Darrell Issa (EYE-sa) is a high tech businessman and an electronics industry leader who represents the 48th District of California in the United States House of Representatives.
Congressman Issa serves on three influential committees: the House Committee on International Relations, the House Judiciary Committee, and the House Committee on Small Business. As a member of these committees, Congressman Issa brings real world experience to the task of improving American competitiveness, fostering the development of new technologies, and creating a well-prepared and educated workforce.
Congressman Issa’s legislative priorities include: restoring confidence in the Social Security system, cutting regulatory red tape and taxes, strengthening America’s national defenses, reducing the national debt, and increasing standards and accountability in education.
Prior to his election to Congress, Darrell Issa founded Vista, California based Directed Electronics and built the company into the industry-leader in automobile convenience, audio and security products. He is the immediate past Chairman of the Consumer Electronics Association and a former Governor of the Electronic Industries Alliance. He has also served as a Director of the Business-Industry Political Action Committee, the San Diego Economic Development Association and the Greater San Diego County Chamber of Commerce. In 1994, Issa received Inc. Magazine’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
In 1996, Issa co-chaired the campaign to pass the California Civil Rights Initiative, the history-making measure that ended the granting of racial and gender preferences and quotas in state contracting and college admissions. The grandson of immigrants, Issa has served as President of the American Task Force For Lebanon. He is a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, which recognizes immigrants or their descendants who “through struggle, sacrifice and success, helped build this great nation.”
Issa enlisted in the Army during his senior year of high school, and after attending college on a ROTC scholarship, attained the rank of Captain. In the military, he worked as a bomb disposal technician, tank platoon commander, and a computer R&D specialist. He is a graduate and serves on the Board of Trustees of Siena Heights University in Adrien, Michigan.
Issa, 47, is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, and resides in Vista, California. Darrell and his wife Kathy have one son, William, who is a college student.