Today, after House Democrats elected Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08) to serve as Democratic Leader in the 118th Congress, Democratic Majority for Israel president and CEO Mark Mellman released the following statement:
“It’s an historic day. We’re thrilled to congratulate the next Democratic Leader — Representative Hakeem Jeffries — on becoming the top elected Democrat in the House of Representatives.
“As a member of Congress and Chairman of the Democratic Caucus, Leader Jeffries has always been a strong and effective fighter for the Democratic agenda and a staunch supporter of the critical relationship between the United States and Israel. As the next House Democratic Leader, and the first Black person to lead either party in either chamber of Congress, he’ll continue to be a consensus builder and lead Democrats in addressing the most pressing issues facing our country.
“A frequent traveler to Israel, Leader Jeffries has often remarked that Israel ‘lives in a tough neighborhood.’ He has worked tirelessly to make sure that, in this tough neighborhood, Israel has the tools to defend itself, by itself. On a personal note, Leader Jeffries is a longtime friend of Democratic Majority for Israel. He has been a featured guest of our DMFI Live series and has been endorsed by our separate sister organization, DMFI PAC, for the past two election cycles.
“When DMFI first launched in 2019, Leader Jeffries wrote: ‘I look forward to working with … Democratic Majority for Israel as it advances the unbreakable U.S.-Israel bond into the future.’
“Today, we return that sentiment as we congratulate Leader Jeffries on his election.”
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