Steven J. Israel (born May 30, 1958) is an American political commentator, lobbyist, author, bookseller and former politician. He served as a
U.S. Representative from New York from 2001 to 2017. A member of the
Democratic Party, he was elected in until 2013 and until his retirement. At the time of his departure from Congress, his district included portions of northern
Nassau County and
Suffolk County on
Long Island
Long Island is a densely populated island in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of New York, part of the New York metropolitan area. With over 8 million people, Long Island is the most populous island in the United States and the 18 ...
, as well as a small portion of
Queens
Queens is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York. Located on Long Island, it is the largest New York City borough by area. It is bordered by the borough of Brooklyn at the western tip of Long ...
in New York City.
Israel chaired the
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is the Democratic Hill committee for the United States House of Representatives, working to elect Democrats to that body. The DCCC recruits candidates, raises funds, and organizes races in ...
from 2011 to 2015 and Democratic Policy and Communications Committee from 2015 to 2017. Prior to his election to Congress, he served on the
Huntington Town Board
A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, rural council ...
, starting 1993. After leaving Congress in 2017, Israel joined
CNN as a political commentator. In 2019, he was appointed the inaugural director of the Institute of Politics and Global Affairs at
Cornell University
Cornell University is a private statutory land-grant research university based in Ithaca, New York. It is a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, Cornell was founded with the intention to tea ...
. , Israel also serves on the Board of Advisors for lobbying firm Michael Best Strategies.
Early life and career
Israel was born in
Brooklyn
Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...
and raised in the
Long Island
Long Island is a densely populated island in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of New York, part of the New York metropolitan area. With over 8 million people, Long Island is the most populous island in the United States and the 18 ...
community of
Levittown, New York.
He attended
Nassau Community College
Nassau Community College (NCC) is a public community college in Uniondale, New York, using the Garden City, New York ZIP Code. It was founded in 1959 and is part of the State University of New York.
History
Nassau Community College was crea ...
and
Syracuse University
Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York. Established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church, the university has been nonsectarian since 1920. Locate ...
for one year before graduating from
George Washington University
, mottoeng = "God is Our Trust"
, established =
, type = Private federally chartered research university
, academic_affiliations =
, endowment = $2.8 billion (2022)
, presi ...
with a Bachelor of Arts in 1982.
After earning his bachelor's degree, Israel became a staff member for U.S. Representative
Richard Ottinger.
He was later elected to the town council in
Huntington, New York
The Town of Huntington is one of ten towns in Suffolk County, New York. Founded in 1653, it is located on the north shore of Long Island in northwestern Suffolk County, with Long Island Sound to its north and Nassau County adjacent to the west. ...
, in 1993.
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
After
Rick Lazio left his House seat to run for the
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and po ...
in 2000, Israel was elected to his seat, receiving 48% of the vote, defeating Republican Joan Johnson, who received 34%, and four independent candidates. He was 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.
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.
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 Democratic House members who reach out to the defense community and advise the House Democratic leadership on military policy.
In 2006, in response to
Jimmy Carter
James Earl Carter Jr. (born October 1, 1924) is an American politician who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he previously served as th ...
's book ''
Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid'', Israel said, "I disagree with President Carter fundamentally. The reason for the Palestinian plight is the Palestinians."
Israel supported a study on the feasibility of switching from Tuesday to weekend voting.
;Occupy Wall Street
Israel's support for
Occupy Wall Street
Occupy Wall Street (OWS) was a protest movement against economic inequality and the influence of money in politics that began in Zuccotti Park, located in New York City's Wall Street financial district, in September 2011. It gave rise to the ...
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.
DCCC chairman
As an ally of
Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Patricia Pelosi (; ; born March 26, 1940) is an American politician who has served as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives since 2019 and previously from 2007 to 2011. She has represented in the United States House of ...
, 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."
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." 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.
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.
He has voted against bills that would prohibit federal funding for abortions, against a bill that would eliminate federal funding for
Planned Parenthood
The Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. (PPFA), or simply Planned Parenthood, is a nonprofit organization that provides reproductive health care in the United States and globally. It is a tax-exempt corporation under Internal Reve ...
, 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.
Economics
On July 4, 2013 Israel announced legislation that would require all U.S. national parks to sell merchandise that is
Made in the USA
A Made in USA mark is a country of origin label affixed to homegrown, American-made products that indicates the product is "all or virtually all" domestically produced, manufactured and assembled in the United States of America. The label is reg ...
.
Gun issues
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, 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." He has received 0% ratings from the pro-
gun rights NRA
The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) is a gun rights advocacy group based in the United States. Founded in 1871 to advance rifle marksmanship, the modern NRA has become a prominent gun rights lobbying organization while contin ...
and the
Gun Owners of America, as well as 100% ratings from the pro-
gun control
Gun control, or firearms regulation, is the set of laws or policies that regulate the manufacture, sale, transfer, possession, modification, or use of firearms by civilians.
Most countries have a restrictive firearm guiding policy, with onl ...
Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence
Brady: United Against Gun Violence (formerly “Handgun Control, Inc”., the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence) is an American nonprofit organization that advocates for gun control and against ...
and the
Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV) and the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence (EFSGV or Ed Fund), its sister organization, are two parts of a national, non-profit gun control advocacy organization that is opposed to gun violence. Since 19 ...
.
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.
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
Israel voted for the 2010
Affordable Care Act
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), formally known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and colloquially known as Obamacare, is a landmark U.S. federal statute enacted by the 111th United States Congress and signed into law by Pres ...
, and against several bills repealing it.
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."
New York legalized same-sex marriage in 2011.
He voted for the repeal of
Don't ask, don't tell
"Don't ask, don't tell" (DADT) was the official United States policy on military service of non-heterosexual people, instituted during the Clinton administration. The policy was issued under Department of Defense Directive 1304.26 on Decembe ...
, and for the
Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
He has a 100% rating from the pro-LGBT rights
Human Rights Campaign
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is an American LGBTQ advocacy group. It is the largest LGBTQ political lobbying organization within the United States. Based in Washington, D.C., the organization focuses on protecting and expanding rights for ...
and a 0% rating from the
Family Research Council.
Social media
In October 2022, Israel joined the Council for Responsible Social Media project launched by
Issue One to address the negative mental, civic, and public health impacts of
social media
Social media are interactive media technologies that facilitate the creation and sharing of information, ideas, interests, and other forms of expression through virtual communities and networks. While challenges to the definition of ''social me ...
in the United States co-chaired by former
House Democratic Caucus Leader
Dick Gephardt
Richard Andrew Gephardt (; born January 31, 1941) is an American attorney, lobbyist, and politician who served as a United States Representative from Missouri from 1977 to 2005. A member of the Democratic Party, he was House Majority Leader fro ...
and former
Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey
Kerry Murphy Healey (born April 30, 1960) is a former American politician who served as the 70th Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 under Governor Mitt Romney. She is currently the inaugural president of the Milken Institut ...
.
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
nonprofit lobbying group. In the weeks leading up to the Gala dinner, those aligned with the
Likud
Likud ( he, הַלִּיכּוּד, HaLikud, The Consolidation), officially known as Likud – National Liberal Movement, is a major centre-right to right-wing political party in Israel. It was founded in 1973 by Menachem Begin and Ariel S ...
, the political party of Israeli Prime Minister,
Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu (; ; born 21 October 1949) is an Israeli politician who served as the ninth prime minister of Israel from 1996 to 1999 and again from 2009 to 2021. He is currently serving as Leader of the Opposition and Chairman of ...
, criticized Steve Israel and those supporting J Street. ''
The Weekly Standard
''The Weekly Standard'' was an American neoconservative political magazine of news, analysis and commentary, published 48 times per year. Originally edited by founders Bill Kristol and Fred Barnes, the ''Standard'' had been described as a "re ...
'' blogger
Michael Goldfarb called the J Street dinner an "anti-Israel bash." In response, Steve 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".
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
The Conservative Party of New York State is an American political party founded in 1962 following conservative dissatisfaction with the Republican Party in New York. Running on the Conservative Party line, James L. Buckley won election to the U ...
.
, -
, colspan=10 ,
, -
!Year
!Winning candidate
!Party
!Pct
!Opponent
!Party
!Pct
, -
,
2000
, , Steve Israel
, ,
Democratic
, , 48%
, , Joan B. Johnson
, ,
Republican
, , 35%
, -
,
2002
File:2002 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 2002 Winter Olympics are held in Salt Lake City; Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and her daughter Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon die; East Timor gains East Timor independence, indepe ...
, , Steve Israel
, , Democratic
, , 58%
, , Joseph P. Finley
, , Republican
, , 40%
, -
,
2004
2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO).
Events January
* January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight ...
, , Steve Israel
, , Democratic
, , 67%
, , Richard Hoffmann
, , Republican
, , 33%
, -
,
2006
File:2006 Events Collage V1.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2006 Winter Olympics open in Turin; Twitter is founded and launched by Jack Dorsey; The Nintendo Wii is released; Montenegro votes to declare independence from Serbia; The 2006 ...
, , Steve Israel
, , Democratic
, , 70%
, , John W. Bugler
, , Republican
, , 30%
, -
,
2008
File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ...
, , Steve Israel
, , Democratic
, , 67%
, , Frank J. Stalzer
, , Republican
, , 33%
, -
,
2010
File:2010 Events Collage New.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2010 Chile earthquake was one of the strongest recorded in history; The Eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland disrupts air travel in Europe; A scene from the opening ceremony of ...
, , Steve Israel
, , Democratic
, , 56%
, , John Gomez
, , Republican
, , 43%
, -
,
2012
, , Steve Israel
, , Democratic
, , 58%
, , Stephen Labate
, , Republican
, , 42%
, -
,
2014
File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wa ...
, , Steve Israel
, , Democratic
, , 54%
, , Grant Lally
, , Republican
, , 45%
, -
Personal life
Israel has two adult daughters.
He has written two novels of political satire: ''The Global War on Morris'' (2014) and ''
Big Guns'' (2018).
The 2012 sale of Israel's marital home was the subject of minor controversy, after it was discovered that he had received financial contributions from lenders who also gave him a favorable deal on a short sale of the home in the wake of his separation from his wife from 2003 to 2014, Marlene Budd.
In November 2021, Israel opened a bookstore in
Oyster Bay, NY named after former President and town resident
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt Jr. ( ; October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), often referred to as Teddy or by his initials, T. R., was an American politician, statesman, soldier, conservationist, naturalist, historian, and writer who served as the 26t ...
Bibliography
*
*
*
See also
*
List of Jewish members of the United States Congress
This is a list of Jewish members of the United States Congress. , there are 10 Jewish senators and 27 Jewish members of the House of Representatives serving in the United States Congress.
Senate
Elected to the Senate, but not seated
House ...
References
External links
*
*
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, -
, -
, -
, -
, -
{{DEFAULTSORT:Israel, Steve
1958 births
20th-century American politicians
21st-century American male writers
21st-century American novelists
21st-century American politicians
American lobbyists
American male novelists
American satirical novelists
Cornell University faculty
CNN people
Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state)
George Washington University alumni
Jewish members of the United States House of Representatives
Living people
New York (state) city council members
Politicians from Brooklyn
People from Wantagh, New York
Politicians from Suffolk County, New York
Nassau Community College alumni
Novelists from New York (state)
Syracuse University alumni
People from Huntington, New York
People from Oyster Bay Cove, New York