Darrell Issa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Darrell Issa
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Duncan D. Hunter |
| Constituency | 50th district (2021–2023) 48th district (2023–present) |
| In office January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Ron Packard |
| Succeeded by | Mike Levin |
| Constituency | 48th district (2001–2003) 49th district (2003–2019) |
| Chair of the House Oversight Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Edolphus Towns |
| Succeeded by | Jason Chaffetz |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 1, 1953 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 1 son |
| Education | Kent State University, Stark Siena Heights University (BA) |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service |
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| Rank | Captain |
Darrell Edward Issa (born November 1, 1953) is an American businessman and politician. He currently serves as a U.S. representative for California's 48th congressional district. He also represented the 50th congressional district from 2021 to 2023.
A member of the Republican Party, he previously served in the U.S. House from 2001 to 2019. During that time, he represented two districts in the San Diego area. From 2011 to 2015, he led the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
Before his political career, Issa was the CEO of Directed Electronics. He co-founded this company in 1982. It became one of the largest makers of car security products in the United States. As of 2023, Issa is known as one of the wealthiest members of Congress.
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Early Life and Education
Darrell Issa was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He was the second of six children. His father was of Lebanese Christian background, and his mother had German and Bohemian (Czech) roots.
During his childhood, his family moved to Cleveland Heights, Ohio. He became familiar with Jewish culture and reportedly worked for a rabbi.
Military Service
In 1970, at age 17, Issa left high school to join the Army. He became an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician. This role involved training to defuse bombs.
Issa has stated his unit provided security for President Richard Nixon. They swept stadiums for bombs before games in the 1971 World Series. After the series, he was transferred due to poor ratings.
He received a special discharge from the Army in 1972. This happened after his father had a heart attack. After leaving the Army, he earned his General Educational Development (GED) certificate.
Issa later studied business administration at Siena Heights University. He completed his degree at the Stark campus of Kent State University. While at Kent State, he joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant upon graduation.
He served in the Army Reserve from 1976 to 1980. He was promoted to captain. In 1980, his evaluation report praised his performance. It noted his "unlimited potential."
Business Career
After his military service, Issa and his second wife, Kathy Stanton, returned to the Cleveland area. They invested their savings and borrowed money to start Quantum Enterprises. This company assembled electronics for other businesses.
One client, Steal Stopper, a car alarm manufacturer, was struggling. Issa took control of the company. He quickly improved its business. Steal Stopper began supplying car alarms to major companies like Ford and Toyota.
Directed Electronics
In 1985, Issa sold Steal Stopper. He then moved to Vista, near San Diego. There, he started a new company called Directed Electronics, Inc. (DEI).
Issa used his knowledge of car security to create effective theft deterrents. His most famous product was the Viper car alarm. This alarm used sensors to detect motion and pressure. It would then make loud noises, like the car's horn or a recorded voice saying, "Protected by Viper. Stand back."
Sales for Directed Electronics grew quickly. They went from $1 million in the first year to $14 million by 1989.
Greene Properties
Issa is also a partner in 17 companies that own commercial properties. These properties are located across North San Diego County. He is the CEO of Greene Properties, Inc. This company invests in commercial real estate.
Greene Properties manages three office buildings in Carlsbad. His wife and son work for the company. Their office is in the same building as Issa's former congressional office.
Early Political Career
Issa became very active in consumer electronics trade groups. This led him to become more involved in politics. He lobbied Congress in Washington, D.C.. He also became a major donor to Republican candidates in California.
In 1996, he led the successful campaign for California Proposition 209. This law prevented public institutions in California from considering race, sex, or ethnicity in public employment, contracts, or education. He also helped bring the 1996 Republican National Convention to San Diego.
1998 U.S. Senate Election
Issa first ran for elected office in 1998. He sought the Republican nomination for United States Senate. He spent $10 million of his own money on this campaign.
He lost the primary election to Matt Fong. Fong received 45% of the vote, while Issa received 40%.
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections to Congress
2000 Election
In 2000, Republican U.S. Congressman Ron Packard decided not to run again. Issa ran for his seat in California's 48th congressional district. He used his name recognition from his 1998 Senate race.
Issa won the primary election with 35% of the vote. He then won the general election in November. He defeated Democratic candidate Peter Kouvelis 61%–28%.
Later Elections (2002-2016)
After new district maps were drawn, Issa's district became the 49th. It remained a strong Republican area. He was reelected multiple times, often by large margins.
In 2006, he was one of four members of Congress of Middle Eastern American descent. He identified primarily as Lebanese.
The 2012 election saw his district change again. It became more competitive. However, Issa was still reelected for his seventh term. His margin of victory was 16 points, his smallest at that time.
In 2016, Issa faced a close race against Democrat Doug Applegate. The election was very tight. Issa eventually won by a small number of votes.
2018 Election
In 2018, many Democrats ran for Issa's seat. The election was expected to be very competitive. On January 10, 2018, Issa announced he would not seek reelection. Democrat Mike Levin won the seat.
2020 Election
On September 26, 2019, Issa announced he would run for California's 50th congressional district. The current representative, Duncan D. Hunter, had resigned.
The 50th district included much of Issa's former base. He won the primary election. In the November general election, he defeated Democratic challenger Ammar Campa-Najjar. Issa explained he could switch districts because he owns his mother's home in Bonsall. He has long lived in Vista.
Time in Office
Leading the Oversight Committee
After the 2010 elections, Issa became the chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. He was a strong supporter of investigations into the Obama administration. These investigations covered topics like the Troubled Assets Relief Program and WikiLeaks.
Key Laws and Bills
In 2013, Issa introduced the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2013 (H.R. 2061; 113th Congress). This law aimed to make information about federal spending easier to find and understand. President Obama signed it into law in 2014.
He also introduced the FOIA Oversight and Implementation Act of 2014 (H.R. 1211; 113th Congress). This bill aimed to make it easier and faster to request information from the government under the Freedom of Information Act. It would have created a single website for requests. The House passed this bill unanimously.
Issa introduced the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (H.R. 1232; 113th Congress) in 2013. This bill aimed to improve how the government buys new technology. It sought to reduce waste in IT spending. This bill became law in December 2014.
He also co-sponsored The Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014. This law was signed by President Obama in December 2014.
In July 2017, Issa introduced the CLASSICS Act. This bill aimed to help artists by allowing them to collect royalties for older recordings. It also ensured their creative rights for music made before 1972.
Awards and Recognition
In 2010, the Project on Government Oversight gave Issa its Good Government Award. This award recognized his work in government oversight and transparency. He helped make government information more public. He also co-founded a group focused on promoting open and accountable government.
In 2012, TechCrunch included Issa in its list of "The 20 Most Innovative People in Democracy."
Committee Assignments
For the current 118th Congress, Darrell Issa serves on several important committees:
- Committee on Foreign Affairs
- Subcommittee on Europe
- Subcommittee on Oversight and Accountability
- Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
- Subcommittee on Research and Technology
- Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics
- Committee on the Judiciary
- Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet (chairman)
- Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust
- Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government
Caucus Memberships
Issa is also part of several groups within Congress, called caucuses:
- Congressional Constitution Caucus
- Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus
- Climate Solutions Caucus
- Freedom Caucus
- Congressional Armenian Caucus
- Republican Study Committee
Political Views
Issa often votes with the majority of other House Republicans. For example, during the 111th Congress, he voted with them 95% of the time.
Civil Rights
Issa voted against an amendment that would have protected religious organizations from discrimination. This amendment was debated because some worried it could allow discrimination against the LGBT community.
Environment
Before the 2010 election, Issa promised to investigate "Climategate." This term refers to hacked emails from climate scientists. Some people falsely claimed these emails showed scientific misconduct.
Foreign Policy
In 2001, Issa voted for the Patriot Act and the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. He voted to renew the Patriot Act in 2005. He added changes to require judicial notification and reporting.
As a Lebanese-American in Congress, he played a role in Middle East peace efforts. He traveled to Lebanon and Syria to help end the Syrian occupation of Lebanon. In 2015, he supported the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen.
In 2021, Issa was one of 49 House Republicans who voted to repeal a law that authorized military force against Iraq.
Health Care
Issa supports repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (often called Obamacare). He voted to repeal it in January 2017. In May 2017, he voted to replace Obamacare with the American Health Care Act of 2017.
Science
Issa supports embryonic stem cell research. He has voted to allow this type of research.
He has also supported bills that aim to change the NIH's Public Access Policy. This policy requires open access to research funded by the NIH.
Tax Reform
Issa voted against the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. He was one of only two California Republicans to do so. He was concerned that many of his constituents in California would face higher taxes under the plan.
Technology
Issa opposed the Stop Online Piracy Act. He believed it gave too much power to the Department of Justice.
Personal Life
In the 1970s, Issa married his high school sweetheart, Marcia Enyart. They later divorced. After leaving the military, Issa married Kathy Stanton in 1980. They met when Issa helped her get into her locked apartment. They had one son together. Their divorce was finalized in March 2021.
See also
- List of richest American politicians
- List of Arab and Middle Eastern Americans in the United States Congress
