Steve Israel

Steve Israel, a Democrat, has represented the Second Congressional District of New York in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2000.

Environmental record
For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Bio
Israel was born May 30, 1958 in Brooklyn, New York and graduated from The George Washington University. He was elected to the town board in Huntington, New York in 1993. After Rick Lazio left his House seat to run for the United States Senate in 2000, Israel was elected to the U.S. House.

Congressional career
Israel "is best known for his leadership on three diverse but vitally important issues in Congress: national security, health and the environment, and U.S.-Israeli relations. Since he was first sworn into the House in 2001, he has been widely acknowledged as an independent, effective and emerging national leader. Newsday dubbed Israel "rookie of the year" in his first term, and later identified him as one of eight "national rising stars." In his first term, Representative Israel passed more new measures in the House than any other freshman Democrat, most proudly a bill to accelerate research and treatment of ovarian cancer."

"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."

In his second term, Israel was tapped for a leadership position as Assistant Whip. In his three terms in Congress, Rep. Israel has secured more that $83 million in federal appropriations to strengthen and expand Long Island's economy, including: $41 million in defense contracts; $14 million in road improvements; $2.5 million in health and education grants; and $14.5 million in environmental protections.

2006 elections
No major candidates announced their intentions to contest Israel’s seat in the November 2006 election. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) Israel retained his seat.

Money in politics
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Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Committee on Appropriations
 * Subcommittee on Energy and Water
 * Subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

 * House Committee on Armed Services
 * Subcommittee on Projection Forces
 * Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
 * House Committee on Financial Services
 * Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit
 * Subcommittee on Capital Markets Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises

Coalitions and Caucuses

 * Blue Dog Coalition
 * Founder and chair, Democratic Study Group on National Security *co-chairs, bipartisan House Cancer Caucus
 * co-chairs, bipartisan Long Island Sound Task Force
 * Founder, House Center Aisle Caucus

More Background Data

 * 2006 New York CD 2 Candidate List from VIS

Articles and Resources

 * Official website
 * Campaign website
 * Isreal profile, On the Issues
 * Jewish Virtual Library Biography
 * Gur, "O Congress Person, Where Art Thou?", Room Eight, May 9, 2006.
 * Gur, "The Phattest Bubble You've Ever Seen?", Room Eight, May 12, 2006.
 * Gur, "What Part Of "You Will Pimp My Pay to $168K" Did You Not Understand?", Room Eight, June 30, 2006.
 * Congressional Wire, "Earth to Congress - Come In!", Room Eight, July 11, 2006.
 * Gur, "Why Bother?", Room Eight, July 12, 2006.

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Simply Left Behind