Steve Israel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Steve Israel
Official portrait, 2009
Chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee
In office January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2017
Leader	Nancy Pelosi
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Cheri Bustos David Cicilline Hakeem Jeffries (Co-Chairs)
Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2015
Leader	Nancy Pelosi
Preceded by	Chris Van Hollen
Succeeded by	Ben Ray Luján
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York
In office January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2017
Preceded by	Rick Lazio
Succeeded by	Tom Suozzi
Constituency	2nd district (2001–2013) 3rd district (2013–2017)
Personal details
Born	(1958-05-30) May 30, 1958 (age 67) New York City, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouses	Marlene Budd ​ ​ (m. 2003; div. 2014)​ Cara Longworth ​ (m. 2018)​
Children	2
Education	George Washington University (BA)

Steven Jay Israel (born May 30, 1958) is an American author, bookstore owner, and former politician. For 16 years, from 2001 to 2017, he was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing parts of New York.

As a member of the Democratic Party, Israel represented communities on Long Island and a small part of Queens in New York City. During his time in Congress, he held important leadership roles.

After retiring from politics, Israel became a political commentator for CNN. He also works at Cornell University as the director of the Institute of Politics and Global Affairs. He is also an advisor for a lobbying firm.

Early Life and Education

Steve Israel was born in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in Levittown, New York, a community on Long Island. After high school, he attended Nassau Community College and Syracuse University. He later graduated from George Washington University in 1982 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

After college, Israel began working in politics as a staff member for a U.S. Representative. In 1993, he was elected to the town council in Huntington, New York, where he served before running for Congress.

A Career in the U.S. House of Representatives

The U.S. House of Representatives is one of the two parts of the U.S. Congress, where laws for the country are made. Members of the House are elected by people in their local areas, called congressional districts.

Elections

In 2000, Israel ran for a seat in the House of Representatives and won. The people in his district reelected him seven more times, meaning he served a total of eight terms. On January 5, 2016, Israel announced he would not run for reelection and would retire from Congress the next year.

Work in Congress

During his time in Washington, D.C., Israel was a member of several important groups called committees and caucuses.

• Committee Assignments: Israel served on the powerful Committee on Appropriations. This committee decides how the U.S. government spends its money. He was part of smaller groups (subcommittees) that focused on funding for energy, foreign aid, and military and veterans' programs.

• Leadership Roles: Israel was chosen for leadership positions within the Democratic Party. From 2011 to 2015, he was the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). His job was to help other Democrats get elected to Congress. He was also a co-chair of groups like the House Cancer Caucus and the Long Island Sound Caucus.

In 2002, during his second term, Israel was named an Assistant Whip. A whip's job is to make sure party members are present to vote on important bills.

What He Believes: Policy Positions

As a congressman, Steve Israel voted on many laws and shared his views on important issues. Here are some of his positions.

Economics

In 2013, Israel introduced a law that would require all U.S. national parks to sell items that are Made in the USA. This was meant to support American businesses and workers.

Gun Control

Israel supported stronger gun control laws. He voted against bills that would have loosened rules on gun sales and safety. He also helped write the "No Fly, No Buy" Act in 2009. This proposed law aimed to prevent people on the government's "No Fly List" from being able to buy guns.

Because of his views, groups that support gun rights, like the NRA Political Victory Fund, gave him low ratings. Groups that support more gun control, like the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, gave him high ratings.

Health Care

In 2010, Israel voted in favor of the Affordable Care Act, a major law that changed the health care system in the United States. He later voted against several attempts to cancel the law.

LGBT Rights

Israel is a supporter of same-sex marriage. In 2009, he said he hoped his home state of New York would legalize it, which it did in 2011. He also voted to end the Don't ask, don't tell policy, which allowed gay and lesbian people to serve openly in the military. He has received a 100% rating from the Human Rights Campaign, a major LGBTQ rights organization.

Social Media

In October 2022, Israel joined the Council for Responsible Social Media. This group, led by former political leaders, works to find solutions to the negative effects of social media on people and society.

Life After Politics

After leaving Congress in 2017, Steve Israel has stayed busy. He has two adult daughters. He has also become a published author, writing two political satire novels: The Global War on Morris (2014) and Big Guns (2018).

In November 2021, Israel opened a bookstore in Oyster Bay, New York. He named the store after former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, who was also a resident of the town.

Electoral History

This table shows the results of the elections Steve Israel won to become a U.S. Representative. New York election law allows candidates to run under more than one political party's name.

See also

• List of Jewish members of the United States Congress