House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and 18 other House Democrats and Republicans attended a reception last night in the Rayburn Building hosted by the group United Jewish Communities, which represents 157 federations and 400 smaller communities throughout North America. Hoyer lauded the group for its philanthropic work and emphasized his long-standing relationship with the Jewish community. First elected to Congress in 1981, Hoyer says he has been to Israel every decade since the 1970s and claims he has brought 10 percent of the Congress with him on those visits.

William Daroff, head of the UJC's Washington office named the group's three top public policy issues: long-term health care reform, stopping the budget proposal to reduce the charitable contribution deduction, and promoting sanctions against Iran.

Unlike other lobbyists in town, Daroff isn't bothered by the Obama administration's new restrictions on registered lobbyists. "As someone who employs lobbyists, it's actually a good thing for me," he said. "Their options are more limited, so I don't have to worry as much about losing good people." Daroff also cited the distinction Obama has made between corporate and nonprofit lobbyists, the latter not being the real issue of concern to the administration. Here's the list of lawmakers who attended:

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-MD; Gary Ackerman, D-NY; John Boccieri, D-OH; Eliot Engel, D-NY; Bob Etheridge, D-NC; Virginia Foxx, R-NC; John Hall, D-NY; Rush Holt, D-NJ; Mary Jo Kilroy, D-OH; Ron Klein, D-FL; Robert Latta, R-OH; Nita Lowey, D-NY; Jerry Nadler, D-NY; Tim Ryan, D-OH; Betty Sutton, D-OH; Jan Schakowsky, D-IL; Allyson Schwartz, D-PA; Brad Sherman, D-CA; John Yarmuth, D-KY.

                                                                                                               -- Eliza Krigman