Congressman Schiff's Blog

How Will Health Care Reform Impact Your Family?

Adam Schiff — 11/09/2009 10:29

Wondering how will the health care reform bill that passed the House on Saturday would impact you and your health insurance? This simple interactive graphic will help you figure it out. Please contact my office if you have additional questions about the bill or want to make your feelings known.

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Upcoming Telephone Townhall

Adam Schiff — 10/20/2009 13:30

Next week, I'll be hosting another in my series of Telephone Townhalls. As many of you know, these calls are a great way to ask questions about my work in Washington and the issues we're dealing with in Congress. The call is scheduled for 6:40 PM PT on Wednesday, October 28th. To participate, call 877-229-8493 and enter the PIN 13157 when prompted. As always, I'll be taking questions over the course of an hour. I hope you can participate.

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MATCH Act editorial in the Pasadena Star-News

Adam Schiff — 09/22/2009 11:50

The Pasadena Star-News published an excellent editorial making the case for the Managing Arson Through Criminal History (MATCH) Act. The MATCH Act is legislation I introduced to create a national registry of arsonists to help investigators track down criminals. As the Star-News says, part of the impetus for this legislation was an experience I had as a federal prosecutor. There was an offender commiting serial arson in national forests, and it was only once we caught him that we realized that he had a past conviction for the same behavior. With the MATCH Act, there would have been a database, available only to law enforcement, and I believe we would have caught him more quickly and before he caused as much damage as he did.

The Station Fire demonstrated the tremendous damage that arson can do. The MATCH Act will be a valuable tool to help fire investigators prevent serial arson.

You can read the PSN's editorial here: http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/editorial/ci_13381668

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Station Fire Resources

Adam Schiff — 09/01/2009 13:50

I wanted to pass along some resources to keep in mind as we all watch the Station Fire in the Angeles forest and the surrounding area. If you're confused about what to do or want the latest updates on fire status, take a look at these contacts, or call my Pasadena office at 626-304-2727.

For updated evacuation and road closure information, check www.fire.lacounty.gov or call 323-881-2411:
For U.S. Forest Service resorces visit www.fs.fed.us/fire/index.html or call 626-821-6700.
For information on evacuation centers, call the Hotline at 626-574-5200
For information on relief, visit the American Red Cross at http://redcrossla.org/?s=la canada, ca or call 888-737-4306.
For the latest fire maps and conditions visit www.inciweb.org/incident/1856/
Finally, the L.A.County Office of Emergency Mgmt. Press Releases page is frequently updated with information about evacuated areas, shelters, fire status. Visit it at www.lasdblog.org/Pressrelease/Public

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Statement on the Passing of Senator Kennedy

Adam Schiff — 08/26/2009 13:59

With the passing of Senator Ted Kennedy early today, I want to share a short statement I released. I will be taking time today to mourn the passing of this American icon and to appreciate his years of service to our nation. I hope you'll join me.

"All of our thoughts are with the Kennedy family, and the nation joins them in grief and in prayer. Senator Kennedy, the youngest and last surviving brother of a family that inspired millions of Americans to service, was one of the most influential and effective Senators to ever hold a seat in the United States Senate.

"It would be difficult -- impossible, really -- to find any American whose life was untouched by the body of his work and the breadth of the legislation he helped pass. Most notably, Senator Kennedy's work to protect the most vulnerable and the underserved has helped countless Americans prosper and enjoy a better life.

“At a time of enormous challenges and bitter division, Senator Kennedy’s leadership will be severely missed. We have lost a great champion in the effort to reform our health care system, which he called ‘the cause of [his] life.’”

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Health Care Panel Update and Video

Adam Schiff — 07/31/2009 15:45

Just a reminder about my upcoming health care forum in Alhambra. Here's some additional information:

Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Time: 7:00 – 8:30 PM

Location: Alhambra Civic Center Library Community Room,

101 S. First St., Alhambra, CA 91801

Moderator

Dr. Bruce Hensel, Medical, Health, and Science Editor/Reporter for NBC4

Panelists

Dr. Benjamin Chu, President, Southern California Region, Kaiser

Dr. Richard Brown, Director, UCLA Center for Health Policy Research

Jerry Flanagan, Health Care Advocate, Consumer Watchdog

Leeba Lessin, President, CareMore Health Plan

I recently gave a short speech on the House floor in support of a robust public option. Take a minute to watch and let me know what you think.

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My Op-Ed on Health Care Reform

Adam Schiff — 07/27/2009 17:57

The Glendale News-Press published my op-ed on health care reform today. Make sure you read it below.

You'll have an opportunity to let me know what you think in person soon, as I'll be hosting a "Health Care Townhall" on Tuesday, August 11th. The event will be from 7 PM to 8:30 PM PST at the Alhambra Civic Center Library Community Room on 101 S. First Street, Alhambra. It will be moderated by Dr. Bruce Hensel, the medical, health, and science reporter/editor for NBC4. Hope you can join me then.

Congressman Adam Schiff

July 27, 2009

If you’re like many Americans, you have a health-care plan that provides quality medical care, but costs you a small fortune. Every year, your premiums increase far faster than your wages — three times faster in fact — and your health-care costs continue to take a bigger bite out of your paycheck. And at some point in your life, one of your family members has had a serious injury or illness that put a major strain on the family finances but didn’t force you into bankruptcy.

That’s if you’re lucky. Many millions of Americans have no health-care insurance and receive their care at the emergency room. Millions more must make the difficult choice of whether to pay their medical bills or pay their mortgage because they cannot afford to do both. And then there are those whose medical bills became so severe, they are forced into bankruptcy or foreclosure — two thirds of all bankruptcies and half of all foreclosures are a result of a health-care crisis in the family.

Last year, during one of my telephone town halls, a constituent introduced herself as one of my neighbors in Burbank and described an all-too-common situation. One of her children, who had attended school with my daughter, had become ill the year before. Because of a program called “Healthy Families,” her daughter received quality medical care and made a full recovery.

But now the caller herself was sick, and because she and her husband were self-employed and unable to afford insurance, she was at her wit’s end as to where to go for her own medical treatment. She expressed concern about going to the county hospital’s emergency room for her care, and asked: “Is there any hope for people like me?”

At the time, there wasn’t much hope to offer those who were self-employed and couldn’t afford health insurance, or those who were small or mid-size employers and couldn’t afford to provide coverage for their employees any longer. There also wasn’t much hope that if you had a pre-existing condition and lost your health insurance, you could ever find a new policy.

But now, the president and Congress are working in earnest on a major reform of our health-care system designed to bring down the costs of medical care, to provide stable coverage that cannot be taken away and won’t be lost when you change jobs, and to give Americans the choice of staying in their current plan, buying new private insurance at reduced costs through an exchange, or seeking coverage through a public option.

As a nation we spend almost twice as much per person on health care as any other country, or about 16f our gross domestic product. And for all the money we are spending, our health-care system does not produce the best outcomes. The United States ranks 37th in terms of health system performance, and we are far behind many other countries when it comes to infant mortality, life expectancy and preventable deaths. This is notwithstanding the fact that we have many of the best trained doctors and nurses, the finest facilities and most advanced specialty care in the world.

Our current level of spending is unsustainable and will eventually bankrupt the country if it’s not fixed. I have been working hard to push for reforms in the health-care package that will bring down health-care costs by tying payments to outcomes, rather than the quantity of tests being run; by ending the government’s overpayment for prescription drugs; by empowering an independent commission to put health-care cost reductions before the Congress for an up-or-down vote; by introducing competition with the private plans through a public option; and by investing in prevention and primary care.

A successful reform package should provide the kind of stability where you will always have coverage, even if your job doesn’t provide it, where it is easy and affordable to shop for health insurance through an exchange, where you can’t be denied health coverage for a pre-existing condition or charged more because of your gender.

A successful reform should also ensure that the costs of health care don’t threaten your family’s finances, that your doctor is paid for making you well and not ordering unnecessary tests, and that your health-care premiums are spent on actual care, not paying for piles of paperwork and red tape.

I believe these objectives can and must be met, and I am pushing for the inclusion of additional reforms to bring down the costs of health care in the reform package. After all, affordable, quality health insurance is the key to a productive work force, small business innovation, and the economic as well as health security of our families and nation.

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Telephone Townhall Tonight

Adam Schiff — 07/22/2009 11:39

Tonight, I'm hosting two telephone townhalls. As those that have participated in the past know, these calls are a great tool to reach out to my constituents while I'm in Washington, D.C. We'll be discussing health care reform and the economy, as well as anything else that's on your mind.

There will be two calls, one at 6:30 PM PST and one at 7:40 PM PST. To participate, call toll free (877) 229-8493, and enter the PIN 13157.

I hope to hear from you tonight.

8 Comments

USA-Russia Reach Preliminary Agreement on Nuclear Arms

Adam Schiff — 07/06/2009 16:53

As you may have heard, President Obama met today with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, and announced a preliminary agreement to reduce each country's stockpile of strategic nuclear weapons by up to one-third. This is an important breakthrough. I thought you might be interested in the statement I issued:

It's welcome news that President Obama and his Russian counterpart have reached a new 'framework agreement' that commits Washington and Moscow to beginning negotiations on a successor to the START treaty that will reduce both countries' nuclear arsenals.

This agreement, and others that have marked the first day of the President's trip to Russia, exemplifies the renewed focus in both nations on the dangers of their enormous nuclear arsenals.

Moreover, the President's move to 'reset' the Russo-American relationship will help our efforts to fight the Taliban and al Qaeda in Afghanistan by allowing American troops and supplies to transit Russian airspace. We will need Russian assistance in confronting Iran and North Korea's nuclear programs and Tehran's support of terrorism in Iraq, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Hamas in Gaza. Forging a new relationship with Russia will be critical to these efforts.

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The Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act Passes the House

Adam Schiff — 06/15/2009 10:42

On June 10th, I spoke on the House floor in support of a bill to reauthorize and reform the State Department. The text of the bill includes legislation I introduced earlier this year called the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act. The Daniel Pearl Act is named in honor of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl who was kidnapped and murdered by terrorists in Pakistan in 2002. It would establish an annual State Department report on press freedom worldwide and create a grant program aimed at strengthening independent media around the world. We take a free press for granted, but around the world independent media provide one of the strongest checks on abuses of power and corruption. Take a minute to watch the speech, and click here to learn more about the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act.

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Setting the Record Straight on Guantanamo

Adam Schiff — 05/13/2009 15:57

Oliver North criticized me on Fox News last week for saying we need due process for detainees at Guantanamo. If you watch my remarks, I make the case that how we treat detainees sends a powerful message to the rest of the world about whether we are willing to abide by the same rule of law that we urge on other nations. I also emphasize that there will be no easy answers to unraveling the legal mess at Guantanamo, a quagmire inherited from the last administration. Take a look and let me know your thoughts.

Also posted on Facebook.

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Separate Fact from Fiction with Credible Information on the H1N1 Virus (UPDATED 5/18)

Adam Schiff — 04/29/2009 16:24

Many are concerned about the confirmed outbreak of the H1N1 virus, also know as swine flu, in the U.S. and Mexico. Everyone should take this outbreak seriously and prepare in case the virus spread. However, there is no need for panic.

Along with the Obama Administration, Congress is working with public health and security authorities to make sure we are taking every step necessary to protect the health and safety of the American people. The Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency as a precautionary measure to ensure that needed resources are available.

Our country’s ability to deal with this public health emergency depends in part on Americans being smart about flu prevention. There is quite a bit of misinformation about the virus from how the virus is spread to the way it is treated. Federal, state, and local health agencies are the best places to access credible information. Below is a list links that can help you learn more about this virus and about the precautions you and your family should be taking.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security

LA County Dept of Public Health

California Department of Public Health

Update:

The Pasadena Public Health Department just released updated information about a probable case of swine flu in Pasadena. Information below:

CITY OF PASADENA PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE

NEWS FOR RELEASE: May 15, 2009

First Probable Case of Swine Flu Identified in Pasadena

The Pasadena Public Health Department is urging local residents to take common-sense steps to protect themselves from Influenza Type A H1N1 (swine flu) following identification of the first probable case of the illness in Pasadena.

An adult in the 40-to-50 age range had mild symptoms and was seen by a physician. Prescription medication was not necessary and the patient has recovered fully.

When a case is identified as probable in a local laboratory, a swab sample is sent to the California Public Health Department laboratory for final confirmation, which can take seven to 14 days. More than 95 percent of probable cases are confirmed as swine flu.

Although most incidents of swine flu identified in the U.S. to date have been mild, as is this case in Pasadena, public health officials advise residents to continue to be mindful of the presence of the H1N1 virus.

Pasadena Public Health Department investigated this case. The resident is no longer contagious. People who came in close contact with the resident have shown no symptoms.

“It is critically important for everyone to protect themselves and their families by practicing good hand and respiratory hygiene,” said Dr. Takashi Wada, director and health officer for the Pasadena Public Health Department. “This includes frequent hand washing, regular use of hand sanitizers, and covering coughs and sneezes with tissues. In addition, you should stay home when you are sick.”

Symptoms of the H1N1 virus in humans are similar to symptoms of regular flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have also reported diarrhea and vomiting.

Flu is generally spread by direct contact with germs from an infected person, from uncovered coughs or sneezes or by touching something the infected person has handled. People experiencing flu-like symptoms and concerned that it may be the H1N1 virus should call their health care providers for advice on whether to stay home or seek professional care.

Pasadena Public Health Department advises residents to monitor news reports for updates. More information about swine flu can be found at www.cityofpasadena.net/publichealth, www.cdc.gov and www.who.int or by calling (626) 744-6012.

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Joining Facebook!

Adam Schiff — 03/30/2009 11:02

Well, it's official - I'm on Facebook! I've started a page here. You can expect frequent updates with video, pictures, and notes from the Capitol, from the District, and wherever else I happen to be. I hope you'll join my page by clicking here. And when you do join, remember you can "Share" the page and post it to your profile or invite your friends in the 29th District to join. Thanks, and I look forward to using this great new tool to communicate with my constitutents more effectively.

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The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Adam Schiff — 01/29/2009 11:10

Last night, the House voted on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a bill to stimulate the economy and create jobs. The bill passed on a vote of 244-188, and is now going to be considered by the Senate. During debate, I gave a short statement on the Floor of the House in support of stimulus. You can watch the video clip above, or click here to read the text of my statement. I hope you'll weigh in using the comments section with your thoughts.

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The American Dream

Adam Schiff — 01/22/2009 09:11

When the wonderful blur of the last few days recedes, and I begin to see more clearly what we witnessed this remarkable week in our country's history, two images will likely emerge as the most vivid. The first was during the opening ceremony on the mall, when hundreds of thousands turned out on a crisp and overcast day to enjoy a concert at the Lincoln Memorial. After the musicians and actors played their parts, Barack Obama took the microphone. Behind him, literally watching over his shoulder, was the great emancipator himself. It was a moment that President Lincoln would have struggled to imagine, but his memorial was a fitting venue for this amazing milestone. And in front of the President-elect was a crowd that stretched all the way to the Capitol. The atmosphere was electric.

The second scene that stands out in my mind was when the President-elect stood facing the sun, hand raised, and took the oath of office. Reminding us of a winter when the American revolution faced its darkest hour, he urged us on: "With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end ...and carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."

This fall, I spent a weekend in central Virginia in one of the counties that was consolidated in the case of Brown v. Board of Education. When the Supreme Court decided that case and ordered the schools integrated, the county decided it would rather have no schools at all rather than integrate them, and shut down the school system for five years. People I met there had been barred from the school house for five years when they were children. And now these same residents were volunteering, later voting, and then witnessing the ascension of the nation's first African American to be president. I cannot help but be struck by the amazing changes these Virginians have seen in the space of one lifetime.

After the swearing in, I attended a dinner with former President Clinton and he made an important point -- this moment in history was significant for many reasons, including, of course, the breaking of the race barrier to the white house. But he also pointed to this as one of those thirty or forty year periods, when the country decides it is time to make a new start. He viewed this as the great rejuvenating capability of our nation and I think he is exactly right. It is part of our genius that we can remake ourselves to face a new and unprecedented challenge. And it is what our new President must have meant when he said: "We must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and begin again the work of remaking America."

I look forward to working with our new President on the remaking of this great country. And I love the fact that around the world people are taking off their hats and forced to say -- "You have to hand it to the Americans. That the son of an immigrant, not born to power or wealth, can attain the highest office in the land, is proof that the American dream lives on."

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Update on Inaugural Tickets Lottery

Adam Schiff — 12/12/2008 14:32

I wanted to take this opportunity to provide an update on Inauguration tickets. I have received over 3,000 requests for tickets, and have been allotted only a small fraction of that number. I have already had a lottery to identify many of the recipients and they have been notified. If you have not heard from us your name was not picked in the lottery and as of now I will not be able to provide you tickets. There is a small chance that I will receive some additional tickets in the coming weeks. If so I will hold another lottery and notify you if we are able to accommodate your request. Your name will remain on our list of individuals requesting tickets.

Even if you do not receive tickets to the Inauguration, however, you can still be a part of this historic Inauguration. Many thousands, perhaps millions, of people (indeed most people who will come to witness the event) will not be those with formal tickets, but those who line the Mall which stretches from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial. We expect that there will be large screens and loudspeakers broadcasting the event so that people can see, hear and be a part of the ceremony whether they have a ticket or not. Since most of the tickets are for a place to stand – and are not actually seats – whether you are standing in a ticketed section, or standing on the Mall in a non-ticketed section, may only be a function of how far from the President-elect you will be, even though it could be quite some distance.

So I want to continue to encourage you to come witness this seminal moment in our nation’s history. I will be hosting a reception for constituents and other guests on Monday January 19th from 1:00 – 3:00 pm in my Washington, D.C. office (2447 Rayburn House Office Building) and I hope you will come by and join me. It will be a nice opportunity to welcome you to D.C. and do a little pre-inauguration celebrating! If you plan to attend the reception, please RSVP to 202-225-4176 by January 12th to let us know how many people to expect in your party.

If you decide to attend the Inauguration without tickets, please be aware that the ceremony is outside and the weather will be cold and possibly wet and you will likely be standing for several hours before and during the ceremony (just as those who have tickets). Additionally, car traffic near the Capitol will be extremely limited on Inauguration day. The best way to get around Washington and to the Inauguration on January 20th will be the D.C. subway system. The D.C. Metro system will open at 4:00 am on Inauguration day. There may be waits up to several hours long on Inauguration day for a train, so please plan accordingly. I encourage you to check out this link, which should be able to answer most questions you have about Metro service on Inauguration day.

One final item, if it is too costly for you to come to Washington, or you do not wish to brave the weather, crowds, or risk a distant place on the Mall, I will also be hosting a reception in our district so you can join fellow residents and watch history being made, albeit over a big screen television. The district reception will be held on Tuesday, January 20 at the Jackie Robinson Center at 1020 N. Fair Oaks Avenue in Pasadena, CA 91103. Doors will open at 7:30 am and a continental breakfast will be served. Please RSVP to 626-304-2727.

I regret that I was unable to provide tickets for all interested constituents. If you have any questions, please call my District Office at 626-304-2727.

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Inaugural Information Update

Adam Schiff — 12/09/2008 17:15

On Tuesday, January 20, 2009, Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. In conjunction with this historic event, I will host two functions for constituents witnessing the inauguration of President-elect Obama. The first will be held in my Washington, D.C. office with any constituents in town to witness the inauguration. The second gathering will be held by my district staff in Pasadena where all constituents are welcomed to join in a live viewing of the inauguration telecast. Both events will allow me to provide information on the priorities of the incoming Administration and the 111th Congress.

Washington, D.C. Meeting:

Monday January 19, 2009

1:00-3:00 p.m.

Rep. Schiff’s Washington, D.C. Office

2447 Rayburn House Office Building

Please RSVP by January 12th to (202) 225-4176.

Pasadena Inauguration Meeting:

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

7:30 a.m.

Jackie Robinson Center

1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave.

Pasadena, CA 91103

Please RSVP to (626) 304-2727.

1 Comments

Inauguration Update

Adam Schiff — 11/13/2008 13:05

I share your excitement about this historic time in our nation, and your enthusiasm for the promise offered by President-elect Obama.
The Joint Congressional Committee on the Inauguration Ceremony (“JCCIC”) has announced that the theme of the Inauguration will be the 200th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln's birthday -- what a perfect choice!

As you have probably heard by now, the demand for tickets to the Inauguration ceremony is unprecedented, and this will probably be the best attended inauguration in the nation’s history. In the first week after the election alone, I have received over 1500 requests and hundreds more come in each day. Unfortunately, I will be given very few tickets by the committee to satisfy the overwhelming demand – only a fraction of the number that have already been requested, not to mention the thousands of additional requests I expect to receive in the weeks ahead. I will do everything to accommodate as many requests as possible, but I did want to let you know the odds are not very encouraging on any individual request.

The good news, however, is that with or without a ticket, it is still more than possible to come to Washington and witness the historic Inauguration. Many thousands of people (indeed most people who witness the event) will not be those with formal tickets, but those who line the Mall which stretches from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial. We expect that there will be large screens and loudspeakers broadcasting the event so that people can see, hear and be a part of the ceremony whether they have a ticket or not. Since most of the tickets are for a place to stand – and are not actually seats – whether you are standing in a ticketed section, or standing on the Mall in a non-ticketed section, may only be a function of how far from the President-elect you will be, even though it could be quite some distance.

I say this because I want to encourage you – whether I can get a ticket for you or not – to come and be part of this seminal event in the nation’s history. I also want you to know that since it will be some time before I can tell you whether I will have a ticket for you, and hotel rooms and airline flights are already being booked, it is important to make plans now for your travel to Washington, D.C. for the Inauguration if you want to come. I will also be hosting a reception for my constituents who come to witness the event, and again, whether you have a ticket or not, you will be most welcome.

One other cautionary note, if you are lucky enough to get Inauguration ceremony tickets, or if you decide to come with or without tickets and stand somewhere on the Mall, you should know that it will be a physically challenging experience. The Inauguration will be outside, and the weather in Washington, D.C. in January will certainly be cold, and quite possibly wet. The JCCIC estimates it will take each person 2-3 hours to clear security prior to the approximately one-hour ceremony. You should expect to be standing this entire time, including during the ceremony. And if more than a million people come as some have estimated, you would need to be on the Mall even earlier or you could be very far from the President-elect during the ceremony.

There will also be numerous public events during the week-long Inauguration celebration. The Presidential Inauguration Committee (“PIC”) is solely responsible for all balls, galas, receptions, parties and the official Inaugural Day parade. Ticket requests for these events should be directed to the PIC, once it is formed in the coming weeks. While the details for many of the above-mentioned festivities have not been finalized yet, you may visit http://inaugural.senate.gov to obtain the most current information. Please be sure to use this official site so that you are not misled by opportunists or scam artists.

One final item, if it is too costly for you to come to Washington, or you do not wish to brave the weather, crowds, or risk a distant place on the Mall, I will also be hosting a reception in our district so you can join fellow residents and watch history being made, albeit over a big screen television. So if you stay home rather than travel to Washington, I hope you will join our local celebration. I will send you more information about both the Washington and Pasadena receptions as the details are completed, and will keep in touch as we receive more information about Inauguration activities, and, of course, to let you know if you are one of the lucky ones to get one of these coveted tickets!

Please feel free to contact my office at (626) 304-2727 if we may provide assistance to you, and thanks again for your interest in attending the Inauguration.

6 Comments

Tickets to the Inauguration

Adam Schiff — 11/07/2008 16:17

Already, we've received an unprecedented outpouring of requests for tickets to the inauguration of President-Elect Barack Obama. As a Member of Congress, I receive an allotment of tickets, though it will clearly not be adequate to the demand. Unfortunately, my office will receive MANY more requests for tickets than we will be able to fill. While my staff will do everything possible, you should plan accordingly and not assume that you will be able to obtain tickets to the inaugural ceremony.

If you would like tickets to the inauguration, please send me an email, including your name, address, email, and the number of tickets you are requesting. As always, please use the email contact form, which you can reach here.

UPDATE: Please make sure you use the email link above to contact me, rather than respond in the comments to this post. We cannot guarantee that requests made through the comments on this blog will be processed. Thanks for your understanding as we deal with the tremendous interest.

UPDATE (11/10): You can find further information on the inaugural ceremonies here: http://inaugural.senate.gov

0 Comments

A Response to Your Comments on the Financial Crisis

Adam Schiff — 10/06/2008 12:21

I want to thank all of you who have posted a comment on my blog over the last couple weeks. I read your comments carefully, and appreciate hearing your thoughts, even when we disagree. I know some of you were passionately against the plan to purchase these mortgage-backed securities, and others thought it was a necessary if distasteful step. Some in our district didn't like much of the bailout bill, but many also felt that something needed to be done and soon. Your comments, and the thousands of calls and letters I received, helped me stay on top of how you were impacted by the credit crisis, and how you wanted it addressed.

I would like to respond to few recurrent themes among those of you that commented in opposition to the Senate bill. First, many of you felt that, since the bill was still flawed why not hold out for another week and get a better bill? This is a perfectly fair question, and indeed the reason I voted against the House measure when it first came up, was because I believed with time I could persuade more of my colleagues to make the changes to the bill which I thought were so important. And as I pointed out in my blog on Friday, I did get a couple important reforms (one in the bill and one accomplished by the SEC).

As the debate progressed, it became clear that the larger changes I wanted, namely a bottom-up approach focusing on homeowners and the local economy, was not a goal that was achievable in the short term. Those of us who wanted a different approach were distinctly in the minority, and there was no-chance of changing enough minds in the coming weeks to make our vision a legislative reality. With banks collapsing from the credit crisis around the world and job losses mounting at home, I did not believe we could delay further without a reasonable prospect of success. It then became an issue of acting on an imperfect plan, or not acting at all. I chose government action over paralysis.

Secondly, to address one other point which comes up repeatedly in the comments, I want to clarify what the Treasury Department has authority to do with the $700 billion. Treasury will be buying distressed assets from banks, primarily mortgage based securities, to remove them from their balance sheet, and hopefully shore up confidence in the overall financial system. These securities have become increasingly toxic and there is no market for them at present, partly because of the housing decline and the increase in foreclosures, but also because of general uncertainty and panic in the system.

Treasury is not giving banks money – they will be buying assets to inject the banks with capital and increase liquidity. It is the expectation of many economists, even many who oppose the plan, that if Treasury holds these assets to maturity, or sells them when the crisis has passed, the taxpayers may break even on the deal. Some even believe that we could walk away with a profit. I am not so optimistic, and I am committed that if we lose money on the deal, I will be pushing to ensure that we impose a fee on the institutions we help until we return every penny to taxpayers.

Finally, there seems to be a general sense that this bill does nothing for homeowners. I would agree it does not do enough for homeowners, and this was a source of great frustration for many of us. However, by purchasing these Mortgage Backed Securities, the Treasury Department will be in the position to legally renegotiate many of these mortgages to keep people in their homes and paying their mortgages. For some homeowners who simply bought at the wrong time and find themselves underwater in their mortgage in a recession, I expect Treasury to make every effort to come up with terms which are fair for both parties. Making sure Treasury does so will require sustained pressure from Congress, and rest assured that I will be monitoring and prodding Treasury on this issue in the coming months.

Now, I know that some of you still believe that doing nothing would have been preferable to the Senate bill, and although I can understand that view, I concluded otherwise. On that point, we will have to agree to disagree. But I did want you to know how I arrived at my conclusion. And again, please keep your comments coming – they really do help me stay informed.

17 Comments

A Note on Comments

Adam Schiff — 10/06/2008 10:08

First of all, thanks to those of you who have been reading and commenting on my blog over the past few weeks. We've had an unprecedented number of comments, and most have been remarkably thoughtful and insightful - I want to thank you for that. I just wanted to let you know that the system we use to administer this blog requires that each comment be individually reviewed before being posted to the site. So you can expect some delay while my staff posts the comments. Unfortunately, this measure is neccessary due to the spam we recieve on the blog, as well as to make sure that the tone of debate remains respectful and moderate. You are free to disagree in your comments, but I must ask that everyone strike a reasonable tone.

Looking forward to hearing more from you.

0 Comments

The End of The Beginning

Adam Schiff — 10/03/2008 15:23

Last week, the Congress raced to approve a $700 billion plan to purchase the mortgage-backed securities which have been causing financial institutions to collapse, the market to decline, and credit to dry up for small and large businesses. I opposed the House bill, urging my colleagues to take more time to get it right before obligating such an enormous sum of taxpayer money.

In particular, I urged the Congress to raise the level of FDIC insurance for depositors at local banks and credit unions to prevent a run on these institutions as we saw at Indymac, and to get credit moving. I also called for elimination of the “mark-to-market” rule, which requires financial institutions to mark down the value of assets they hold to market value and was causing many financial institutions to become insolvent (at least on paper).

During the course of this week, both of these changes have taken place. The FDIC limits were raised in the Senate version of the bill to $250,000 and the SEC took action to effectively suspend application of the “mark-to-market” rule for mortgage-backed securities. Let me tell you why I think this is significant.

The present limit on FDIC insurance of $100,000 has remained unchanged for almost thirty years. By increasing the limit, FDIC coverage would be extended to an additional $700 billion of currently uninsured deposits and result in increasing the amount of savings held in banks. This will help prevent runs on banks by nervous depositors, like that which recently brought down Washington Mutual, the nation’s largest savings and loan. It will also open credit lines at local banks, which have seen many customers flee to the perceived safety of larger institutions (taking their deposits with them).

Unlike the broader bill and its purchase of mortgage-backed securities, those who will gain most from this change will be small businesses, which may need to have more than $100,000 in cash to make payroll, as well as seniors that hold their retirement accounts in local banks and credit unions. The improved savings rate will also make it easier for these community institutions to begin lending to small businesses and average Americans again.

The “mark-to-market” rule requires financial institutions to reflect the market value of the assets they hold on their books. This principle makes sense when there is a market for a given asset, but when the market collapsed for mortgage-backed securities, it became impossible to estimate their value. These assets do have value since most Americans continue to pay their mortgages. Forcing them to be marked down to zero or fire-sale prices unnecessarily causes these institutions to declare insolvency. When the SEC freed up banks to use other measures to estimate the worth of these securities, it mitigated the risk of further failures.

I did not get all that I fought for by any means, and in two important respects, the bill still has serious flaws: The taxpayer protections need to be much stronger, and the root of the problem – declining home values and a raft of foreclosures – has yet to be meaningfully addressed. The Senate also tacked on a host of unrelated measures – some good and some bad – to attract support. These included a fix to the Alternative Minimum Tax, a necessary step to avoid a tax increase on millions of middle class families, but one that should have been paid for and was not; tax credits for research and development and renewable energy that are essential for the country’s future and are paid for; an expansion of the child tax credit; mental health parity legislation; and a laundry list of business tax breaks including some that benefit our district, but none of which belonged in the bill.

At the end of the day, the only reason I supported a bill in which the good narrowly outweighs the bad, is that the worst option of all, in the face of repeated bank failures, record foreclosures and soaring unemployment, would be to do nothing at all.

But make no mistake, this is not the end of our economic difficulties and there will be some hard days ahead. Congress must now focus on three imperatives: First, exercise strict oversight of Secretary Paulson’s purchase of securities to ensure taxpayers gain an equity interest in every firm we bail out, and that no funds are used to rescue foreign investors. If Paulson does not live up to his representations, Congress has the power to stop this program and should.

Second, provide meaningful relief to homeowners struggling to stay in their homes, work to stem the tide of foreclosures and restore home values, and provide an economic stimulus that gets people working again. This does not mean bailing out every homeowner who knowingly borrowed more than they could afford, but it does mean helping the millions of hard-working people who have lost their jobs, been downsized, can’t fill the gas tank, or have seen their health care premiums skyrocket and are struggling to hold on to what little they have left. If we cannot afford to let Wall Street collapse, we cannot forget the people who live and work on Glenoaks, Fair Oaks, or Las Tunas either.

Third, we need to re-regulate Wall Street. Institutions cannot be allowed to become “too big to fail” and bet the nation’s economic health on shoddy business practices. The obscene salaries enjoyed by CEOs and the even more obscene golden parachutes given to those who run their companies into the ground must come to an end. These regulatory reforms are not only crucial to restoring confidence and ensuring our economic recovery, but will be even more important fifteen to twenty years from now, when the pain of this crisis has receded and the siren’s call for deregulation rises again.

The original Paulson plan, though much improved by the Congress, is still much deficient. It cannot be viewed as the end of the fiscal and economic crisis or the end of our response to it. But it may be seen as the end of the beginning.

72 Comments

A Plan For Congress To Get It Right

Adam Schiff — 09/29/2008 16:29

Monday afternoon, the House voted on a 700 billion dollar bailout of financial institutions whose books were ravaged by the ownership of trillions of dollars of mortgage-backed securities of questionable value. I believe the plan proposed by Treasury Secretary Paulson was not sufficiently protective of taxpayer dollars, and I opposed it.

Over the last fifteen years, housing values appreciated with such regularity and rapidity that many came to believe that what goes up could never come down. At the same time, Wall Street and international investors developed an insatiable appetite for almost any securities based on mortgages, despite evidence that many homeowners lacked the income necessary to make their mortgage payments. Due to sustained deregulation of the financial markets, there was little oversight of these questionable transactions, and institutions that were allowed to become “too big to fail” were also allowed to bet the health of the economy on their unsound business models.

All of this worked fine, and many investors made obscene profits, while home prices kept rising. And then the inevitable happened: the economy slowed and home prices began to fall. The value of these mortgage-backed securities tanked, and major financial institutions suddenly had billions of dollars of bad “paper” they couldn’t sell. Because regulators forced these institutions to value their mortgages at market value and there was no market, the institutions found themselves insolvent (at least on paper). Bear Stearns tottered. Indymac crashed. Then Lehman and AIG. Banks stopped lending money, not knowing if the borrowers would also fail. Depositors -- ordinary citizens -- started to pull their money out of banks and money markets.

In response, Secretary Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke told us the sky was falling, and if we failed to give them the authority to buy $700 billion in questionable securities, it would be the Great Depression all over again.

This was a mistake.

The problem is serious, very serious, and urgent action is needed to resolve the credit crisis, or things could get a lot worse. But we were never headed for the Great Depression, and talking in such dire terms only rattled the markets further. If it was an attempt to steamroll the Congress into supporting the Paulson plan, it failed, and unless Paulson and Bernanke really believed we were headed for 1929, it was an irresponsible tactic.

Paulson’s original plan would have given him unrestricted authority to obligate hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars with virtually no oversight or accountability, and no guarantee that taxpayers would ever see a return on that investment. At the insistence of the Democratic leadership in Congress, substantial improvements were made to the plan, including vital oversight and transparency, allocation of the funds in installments with Congressional involvement, limits on excessive compensation and a ban on golden parachutes for CEO’s of these bailed-out institutions. Most important, Congressional leaders insisted on giving taxpayers an ownership interest in the institutions it was bailing out, so that when they appreciate, taxpayers can recoup some of their investment.

But two flaws still remain. First, the taxpayer protections should have been much stronger. The Treasury Secretary has too much discretion in cutting the deals which would give (or not give) taxpayers an equity interest in bailed out firms, and the recoupment clause, which would allow the imposition of a fee on these institutions to pay taxpayers back, is merely recommended, not required. Second, although there was an effort to limit the bailout to American firms, foreign investors can still sell this bad paper to a domestic buyer who can resell it to the government. Taxpayers should not be bailing out foreign investors, period.

And finally, the Paulson plan does not go far enough to cure the underlying illness: We have a million homes in foreclosure, and nothing in the bill sufficiently addresses that catastrophe.

Here’s what I think we should be doing instead: To deal with the credit crisis, raise the cap on FDIC insurance of banks and credit unions, so that Americans know that whatever money they have in the bank is safe and backed by the full faith and credit of the government. This would stop people from withdrawing money from community institutions, and free up lending to small businesses. The Department of Treasury essentially did this with money market funds, and is helping to restore confidence in that sector. Next, instruct regulators to stop requiring financial institutions to mark down their mortgage-backed securities to market value, and give them time and assistance in working out their capital and liquidity problems.

Most important, we must confront the epidemic of foreclosures by establishing local home loan corporation boards or some other mechanism to help homeowners restructure their mortgages over longer or different terms so that we can stem the tide of foreclosures. And we should enact a strong stimulus package directed at the local economy, putting people to work, restoring purchasing power and improving home values.

This approach – starting with the local community and working up, rather than bailing out Wall Street and working down -- far more directly addresses the underlying ills and puts far fewer taxpayer dollars at risk. I believe it would be every bit as reassuring to the markets as the Paulson plan, and done more to deal with the root problem. It would also save countless billions of taxpayer dollars on the front end, so we have the resources we need to deal with the additional problems that are most certainly heading our way.

Congress needs to act quickly. We also need to get it right. We should stay in session until we enact a plan more protective of taxpayer dollars, and more likely to succeed.

35 Comments

Slow Down and Get It Right

Adam Schiff — 09/26/2008 17:48

The turmoil that has rocked Wall Street has only increased the economic worries of millions of Americans, with many deeply concerned about not only their own financial security, but also about our nation’s economic future. With the recent collapse of Washington Mutual, Lehman Brothers and AIG, it is clear that Congress must take action to help protect Americans’ savings and 401(k) plans from the effects of mismanagement and greed on Wall Street.

The choices we face are difficult, and the need for action is clear. Because our next step is so important, I am convinced that Congress must slow down and thoroughly examine the options closely before passing any proposal. The implications of what we do now are too great to act in haste – it is more important to get it right than to do it fast. The proposal tabled by Secretary Paulson last Friday was an attempt by the Administration to secure unprecedented new authority with no oversight and no guarantee that taxpayers would be protected. I do not believe that ceding near absolute authority to any Secretary of the Treasury to purchase any asset for any price is the best solution.

I am pleased that negotiations between the White House and the Congress have produced a new draft with greater protections for taxpayers, real limits on executive compensation, and greater oversight. The latest proposal includes elements I have been calling for, including oversight of Treasury’s purchase of troubled assets, limits on executive compensation for CEOs and a ban on golden parachutes, and taxpayer equity in banks to ensure that taxpayers will ultimately recoup their investment. But there are many provisions still missing, such as measures to stem the tide of foreclosures, and a recoupment clause that would kick in to pay back the taxpayer and ensure we are not left holding the bag.

While I appreciate the hard work being done to negotiate a new plan, I am concerned that the pace of negotiations is precluding members from hearing multiple viewpoints on both the origins of the crisis and the solutions. I organized two meetings with about fifty Representatives to participate in conference calls with esteemed economist James K. Galbraith. Mr. Galbraith, a professor at the University of Texas, authored an op-ed in the Washington Post earlier this week, providing a new outlook and raising several objections to Secretary Paulson’s plan. I commend it to your attention. You can read it by clicking here.

Congress had targeted today as the final day of the 110th Congress. However, I believe we must stay in session as long as necessary to ensure the final plan is right for the economy and right for the American people.

My main concern is the economic health of Main Street, not Wall Street, so I am pleased we have made progress. But despite these improvements, I remain skeptical about the underlying premise of the Treasury Secretary's proposal, and it is not yet clear to me that we have found the correct approach to this problem.

7 Comments

A Special Message on the Economy

Adam Schiff — 09/18/2008 17:15

The turmoil that has rocked Wall Street in the past few days has only increased the economic worries of millions of Americans. I know that many of you are deeply concerned, not only about your own financial security, but also about our nation’s economic future.

The combination of a housing and mortgage crisis and a volatile financial market has led to an economic downturn that has made it harder for all Americans to make ends meet.

The savings of many Americans is invested in their homes, and as housing prices drop families are feeling the pinch more than ever. Families around the country, and especially here in California, are being hit hard. Foreclosures in California soared in the second quarter to the highest level in at least 20 years – weakening the economy and robbing the nest eggs of numerous American families. Foreclosures will cost Californians a total of $67 billion in lost property values, an average individual loss of more than $8,000. Job losses nationwide have exacerbated the situation. In August, 84,000 Americans lost their jobs and the number of unemployed Americans is the highest since December 1992.

With banks and other financial institutions feeling the devastating impact of the mortgage crisis, it is clear that in the future we must monitor more closely these institutions that are so critical to every aspect of our economy – we can no longer allow them to become too big to fail.

I believe the current Administration should have performed far more vigorous regulatory oversight to protect against poor lending standards and ensure a more stable financial industry. Regrettably, Congressional efforts to sensibly regulate some of the practices involved have been resisted. This resistance has only now come to an end -- too late to reverse the damage that has been done, but important to prevent future shocks like this one.

On September 19, the Treasury Secretary announced plans to quickly set up a government program to take over troubled mortgage assets from financial institutions, along with efforts to step up the purchase of mortgage-backed securities. Congress will review this plan over the next week to ensure that any plan also benefits regular Americans struggling to pay their mortgages and make ends meet, not just large investors. In particular, I believe a well structured plan should allow taxpayers to be paid back for their rescue of these large institutions.

I am deeply concerned about bailing out the investors in these institutions at taxpayers’ expense and want to make sure that such actions are a last resort, that there is no other way to avoid grave damage to the broader economy and the public, that the taxpayer becomes a priority creditor over investors at such institutions, and that the CEOs of failed companies receiving federal aid do not retain generous bonuses or severance packages – something that would add insult to injury.

Congress is conducting hearings to determine what went wrong and what steps are necessary to restore stability and strength to our economy. While we cannot act in haste, we must act quickly, while at the same time pledging to the American people that they will not called upon to bail out financial institutions that have engaged in reckless lending or borrowing practices.

As a result of legislation I supported in the Congress, there is help available to those at risk of foreclosure, or those who are trying to afford a first home. To learn about these programs, or if you have concerns about the state of the economy or ideas about action you would like to see the Congress take, please don’t hesitate to contact me via email or at 626-304-2727.

92 Comments

A Hero From Our Community

Adam Schiff — 09/10/2008 18:05

Yesterday, I gave a short speech on the House floor honoring a young hero from our district who saved her friend's life through quick thinking. Please take a minute to watch and hear her incredible story.

0 Comments

In The Papers

Adam Schiff — 09/09/2008 13:57

As Congress reconvenes for the month of September, I wanted to point out two op-eds that I wrote which appeared in newspapers in the district over the last couple of months. The first deals with the push by myself and other San Gabriel Valley Members of Congress to secure federal funds for an extension of the Gold Line. We've made a lot of progress, but we need your help to demonstrate how important support for mass transit is to our region. The second op-ed addresses the crisis at IndyMac, and the federal response. These are uncertain economic times, so it's important you understand your rights as a depositer.

IndyMac Bank and the FDIC

The Gold Line: Seizing an Opportunity for San Gabriel Valley Commuters

As always, I welcome your comments.

1 Comments

Upcoming Events in the District

Adam Schiff — 07/25/2008 14:50

We have some exciting events coming up in the 29th district that I hope you'll keep in mind.

First, on August 13th, I'm hosting a Hiking with the Congressman event. The hike will take place in the beautiful Stough Canyon Nature Center in Burbank, and I'm looking forward to enjoying the terrific scenery and meeting some constituents who care about preserving our open spaces. The information for the hike is below:

Wednesday, Aug. 13

6:30 p.m.

Stough Canyon Nature Center

2300 Walnut Ave., Burbank

RSVP to (626) 304-2727

Next, on August 20th, we're hosting an economic roundtable at the Pasadena Senior Center. A lot of families in the Southern California area are feeling the squeeze from high prices, especially for gas, and the troubled economic situation. I hope you can attend. The information on the event is below:

Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008

7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Pasadena Senior Center

85 E. Holly St. (corner of Raymond & Holly), Pasadena

RSVP to (626) 304-2727

I hope you can make it to one or both of these events. If not, don't worry, there will be plenty more chances.

5 Comments

Help Is Available for Customers of IndyMac

Adam Schiff — 07/17/2008 15:24

A lot of residents of the 29th District have questions about the FDIC takeover of IndyMac Federal Bank. My office stands available to help answer any questions you may have. Here's some info on the issue:

Beginning on Monday, July 14, IndyMac Federal Bank, FSB’s 33 branches will observe normal operating hours and will continue to offer full banking services, including on-line banking. For additional information, the FDIC has established a toll-free number for customers of IndyMac Federal Bank, FSB. The toll-free number is 1-866-806-5919 and will operate daily from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Bank hours will be 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Customers also may visit the FDIC's Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/IndyMac.html for further information. If you are experiencing any difficulties with this issue, please feel free to contact Congressman Schiff’s district office at (626) 304-2727.

1 Comments

A Visit to Armenia

Adam Schiff — 06/17/2008 15:23

In late May, I had the opportunity to lead a Congressional delegation on a trip to four strategically important Central and South Asian nations – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Rep. Wayne Gilchrest of Maryland and Rep. Allyson Schwartz of Pennsylvania joined me in the delegation, along with a few senior staff members. It was a whirlwind of a trip, but we got the chance to meet with senior leaders in all four countries, and to thank some of our troops and foreign service officers serving in Afghanistan and elsewhere. Along the way, I took as many pictures as possible, some of which you’ll see here. Check the blog in coming days for more posts from Afghanistan and Pakistan. As always, I’m looking forward to your comments and questions, so make sure to use the comment feature, or send me a message directly by clicking here.

We arrived in Yerevan, the Capital of Armenia, on May 25th. Our first stop was a late night meeting with the President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan and the Foreign Minister, Edward Nalbandian. It was practically a midnight meeting, since they were going to be out of the country the following day, and it was the best time to get together. We had a productive discussion with President Sargsyan, broaching issues of mutual concern to our two countries.

Though we emphasized the continuing friendship between the United States and Armenia, we also raised pressing concerns about the democratic process in Armenia. We expressed our concern about the problematic elections which occurred in February 2008, as well as registering our conviction that the government must respect the right to assembly and free speech. It was an important and frank discussion. Armenia is a trusted and valued ally and we want to keep that alliance strong. We have had follow up discussions with the U.S. Embassy and with the Millennium Challenge Corporation, which has embarked on a five-year, $235 million economic development program with Armenia.

The next morning, we visited the Armenian Genocide Museum in Yerevan. The Museum was first opened in 1995 – the 80th anniversary of the Genocide. While we were paying our respects, I noticed a man standing to the side of the memorial, evidently very moved by what he was seeing. I went to talk with him, and he explained that he was a genocide survivor from France. There were tears in his eyes as he described what his family endured, how he had made his way to his new home in France, and the loss of most of his immediate family in the Genocide.

The museum itself has been strengthened dramatically since my last visit there several years ago. The photographs lining the walls depict scenes from the late 1800’s through the early 1900’s with impressive clarity. They depict the horror of the Genocide – the inhumanity and scope of it. It was the first time I had seen many of the photographs depicting scenes I knew all to well from reading about the events that took place. I would encourage anyone visiting Armenia to make the genocide memorial museum part of their itinerary.

The executive director of the museum, Hayk Demoyan, discussed how he would be changing some of the exhibits to make it more accessible to people coming from all over the world. He was particularly encouraged by the fact an increasing number of Turkish visitors were coming to the memorial. After visiting the memorial we planted a tree there, in honor of the victims of the Genocide, in a growth of other trees planted by visiting dignitaries from all over the world.

3 Comments

A Great Victory for Southern California: The Rim of the Valley Study Act Passes

Adam Schiff — 05/09/2008 13:39

After a seven year long effort, the President signed a measure into law which I authored called the Rim of the Valley Corridor Study Act. This legislation will direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to analyze an expansion of the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area to include the Rim of the Valley. These are the mountains that surround the 29th Congressional District and neighboring areas.

Back in the mid 1970s, Congress had the foresight to establish the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area. They knew Los Angeles and Southern California generally would become much more crowded as the population burgeoned, and indeed it has.

It is because that Congress back in the 1970's looked ahead and established the recreation area that we now have these beautiful open space areas to enjoy for ourselves, and for our kids and their kids to enjoy.

As Los Angeles and Southern California continue to grow, this open space is very precious. If we don’t act to protect it now and figure out how to best manage those resources, it will be gone.

This is such great news for Southern California. It is my hope that the Rim of the Valley measure will help develop a long-range plan that will balance preservation, recreation and the needs and rights of those living in and around the area.

0 Comments

Celebrating Earth Day Through Action

Adam Schiff — 05/08/2008 16:00

Last week, I spoke on the floor of the House to celebrate Earth Day, which took place on April 22nd. In my speech, which you can watch below, I emphasized that Earth Day not only a time to reflect on the importance of the environment, but it's also a time to think about what we can do, in our own lives, to preserve our incredible planet for future generations. As a parent of two young children, I feel strongly that we must be responsible stewards of the environment for them, and for generations to come.

0 Comments

Alexa Schiff Enjoys Bring Your Daughter to Work Day

Alexa Schiff — 04/24/2008 17:42

Hello my name is Alexa Schiff and today is Bring Your Child to Work Day at my school. Today, I went to school with my daddy. We started out the day with a long drive from Maryland to Washington. Luckily, I had a book with me so it was a little bit more fun.

When I got here they put me straight to work. I started answering phones, filing mail, and stuffing envelops. We took a lunch break at the Members Dinning Room, and we had a delicious meal there. Then we rushed off to votes. It was fun listing to my dad speak on the House Floor. After that, I just came back and started working all over again. It’s a lot of fun answering the phones and coming to work with my dad.

That was my day with my dad.

1 Comments

Astronauts Visit the Capitol

Adam Schiff — 04/03/2008 09:21

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to meet with two Astronauts that recently traveled to the International Space Station. One was the pilot, Commander Alan Poindexter, and the other was a mission specialist, Colonel Rex Walheim. After having watched a shuttle launch last year, I had an even greater appreciation for their work -- and courage. Meeting such fascinating people is one of the highlights of my job.

We got together in the Capitol and they both had captivating stories about their work on board the space shuttle. Their shuttle mission was dedicated to expanding the science capabilities of the International Space Station by delivering Columbus, a 23-by-15-feet research laboratory and the future center of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) activities in space.

Columbus was built by the ESA and is Europe's first spacecraft for astronauts. It is also the main contribution by ESA to the International Space Station program. Columbus joined NASA's own laboratory at the station, a module called Destiny that has been in space since 2001. Columbus is equipped with a number of utilities ranging from life support systems to laboratory equipment that are used to conduct cutting edge scientific experiments.

Commander Poindexter and Colonel Walheim traveled 5.3 million miles in 203 orbits of the Earth during the 13 days they were aboard the Shuttle Atlantis.

The astronauts surprised me with a photo of Colonel Walheim on the space station sporting a Cal (U.C. Berkeley) banner. Though I went to Stanford, I assured them that my support for space exploration remained strong, notwithstanding the offending photo.

1 Comments

Extending the Gold Line

Adam Schiff — 04/01/2008 11:03

As you probably know, I have been working for years in Congress to obtain federal funds to help pay for a Foothills extension of the Gold Line. As part of our efforts to build public awareness and support for this badly needed mass transit project, I participated in an event last week with Congresswoman Hilda Solis and Congressman David Dreier, both of whom also represent areas that would benefit from a Gold Line extension. You'll be hearing more about this effort in the coming months, but in the meantime, I hope you have a moment to read this editorial in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Some choice paragraphs and the full link are below.

"Even if the San Gabriel Valley was like the fictional town of Who-ville and indeed, everyone from young to old spoke in unison and as loud as they could, it might not be enough to get the foothill extension of the Gold Line built. Politics could ruin the happy ending.

"The apt analogy to the No. 1 hit movie "Horton Hears A Who!" was raised in earnest by Azusa Mayor Joe Rocha last week during a remarkable show of bipartisan support for the light-rail extension long-planned to go from east Pasadena to Claremont and possibly all the way to Ontario Airport.

"In the movie it took literally everyone in town to raise their voices in order to be heard by the powerful leaders on the other side. It will take that and more for the San Gabriel Valley to get this line built."

Read the rest here.

2 Comments

Torture, Waterboarding, and the Rule of Law

Adam Schiff — 03/12/2008 15:09

Last night, I spoke on the House Floor in favor of overriding the President's veto of the 2008 Intelligence Authorization Act. The President vetoed this legislation because it would explicitly ban the practice of waterboarding, a form of torture that I believe is illegal under current U.S. law. I believe the President's decision to veto this bill sends exactly the wrong message to the rest of the world, emboldening our enemies and endangering our troops. You can view my speech below.

Transcript:

Mr. Speaker, the fight against terror is, at one level, a military struggle, but it is also, at its roots, a battle over hearts and minds.

On Sunday, we suffered a major setback in that battle when the President of the United States vetoed legislation that would unequivocally state to the world that we do not condone torture in any form, in any place, under any circumstance. Instead, by appearing to abandon the rule of law by appearing to step away from the Geneva Conventions, by failing to renounce the use of torture in the clearest of terms, we are only undermining our standing in the world and endangering the lives of our very own men and women.

When the Attorney General of the United States recently testified before the Judiciary Committee, he could not tell us if and when waterboarding constituted torture. He even suggested that a determination whether something constitutes torture depends on who is being subjected to the technique and the desirability of the information that is being sought. His testimony was murky. It was ambiguous. It failed to establish any bright line for our personnel or for the rest of the world. He could only say that if it were done to him, well, then that would be torture.

Instead, the bright line standard, if there was one to be found in his testimony, and the one that he asked us to hold up to the rest of the world, was whether or not a harsh interrogation technique is part of a program authorized by an attorney in the obscure Office of Legal Counsel. I am deeply concerned about what this says to our own personnel and about what it says to the rest of the world.

This is, indeed, no intangible loss, for the effects of this failure of moral leadership may tragically be visited on those brave men and women serving in our Armed Forces.

Who among us can fail to recall the opening ways of the Iraq war when American troops had been captured and were paraded in front of the cameras? We were disgusted with their treatment, and rightfully so. If we hesitate, equivocate, or otherwise fail to ban the use of waterboarding, how can we have any confidence that when American troops are captured they will not be subjected to this form of torture? How can we make the case that other nations or other enemies must not torture because we don't torture? How can we win the battle for hearts and minds if we surrender our most powerful weapon, the power of our good example?

Mr. Speaker, I urge the override of the President's veto.

4 Comments

Hosting Another Telephone Townhall

Adam Schiff — 02/25/2008 12:18

On Monday, February 25th at 7 PM Pacific Time I'll be hosting another in my series of telephone townhalls. I'm sure many of you have participated in one of these events last year. For those who missed it, the telephone townhall is a great new technology that lets me hold an enormous conference call with my constituents. You'll have the opportunity to ask questions on any topic you're interested in. These discussions have always been interesting in the past, and I'm looking forward to doing it again.

If you'd like to participate, dial 866-447-5149, and then enter the code 13157 at 7 PM tonight. The number is toll free. Hope to speak to you tonight! And as always, thanks for reading.

2 Comments

House Holds White House Aides in Contempt of Congress

Adam Schiff — 02/15/2008 11:15

On Thursday, the House voted 223 to 32 to hold Harriet Miers, a former White House counsel, and Josh Bolten the White House chief of staff, in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a legally binding subpoena. The two were called to testify before the House Judiciary Committee last year regarding their role in the firing of federal prosecutors. The White House instructed the two not to comply with the subpoena, and more than that, not to even show up before Congress to make a claim of executive privilege. This vote signaled that a majority in the House disagrees with the Administration and considers it part of Congress’s Constitutional responsibility to oversee the executive branch of government.

Following the contempt vote, I participated in a press conference with House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyer and Rules Committee Chairwoman Louise Slaughter and said the following:

"I spent six wonderful years as Assistant U.S. Attorney out in Los Angeles and have a great respect for the Department of Justice. And it has grieved me a great deal to see what has happened to the Department over the last six or seven years.

"We find ourselves where we are today reluctantly taking this step, but also with the conviction that it is very necessary.

"It is one thing for an administration to make a claim of executive privilege by appearing before the Congress and saying that, "With respect to this question, we will assert a claim of privilege. With respect to this document, we will assert a claim of privilege."

"It is yet another thing to come before the Congress and say, "We will assert a privilege against any questions, against all documents."

"And it still another thing -- and I believe an unprecedented thing -- for an administration to take the position, "We will not even appear. We will hold the institution of Congress in such contempt that we will not even show up and answer to a lawful subpoena."

"Imagine what would happen if an ordinary citizen receiving a subpoena from a court of law, rather than appearing in court to assert a constitutional privilege, were to say, "I am simply not going to show up."

"This is functionally what has taken place in the Congress of the United States. The Administration has not deigned to even appear and, more than that, has taken the position that if the Congress should find the Administration in contempt for its failure to appear that it will instruct the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia not to press forward with any charges.

"That is an extraordinary attribution of power to the executive. And the step that we have taken today, the reluctant step we have taken today, is as much about getting to the bottom of what happened with the firings of these U.S. Attorneys as it is looking forward and making sure that this Congress does not establish a precedent that would go well beyond this president and well beyond this Congress, that any President can simply respond to a congressional subpoena by saying, "We will not appear. And if you try to enforce it, we will instruct the Department of Justice to oppose and obstruct and to provide no information."

"So what we do today is important in our own investigation; that is true. But it is, I think, more important going forward that we not establish a precedent that the Administration can blithely turn away the Congress of the United States when it has issued a lawful request and subpoena for information.

"So we take this step understanding the gravity of the step that we take, but understanding its importance in upholding our own responsibility to uphold the Constitution, and with an eye to future congresses and future presidents of either party, and the obligation they have to meet a lawful request for information with the lawful provision of that information."

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Honoring Rep. Tom Lantos

Adam Schiff — 02/14/2008 15:12

Today I attended a very moving memorial service for one of the finest men to ever serve in the House of Representatives, Tom Lantos, who died earlier this week at the age of 80. Chairman Lantos’s accomplishments and accolades are too long to list, but he was the only Holocaust survivor to serve in the House and was one of this country’s foremost champions of Human Rights.

At the service in the Capitol, a broad array of speakers honored Tom. We heard from Tom’s family members – his wife, children, and grandchildren. Secretary of State Rice, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Speaker of the House Pelosi, Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel, and U2’s Bono were among the other distinguished guests who honored the man I have publicly called, “the last lion.”

For the first six years I severed in Congress I worked closely with Rep. Lantos serving with him on the House International Relations Committee of which he was the Ranking Member. Together we worked to combat the proliferation of nuclear weapons and to search for a better future for the people of the Middle East. Last fall, I was deeply moved by Chairman Lantos’s words in support of the Armenian Genocide resolution, which he shepherded through his committee, despite the Administration’s opposition.

Today’s memorial was a fitting tribute. California, our nation, and the world are better off today because of Tom Lantos. He will be greatly missed.

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Congresman Schiff Questions Attorney General Mukasey

Adam Schiff — 02/07/2008 17:32

This afternoon, Attorney General Mukasey testified before the House Judiciary Committee. I have been concerned by his refusal to state clearly and forthrightly that waterboarding, a interogation technique involving simulated drowning, is torture and therefore unlawful. At the hearing today, the Attorney General continued to hide behind a legal opinion, since withdrawn, from the Office of Legal Counsel. I found, and continued to find, his reasoning unconvincing, and I asked him about it at today's hearing. You can watch the question below, and read a transcript of the exchange:

SCHIFF: Mr. Attorney General, I appreciate your being here. As a former member of the department, I am delighted that there's new leadership at the department.

I am gravely concerned, though, about your testimony on the torture issue, which I find murky, ambiguous, and which establishes no bright line.

I'm concerned about it for what it says to our own personnel and I'm concerned about it for what it says to the rest of the world.

And I think it will be very hard for you to make the argument with other nations, when our troops are captured on the battlefield, that they cannot torture because we don't torture.

I think our argument will be undermined by any ambiguity on that subject here at home.

And I believe that the buck really stops with you, Mr. Attorney General. I don't think that it can be delegated to a relatively anonymous attorney at the Office of Legal Counsel to decide what is lawful and what isn't lawful.

What I would like to ask you is the following: Shouldn't it be the job of the attorney general to investigate whether the law has been violated, notwithstanding whether there is an opinion by a lawyer at the DOJ that believes otherwise?

Shouldn't it be the responsibility of the attorney general to investigate whether the law has been broken?

And, if the law has been broken, then come before the American people and say: The law was broken; people were tortured in violation of the law; we have curtailed that practice; and I am recommending either, A, that those responsible be prosecuted or, B, that those responsible not be prosecuted because they acted in good-faith reliance on an opinion; or that they be prosecuted and the president consider the power of the pardon.

But to abdicate, in my view, to say that, because of an opinion of legal counsel, we don't need to investigate whether the law was broken, seems to me a belittling of your responsibility as attorney general. And I wish you would comment on that.

MUKASEY: Generally, I've resisted requests to comment on vast, unfocused questions.

SCHIFF: Well, let me focus the question. Why don't you investigate whether the law was broken, and then make a determination about whether prosecution is warranted, instead of taking a position you're not even going to investigate whether the law was broken?

MUKASEY: The only signal for the conduct of such an investigation is the disclosure that activity that some people claim is illegal but is in fact the subject of an opinion, namely that it was legal for inclusion in the CIA interrogation program -- that's the only signal for the opening of an investigation.

That cannot signal the opening of an investigation without telling people that they cannot rely on Justice Department opinions.

SCHIFF: Mr. Mukasey, are you saying...

MUKASEY: Also...

SCHIFF: Mr. Mukasey -- because I have a limited amount of time and I want to be very specific in my questions -- are you saying that, even if you believe that the law was violated, you lack the power to open an investigation into that?

MUKASEY: If I believe that a particular practice is unlawful, then, if it's presented to me in concrete terms, I can steps to say that it's unlawful, going forward.

SCHIFF: But we're presenting...

MUKASEY: But I...

SCHIFF: Mr. Attorney General...

MUKASEY: One comment that you made that is very portentous, and needs to be corrected, and that is the suggestion that so much as a line of what I said endangers American troops. American troops fight in uniform...

SCHIFF: I understand that. I am not...

(CROSSTALK)

SCHIFF: Mr. Attorney General, I am not trying to...

MUKASEY: The Geneva Conventions...

SCHIFF: I am not...

(CROSSTALK)

(UNKNOWN): Mr. Chairman, can he answer the question?

SCHIFF: Yes, but it is my time. I'd like to ask the question. And the attorney general asked for a specific question.

I am not, in any way, trying to make equivocal -- or equivalent -- our troops in the field, and what Al Qaida is doing. Don't even go there, Mr. Attorney General.

But what I am saying is, if we don't establish a bright line, in this country, that we don't torture, then it makes it very hard for us to argue to other countries that they shouldn't torture our people, period.

And I would still like an answer to my question. Why doesn't the attorney general of the United States have the power, notwithstanding a subordinate lawyer in the Office of Legal Counsel, to investigate whether a crime has been committed, if you believe that torture has been committed, in violation of the law?

Why wouldn't you have the power to investigate that?

MUKASEY: We have a bright line. We bar the torture. The evaluation of whether a particular practice constitutes torture could be presented to me only in a particular situation, namely, whether it was defined, part of a proposed program, in which case I would pronounced on it one way or the other, as I think I...

SCHIFF: And you think that's a bright line that we can hold up to the rest of the world, that it depends on whether it's part of a program authorized by an attorney in the Office of Legal Counsel?

Is that the standard we would ask the rest of the world to hold up?

MUKASEY: We have and do defend our position before the rest of the world. We have people in the State Department who do a superb job at that. And we will continue to do that.

SCHIFF: If I can ask one last question, Mr. Chairman?

You've said, in your Senate testimony, that -- I believe -- that, if you were being waterboarded, you would consider it torture.

Does the definition of torture depend on who is being tortured or the circumstances in which they are being tortured?

MUKASEY: I said, in my Senate testimony, that it would seem like torture to me. I said that as part of a much larger amount of testimony that indicated, I think, quite clearly, that I would not use my own tastes and preferences as the basis for arriving at a legal determination about whether a practice that was actually put before me, in concrete terms, was or was not torture.

SCHIFF: Are you taking the position, Mr. Attorney General, that a practice which may be torture under certain circumstances is not torture under others, because either the information is desirable...

CONYERS: The time of the gentleman has expired. You may finish this question and get a response.

SCHIFF: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

And the question is, are you taking the position that whether something is torture or not depends on who is being subjected to the technique and the desirability of the information?

Does it vary, or is there simply one standard which is governed by the nature of the coercion?

MUKASEY: The question of torture turns on what is in the torture statute, which does not speak, so far as I know, to the nature of the information. It speaks to the intent of the person imposing whatever it is that's claimed to be torture, and depends on other circumstances.

SCHIFF: I would only say, that is not a bright line, that I think any of us can apply.

CONYERS: The gentleman's time has expired.

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A Start to the New Year

Adam Schiff — 01/14/2008 15:00

This week, Congress returns to session and confronts a series of challenges, from new worries over the economy to escalating violence in Afghanistan. Adding to the challenge of addressing these problems will be the influence of an increasingly contentious presidential campaign. So we have our work cut out for us. As I begin to formulate my priorities for the year, I am eager to get your input. Please email me your thoughts on the things that matter most to you and your family. And be sure to sign up for our e-newsletter, which will keep you up-to-date on our efforts as well as include point and click surveys so you can give me quick input on issues. Wishing you all the best in the New Year and thanks for staying in touch.

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CODEL Iraq: Summary

Adam Schiff — 01/09/2008 14:23

For your ease of reading, this post has links to all eight entries from Iraq. Enjoy, and please be sure to leave comments!

1) CODEL Iraq: Refueling in Ireland

2) CODEL Iraq: Meeting the Indiana National Guard

3) CODEL Iraq: A Briefing from General David Petraeus

4) CODEL Iraq: Christmas in Bagdhad

5) CODEL Iraq: Breakfast With the Troops

6) CODEL Iraq: A Flight Aboard an V-22 Osprey

7) CODEL Iraq: Visiting Haditha

8) CODEL Iraq: Goodbyes and Reflections

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CODEL Iraq: Time to Head Back to Washington

Adam Schiff — 01/09/2008 13:41

Goodbyes were quicker than we anticipated. We were planning to spend a little bit more time at Al Asad Airbase in the al Anbar province. But we got word that votes would be held on Monday evening and that we should expect to consider the omnibus appropriations bill. This bill is the combined funding bill for the entire federal government as well as many other important funding measures. So we had to high-tail it back to Washington, D.C in time for votes.

It was an extraordinary trip and gave me a better appreciation for the situation on the ground. This visit to our troops gave me a chance, on the behalf of all of you in the 29^th District, to thank them for what they are doing and the sacrifices they are making in serving our country. They are truly amazing people, serving multiple tours away from their families. You might think they would be worried or depressed being away for the holidays, but instead they were making the best of it while focusing on their duties. I’ll be thinking about my visits with them when I return to my own family. So it was a very worthwhile trip. I’m glad made it and look forward to doing it again.

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CODEL Iraq: Visiting Haditha

Adam Schiff — 01/09/2008 13:40

We just finished visiting a city in the Al Anbar province called Haditha. Haditha is the site of an enormous dam and man-made lake right off the Euphrates River. The dam provides 30 percent of the electrical power for Baghdad, which is not too far Southeast from here. The size of the dam is extraordinary. I’m told it could produce even more power if it were more efficiently run.

Obviously, the dam is a major security issue - if the insurgents were able to destroy it, it would cut off a third of the power to Baghdad, undercutting the progress we’ve been making in restoring reliable electricity in the capital. In fact, when we arrived in Baghdad the night before I was surprised as we flew a helicopter to our destination to see how many lights were lit up below – it looked like a real city, with an appreciable amount of electrical power. It was far different than the previous trips I’ve made to Iraq.

But a lot of that comes from Haditha and in order to protect that dam they obviously patrol the lake above the dam and they also patrol the river below. And here we were introduced to the Riverines that patrol the Haditha dam in inflatable, fast-moving boats that are armed to the teeth. The Riverines have a proud history, going back to the days when they patrolled the deltas and rivers in the jungles of Vietnam. We were briefed by them, watched a demonstration of how they can conceal a landing, and then got aboard their craft and went with them on a modified patrol of the lake and the dam. These sailors go out in watercraft every day and patrol the dam.

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CODEL Iraq: Riding in the V-22 Osprey

Adam Schiff — 01/09/2008 13:40

On the trip to and from Haditha, I had the chance to ride in V-22 Ospreys. The Osprey is one of the strangest looking aircraft you’ll ever see, but it’s an amazing machine. They have two enormous rotors above the aircraft, but once you take off, the rotors tilt forward so the Osprey can fly fast and far like an airplane. The advantage is that you can land on a dime, but they still have an enormous range of 1200 miles while being able to fly much faster than any helicopter. We took off in these Ospreys and you are lifted up very quickly and can get to 6,000 feet in a matter of seconds before the rotors tilt and you are off and flying like an aircraft. I had the chance to ride in the cockpit during the take off and watch the pilots at work; it was really a thrill.

On the way back from Haditha, we sat in the rear of the aircraft, which is completely open. There is a ramp that leads downwards, so that you can roll cargo onto the aircraft. In this case it just hangs open with a machine gunner sitting in the back fully exposed and keeping an eye on the ground to make sure we don’t take any incoming. That’s not a job you’d want if you’re scared of heights. But it was a heck of a view when the entire back is open to the air. So we were able to see how quickly the Osprey gets off the ground during our takeoff from the Haditha then we got quite a view of the ground below when we reached our maximum altitude.

We were briefed by the pilots that fly the Ospreys. I had the chance to talk to the Wing Commander about the safety record of these aircraft. Early on in testing of the V-22, there were several crashes, and sadly a lot of Marines lost their lives in these accidents. For this reason and others, the Osprey has been a very controversial aircraft and many refuse to fly in them. But the Wing Commander and the other pilots I talked to swore by them, believed in them, felt they were safe and recognized their tactical advantage – they told me they could pick up and move to a sight of an evacuation or an attack point very quickly and land in places where fixed-wing aircraft just couldn’t land. It was a pretty compelling narrative.

One of the Ospreys pilots said, “I’m a father. I’ve got an eight-year old and a five-year old and both for my own family and the men and women in my command, I wouldn’t be flying these aircraft if I didn’t think they were safe.” Having a nine year old and a five year old myself, I could well appreciate what he was saying.

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CODEL Iraq: Breakfast With the Troops

Adam Schiff — 01/09/2008 13:26

Prior to leaving Baghdad, I had the chance to have breakfast with some our troops there and this was a part of the trip that I very much enjoyed. I brought with me dozens and dozens of holiday cards from my constituents, mostly from kids in our district, who had drawn these beautiful Christmas trees and pictures of soldiers and wrote the most adorable things on them.

One of them in particular, I really enjoyed was a drawings from one of my young constituents that said thank you for fighting for our country, you are my hero. It was signed Caesar. The picture was of a very big, tall soldier and a very little person standing next to him. The soldier was marked soldier and the little person was marked me (Caesar). It was just the most heartwarming drawing.

I had the chance to hand these drawings out and also an album of different songs that were compiled for our troops, mostly rock and pop music. They were largely put together by musician John Ondrasik, of the band Five for Fighting, who I have had the chance to meet a couple of times. He was kind enough to give me about 100 of these CDs to distribute to the troops as a little holiday present. So I handed those out with the cards and people were very grateful to receive them and really enjoyed getting a present so far away from home. They really appreciated the holiday cheer. I had one Marine tell me that getting this card and CD really made his day, which of course really made my day.

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CODEL Iraq: Christmas in Baghdad

Adam Schiff — 01/09/2008 13:18

After the meeting with General Petraeus, we were transported to the United States Ambassador’s residence in the Green Zone. Upon arrival, we happened to coincide with a Christmas celebration in the Green Zone among some of our troops and State Department personnel.

This was very heartwarming to see, these dedicated people so far away from home for the holidays were doing their best to celebrate out in the middle of Baghdad. It was little disorienting seeing Santa in a sleigh and hearing people singing Christmas carols around a Christmas tree out in the middle of Baghdad but uplifting and something I will now always associate with this time of year.

After taking part in this holiday celebration, we were taken to the Ambassador’s residence and had dinner with the Chief of the Mission. The Ambassador, Ryan Crocker, was on emergency leave to the United States. We talked about the political developments in Iraq and some of the progress being made but largely the continuing stalemate. It was yet another eye opening meeting.

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CODEL Iraq: A Visit With General Petraeus

Adam Schiff — 01/09/2008 13:17

Following our visit with the Indiana National Guard, we had a meeting with General David Petraeus, the commanding general of our forces in Iraq. He was very generous with his time. We sat down for nearly two hours and had a wide-ranging and frank conversation about the situation in Iraq. General Petraeus described the improved security situation in Iraq, the reduction in IED attacks on U.S. troops, and the awakening, as it is called, of the Sunni tribal chiefs who decided that al Qaeda was a worse threat than we were and have been working with us to destroy the al Qaeda in Iraq.

Coming to Iraq, I was particularly interested in hearing about progress breaking the political stalemate. I asked the General whether we could anticipate any kind of breakthrough on the political end, like we’ve seen on the military end. Unfortunately, that looks far less probable. The much-hoped for political breakthrough hasn’t materialized and it is hard to imagine how that could take place. The animosities between the warring sects in Iraq are so dug-in and the suspicions so well entrenched as to make political compromise nearly impossible. The decrease in violence has opened a window, however to narrow, to move the Iraqis towards political reconciliation. The clock is ticking, but unfortunately the pace of progress in the National Assembly has been stultifyingly slow.

My frustration with the political process aside, the decrease in violence over the past several months is nothing short of miraculous. I told General Petraeus that after attending briefing after briefing after briefing over the last several years by the Joint Chiefs of Staff hearing about how we were getting better at defusing IEDs and identifying where they were I was frustrated by never seeing a change in the rate of casualties.

This was in part, because, while we were getting better at defeating IEDs, they were planting more of them. They could plant them faster than we could defeat them. But that is no longer the case and for the first time it was really quite wonderful to see a change for the better in Iraq, at least militarily. We are seeing this in the decrease of number of overall attacks, the number of successful attacks – not only on our own troops but the rest of the coalition troops and the Iraqi people themselves.

So there were some positive changes to observe and discuss with General Petraeus. The General felt very confident about our war on al Qaeda in Iraq, but nonetheless very circumspect about the overall military and political situation.

In particularly, he was guarded about the capacity of Iran to make mischief in Iraq. Recently, Iran has decreased flows of material support for insurgents in Iraq, in particular the super IEDs that have been so devastating to our troops. But the questions remain: how long Iran reign in their interference in Iraq?

As I have been in prior meetings, I was very impressed with General Petraeus’s grasp of the military situation in Iraq. He was frank and forthright with us, and I appreciated hearing his thoughts.

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CODEL Iraq: Meeting a Hero from the National Guard

Adam Schiff — 01/09/2008 13:17

It’s Saturday afternoon in Iraq, and we just met with members of the Indiana National Guard that are serving in Baghdad. One the other Members on the trip, Rep. Joe Donnelly from Indiana, was very eager to say hello to the National Guard from his home state.

When we visit with the troops, they’re always glad to see us and listen to our well wishes from home. What’s really amazing is the impact that they have on us. I had a conversation with one of the Indiana Guardsmen that really inspired me. Here was a man who had served in Vietnam, and whose son had enlisted in the Indiana National Guard. When he found out that his son was being shipped off to Iraq, he went to enlist in the Indiana Guard himself so that he could accompany his son. When he was told by the National Guard that they didn’t need anyone of his high rank he said, “That doesn’t matter put me anywhere you need me.”

They found a slot for him that was several ranks below what his existing rank was and he said “that’s fine I’ll take it.” So he took a cut in rank, reenlisted to accompany his son to Iraq and the amazing thing is that his son, prior to deployment, broke his leg and was not able to deploy. However, the father was deployed. You might think that he would mildly regret all this, to put it lightly, having enlisted to be with his son and then being sent over alone. But that wasn’t the case at all. I asked him, “So you got sent over here by yourself?” And he said “Yes, that’s true. But you know it’s all good. It’s all good.”

He had the most positive attitude, I just could not have been more impressed. Talk about a wonderful patriot and a wonderful father. I think my conversation with him will stay with me for a very long time.

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CODEL Iraq: Refueling in Ireland

Adam Schiff — 01/09/2008 13:15

In late December, I traveled to Iraq as part of a Congressional delegation. We spent three days in Iraq, traveling broadly and meeting with a variety of U.S. officials from the Pentagon and the State Department. I also got to spend a great deal of time meeting and talking to the troops on the ground in Iraq - always an eye-opening and humbling experience. While there, I kept a journal of some of my thoughts and experiences. Enjoy, and as always, keep your eye on this blog for more thoughts as Congress begins it's 2008 session in a few short days.

Early Friday we left on a Congressional delegation (CODEL) to Iraq. It is my fourth to visit the troops and have the chance to personally assess the situation on the ground. This CODEL is chaired by Gene Taylor of Mississippi. As I write this, we are aboard a military jet on our way, packed with 50 gallons of good Mississippi gumbo and frozen shrimp that Gene is bringing along to provide a good holiday dinner for our troops. In the stowage hundreds of holiday cards from my constituents and about 100 music CDs produced by John Ondrasik of Five for Fighting. He put together a compilation with people like Billy Joel and others to provide some good free music for the troops.

We touched down in Shannon, Ireland to refuel on the way to Iraq. And there we were treated to a meeting with about 100 soldiers returning from 15 months in Iraq. Shannon is a pretty common transit point. These men and women, after spending the last year and half in Iraq, are now finally on their way home just in time for the holidays. They were walking on air. You could tell they had been counting down the days for 15 months and now they were only 12 hours away from home. It was really a vicarious thrill to watch them play poker in the airport lounge and enjoy a beer or each other’s company. You could see their excitement for the homecoming reception they were about to get.

I talked to one young soldier – they all seemed pretty young to me – who told me he was on his second tour of duty in Iraq. He had done an 18 month tour, which started out as a year tour and got extended another 6 months. He had gone back home and then was sent out to Iraq for another 15 months. He was an MP, but part of his responsibilities as a Military Policeman was as a driver. I mentioned to him that I think that being a driver in Iraq has to be one of the most dangerous jobs. His answer was “Well, I’m not going to lie to you, there was little of that, certainly.”

He then went on to tell me that in his first tour, of 18 months, the vehicle he was driving was hit by improvised explosive devices or rocket-propelled grenades a total of 7 times. On his more recent tour he had been lucky to be only hit twice. He also talked to me about how different the reaction was on his second tour when he got hit compared to the first tour. During the first tour, commanding officers pretty much told him to shake it off - that he was alright. But on the second tour, they took the injuries much more seriously and made sure he had a chance to recuperate and get some time away from driving. He is heading back home and is going to get his hearing checked out. When he gets home he will get some good medical attention, and hopefully everything will check out alright.

But he also mentioned that he had just reenlisted for another 4 years. It just takes your breath away – these men and women, the kind of sacrifices we are asking of them, the kind of job they are doing and their willingness to re-up. I told all this to one of the military liaisons traveling with us, he said, “you know you [meaning Congress] need to do something about this. We are just breaking these folks, they are spending so much time away from home. We are breaking up their families. We are putting enormous strain on the institution of the Army.” I think the liaison was is right. You can only sustain this for so long. But we are awfully lucky, we’ve got people like this young soldier who are willing to do two tours like that and then go on and re-up, like he’s doing.

It really takes away your breath to meet them and it was wonderful to watch these guys and women as they were now only 12 hours from home after being away for so long and being under such stress. One of them told me that it would take him a while to readjust when he got home. That he had gone home for a two week leave, most of these soldiers only got two weeks during those 15 months to come home, on his leave it was kind of difficult to adjust to not being in a real stressful environment where you are worried about getting killed all the time. He said its not that the outside world is completely stress free, but that it was a very different kind of stress and it was really a walk in the park compared to what he is used to. Then he joked that he is looking forward to going home and paying some bills and paying the mortgage. So when I said goodbye, I wished him well and told him to enjoy paying those bills.

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House Committee Passes Rim of the Valley Legislation

Adam Schiff — 11/16/2007 12:51

The House Resources Committee last week passed a bill I authored called the Rim of the Valley Corridor Study Act, which would analyze an expansion of the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area to include the Rim of the Valley. These are the mountains that surround the 29th Congressional District and neighboring areas.

It is because that Congress back in the 1970's had the foresight to establish the recreation area that we now have these beautiful open space areas to enjoy and for our kids and their kids and subsequent generations.

We need to have the same foresight now. As Los Angeles and Southern California continue to grow, this open space is very precious. If we don’t act to protect it now and figure out how to best manage those resources, it will be gone.

The Rim of the Valley Study Act is a measure that I’ve been working with Senator Feinstein on for some years. We’ve had it pass the Senate and pass the House Resources Committee, but never pass both houses at the same time. This session I hope will be different, and I think it will. The passage in the House Resources Committee is a great start, and we look forward to taking it up on the House Floor in the near future. I’m confident that once we do, we can gain passage in the Senate and finally send it off to the President’s desk.

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Honoring Our Veterans

Adam Schiff — 11/13/2007 18:34

This past weekend we celebrated Veterans Day. I just want to express my deep gratitude to all the men and women in uniform and their families for the sacrifices they are making on behalf of our country.

I’ve had a chance to visit our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan several times. I couldn’t be more impressed with their courage, their dedication and their patriotism. So I hope we’ll all take some time to think about those who are away from their families, who are very much in harms way, and who are defending freedom and doing their duty.

I take my hat off to them and hope you took the opportunity as I did this past Veterans Day weekend to thank the veterans for their service and thank the family members as well. It’s a shared sacrifice for military families who often don’t have their loved ones with them for holidays or for long periods of time. We owe a tremendous debt to the people serving this country so this is a good opportunity to thank them but it’s an opportunity we should take each and every week, not just on Veterans Day weekend.

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Hosting a Telephone Townhall

Adam Schiff — 10/31/2007 16:47

Last Tuesday, I hosted my second telephone town hall. Telephone town halls are a new technology that let me host an extensive conference call with many of my constituents. It’s a great example of how technology helps me keep the lines of communication open even when I am stuck in Washington with votes. Of course I host plenty of the old fashioned town hall meetings in the district, along with "Coffees with your Congressman" (hope to see you at one soon!) and other events, and the telephone will never replace that. But it’s another way we can be in touch. On this most recent call, several hundred of you were on the line with me during most of the hour, and many more listened in for a brief period. Really incredible.

Best of all, the calls, just like this blog, are a two-way street. Rather than just listening to me talk for an hour, constituents can press a button and ask a question, and many people did just that. We took questions on everything from global warming to veterans’ health care. We heard from one constituent from Pasadena named Kathleen, whose son is a Marine serving in Iraq. Obviously, that situation is difficult enough for any parent, but Kathleen has faced the added stress that her son is getting inadequate supplies in Iraq, and she has had to supplement his equipment from her own pocket. We already ask those serving in the Armed Forces, as well as their families, to sacrifice so much. I’ll be following up with Kathleen to see if there’s anything I can do to help her and her son, and we’ll keep beating the drum in Washington for greater support for our men and women in uniform

If I haven’t called you yet to join in one of our telephone town halls, you’ll be hearing from me soon, but if you want to ensure that you’re included in the next call, email me your phone number by clicking here.

– when they’re serving and after they return to civilian life.

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Assistance for Families Impacted by the Fires

Adam Schiff — 10/25/2007 10:04

The wildfires that have claimed hundreds of square miles of Southern California have been devastating for our state and our communities. I join with all Californians in praising the efforts of our fire crews and expressing my concern for the victims.

These fires have caused immeasurable damage, but in events like this we are always reminded about the resiliency and generosity of the American people. There has been an overwhelming outpouring of support for all those who have been devastated by the fires. Just as Americans heeded the call to action after the tragic events of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, we are again seeing the same generosity in response to Southern California’s wildfires. This is a shared responsibility, and Californians and people from around the country are pitching in to do their part.

To that end, my office is trying to do its part too, and we are available to assist fire victims regardless of where they reside. If you or a member of your family has been affected by the fires and need help locating shelter or applying for federal assistance, please call my office at 626-304-2727.

Thank you, and we will get through this together.

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A Look Back As House Committee Considers Armenian Genocide Resolution

Adam Schiff — 10/10/2007 11:59

Today, the House Commitee on Foreign Affairs will be considering H.Res. 106, a resolution I have introduced recognizing the Armenian Genocide which occured in the early part of the 20th Century. Earlier this year, I questioned Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice about the Administration's opposition to the Armenian Genocide Resolution. I encourage you to take the time to listen to the exchange by watching the youtube video linked below. I strongly believe that the passage of this resolution helps give us the moral authority to confront modern genocide, like the events in Darfur. If the Committee votes affirmatively, the resolution would be reported to the House Floor, where I hope it will finally recieve a vote of the full House of Representatives. Keep your eye on the blog for more comments on this as we move forward.

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A Fresh Look At Security

Adam Schiff — 10/03/2007 17:21

Today, an op-ed I authored on the importance of taking a fresh and comprehensive look at U.S. national security, and previewing legislation on that subject that I am hoping to introduce later this year was published in The Hill. You can read a few paragraphs below, or click here for the entire piece on the The Hill's website.

"In little more than a year, the American people will elect a new president – one who will face a plethora of national security challenges. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will almost certainly continue to occupy a lot of the new administration’s time, as will the campaign to destroy al Qaeda and its progeny. There are, however, a host of new and emerging national security challenges that will alter the global landscape and require new policies and tools.

"Since the 9/11 attacks American policymakers have been focused on the challenge posed by radical Islam and the need to defeat al Qaeda and other groups bent on bringing sophisticated terrorism to America’s cities. The struggle against al Qaeda and the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which has become a protracted, bloody and complicated conflict, have taxed our armed forces and absorbed enormous amounts of time and attention from the most senior officials in our government."

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AIDS Funding for Africa

Adam Schiff — 10/03/2007 16:37

This afternoon I had the chance to sit down with Bono of U2 to discuss AIDS funding in Africa. He came to thank the Appropriations Subcommittee on State Department and Foreign Operations for our support on this issue, and it was a treat to meet someone who is not only enormously talented musically, but who is genuinely committed to philanthropy and moreover, is very successful at as well. He is the real deal.

Some entertainers may get involved in charitable causes to burnish their public image, but this is definitely not the case with Bono. His grasp of the issues, his knowledge of how this aid is used, and his suggestions about how to improve the effectiveness of the aid are all right on the mark. In fact, he was recommending to us a book that he just read that was very critical of foreign aid because much of it is misspent. He thought the book would help us to spend our resources more wisely and cost-effectively.

So it was a treat. My colleagues and I were kidding about how this may be the one thing this year that makes us “cool” in the eyes of our kids.

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New Community Outreach

Adam Schiff — 09/26/2007 10:06

This week, I hosted my first telephone town hall meeting. I am always looking for new and interesting ways to keep in contact with the people of the 29th Congressional District, and this telephonic meeting is my latest effort in that respect.

The telephone town hall is essentially a large conference call that enables me to speak with hundreds of people at the same time. The call lasted about an hour, and I was able to answer questions on a wide variety of issues. It was great to hear from so many people about the issues that matter to them most. The questions ranged from local issues such as the management of area hospitals to international issues such as trade relations with China – and questions everywhere in between.

I really enjoyed this new format, and it was very convenient for those who participated. Many of the callers who participated mentioned that it is hard for them to find the time to make it to the town hall meetings I host in person throughout the district. However, this conference call style meeting provides them an opportunity they wouldn’t otherwise -- to meet while in the comfort of their own homes -- and ask me questions and share their thoughts on important issues.

I intend to host more of these telephone town halls and welcome your participation. If you are interested in participating in my next telephone town hall please email me your contact info by clicking here or calling my district office at 626-304-2727.

If you are interested in listening to a recording of last night’s telephone town hall, please click here. If you were able to participate in the call, I encourage you to comment below and let me know what you thought.

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Introducing an Important Bill to Keep our Community Safe

Adam Schiff — 09/20/2007 16:16

This week, I introduced legislation to address the growing gang problem throughout the country. The bill is a new effort to invest in proactive, preventive measures to keep kids out of trouble. It also provides prosecutors with additional tools to take those who continue to commit violent gang crimes off the street. The bill is called the Gang Prevention, Intervention and Suppression Act, H.R. 3547.

It is a natural follow-up to an effort I made when I was a State Senator. At that time, working with then Assembly member Tony Cardenas, I introduced the Schiff-Cardenas Crime Prevention Act of 2000. That bill for the first time invested as much in prevention as it did in suppression. We matched the amount of funding we were investing to put additional cops on the street with an equal amount in preventive work to keep kids out of trouble to begin with. RAND later did a study of the effectiveness of this approach, and found that it was very successful.

In the Gang Prevention, Intervention and Suppression Act, we are also providing an equal amount for up-front prevention as we do for efforts to suppress crime. The legislation also creates new criminal gang offenses that prohibit the recruitment of street gangs and targets gangs that recruit children. It enhances penalties for repeat gang offenses and establishes penalties for violence committed in drug trafficking related crimes. It makes other changes as well to the federal criminal code to more effectively deter and punish violence by criminal street gangs. Most significantly, it provides substantial new resources for community based organizations that have a proven track record of keeping kids out of trouble. Please take a look at the bill, which you can find by clicking here, and share your thoughts on this very important problem.

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Recognizing Heroic Journalists

Adam Schiff — 09/20/2007 16:12

This week I attended an event sponsored by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). I am proud to serve as an advisory council member for NED’s Center for International Media Assistance. The Endowment was recognizing four journalists from around the world who have demonstrated the courage to report activities going on in their home countries and who have placed their own lives at risk in order to do so.

One of the awards was presented posthumously to Anna Politkovskaya, a Russian journalist who was gunned down in a contract murder after spending years writing about the Chechnyan conflict. Her murder, like most murders of journalists in Russia, has gone unresolved. Over the last several years there have been more than a dozen murders of Russian journalists and as the Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus for Freedom of the Press, I devoted an entire hour of floor time just a couple months ago to highlighting those Russian journalists who bravely gave up their lives. One of Anna Politkovskaya’s colleagues attended the NED event to receive the award on her behalf and gave a very moving speech about how lonely she and her colleagues were after Anna’s loss. She spoke about how much they felt at odds with the power structure in Russia, but how heartened they have been with the words of support coming form all around the world. This support buoyed them up and gave them hope for their future and Russia’s as well.

There were other journalists acknowledged at the event that I was also privileged to meet. I had the opportunity to present an award to Hisham Kassem, a brave Egyptian journalist who has shown great dedication to his craft as the writer and publisher of the main and perhaps only independent publication in Egypt. We were also inspired to hear comments of other awardees from Venezuela and Thailand. Their superb work must be a catalyst to us in Congress and throughout our country to support press freedom at home and abroad.

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Implementing the 9/11 Recommendations

Adam Schiff — 08/03/2007 13:18

During the last weeks before a summer recess, the Congress is always a very busy place. We’ve been working most nights until ten, eleven or midnight, having votes throughout the night.

One of the important bills that we just passed was a measure implementing all of the 9/11 Commission recommendations. This was H.R. 1, and among other things, it strengthened the screening of commercial cargo on passenger planes. This is an issue that I have worked on for years and it was essential that we finally address the problem.

It may come as a surprise to many people that although you have to take your shoes off when you go through the metal detector, half of the cargo in the hold of your plane is commercial cargo and most of that is not screened for explosives. So you might ship a crate the size of a piano which never gets looked into, but you have to take your shoes off. It doesn’t make much sense. Part of the problem is that we are still fighting the last battle -- preparing against hijackings -- rather than considering the next possible means of attack. It was just this lack of imagination that the 911 Commission warned against.

This bill would get us to 100 % screening of commercial cargo in passenger jets within 3 years. It also requires the scanning of containers bound for the United States in foreign ports for nuclear material. Obviously if that material gets into the United States, it’s probably too late to stop a catastrophe. So we want to enact much more stringent port security requirements at foreign ports and ensure that nuclear material is not being smuggled into the United States.

The bill also makes a substantial investment in communications interoperability between first responders. This has been a big problem with police and fire and community workers not being able to communicate with each other after an emergency. In our own district, Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena and other cities have been leading the way in forming their own interoperable communications system, a platform called ISIS, for which I have been helped obtain federal funding. But this is a need all around the country. Even in our district which is way ahead of the curve, the financial investment has been onerous. But we need to permit our emergency workers to be able to respond to each other and to talk to each other on the same equipment. The 9/11 bill will provide substantial funding to do exactly that.

There are a couple other items that are also key in this bill. One major change is made to way we give homeland security grants. Rather than giving every state a similar amount regardless of the fact that some states don’t have much risk of terrorist attack and others are key targets, this bill would devote resources in the greatest amounts to the highest priority targets. This will mean additional resources for target rich cities like Los Angeles.

There are many other important reforms in this bill, and if you would like a more exhaustive list, click here.

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House Expands Health Care Coverage for Kids

Adam Schiff — 08/02/2007 18:00

Last night, we passed the CHAMP Act, the Children’s Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007, which will expand health care for millions of uninsured kids throughout the United States.

This is such an essential priority for our country. In a nation that is as wealthy as ours, the fact that we don’t provide healthcare for all of our kids, let alone all of our adults, is inexplicable. The legislation that passed today, and that I was proud to support, will go a long distance towards making sure that all those kids get medical coverage.

There is nothing that I can imagine that would be worse as a parent than to have a sick child and not be able to provide them with healthcare. So I’m delighted that the bill has passed.

But we did more than extend healthcare to millions of kids, we did something we haven't done very often in the last several years -- we paid for it. In the past, we just borrowed money we didn’t have when we wanted to fund any new investment. But the extension of healthcare in the CHAMP Act is paid for. It wasn't easy to find the money to pay for it, but what we are doing is making sure we are not overpaying insurance companies under Medicare for the prescription drugs they’re providing. Moreover, we also had to raise revenues from the sale of cigarettes – this will not only raise funds for children's healthcare, but it will also save tens of thousands of lives and billions in future healthcare costs by preventing more than a million kids from taking up smoking and by reducing adult smoking.

For those who might not be familiar with the CHIP program, it was created in 1997 with broad bipartisan support. This year 6 million kids will have healthcare because of CHIP. SCHIP, as it’s called in California, provides healthcare for kids in low-income families that make too much to qualify for MediCal but not enough to provide healthcare to their children and that are not provided health care through their employer. The majority of uninsured children are eligible for coverage under CHIP or Medicaid, but better outreach and funding is required to find them and enroll them. This legislation will provide healthcare coverage to 5 million kids who are eligible for but not currently enrolled in the program. So I think we made a major step forward with the passage of this bill today in making sure that no child in America goes without health care.

I also thought you might interested in reading my floor statement on this bill, which can be accessed by clicking here.

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Increase in the Minimum Wage

Adam Schiff — 07/24/2007 16:30

Today millions of Americans will receive a raise from the first increase to the federal minimum wage in over a decade. This increase to the minimum wage marks an important step in ensuring every American is paid a livable wage for an honest day’s work.

The law that goes into effect today increases the minimum wage by $2.10 – from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour over two years. Today, the minimum wage increased 70 cents to $5.85 an hour. It will jump to $6.55 a year from today and rise to $7.25 the following year.

I spoke in support of this legislation on the House Floor a few months ago when we were debating the bill. I thought you might be interested in my remarks, which follow.

“Mr. Speaker, today we have the opportunity to raise the wages of 13 million Americans, and we should take it.

“Why raise the minimum wage in America? For the simple reason that men and women in the richest Nation on Earth should not work full time and still be relegated to living in poverty. What does it mean for the father or mother in a family of three to live on the current minimum wage? It means an income of $10,000 a year.

“Imagine living in Glendale, Burbank or Pasadena, or any city in America, and trying to get by on $10,000 a year. A raise in the minimum wage will be an additional $4,000 for that family of three. It will mean more groceries on the table and a greater opportunity to get health care. It will mean potentially pulling that family out of poverty. It is the right thing to do. We have the opportunity today to make that happen for millions, and we should take it.”

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Press Freedom in Guatemala

Adam Schiff — 07/09/2007 11:19

Last session I formed a new caucus within the House of Representatives, a bipartisan bicameral caucus on freedom of the press. The point of bringing together Members of Congress on this issue was to highlight some of the problems that journalists are facing around the world. There are many journalists who are murdered every year and others that are falsely imprisoned. Often when journalists are killed, their killers receive de facto immunity because they are never brought to justice.

On World Press Freedom Day, I hosted a special order hour on the House floor where we profiled many of the journalists that have been murdered in Russia over the last several years. Russia is the most dangerous place to be a journalist. China is the largest prison for journalists. Cuba is the second largest prison for journalists. It’s my hope that through this caucus we can bring greater attention to these journalists who are struggling around the world to provide valuable news and reporting often at the risk of their own personal safety.

Recently, I met with the Guatemalan Ambassador to discuss some of the press freedom issues in his country. One journalist from Guatemala had raised with me death threats that he had received over the radio during his live broadcast. And there have been several other journalists who have received threats, been beaten or been shot to death in the last several years.

Guatemala has made some strides forward. The Guatemalan government recently abolished provisions of their criminal code that criminalized libel, which allowed the government to sentence people to jail for what they printed or said. That was a step forward, but the number of assaults on journalists has more than doubled in the last couple years and I had the chance to raise these concerns with the Ambassador.

This is one of the things that I hope we can do through the caucus - confront governments around the world with the problems that journalists are facing in those countries and bring some scrutiny to these problems. Hopefully, we can bring some action by the host governments that is positive and constructive.

Those counties that have a free press tend to have the most well-established rule of law, the greatest amount of transparency, the least amount of corruption, and the greatest amount of investment in economic growth. These positive attributes tend to go hand-in-hand, although not always. We’re seeing very strong economic growth in Russia, for example, despite the crackdown on the press. China, too, is an example of the exception rather than the rule.

But by and large, a free press is one of the prerequisites to strong economic growth, particularly growth that is shared by a broad cross-section of the population. Our caucus’ effort will continue, and I look forward to raising my concern over the plight of journalists with other ambassadors and other countries, highlighting problems on the House floor, and working on legislative solutions as well.

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Fighting for Greater Transparency in Campaigns

Adam Schiff — 06/29/2007 16:36

Last week, I introduced legislation, the Campaign Expenditure Transparency Act, to outlaw a practice which I think is a growing problem within the Congress. Elected officials and candidates are currently allowed to employ their spouses or family members on their campaigns, and, by doing so, can direct a lot of their campaign funds to their own families.

I think this process is most problematic when it involves officeholders who employ their spouse on a commission basis and therefore get a return on everything they raise. The bill that I introduced, which is supported by a number of government reform organizations, would prohibit candidates or officeholders from employing their spouse and being paid out of the campaign payroll to do any type of work.

It would also require other family members such as parents, brother-in-laws, sister-in-laws, children, or grandchildren, who are employed by the campaign to be disclosed in filings with the Federal Elections Campaign Commission so that we can shed more light on this practice. I don’t wish to imply that any officeholder who has had a family member work on their campaign has done so improperly - some family members are talented graphic artists, printers, or born file vendors. But the practice has led to abuse and certainly created an appearance - if not a reality - of impropriety in many cases.

It may be that ultimately we need to abolish that too, but I think we need to begin by prohibiting the most direct conflict of interest, and that is incumbents and candidates paying their spouse and therefore paying themselves out of campaign proceeds.

I hope the House takes up this bill very soon. It has the strong support of the leadership in the House. It’s a bipartisan bill, and I think it’s the type of reform that is, regrettably, very necessary.

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Space Shuttle Launch

Adam Schiff — 06/25/2007 18:35

Recently, I had the opportunity to go down to Florida to watch the shuttle, Atlantis, takeoff on a mission to replace and expand some of the solar panels on the International Space Station. It was an incredible sight.

We were in a building approximately three miles from where the shuttle was on its launch pad, which is about as close as they’ll let you get. When you go to one of the launches, you never know whether you are actually going to see the shuttle take off -- often the launches are scrubbed because of weather or technical problems. So there’s a lot of anticipation as you make the trip down to Florida and wait for several hours in the hope that the conditions will be right for a successful launch.

Eventually you get down to liftoff time, and the anticipation is just intense. Finally, you see the smoke start to billow from the bottom of the shuttle, and you begin to feel the rumble as it starts to liftoff, and you watch that shuttle take flight – it’s just amazing. And when the shuttle starts moving away from you, and the exhaust of the shuttle is pointed in your direction, the intense vibration that you feel is staggering. What it must be like to ride on the top of that controlled explosion, I cannot imagine. But those astronauts certainly have more than their share of bravery to get aboard that craft.

After the shuttle took off, we watched it disappear into the sky. We kept our eyes on it as long as we could and just cheered. And then another amazing thing happened: The exhaust plume of the shuttle, because of the wind direction and the shifting wind currents, formed an incredible pattern in the sky. It looked like a work of art produced by one of those childhood Spirograph kits -- beautifully symmetrical and interwoven like a complicated ribbon.

The whole experience was just magnificent. I think anyone that goes and watches a shuttle liftoff can’t help but be awed by what some of our nation’s best and brightest are capable of doing. That we could put together a team so brilliant that they could design a shuttle or any kind of a rocket to liftoff, to take people into orbit, to take them beyond orbit and to the moon (and one day to Mars we hope) is just an extraordinary accomplishment.

I couldn’t help but feel very proud, not only of the space program, but of our country in general that we have the capability of still doing these marvelous things, and I hope even more marvelous things in the future.

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Rep. Schiff Meets with President Uribe of Columbia

Adam Schiff — 06/19/2007 18:25

Recently, I had a meeting with President Uribe of Columbia, along with several of my Blue Dog Democratic colleagues. We raised several issues at the meeting – everything from the proposed Columbian free trade agreement to the violence between the FARC para-military squads and government forces. We discussed the cases of specific people who had been kidnapped and were still being held by FARC, and whose whereabouts were still unknown. And I raised the issue of the enormous amount that the U.S. is spending on the anti-drug effort in Columbia. I acknowledged that a big part of the drug problem was our responsibility – our domestic demand for cocaine and other drugs that was driving a lot of the funding for drug cultivation in Colombia.

But, at the same time, not withstanding our efforts to interdict drug smuggling or to eradicate drug-cultivation in Columbia, the price and availability of illegal drugs in our country has remained pretty much unaffected. We have spent hundreds of millions of dollars of U.S. tax-payer funds in Columbia, and we still haven’t seen any real decrease in the quantity or the price of illegal drugs on American streets. I asked the President, very candidly, what I should tell constituents and tax-payers about whether that investment was worthwhile or whether we ought to take the funds and invest them in reducing demand here at home. The President responded by talking about the progress he felt that he was making in Columbia to dismantle the narco-economy, and he pointed to what he thought were some real indicators they were succeeding.

Despite his best efforts, however, I don’t feel that he adequately responded to the question of why the availability and the price of illegal drugs have not been affected in the United States. He also did not address whether the expenditures we’re making on interdiction and suppression in Columbia would be better spent on suppressing demand here at home through interdiction and drug treatment efforts. Perhaps, in fairness to President Uribe, I was asking him to advocate against Colombia’s interests, but if there was an effective counter argument, he did not make it.

I prefaced my question to the President by acknowledging that he has one of the toughest jobs in the Western Hemisphere and I didn’t envy the difficulty of running the Columbian government. At the same time, I serve on the Foreign Operations subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee and we have to decide whether the investment we are making in Colombia is achieving the desired result. If it is not, we cannot continue a failing policy.

I believe that we ought to make a much greater investment in our domestic efforts to reduce the demands for illegal drugs. Nothing I heard in our meeting really persuaded me that the U.S. would see much relief from the drug problem by virtue of our expenditures in Columbia on interdiction or eradication. It may assist President Uribe’s efforts in Columbia and it may have an impact on the narco-economy, but that still may do little to affect the availability of illegal drugs in the United States.

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House Passes Stem Cell Research Legislation

Adam Schiff — 06/08/2007 10:35

Yesterday, I was proud to vote in favor of legislation that would provide federal funding for stem cell research. This legislation passed with bipartisan support and provides millions of Americans with hope for life-saving cures.

Stem cell research has the potential to affect nearly every family in our district. More than 100 million Americans suffer from cancer, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, diabetes, spinal cord injuries and other debilitating diseases and disorders for which embryonic stem cell research holds great promise in finding new and better treatments and cures. Everyone knows someone who could potentially benefit from the treatments that scientists are developing, even if they themselves are not immediately affected.

Back in 2001, the President issued restrictions on which stem cell research could receive federal funds. Most of the stem cell lines authorized for federally-funded research under the President's policy are no longer useful for research. The bill we passed on Thursday would expand the federal funding of embryonic stem cell research by lifting the restrictions on the embryonic stem cell lines that can be used for federally-funded research. The legislation takes precautions against unethical activities by ensuring that federal research funds are only used for stem cell lines generated from embryos that would otherwise be discarded by fertility clinics. The bill also creates an ethical framework, under the aegis of the National Institutes of Health, that must be followed in conducting this research.

This was not the first time Congress has passed legislation dealing with stem cell research. A similar stem cell research bill passed the Congress last year in the 109th Congress with my support, but unfortunately it was vetoed by the president in July 2006.

This week, news of interesting new developments in stem cell research was reported. We see these stories often, and some of them deal with embryonic stem cells, and others with stem cells derived from other sources, such as umbilical cords. I do not know where the scientific research will lead, because this is a science that is on the cutting edge. No one can accurately predict its direction. What I do know is that it is wrong for Congress or the President to prejudge which scientific avenues are most likely to yield cures to diseases like diabetes and Parkinson's. Given the millions of lives at stake, I believe that it is crucial that we pursue all avenues, within ethical guidelines, to find the next generation of treatments and, we hope, cures.

The American people clearly support research funding and the use of embryonic stem cells to address some of our most debilitating diseases. This research has the support of more than 70 percent of Americans and I hope that, this year, the President will give this bill a fresh look and reconsider his veto threat. It is time this groundbreaking research is allowed to move forward. Life saving cures are on the line and this critical legislation needs to be signed into law.

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Meeting with Justice Stephen Breyer

Adam Schiff — 05/25/2007 09:29

Two years ago, Representative Judy Biggart of Illinois and I formed the Bipartisan Caucus on the Judiciary – to try and improve relations between Congress and the courts. The relations between the two branches of government had reached a really low ebb. Congress was constantly attacking the courts, and a lot of the resources the courts needed to maintain their quality and independence were being withheld by Congress.

Chief Justice Rehnquist, in his year-end report at that time, expressed the opinion that the relationship with Congress had reached the lowest point in his memory. So Judy and I went to see the Chief Justice, told him about our efforts in the House and invited him to come speak to our new caucus. He readily accepted and was the first of the Justices to come and meet with us. Thereafter, we had Justices Sandra Day O’Conner, Souter, Roberts and this past week, Stephen Breyer over to visit.

Justice Breyer was very down-to-earth, and very informal. We talked about the need to have better relations between our two institutions, and the need for the courts to do a better job of informing the public about how the courts work. I encouraged the Justice to emphasize among the lower court judges, the need for jduges to get out into the community, to the Rotaries, the Kiwanis, the Lions, the Zonta, and the other service organizations – and talk about their jobs, about what they do, and about the separation of powers, so that the public will better understand the nature of the judiciary and the necessity to maintain that strong and independent branch of government. We also shared a few reminiscences about our days in law school -- his as a professor and mine as a wayward student. Okay, I wasn't that wayward, but I somehow managed to take classes in music and write a novel instead of a thesis (not good enough for publication I assure you). He taught at least one of my House colleagues and as I told his former student, "I hope he's a better justice than he was a professor considering how you turned out." (I'm sure he would say the same about me.)

In any event, I hope that through these informal get-togethers that each institution comes to have a better appreciation for the other. One of the issues we are working on in the Congress now is the issue of judicial salaries. Judicial salaries have not kept pace with inflation. Most Supreme Court law clerks, like those currently clerking for Justice Breyer, will leave their one-year clerkship and go off to a big firm and have a salary in their first year higher than the Justices make. We are seeing a lot of judges leaving the bench to go off into private practice, or to go into private judging, and it is having a deleterious effect, I believe, on the quality of the judges that we are likely to get in the future.

I’m hoping that we can do two things this session. One, that we can de-link judicial salaries from congressional salaries. They have been joined at the hip for years, and because congressional salaries have not kep pace with inflation, judicial salaries have also been limited. Severing the link between judicial salaries and congressional salaries will allow us to raise the judicial salaries to a level of compensation that is more competitive with the private sector, and in that way retain the best judges. Secondly, I hope we can institute some form of a cost-of-living adjustment for judges, so that we don’t need to continue to have this fight in Congress. But this is just one of the areas that we are exploring through our caucus on the judicial branch. I look forward to meeting with other members of the Supreme Court, as well as lower court judges, and state court judges and the insights they share on our co-equal branch.

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Discussing Nuclear Terrorism with Peter Bergen

Adam Schiff — 05/22/2007 13:34

Last week the Democratic Study Group on National Security invited Peter Bergen, a consultant for CNN, to come and talk with us about the changing nature of Al-Qaeda. I co-founded the Study Group a couple years ago to help formulate national security policy. Peter gave a presentation on what Al-Qaeda will look like in 5 years and what the principal threats to the United States may be in the near future. It was really a fascinating discussion and a lot of his conclusions were counter-intuitive.

For example, he expressed the view that it wasn’t the graduates of the Madrasas that would be the primary concern to us in the United States, but rather the graduates of the London School of Economics. And by that he meant that when you look at the terrorists who have attacked western targets over the last decade or two – going back to the first World Trade Center bombing, the bombings in London, Madrid and elsewhere – most of these bombers were college graduates.

Our primary danger, he explained, may come from the many disenchanted, alienated immigrants to Europe from Muslim countries, who are radicalized over the internet, receive terrorist training, and are sent to the United States. These well-educated Europeans, he believes, are the most potentially dangerous Al-Qaeda recruits.

He also discussed an issue that’s of keen importance to me and an issue I have focused on ever since I came to Congress. That is the asymmetrical threat to end all asymmetrical threats: the prospect that terrorists get nuclear material and fashion a nuclear or radiological weapon. If a nuclear weapon were to be used, all the debates we have over civil liberties, the PATRIOT Bill, the NSA surveillance program, etc., would be moot. If a nuclear bomb is used here on American soil or against our troops in the field, we would become a radically different country overnight. And the loss of life would be unimaginable.

Bergen expressed the view, which I share, that access to nuclear material is far too easy, and that is all the more true for radiological weapons. That’s the kind of radioactive material that you would use for a “dirty bomb.” We both believe that there’s a lot more that needs to be done to prevent a nuclear weapon or nuclear material from falling into the wrong hands. I’m currently working on a number of bills to deal with the nuclear threat. The first measure that I introduced just a week ago would make the transfer of nuclear material or technology a crime against humanity. The theory of that bill is that the repercussions of the use of a nuclear weapon are so severe; we can’t wait until after it happens to prosecute someone for committing crimes against humanity. Rather, we should make the intermediate step of transferring technology or material to terrorists, in and of itself, a crime against humanity. That will raise the stakes and it will heighten the stigma attached to nuclear trafficking in a way that is more reflective of the danger to humanity that it truly represents.

I’m also working on legislation that I hope to introduce in the next week or so to help us identify the radioactive blueprints of different materials, so that when we do catch smugglers in the act, we can trace back the material. For nations like North Korea, it is important that they know we can trace material back to them should they ever sell it to terrorists. This is the only way that we can hope to deter nations from engaging in this horrendously destructive trade. Right now we may not be able to trace material back to its source with great confidence, and much of the deterrent value is lost if we can’t identify the home address of black market nuclear material. I’m also working on legislation which will identify the most vulnerable sites of nuclear material and get them cleaned up far faster than we’re doing. I will be certain to keep you posted on my progress on these and other legislative efforts to deal with what I believe is the greatest security threat facing the country – nuclear terrorism.

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Breakfast With Your Congressman

Adam Schiff — 05/14/2007 15:40

Recently, I started a new practice in the office that I wanted to tell you about – it’s called “Breakfast with Your Congressman.” When you come to Washington D.C. – whether you’re coming here to talk with me about an issue, or coming here as part of an organization that’s making an annual trip to the Capitol, or if you’re coming here just to tour Washington – I hope you’ll come and join me for breakfast. I am now hosting a breakfast for constituents almost every Wednesday morning. So when you call and set up a time to visit or go on a tour, you might think about coming by for our 9 am Wednesday breakfast with your Congressman. The tour will leave at 10 o’clock. It gives me a chance to say “hello” to folks from the district that are visiting Washington, and also gives you the chance to raise any issues with me that you might like. So give our office a call when you’re planning on coming to Washington D.C., let us take you on a tour of the Capitol, and I hope you’ll come and join me for breakfast on a Wednesday morning.

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Questioning Attorney General Gonzalez

Adam Schiff — 05/11/2007 15:15

Yesterday, I had the chance to question Attorney General Gonzales during the Judiciary Committee’s Hearing on the firings of the U.S. Attorneys around the country. You can watch our exchange below:

I focused my questions on the Attorney General’s conversations with Senator Domenici of New Mexico. The Attorney General had testified in the Senate that he spoke with Sen. Domenici three times. First in the fall of 2005, and then twice in early 2006. During those conversations he claimed that the Senator took issue with U.S. Attorney Iglesias’s performance in two respects – one that he was in over his head, and two that he lacked the adequate resources to prosecute corruption cases. Yet, when I asked him about his visit in July of 2006 to New Mexico to meet with Mr. Iglesias, and whether he brought up the concerns that Sen. Domenici purportedly raised with him, the answer was no. He never made Mr. Iglesias aware of these concerns, never criticized his performance, and moreover, didn’t provide the resources that Sen. Domenici had supposedly asked for. In sum, I found the Attorney General’s testimony less than credible – on this score and others.

I also asked him about the representation by his spokesman, Mr. Roehrkasse, in March of this year, that in none of the conversation with Senator Domenici did the Attorney General raise any corruption cases. When I asked the Attorney General how he could square that with his testimony now – that Sen. Domenici raised that in each of the conversations – he claimed that the two were not inconsistent. The reality is that they are directly inconsistent, and reflect a willingness to play fast and loose with the facts.

I told the Attorney General that I spent six years in the Justice Department, that I loved my time in that department and the department itself, and that I was ill over what the Justice Department had become under his tenure. I also told him that to claim, as he did, that there was nothing improper in firing a U.S. Attorney – in firing a good prosecutor – for no other reason than to make way to put someone else there and pad their resume, for the Attorney General to say that reflected a level of disrespect towards his own staff that I found deeply disturbing. I told the Attorney General that I thought the department was broken, that I did not think that he was the one to fix it. I also told him that I thought he should resign. I have never called for a Cabinet official to resign in their presence, but by setting the bar for the department so low, I think the Attorney General left me no choice.

It may be one thing to say that the President has the power to fire a U.S. Attorney, notwithstanding how good their performance, to make room for somebody else. It may be another thing for him to say that it’s not illegal, and that the President has that power -- however inappropriate it would be to exercise for such reasons. But for an Attorney General whose first obligation is to the administration of justice to say that there is nothing improper about it, shows a level of disrespect for the department and a lack of any independence from the President. This is not the kind of leadership we have a right to expect from the nation's top law enforcement official.

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Honoring the Achievements of Ghazaros Kademian

Adam Schiff — 05/03/2007 10:37

This weekend I also went to a very special birthday party. A gentleman named Ghazaros Kademian celebrated his one hundredth birthday – and what a remarkable birthday it was. A survivor of the Armenian Genocide, he lost his father at a very young age, when his father was murdered by Turkish Gendarmes. He and his family were forced to flee on foot, in a deportation that took them all the way to Kirkuk. He lost his mother when she died one cold morning on the steps of a church, was disconnected from his siblings, and orphaned. He survived, prospered, immigrated to the United States, raised his family, helped them raise their families, and has now lived to celebrate 100 years.

His story, his courage and tenacity, his generosity towards others, is an incredible inspiration. When I think about the Genocide Resolution – and the importance of its passage in the Congress – I think about people like Ghazaros, who lost their whole family in the Armenian Genocide. And I think about the continuing injury to his family and to the memory of the loved ones he lost, caused by the continuing denial of that genocide.

It’s often difficult to appreciate the loss of a million and a half people – to get your mind around the enormity of that crime. Sometimes it is far easier to look at it at the level of a single human being. And when I sit down with Ghazaros Kademian, it becomes very personal and much easier to appreciate the significance of what took place between 1915 and 1923.

I hope we are successful in passing the Genocide Resolution this year – I believe we will be. It is still going to be a very difficult fight. But if not now, when? If after 92 years we don’t recognize the genocide, when will we? And how can we have the authority we need to condemn the genocide in Darfur, if we are unwilling to recognize other genocides that have gone on in the past?

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Walking for Autism Awareness

Adam Schiff — 05/03/2007 10:35

This weekend I participated in the annual Walk Now for Autism Awareness at the Pasadena Rose Bowl, and I was astounded by the attendance. I participated several years ago – when the event used to be held at Dodgers Stadium – and there were a few thousand people, as I recall, that would come. But this year there were over ten thousand people who attended and they raised $1.2 million to help combat autism.

When I spoke to some of the organizers about the growth of the event, I was really struck by what they said. The growth of attendance at the annual walk is, in part, a result of the merger of the two main organizations who have been active on autism issues in the past. But in larger part, the phenomenal growth of the event is reflective of the fact that autism is far more prevalent than it was just a few years ago. In fact, one in every one-hundred and fifty children in the United States is now diagnosed with autism. That is a ten-fold increase over the last ten years. And given that it had been perhaps five years since I last attended the kickoff, it makes sense that there would be five times as many people turning out for the event.

Participation in the Autism Walk was a very graphic illustration of just how many families are touched by autism, and how much really needs to be done to try and understand the causes, to explore new treatments, and to find a cure. Last year, I was proud to co-sponsor the Combat Autism Act, which authorized up to a billion dollars in funding for research and early diagnosis over the next five years. And now I hope that through my position on the Appropriations Committee, I can help in securing the funding needed to make that act meet its potential. Early diagnosis is so important – it leads to much more successful therapies. And of course, if there is a way we can prevent autism, or we succeed in finding a cure for those who have it – what a tremendous achievement that will be. I hope that one day there will be little need for an autism walk, but if this weekend’s event is any illustration, that is still many years away.

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Highlighting the Need for Press Freedom Around the World

Adam Schiff — 04/27/2007 11:03

This afternoon I sat down with Oscar Castañeda for a meeting in my office. Mr. Castañeda is a very brave radio journalist from Guatemala who has reported on corruption, tax evasion, and other problems going on in his country. One of his fellow journalists at the same radio station was shot recently as a result of his reporting. Oscar actually had the chilling experience of being on the air when a caller telephoned into the station and told him to drop the tax evasion investigation that he was reporting about and leave the country or it would be the end for him. And the very next day is when his colleague was shot.

This is unfortunately the kind of threats, intimidation and violence that a lot of journalists around the world confront. They risk of their own lives to report the facts. Last year I formed a bipartisan, bicameral caucus on freedom of the press around the world to highlight cases like that of Mr. Castañeda – to get the world to focus its attention on the need to support a free press. A free press is essential to democracy for several of reasons, not the least of which is that it roots out corruption and helps establish the rule of law. These are necessary preconditions to a functioning democracy. Through the Free Press Caucus, I hope to do everything I can to pressure our own Administration to make sure that journalists like Mr. Castañeda receive all the support and attention that we can provide. The caucus will also pressure host governments, like Guatemala, to do more to protect free expression and a free press.

May 3rd, is World Press Freedom Day – and I will be hosting a full hour on the House floor devoted to Russia. Unfortunately, Russia is the most dangerous place in the world to be a journalist. China is the largest prison for journalists; Cuba is probably the second largest prison. But Russia is the most dangerous place. We have seen a number of Russian journalists in the last several years murdered for doing their job. We need to call attention to this, we need to do more to protect these journalists, and we need to recognize that these are some of the most courageous people anywhere in the world. I hope you’ll tune in on CSPAN – we will try and give you advanced notice of when we do our special hour on “Press Freedom in Russia: Under Threat and Under Assault.” As always, I welcome your comments and your feedback.

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Traveling to Pakistan

Adam Schiff — 04/20/2007 16:19

This past week I traveled to Pakistan with a Congressional Delegation and had the opportunity to sit down with President Musharraf to discuss relations between Pakistan and India, and the ongoing effort to ferret out Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in the northwest portions of Pakistan along the Pakistan-Afghan border.

I was most concerned about the terrorist presence in the Northwest, and I had the chance to ask him about the counter-terrorism efforts going on in Pakistan. The President initially began the meeting by expressing concern among Pakistanis about the United States – that the fact, as he expressed it, was that the United States had been an inconsistent ally with Pakistan – that we had gone through periods of a close relationship with Pakistan, and then distant relationship. We had offered the sale of F-16 aircrafts and then, according to the President, reneged on that sale. And he wished to express the desire for a sustained positive relationship with the United States, but also to relay concerns that had been raised by his constituents about that relationship.

I took the opportunity to share with him some of the concerns that have been raised by many of you – my constituents. In particular, whether Pakistan had the will and the capability to go after these Al Qaeda terrorists that are enjoying the safe haven in these frontier provinces of Pakistan. It prompted a long discussion by President Musharraf.

He stated that he was very determined to go after the Taliban and Al Qaeda - that he had reached a pact with the local tribes in the area in an effort to empower those tribes to expel these unwanted guests. There is a strong tradition among the tribes of hospitality and of not kicking out a guest, no matter how unwelcome that guest becomes. The President argued that with this tribal agreement he was empowering the tribes to expel these unwanted guests, that he was strengthening a frontier paramilitary force – the Frontier Corps, as well as the Frontier Constabulary – but that the job was enormously difficult because the local population had completely supported the Taliban in that northwest province. But now as a result of this less heavy handed approach by the Pakistani government, the Taliban and foreign fighters in Pakistan were enjoying much less public support and only the support of a minority of the population. He cited as an example the fact that tribal chiefs and tribal militias had taken up arms to expel the Uzbeks – Uzbek foreign fighters that had been living and marrying into Pakistani families, but had now drawn the ire of the Pakistani tribal chiefs.

It was a fascinating interchange – I did not walk away completely convinced, by any means – but I was very impressed with President Musharraf. The decision by local chiefs to expel the Uzbeks may have more to do with local animosities than a sudden desire to take up the struggle agains’t terrorism. But the President is a very articulate man, a very bright man. He clearly has a firm grasp of the geo-political situation and is a force to be reckoned with.

The jury is still out, however, about whether the agreement he struck with the tribal chiefs is the right approach. In some respects Al Qaeda and the Taliban do enjoy safe haven in these areas. They have not been effectively turned out by the local tribal chiefs. In some of the frontier areas they continue to enjoy wide support of the local population. I don’t minimize the difficulty of Pakistani armed forces in expelling these foreign fighters and Taliban or turning back the Talibanization of the northwest provinces of Pakistan. Musharraf has to contend with a sizeable, radical Islamist population in Pakistan. At the same time, if he was determined to do so and marshaled all of his credibility and military might to make it happen, he could probably expel the foreign jihadis from these territories. But it would be at a tremendous cost and he may or may not survive it – I think that is probably the calculus he is going through.

We later met with members of the opposition – Parliamentarians who urged us to support democracy in Pakistan, to reject the arguments that President Musharraf was indispensable to the fight against terror or that a democracy in Pakistan would be less effective in fighting terror. The Parliamentarians made a very effective and persuasive case – that we can’t have it both ways – if we are to support democracy and advocate the extension of democracy around the world, we cannot carve out an exception in Pakistan. So it was, I think, a fascinating visit and an important one.

I saw my own thinking progress in this area. I do think that President Musharraf is taking steps to deal with the threat posed by Al Qaeda and the Taliban – but I also feel that there is much more that can be done – much more that the President of Pakistan should be doing. I also think there is a lot of merit to the case that the United States should insist that the elections that are coming up in Pakistan be free and fair, and that if the opposition to Musharraf succeeds – then it succeeds. If President Musharraf is able to constitutionally run again, and he succeeds, then we should support him. But I think we should insist on free and fair elections in Pakistan. That is a strategy, I think, that is consistent with our values, and its one that I don’t believe is at odds with our counter-terrorism priorities in Pakistan either.

On the same trip we flew to the Northwest territory and sat down with the Frontier Corps - this paramilitary force that President Musharraf has helped establish to, in theory, go after the Taliban and Al Qaeda. It was clear that they were under-resourced, that they had very poor military equipment. They were being effectively out-gunned by the Taliban and foreign fighters. When I asked how this could be, considering that the Pakistani military is one of the best equipped in the world, something didn’t add up. It did not appear that this paramilitary force enjoyed the full support of President Musharraf – at least it wasn’t reflected in material terms.

Finally, we traveled by Pakistan military helicopter to the earthquake ravaged areas of Pakistan, and visited a new girl’s school that had been built with U.S. foreign aid. It was heartening to hear how our efforts to rescue victims and help rebuild were so successful and so well received. These philanthropic acts are not only worthwhile in their own right, and the human thing to do, but also key to winning hearts and minds around the world. I would love to see our military, which is so capable and practiced at emergency relief operations – as we have seen with the Tsunami and later in Pakistan – do more of this work. The images of American military helicopters delivering aid to those remote areas will be permanently fixed in people’s memory.

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Honoring a local hero

Adam Schiff — 04/02/2007 18:12

Last week, I attended a very moving ceremony in the rotunda of the Capitol where the Congressional Gold Medal was bestowed upon the Tuskegee Airmen – the first African American Air Corp during World War II.

As I stood in the aisle watching more than 300 of these WWII heroes file into the room, it was wonderful to see the looks on their faces, to see them greeting each other often after many years. I also happened to be standing next to Representative John Lewis, a true American hero from the civil rights movement, and it was especially gratifying to see how these veterans’ faces lit up when they saw John and how John’s face lit up when he saw them.

Coming through the procession of airmen was one of my constituents, Oliver Goodall, from the Pasadena-Altadena area. We met up after the ceremony and taped one of my Capitol Reports -- a monthly cable program I have that’s broadcast on local TV. So look for it when it comes to a station near you.

It was fascinating to hear his story -- how he joined the service, where he was at the time, and what was going on in his life -- as well as the challenges facing the Tuskegee Airmen. They fought for recognition and the chance to demonstrate their patriotism at a time and in a system that was segregated and prejudiced against them. They fought the war with the enemy and the struggle for equal rights. It was a really wonderful moving experience and I felt lucky to be there as a witness.

Later in the day we had an important vote on the House Floor. Actually, it took place right around the same time as the ceremony for the Tuskegee airmen. I had to leave the ceremony early to get to the House Floor in time.

It was the vote on the nation's budget and a very significant milestone. For the first time it, our budget puts us back on the road to fiscal responsibility. It is true to the principle of Paygo -- Pay As You G -- which requires that any new tax cuts be paid for and any new spending be paid for. It puts an end, I hope, to the practice of simply borrowing from our children to fund our tax cuts or our spending proposals.

So we had a rare but important dose of fiscal responsibility today. I hope it’s a sign of things to come in the future and I’m confident it will be. We’ve got some major challenges confronting us economically and I think it’s imperative that we get our fiscal house in order. The passage of the budget today was a strong step in the right direction.

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A Meeting With Mayor Villaraigosa

Adam Schiff — 03/30/2007 12:57

This morning I had a visit from the Mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, as well as the Los Angeles Police Chief, William Bratton, to discuss the gang problem in the greater Los Angeles area. This is an issue I have long taken an interest in and worked on, both during my days as a prosecutor in Los Angeles during the late ‘80s and early ‘90s as well as in my work in the State Legislature. As a State Senator I authored one of the landmark approaches to dealing with juvenile crime called the “Schiff Cardenas Crime Prevention Act of 2000." For the first time we invested as much in the prevention in crime as the suppression of crime. We put $100 million into preventive work to keep kids out of trouble to begin with and matched it with $100 million in the COPS program to put additional cops on the beat. RAND analyses of that program have demonstrated its effectiveness and I’m very interested in trying to replicate that model on a Federal level.

The Mayor made a very persuasive case for the need to have Federal help in the greater Los Angeles area in dealing with the gang problem. LA unfortunately has become the capital of gang violence and it’s an institutional one as well as a generational one. We have multiple generations that have been part of gangs. If we can develop a successful approach in Los Angeles to combating this problem, we can combat gangs anywhere.

We sat down with the Chairman of the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Subcommittee, Alan Mollahan, and had a great discussion about how the Federal Government can better partner with communities like Los Angeles that are so greatly impacted. My feeling is that one of the areas that the Federal government can help is in identifying best practices around the nation – finding what really works in combating gang membership and gang violence, and then disseminating that information throughout the country so that communities can look at what’s been done and adopt some of those best practices.

I think the Federal Government can also play an important role in trying to develop ways to measure success. Often it’s very tough to tell whether something is working because we don’t have adequate ways of measuring whether we’re succeeding or failing. So, I think in identifying best practices, disseminating that information around the country and in developing tools to measure whether the efforts are succeeding or failing, the Federal government can really play a valuable role.

I told the Mayor and Police Chief that I look forward to working with them on this as a member of the Appropriations and Judiciary Committees. Not only because of my historical interest and work on this issue, but because the problem is being visited in communities in our district. It’s not the case anymore that gang violence is sequestered in just one part of LA, or just one neighborhood, it is a widespread problem and we see it increasing in the Valley, dramatically.

LA City Councilmember Wendy Greuel was a part of our meeting and she pointed out that in the San Fernando Valley gang violence increased last year by 40-45That’s a phenomenal increase – now it started out at a low level, and that accounts for some of the dramatic rise. But whether it’s Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, Alhambra, you name it, our communities are not immune to gang violence. Given the incredibly diverse communities we have, and some of the tensions between various ethnic communities, we have to stay on top of this issue. We have to make sure that we keep kids in school and keep them productively engaged after school, so that we don’t see our neighborhood degenerate to the point where people are frightened of going outside of their doors at night.

I look forward to working with the community leaders in our district as well as Mayor Villaraigosa and Chief Bratton and the Chairman of our Subcommittee to address this very real problem. I look forward to hearing your thoughts. I hope you’ll comment and let me know what you think some of the solutions to gang violence are, and I eagerly await your thoughts.

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A lively exchange in Burbank

Adam Schiff — 03/29/2007 12:51

This weekend, I hosted the second in a series of “Coffee with your Congressman” events in the district. This one was in Burbank (the first was in Temple City). At these informal get togethers, we invite people from the neighborhood to come to a local coffee-shop and just sit down and discuss the issues of the day. What I really love about these “Coffee with your Congressman” events is that you get people who have never come to visit with their Representative before. The coffee shops are close and convenient and I get a lot of unvarnished comments from my constituents. It’s blunt, it’s direct, it’s useful and it’s always a lively discussion.

At the Burbank coffee -- hosted by Romancing the Bean on San Fernando -- we had an interesting debate over everything from illegal immigration, to hate crimes legislation, to the war in Iraq, to pocketbook issues. In fact, the very last question that I got was the same last question that was asked at the Temple City coffee. The question was: “what can be done about the phenomenon, that so many American families are living with, where two heads of household are both working full-time, and yet still struggling to get by, struggling to provide health care for their kids, struggling to pay the mortgage and their utility bills?”

It’s true, things seem tougher than ever for middle income families. I reflected upon my own childhood and up-bringing, when my father was in what he used to call “The Rag Business.” He sold sweaters and pants and hats for different companies and made a good living that allowed our family to live in a quiet suburban neighborhood, while my mother was a full-time home-maker who looked after my brother and me – which was probably the toughest job of all. But my father was able to support our family on that income. Now, it would be very unlikely that a family could survive with one breadwinner in the same kind of a sales position.

The question is a challenging one because it raises so many issues: how we can make health care more portable, so that when people move from employer to employer they don’t lose their health care coverage; how we can allow people to buy their first home, when housing prices are so high; how we can compete with other countries that have low-wage work forces; how we can improve our education system so that we are competitive in the sciences and engineering and we maintain our edge in research and development. We explored a lot of these issues, and I hope, some of the solutions. I tremendously valued the input that I received.

One of the points that my constituents also made that really resonated was the imperative of developing alternative sources of energy, weaning ourselves off of fossil fuels. I feel strongly that this should have been a national mission, right from day one following 9/11, and actually probably long before then. We should be embarking on an “Apollo-like” project to wean ourselves off of fossil fuels and certainly off of foreign and Middle Eastern oil. A lot of technologies we need are already in use, but they need to be incentivized and developed further. This is a national security issue, it’s an economic issue, it’s an environmental issue, it’s a health care issue. The benefits of reducing our reliance on fossil fuels are so tremendous and so overwhelming it really has to be a national mission.

So, it was a wonderful “Coffee with your Congressman.” I hope you can join us at one of these coffees -- keep an eye out for one coming to a neighborhood near you.

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An exciting day at the Capitol

Adam Schiff — 03/23/2007 16:56

Hello, this is Congressman Adam Schiff and welcome to my blog. This is my first time entering the blogosphere, so be patient with me. I hope you will send me your comments and feedback and let me know how I can improve communication with all of you. But I’m excited to start this new experiment and looking forward to an informal dialogue with all of my constituents about what’s going on in our district and what’s going on in the nation’s Capital.

Today is March 23rd, and I’m starting my blog on a very significant day, when we had a major vote on the Iraq War here in the House of Representatives. It was on what’s called, inside the beltway, the Supplemental Appropriations Bill. But in terms of the rest of the country it’s known as the funding bill for the Iraq War, for the War in Afghanistan, for the Walter Reed hospital and a number of other top and urgent priorities and needs.

The debate on the House floor was very moving. It was a hotly contested issue because this legislation, for the first time, requires accountability in the war in Iraq. It provides that the Iraqi government must meet the milestones that the President set in January, the same milestones the President said they should be able to meet. It also requires us to meet our own Department of Defense standards for the equipment and training of our troops. It says that before we send our troops into harms way they should have all the protective gear the pentagon says is necessary, as well as the training and preparation to do their job and come home safely.

So, it is a very important bill. It represents a major change in direction. I voted in favor of it, and it was a close vote. In the end, 218 members voted in favor of the bill and it passed.

Two of the most emotional speeches on the House floor were given by two veterans. One was given by Sam Johnson, a Republican of Texas, who is a Vietnam veteran and who was a prisoner of war for several years. He spoke strongly against the bill.

Another, Patrick Murphy, a Democrat, was elected to Congress after serving our country in the Iraq war. As an army captain with a dangerous assignment, 19 of the men Patrick served with lost their lives in the war. In praising the bill, Patrick talked about a conversation that he had with one of the members of his unit as they protected convoys traveling down the murderous roadways in Iraq, “Sir, what are we doing over here? What’s our mission?” Mr. Murphy posed those questions to the opponents of the bill. If they couldn't answer these plain questions asked by our troops in Iraq, then they had no business voting for an indefinite combat commitment in Iraq. Indeed, the Congress in the last several years has not held the Administration accountable to answer those very questions asked by Patrick Murphy’s colleague.

Today, with the passage of this bill, we signal a new direction in Iraq. I hope that the reduction of our combat presence in Iraq will be the impetus the Iraqis have long needed to make the political compromises that they must make to end the civil war going on in Iraq. Regrettably, civil war descended on Iraq some time ago, and many of us feel that, as General Petraeus recently acknowledged, there is no military solution to the civil war in Iraq. We need a diplomatic offensive, a diplomatic escalation rather than a military one. We need the greater use of our combat forces in Afghanistan where the Taliban is planning a spring offensive.

So, an important day to start out my blog. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Just before the vote on funding the war, I had an interesting meeting off the House floor with someone who has played a pivotal role in the debate leading up to the Iraq War, General Eric Shinseki. General Shinseki came to visit with me about the Go For Broke Foundation, which is a foundation established to educate the country about the Go For Broke regiment – the most highly decorated regiment during World War II of Japanese-Americans fighting for our country. They’re doing some phenomenal work in Los Angeles and around the country.

It was really an honor meeting General Shinseki, who, you might remember, was the Army Chief of Staff who testified before Congress that in order to secure a country as large and populous as Iraq, it would take hundreds of thousands of troops. He was ridiculed at the time by the Administration. He was promptly shown the door, which has unfortunately been the reward for speaking candor throughout the course of this conflict. But had the Administration listened to what he had to say, we might not be in the situation we are today. An interesting coincidence of meetings today here on the Capitol, with General Shinseki, the same day we had this very pivotal debate on Iraq.

I look forward, in the days and weeks to come, to sharing my thoughts informally with you over the blog, and I look forward to getting your feedback. That’s it for today, and I look forward to posting again shortly.

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