Members Of US Congress Do Not Need Now To Visit Israel. Nor Do Those Seeking 2024 Republican Party Presidential Nomination. Why Go? Campaign Contributions, Media Coverage. US Taxpayers Pay For CODELS
Members of the United States Congress have lost no time participating in Congressional Delegations (CODELS) to the State of Israel… as will soon individuals seeking the 2024 Republican Party nomination for president. There is money to be had from these visits. There is media coverage to be had from these visits. And… U.S. taxpayers will borrow the money to pay for these CODELS.
Individuals who identify as Jewish comprise approximately 2% of the United States population (335.7 million). Followers of Islam comprise approximately 1% of the United States population.
Thirty-three members (6.2%) of the 535-member 118th United States Congress (3 January 2023-3 January 2025) identify as Jewish. Three members identify as Muslim, representing .6% of the 118th United States Congress.
There are ten members of the 100-member United States Senate who identify as Jewish, nine of the Democratic Party and one Independent.
There are twenty-eight members of the 435-member United States House of Representatives who identify as Jewish, twenty-six of the Democratic Party and two of the Republican Party. There are three members of the United States House of Representatives who identify as Muslim.
Individuals seeking the 2024 presidential nomination of the Republican Party, Chris Christie, governor of the State of New Jersey (2010-2018), and Mike Pence, Vice President of the United States (2017-2021), have each visited Ukraine since 24 February 2022- Mr. Pence twice.
The first CODEL visited the State of Israel on 11 October 2023. Jodi Ernst (R-Iowa), a member of the United States Senate, and members of the United States House of Representatives: Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Florida), who is of Jewish descent, Jimmy Panetta (D-California), and Donald Norcross (D- New Jersey).
The second CODEL (all from the United States Senate) is scheduled to arrive in the State of Israel on 14 October 2023: Charles Schumer (D- New York), the majority leader, who is of Jewish descent; Bill Cassidy (R- Louisiana), Mitt Romney (R- Utah), Jacky Rosen (D- Nevada), who is of Jewish descent, and Mark Kelly (D- Arizona).
There are three members of the Biden-Harris Administration (2021- ) cabinet who identify as of the Jewish faith: Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Attorney General, Secretary of Homeland Security, and Director of National Intelligence. The husband of Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States (2021- ), identifies as of the Jewish faith and is the official global outreach designee to the Jewish community for the Biden-Harris Administration.
Announced Candidates of the Republican Party (with most recently-held offices)
Doug Burgham, Governor of the State of North Dakota (2016- ), Founder- Kilbourne Group (2013-2016)
Chris Christie, Governor of the State of New Jersey (2010-2018), United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey (2010-2018)
Ron DeSantis, Governor of the State of Florida (2019- ), United States House of Representatives (2013-2018)
Nikki Haley, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations (2017-2018), Governor of the State of South Carolina (2011-2017)
Asa Hutchinson, Governor of the State of Arkansas (2015-2023), Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Border and Transportation Security (2003-2005)
Perry Johnson, Founder- Perry Johnson Registrars Inc., 2021 candidate for nomination of the Republican Party for governor of Michigan
Mike Pence, Vice President of the United States (2017-2021), Governor of the State of Indiana (2013-2017)
Vivek Ramaswamy, Executive Chairman, Strive Asset Management (2022- ), Chief Executive Officer, Roivant Sciences (2014-2021)
Tim Scott, United States Senator from State of South Carolina (2013- ), United States House of Representatives (2011-2013)
Donald Trump, 45th President of the United States (2017-2021), Owner- The Trump Organization (1999- )
