One out of seven representatives spent part of the August recess traveling to Israel, thanks to a private sponsor that dropped more than $1.45 million on the trip.
The American Israel Education Foundation, a sister organization to the powerful American Israel Public Affairs Committee lobbying group, sponsored the week-long bipartisan trip to Tel Aviv for 27 Republicans, including Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.), and 40 Democrats, including Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (Md.), plus three of Hoyer's aides. The group met with government and opposition leaders, attended sessions on terrorism and border security and visited historic sites.
AIEF is consistently among the top congressional trip sponsors. It and other interest groups spend such large sums on international travel in the hopes of making and influencing congressional allies. The group has spent another $500,000 on travel to Israel for about 40 staffers so far this year.
So far, 66 members and three staffers have disclosed August travel with the group. However, trip-goers have 15 days to file upon their return, and late filings are not uncommon.
