The Green Senatorial Campaign Committee (GSCC), also known as the National Green Senatorial Campaign Committee (NGSCC), is the Green Party committee for the United States Senate, working to elect Greens to the United States Senate. The organization was formed during the 2006 election cycle, operating similarly to a political action committee. In September 2007, it applied to the Federal Election Commission to be formally recognized as a campaign committee, and the following year, their request was unanimously approved. This marked the first time a party other than the Democrats or Republicans have had a Senatorial Campaign Committee recognized by the FEC. In the 2008 election cycle, the committee announced its plans to focus on races involving senators who continued to support funding for the Iraq War. , the Federal Election Commission recognized the committee as "active". History Early years The Green Senatorial Campaign Committee came into being for the 2006 midterm elections, in June 2006. The committee, which initially was based in Minneapolis and lacked official recognition by the Federal Election Commission (FEC), as a result had to operate in the style a political action committee, limited to $5,000 in expenditures per candidate. During the 2006 elections the GSCC contributed to seven senatorial campaigns, with contributions averaging $200 each. FEC recognition In September 2006, the Green Party applied to the FEC for official recognition as a senatorial campaign committee. The case was heard on February 8, 2007. The following day, in an advisory opinion, the FEC recommended — in a 6-0 decision — that the Green Party's request be granted, thus making them the third political party, following Democratic and Republican parties and preceding the Libertarian Party, to receive this designation. Upon their receipt of this recognition, party officials declined to explain their entire strategy for the 2008 election cycle, but indicated that they would give special emphasis to challenging senators who continued to support US military intervention in Iraq. In a statement on its new website, the committee elaborated on this focus, writing that "As its first act after receiving FEC recognition, the GSCC called upon all U.S. Senators to vote against further funding of the U.S. occupation of Iraq, or any resolutions promising such funding, including currently proposed concurrent resolutions promising funding 'for troops'." Later history In October 2010, the party announced that its senatorial campaign committee was disbursing the first round of funds to that year's candidates.