At least 16 freshman Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives are scheduled to travel to Israel in August with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s nonprofit educational arm, the American Israel Education Foundation.
Jewish Insider first reported the development on Friday.
The freshman attending are Reps. Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas); Chris Pappas (D-N.H.); Lucy McBath (D-Ga.); Harley Rouda (D-Calif.); Susan Wild (D-Pa.); Haley Stevens (D-Mich.); Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.); Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas); Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.); Donna Shalala (D-Fla.); Steven Horsford (D-Nev.); Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.); Sharice Davids (D-Kan.); Max Rose (D-N.Y.); Ben McAdams (D-Utah); and David Trone (D-Md.).
The trip, to be led by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), allows new members to hear from Israeli and Palestinian officials, in addition to exploring and learning about the Jewish state.
Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) told Jewish Insider he will attend part of the trip.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), the chair of the House Democratic Caucus, will accompany the members.
At least 15 House Democrats told Jewish Insider that they won’t be on the trip, citing different commitments, including spending more time in their district.
Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), who traveled to Israel before announcing his campaign in 2017, will not be going on the trip in accordance with his campaign promise to reject special interests, a spokesperson told Jewish Insider.