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 Congressman
Steve Israel represents New York’s 2nd Congressional District,
which includes the Long Island towns of Huntington, Babylon, Islip,
Smithtown and Oyster Bay. Israel is one of only two New York House
Members on the House Armed Services Committee, where in addition
to securing over $100 million for Long Island businesses and over
$2.3 million in back-pay benefits for veterans, he has established
a reputation as a legislative leader on energy security, professional
military education and global nuclear challenges.
Israel also serves on the exclusive House Financial Services Committee,
where he helped pass the bipartisan Terrorism Risk Insurance Act
to ensure the availability of insurance in a post 9-11 world.
His leadership positions include:
• Assistant Democratic Whip.
• Co-Chair, House Center Aisle Caucus
• Co-Chair, House Cancer Caucus,
• Co-Chair, Long Island Sound Caucus
• Chair, House Democratic Caucus Task Force On Defense and
the Military
• Co-Chair, House Democratic Study Group on National Security
Policy
In 2005, Israel formed the House Center Aisle Caucus – a
group of nearly 50 House Democrats and Republicans working to establish
a respectful dialogue on contentious issues instead of partisan
attacks and insults. As Israel said in creating the Caucus: "Democrats
and Republicans may disagree on 75% of the issues. But if we agree
and implement the remaining 25%, the country is 100% better off
than before." The Caucus is supported by former Democratic
House Speaker Tom Foley and Republican Leader Robert Michel.
Rep. Israel lives in Dix Hills with his wife, Suffolk County Family
Court Judge Marlene Budd. He has two daughters, and a miniature
schnauzer named Max.
As a Member of the House Armed Services Committee, Israel has argued
that every military challenge we face now and in the near future
is impacted by our vulnerability to foreign oil. Israel’s
“Next Generation Energy Security Plan” replaces thirty
years of back-steps, missteps and small steps on energy with one
giant leap towards energy independence. Israel’s plan is a
“man-on-the-moon” federal commitment to catalyze the
private sector to research, develop and produce “clean energy”
technologies.
- Recognizing Israel’s expertise on national security issues,
the House Democratic leadership tapped him to serve on the House
Armed Services Committee. Israel is one of only two New York Members
of the Committee and the only New York Democrat.
- Chairman, House Democratic Caucus Task Force on Defense &
The Military — the official Democratic Caucus task force
on national security issues.
- Founder and Co-Chairman, House Democratic Study Group on National
Security Policy — a group of House Democrats pursuing innovative
new foreign policy and national security approaches for 21st century
challenges.
- Recognized as a congressional leader on reforming the education
and training of military personnel to emphasize linguistics, cultural
awareness, regional expertise, military history, demographics
and more. Israel’s leadership resulted in the addition of
several important amendments on military education to the 2007
Defense Authorization Bill.
- Secured over $100 million in funds for local businesses.
- Israel’s district is located less than fifty miles from
the financial services capital of the world. That proximity of
Israel’s district to New York City helped him secure a spot
on the exclusive Financial Services Committee. (There are only
four Exclusive Committees in the House: Financial Services, Appropriations,
Ways & Means and Energy & Commerce). The Committee has
jurisdiction over financial institutions, capital markets, the
insurance and accounting industries, and closing terrorist-financing
conduits.
- Israel is regarded as a centrist and bipartisan member of the
Financial Services Committee.
- Member, House Blue Dog Caucus Task Force on Financial Services.
- Among Israel’s proudest achievements on the Committee
was passage of Terrorist Risk Insurance, which Israel helped spearhead.
- Co-chair, House Cancer Caucus – a group of 99 House Members
working to improve US policy on research, treatment and eradication
of cancer deaths and illness.
- Co-chair, Long Island Sound Caucus – a bipartisan group
of House Members supporting efforts to improve the ecology and
economy of Long Island Sound communities.
- Sponsored and passed the “Save Our Women from Ovarian
Cancer Act” – a bill supporting accelerated federal
testing of new technologies to detect and diagnose ovarian cancer.
- Israel is leading efforts in Congress to accelerate health
information technologies which improve the quality of care and
reduce costs.
- 100 percent voting record by the League of Conservation Voters
in 108th Congress.
- The father of two daughters - one in college and the other on
her way - Israel has sponsored major legislation to provide a
permanent $7,500 tax deduction for all educational expenses.
- Sponsor of legislation to create federally-matched Lifetime
Education Savings Accounts.
- Israel has visited over 100 schools in his congressional district
since his election in 2000.
- Rep Israel co-chairs the House Center Aisle Caucus - a group
of nearly 50 House Democrats and Republicans working to establish
a respectful dialogue on contentious issues instead of partisan
attacks and insults.
- The Caucus is seeking common ground on a diverse range of issues,
including energy independence and health care.
- As Israel said in creating the Caucus: "Democrats and Republicans
may disagree on 75% of the issues. But if we agree and implement
the remaining 25%, the country is 100% better off than before."
- The Caucus is supported by former Democratic House Speaker Tom
Foley and Republican Leader Robert Michel.
- First term: 2001-2002 (107th Congress).
- Second term: 2003-2004 (108th Congress).
- Third term: 2005-2006 (109th Congress).
- House Armed Services Committee
- Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land
- Subcommittee on Projection Forces
- House Financial Services Committee
- Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance & Government
Sponsored Enterprises
- Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit
More Information About Congressman Israel [top]
- Photos: Rep. Israel's photo
album organized by month.
- Issues: What Rep. Israel is
doing on the issues important to you.
- News: Latest press releases
and articles on Rep. Israel.
- Legislative Center:
Committee assignments, sponsored legislation, caucus memberships
and more.
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