House Candidates Home | Congressional Map | Steve Israel
Rep. Steve Israel Democrat of New York, District 2
For U.S House of Representatives in 2012Statistics
Party: Democrat
Born: 5/30/58
Education: George Washington University, B.A. 1982
Occupation: Congressional Aide, Public Relations Executive
Family: Married, Marlene Budd
Religion: Jewish
Political Career: Huntington Town Board Member (1993-2000), Representative US House of Representatives (2000-Present), Assistant Democratic Whip 110th Congress)
Committees: Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs, Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Programs
Why Your Support
A prominent player in the Democratic Party, Rep. Steve Israel served as an Assistant Democratic Whip in the House. He chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for the 2012 election cycle, making him the fifth highest-ranking Democrat in the Congressional leadership.
Beyond his leadership positions, Congressman Israel is a strong advocate for the issues JAC champions, using his standing to further his initiatives and viewpoint. During his decade in Congress, Rep. Israel has remained a true advocate for Israel, supporting her right to self-defense, voting in favor of foreign assistance to the Jewish state, and has criticized Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Congressman Israel is a strong proponent of the U.S.-Israel alliance. During his third term, he was appointed to chair the House Democratic Caucus’ Task Force on Defense and Military, a group of 15 Representatives who were selected to reach out to the defense community and return to advise the House Democratic Leadership on issues pertaining to the military. In 2006, Congressman Israel harshly criticized former President Jimmy Carter for the publication of his book, Palestine, Peace not Apartheid, for its stance on Israel, and at the same time, he criticized the Palestinian government for shortcomings with regards to the lack of resolution in the ongoing conflict. Congressman Israel was considered instrumental in helping to monitor activity on and close the tunnels connecting Egypt and the Gaza Strip that facilitated weapons and arms smuggling to Hamas.
Congressman Israel is a stalwart proponent of women’s reproductive health rights. His strong stance on the matter – from opposing limitations on the abortion procedure, to education initiatives, to factors related to accessibility of services – has earned him a 100% approval rating from NARAL.
Background
Congressman Israel is a strong fundraiser and campaigner with in the Democratic Party. It was based on these skills that Rep. Pelosi chose him to run the DCCC for the 2012 campaign cycle, as he is now largely responsible for the effort to restore the Democratic majority in the House. Focusing on the failures of the Republican Congress, from Medicare cuts to the anti-woman fervor on the Hill, Israel is one of the Democratic leaders in charge of the messaging and operations behind the 2012 races across the country.
As for his own upcoming race, Congressman Israel was re-elected in 2012 for his sixth term by a margin of 56%. In a tough election cycle for democrats, there is always a possibility that Israel could face some backlash for his role within the party, lending to a closer voting margin.
About The Candidate
Congressman Israel is a Brooklyn native, currently living in Dix Hills, New York with his wife Marlene who serves as a family court judge. The Congressman also has two daughters. Although his prominence in the House now stems from his long service and leadership within the party, when first elected to Congress over a decade though, he quickly earned a strong reputation. After his first term, Newsday dubbed Israel “rookie of the year” and later went on to profile him as one of eight “national rising stars.” In his first term, Congressman Israel established himself as a serious legislator seeking to make a difference as he passed more new measures in the House than any other freshman democrat. Among his bills, Israel was most proud of legislation to accelerate research and treatment protocols for ovarian cancer. Most importantly, his drive to make an impact legislatively has not dwindled since his first term – Congressman Israel is regarded as a hard-working, motivated Representative amongst his colleagues.
