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Rep. Marc Veasey of Fort Worth was among the Democrats who did attend, along with Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee and Gene Green of Houston and Henry Cuellar of Laredo.

"We must show our country's continued commitment and support to Israel, who is a solid ally of the U.S. in the Middle East," Veasey said. "That's especially true right now, when there are significant challenges in that region of the world."

AIPAC enjoys great sway on US Middle East policy, but its wings were clipped with two stinging defeats over the past 18 months.

In September 2013 it backed Obama's effort to strike Syria in response to Bashar al-Assad's use of chemical weapons, but Congress did not go along. Then last month, facing opposition from Obama, an Iran sanctions bill backed by AIPAC was delayed.

AIPAC's annual lobby effort remains one of the most organized and effective in the nation, according to several lawmakers who engage the activists on the Jewish group's policy recommendations.

AIPAC's annual lobby effort remains one of the most organized and effective in the nation, according to several lawmakers who engage the activists on the Jewish group's policy recommendations.

"AIPAC has been a very aggressive driving force in educating members of Congress," House Republican Mario Diaz-Balart told AFP.

"It is unique, and it has the impact," added Democrat Marc Veasey. "AIPAC does a fantastic job of informing and engaging."

Today in Veasey v. Abbott, attorneys at the Campaign Legal Center, who serve as co-counsel for plaintiffs Congressman Marc Veasey, LULAC, and a group of Texas voters, filed a brief urging the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold a District Court ruling striking down Texas' voter photo ID law (SB 14), the most restrictive and burdensome voter ID law in the nation.

Democrats cheered the successful funding outcome.

"Today, House Republican leadership finally listened to the will of the American people and joined House Democrats in fully funding the Department of Homeland Security through the end of Fiscal Year 2015," Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth. "This is a great victory for the American people who are tired of House leadership trying and failing to appease the most extreme elements of their party with shutdown politics."

Democrats cheered the successful funding outcome.

"Today, House Republican leadership finally listened to the will of the American people and joined House Democrats in fully funding the Department of Homeland Security through the end of Fiscal Year 2015," Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas. "This is a great victory for the American people who are tired of House leadership trying and failing to appease the most extreme elements of their party with shutdown politics."

When the Palestinian Authority recently secured a spot on the International Criminal Court, it proved to be a watershed moment for AIPAC, sending the group back to its position in favor of suspending PA aid.