NES 2009 - Speakers -Steve Israel

Congressman Steve Israel represents New York's 2nd Congressional District, which includes the Long Island towns of Huntington, Babylon, Islip, Smithtown and Oyster Bay. Israel serves on the House Appropriations Committee - one of the most powerful committees in Congress; and previously served on the House Armed Services Committee and Financial Services Committee.  He was sworn-in in 2001 and is now serving his 5th term in the House.

He is considered a legislative leader on the issues of:

• Renewable energy and climate change
• Middle class economic growth
• Middle East security, religious freedom and human rights

• Defense and national security

Rep. Israel's leadership positions include:

• House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water
  Israel is a national leader in pushing an aggressive renewable energy and climate change agenda.  He helped lead the successful fight to block the Bush Administration's budget cuts for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; and played an active role in passing $90 billion in new investments and tax breaks for innovative advanced energy technologies in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009.  In 2008, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi included Israel in a leadership group on the Democratic Caucus's energy agenda.
• House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs
  Israel is recognized as a leader in fighting for human rights, religious liberty and modernizing education around the world. He is an outspoken critic of bias-provoking school curricula in the Middle East. He is also a recognized leader in focusing Congress' attention on the genocide in Darfur.  Finally, Israel actively promotes clean energy technologies in the developing world.
• House Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs
  Israel is the only New York Member of Congress on this Subcommittee.  He has secured nearly $3 million in retroactive benefits for the veterans he represents.
• House Select Intelligence Oversight Panel
  Recognizing Israel's leadership in national security and homeland security issues, Speaker Pelosi appointed Israel to this select committee, which is charged with developing all U.S. intelligence budgets and overseeing reforms. 

In addition, Israel serves as:

• Assistant Democratic Whip
• Co-chair and founder, House Sustainable Energy and Environment Caucus
• Co-chair, House Cancer Caucus
• Co-chair, Long Island Sound Caucus
• Chairman and founder of the Democratic Middle Class Working Group
• Co-chair and founder, House Center Aisle Caucus

Israel lives in Dix Hills with his wife, Suffolk County Family Court Judge Marlene Budd. He has two daughters in college and two miniature schnauzers named Max and Gracie.