Congressman Adam B. Schiff represents
California's 29th Congressional District, including
the communities of Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, Glendale,
Griffith Park, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel,
South Pasadena, and Temple City.
As an elected representative, Congressman
Schiff has focused on bolstering national security,
strengthening our communities, and introducing a "Kids
First" agenda of initiatives to improve education, safety,
and health care for our kids.
Schiff is a member of the House
Judiciary Committee and its Subcommittee on Crime,
Terrorism and Homeland Security and Subcommittee on
the Constitution. He is also a member of the House
International Relations Committee and its Subcommittee
on International Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Human
Rights and Subcommittee on the Middle East and Central
Asia.
In March 2003, Schiff co-founded the Democratic
Study Group on National Security in an effort to
explore emerging national security issues with other
Members of Congress. The group has hosted a wide range
of speakers on topics such as international terrorism,
postwar planning, defense, military transformation,
shifting alliances, Afghanistan, Iraq, homeland security,
non-proliferation, Iran, Korea, the United Nations,
and missile defense.
Congressman Schiff's efforts in Congress
have drawn national and local attention. Elected in
November 2000 after the most costly House race in U.S.
history, Congressman Schiff co-founded Freshmen for
Reform with a Republican colleague to build support
for the House version of the McCain-Feingold campaign
finance reform legislation banning unregulated campaign
donations. His efforts to organize Republican and Democratic
freshmen support for the bill provided key votes needed
for passage, and on March 27, 2002, President Bush signed
the bill into law. In 2002, Congressman Schiff was elected
to serve a term as President of the Freshman Class of
Democrats and was again elected in 2003 to serve as
Sophomore Class President. In 2001, Roll Call newspaper
designated Schiff as one of ten Freshman House members
to watch.
Congressman Schiff has received many awards
from local organizations for his commitment to our community.
He was chosen as the 2004 Person of the Year by the
Los Angeles County, Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Citizens' Advisory Council for his pioneering work on
the Gold Line. In June 2004, he received the Halo Award
from Villa Esperanza Services. In April 2004, Schiff
was acknowledged by the School of Design for the Developmentally
Disabled and was awarded Honorary Angel Wings by The
Soldier's Angels for his Recognition and Support of
our nation's troops. Congressman Schiff has been awarded
the Donald R. Wright Distinguished Service Award by
the Pasadena Bar Association, and the Armenian National
Committee of America's 2003 Freedom Award. Schiff was
designated Legislator of the Year for 2001 by the Burbank
American Legion Post and was honored with the Good Guy
Award for 2001 by the National Women's Political Caucus
of Greater Pasadena.
Prior to his election to the House of
Representatives, Congressman Schiff completed a four-year
term as State Senator for California's 21st State Senate
District, chairing the Senate Judiciary Committee, the
Senate Select Committee on Juvenile Justice and the
Joint Committee on the Arts. He led legislative efforts
to guarantee up-to-date textbooks in the classroom,
overhaul child support, and pass a patient's bill of
rights. Before serving in the Legislature, Schiff served
with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles for six
years, most notably prosecuting the first FBI agent
ever to be indicted for espionage.
Adam Schiff, born June 22, 1960, is a
graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Law School.
Adam, and his wife, Eve (yes, it's true), have two children,
a daughter, Alexa Marion, born in July 1998, and a son,
Elijah Harris, born in July 2002.
Bolstering National Security
Congressman Schiff has initiated measures to protect
Americans and make our communities safer. He has introduced
and secured passage of key portions of the DNA
Database Enhancement Act to expand and improve the
use of DNA analysis in criminal investigations and to
maximize the ability of law enforcement to obtain "cold
hits" - potentially solving thousands of unsolved murders,
rapes, and other crimes. Schiff's proposals passed the
House of Representatives in the 108th Congress
as part of the "Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology
Act."
Congressman Schiff has also introduced
the Identity
Theft Penalty Enhancement Actto crack down on identity
theft and to protect the good credit and reputations
of hardworking Americans by giving prosecutors greater
power in convicting and sentencing identity thieves.
He secured passage of this legislation in the House
of Representative in June, 2004.
Congressman Schiff founded the bipartisan
Congressional
Caucus on the Judicial Branch, which he co-chairs
with Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL). The Caucus is devoted
to improving the relationship between the legislative
and judicial branches and working on issues that directly
impact the Judiciary. United States Supreme Court Chief
Justice William H. Rehnquist took part in a discussion
with Members of Congress during the inaugural event.
In October 2003, Schiff also co-founded
the bipartisan Congressional International Anti-Piracy
Caucus with Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Senators
Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Joseph Biden (D-DE) to stem
the growing problem of intellectual property theft.
Congressman Schiff also serves as the
Chair of the Democratic Safe Neighborhoods Task Force
of the Democratic Caucus. In this role, he has led efforts
to strengthen crime prevention measures in our communities
and to ensure that our first responders are prepared
to deal with the threat of terrorism.
Congressman Schiff has fought to prevent
weapons of mass destruction from falling into the hands
of terrorists. He has introduced the Russian Federation
Debt Reduction for Nonproliferation Act, The
Cooperative Threat Reduction Implementation Act,
and a Global
Nuclear Cleanout bill to aid in the removal of potential
nuclear weapons materials from vulnerable sites around
the world. Congressman Schiff is also a proud member
of the Air Force Association Pasadena Area Chapter 115.
Congressman Schiff has introduced the
Stabilization
and Reconstruction Civilian Management Act of 2004,
which would improve the U.S. Government's capability
to plan for and respond to post-conflict situations
and other complex international contingencies.
As a member of the Congressional Caucus
on Armenian Issues, Congressman Schiff is a strong supporter
of legislation calling for United States recognition
of the Armenian Genocide and has authored several bills
on this subject.
Strengthening Our Communities
Congressman Schiff hosts a variety of constituent service
events each year including homebuyer fairs, senior town
hall meetings, immigration workshops, health care summits,
and grants workshops.
Congressman Schiff has worked to provide
access to public transportation and encourage the use
of low-emission vehicles. Seen by many as the "Father
of the Gold Line," Congressman Schiff has worked
for several years - first as a State Senator and now
in Congress - to improve mass transit opportunities
for the San Gabriel Valley. On-time and under-budget,
the Metro Gold Line opened in July 2003. It now serves
as a model for the rest of the state on how to deliver
cost-effective, environmentally friendly transportation
solutions.
Congressman Schiff also introduced the
Rim
of the Valley Corridor Study Act to enlist the National
Park Service in protecting open space in Southern California.
He has also spearheaded governmental efforts to respond
to the public health threat of the Chromium 6 that has
contaminated drinking water supplies.
Kids First Agenda
Congressman Schiff has introduced a comprehensive children's
agenda - the "Kids First" Initiative - to promote reading
skills, smaller classrooms, health care, and science
and arts education. To expand educational opportunities
and strengthen the reading skills of children enrolled
in Head Start, he introduced the Reading Readiness Act.
Schiff also supports legislation to improve access to
health and dental care for children and is working to
make online enrollment easier for families with uninsured
children. In Congress, he led the effort to allow California's
counties to use federal funds to cover uninsured kids.
A strong proponent of the science and
technology field, Schiff launched the Congressional
Science Forum for local high school students featuring
insightful lectures by the leading scientists in our
region and hosts an annual NASA astronaut visit for
elementary schools in the district. Schiff also participates
regularly in activities with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
on various issues including new ways to inspire students
to pursue a career in space science.
As a member of the Congressional Arts
Caucus, Schiff hosts an annual Congressional Arts Competition
to recognize talented student artists in our area. In
April 2004, Schiff introduced legislation to create
a National
Science Competition to inspire and encourage high
school students to pursue a career in the sciences.
A member of the bipartisan House Education
Caucus comprised of former educators, Congressman Schiff
has fought to expand opportunities for students. He
has strongly supported an increase in federal aid for
students in public colleges and has cosponsored legislation
to refocus national education policy on helping states
and local school districts raise academic achievement
levels. In addition, Schiff sponsors a "Paying for College
Workshop" for high school students and their parents
to help explain the financial aid process and identify
resources to access additional assistance. Congressman
Schiff has secured federal assistance for several local
after-school programs and is proud to serve on the National
Board of Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America.