakota . A member of the Democratic Party , Abourezk served as a United States senator and United States representative for one term each, and was the first Arab American to serve in the U.S. He was also the founder of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee . He was the first Greek Orthodox Christian of Lebanese - Antiochite descent to serve in the U.S. He was seen as generally critical of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle-East and North Africa (MENA) area, particularly regarding Palestine and Israel. Abourezk represented South Dakota in the United States House of Representatives from 1971 until 1973 and the United States Senate from 1973 until 1979. He was the author of the Indian Child Welfare Act , passed by Congress in 1978 to try to preserve Native American families and tribal culture, by arranging for the placement of Native American children in homes of their cultures, as well as to reunite them with families. It gives preference to tribal courts with custody of Native American children domiciled on reservations and concurrent but presumptive jurisdiction in cases of children outside the reservation.

American attorney and politician (1931–2023) James George Abourezk ( / ˈ æ b ər ɛ s k / AB -ur-esk ; February 24, 1931 – February 24, 2023) was an American attorney and politician from South Dakota . A member of the Democratic Party , he served in both chambers of the United States Congress for one term each, and was the first Arab to serve in the United States Senate. After he left Congress, Abourezk in 1980 founded the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) with the goal of counteracting anti-Arab racism in the country. He served in the United States Navy during the Korean War , but was also a critic of United States foreign policy in the Middle East , particularly with regard to the Arab–Israeli conflict . Under his leadership, the ADC became especially active following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and the subsequent Gulf War , during which he became concerned about the rising rate of targeted hate crimes against Arabs and also against people mistaken for Arabs. Abourezk represented South Dakota in the United States House of Representatives from 1971 to 1973 and in the United States Senate from 1973 to 1979. He was the author of the Indian Child Welfare Act , which was passed by the United States Congress in 1978 to help preserve the families and culture of Native Americans . As a federal law, it gives Native tribal governments exclusive jurisdiction over children who reside on or are domiciled on an Indian reservation ; and it gives them concurrent, but presumptive jurisdiction over foster care placement proceedings for children who do not live on a Native reservation.