Steve Israel

Steve Israel
Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2015
Leader	Nancy Pelosi
Preceded by	Position established
Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2015
Leader	Nancy Pelosi
Preceded by	Chris Van Hollen
Succeeded by	Ben Luján
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 3rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2013
Preceded by	Peter King
Succeeded by	Thomas Suozzi (elect)
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 2nd district
In office January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by	Rick Lazio
Succeeded by	Peter King
Personal details
Born	(1958-05-30) May 30, 1958 New York City, New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Nassau Community College Syracuse University George Washington University (BA)
Website	House Website

Steven J. "Steve" Israel^[1] (born May 30, 1958)^[2] is the United States Representative for New York's 3rd congressional district, serving in the United States Congress since 2001. Since redistricting in 2012, the district includes portions of northern Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island, as well as a minuscule portion of Queens in New York City. He is a member of the Democratic Party and was head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee until November 2014. Before serving in Congress, he served on the Huntington, New York town board.

Early life, education, and career

Israel was born in Brooklyn borough of New York City, New York,^[2] and raised in the Long Island community of Levittown, New York.^[3] He attended Nassau Community College and graduated from Syracuse University in 1979 with a bachelor of arts degree. He went on to attend George Washington University, and become a staff member for United States Representative Richard Ottinger of New York.^[2] Israel was elected to the town council in Huntington, New York, in 1993.^[4]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

After Rick Lazio left his House seat to run for the United States Senate in 2000, Israel was elected to his seat, receiving 48% of the vote, defeating Republican Joan Jonhson, who received 34%, and four independent candidates.^[5] He has been reelected six times with relatively little difficulty, despite representing a swing district on paper.

On January 5, 2016, Israel announced that he would not seek reelection in November 2016.^[6]

Committee assignments

• 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 Agencies

Caucus membership

• Co-chair and founder of Congressional Center Aisle Caucus
• House Cancer Caucus (Co-chair)
• Long Island Sound Caucus (Co-chair)

Party leadership

• Assistant Democratic Whip
• House Democratic Caucus Task Force On Defense and the Military (Chair)
• House Democratic Study Group on National Security Policy (Co-chair)

Tenure

Israel voted to authorize George W. Bush to use military force in Iraq, even though more than 60 per cent of his Democratic colleagues in the House voted against the bill.^[7]

In his second term, Israel was tapped for a leadership position as Assistant Whip. In his third term, Israel was appointed to chair the House Democratic Caucus Task Force on Defense and Military, a group of 15 Democrat House members who reach out to the defense community and advise the House Democratic leadership on military policy. In 2006 Israel harshly criticized Jimmy Carter for his book Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, and at the same time criticized the Palestinian government.^[8]

Israel supported a study on the feasibility of switching from Tuesday to weekend voting.^[9]

Occupy Wall Street

Israel's support for Occupy Wall Street drew criticism from conservatives, who claimed the movement harbored "anti-Semitic" elements. In response Israel pointed to his support for the nation of Israel as well as his own Jewish heritage.^[10]

DCCC chairman

As an ally of Nancy Pelosi, Israel was mentioned in 2010 as a possible successor to Chris Van Hollen, the chairman of the DCCC; he declined to speak about it until after the midterms were over, saying he was "just completely focused on supporting Nancy Pelosi."^[11]

It was reported that Pelosi's selection of Israel to head the DCCC had much to do with the district he represents, where "Democrats hold a modest registration edge but independents decide elections." It was noted that Israel had gained respect through fundraising and recruiting candidates for the campaign committee. Israel is one of the few Democrats who has run campaign ads in defense of his vote on health care.^[4]

Policy positions

Abortion

Israel has said he supports legal abortions in cases of rape, incest, and threat to the life of the mother, though he does not support abortions being legal in all cases.^[12] He has voted against bills that would prohibit federal funding for abortions, against a bill that would eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood, an organization that provides abortions, and against the Abortion Pain Act, which would have prevented abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Since 2004 he has consistently received 100% ratings from the pro-choice groups NARAL, Planned Parenthood, and the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, as well as a 0% rating from the National Right to Life Committee.

Gun issues

Rep. Israel supports increased regulation on gun ownership. He voted against several bills and amendments which would decrease federal regulation of safety precautions of guns and decrease federal regulations on the sale of firearms. He also cosponsored the 2009 “No Fly, No Buy” Act,^[13] stating “Gun safety measures like the 'No Fly, No Buy' Act should be a no-brainer for every member of Congress. It's common sense legislation.”^[14] He has received 0% ratings from the pro-gun rights NRA and the Gun Owners of America, as well as 100% ratings from the pro-gun control Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence.^[15] Israel was an original cosponsor of the bill To extend the Undetectable Firearms Act of 1988 for 10 years (H.R. 3626; 113th Congress), which passed the House on December 3, 2013.^[16] The bill allowed for a ten-year extension of the Undetectable Firearms Act of 1988, but did not expand any of its provisions (related to plastic guns).

Health care

Steve Israel voted for the 2010 Affordable Care Act,^[17] and against several bills repealing it.^[15]

LGBT rights

Israel supports same-sex marriage. In a press release in June 2009, he said, “I’m proud of what Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Vermont have done for marriage equality. I hope that my home state of New York will soon follow.” ^[18] New York legalized same-sex marriage in 2011.

He voted for the repeal of Don't ask, don't tell, and for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.^[15]

He has a 100% rating from the pro-LGBT rights Human Rights Campaign and a 0% rating from the Family Research Council.^[12]

J Street controversy

Steve Israel was an honorary member of the gala host committee for a Gala dinner on October 27, 2009 by J Street, a liberal,^[19][20][21] nonprofit lobbying group. In the weeks leading up to the Gala dinner, those aligned with the Likud, the political party of Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, criticized Rep. Israel and those supporting J Street. The Weekly Standard blogger Michael Goldfarb called the J Street dinner an "anti-Israel bash."^[22] In response Rep. Israel's spokeswoman Lindsay Hamilton said, "It's absurd that this has become a controversy...The Congressman agreed to be on the gala host committee. That doesn't mean he agrees with every viewpoint of every speaker at the event".^[23]

Electoral history

New York election law allows for fusion voting, where a candidate can run as a member of multiple parties. In 2000 Israel ran only as a Democrat in his winning bid for Congress, but since 2002 he has also run as the candidate for the Independence Party and the Working Families Party. In 2000 the Republican candidate ran only as a Republican, but since 2002, every Republican has also run as the candidate for the Conservative Party of New York.

Personal life

Israel has two adult daughters and is also an author.^[3]

The sale of his marital home was and is the subject of some considerable controversy.^[25] This is due to the fact that Israel has received financial contributions from the lenders who gave him a favorable deal on a short sale of his marital home following his second divorce.^[26]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Steve Israel.

• Congressman Steve Israel official U.S. House site
• Steve Israel for Congress
• Steve Israel at DMOZ
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Profile at Project Vote Smart
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at The Library of Congress