Congressman Eliot Engel, a Democrat, represents the 17th Congressional District of New York covering areas of the Bronx and Westchester and Rockland counties. He was elected to Congress in November 1988, and is currently serving his eighth term in the House of Representatives.

Congressman Engel serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the International Relations Committee. He previously served on the Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities.

Congressman Engel is also a member of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, the Democratic Study Group on Health, and the Long Island Sound Caucus. He co-chairs the Albanian Issues Caucus and is an Executive Board Member of the Congressional Ad Hoc Committee on Irish Affairs.

During his political career, Mr. Engel authored landmark housing and education legislation, led battles to gain increased funding for fighting crime and keeping our streets streets safe, and is recognized as a leading advocate for improved mental health services. As a member of Congress, he has written innovative bills dealing with U.S. trade policy, education reform, long-term health care and domestic terrorism. He was the prime sponsor of the Congressional resolution recognizing Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel, and he wrote the bill designating October as Italian American Cultural and Heritage Month.

Congressman Engel was born in Bronx County on February 18, 1947. He grew up in a city housing project and attended New York City public schools. In 1969, he graduated from Hunter-Lehman College with a B.A. in History and received a Master's Degree in Guidance and Counseling in 1973 from Herbert H. Lehman College of the City University of New York. In 1987, he received a law degree from New York Law School.

For twelve years prior to his election to Congress, Mr. Engel served in the New York State Assembly (1977-1988), where he chaired the Committee on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, as well as the Subcommittee on Mitchell-Lama Housing. Prior to that he was a teacher and guidance counselor in the New York City public school system.

A lifelong resident of the Bronx, Congressman Engel is married to Patricia Ennis Engel. They have three children, Julia, Jonathan and Philip.

Rep. Eliot Engel's Official Website

Do you have a story to share?

Is government making a difference in your everyday life? Do you or your community have a problem that government needs to solve?

We'd like to hear from you.

Small businesses create three out of four of new jobs nationwide. (Small Business Association)