CONGRESSMAN ADAM B. SCHIFF
Congressman Adam B. Schiff represents California's 29th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, Glendale, Griffith Park, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena, and Temple City.
Throughout his service in the House of Representatives, Congressman Schiff has been a leader on national security issues and has pushed for a broader strategy that emphasizes diplomacy, intelligence reform, and efforts to improve our nation's ability to stabilize countries to prevent future failed states from becoming havens for terrorists. He has pressed for the adoption of the bipartisan 9/11 Commission recommendations, cosponsoring a measure that implements the recommendations, which passed the House in 2007.
Rep. Schiff has sought practical solutions to some of the most pressing issues confronting our nation, such as the need to restore our economy, create new jobs, and compete in a global marketplace. He has also fought to improve the quality of life at home in the 29th District, securing passage of the Rim of the Valley Corridor Study Act, which could lead to greater protection for some of the spectacular wilderness areas that make Southern California such a special place to live. Schiff led efforts to construct the Gold Line light rail, and is fighting to extend the line out to the Ontario Airport. As a father of two young children, Schiff has been especially attentive to ensuring that our children come first. He has advanced a "Kids First" agenda of initiatives to improve education, safety, and health care for our children. From support for expanded preschool education and mentoring of at-risk youth to his work in securing greater resources for local hospitals in the fight against childhood cancers, Congressman Schiff has worked to make sure that America's children are prepared for the competitive world of the 21st Century.
In 2007, Schiff was appointed to be a member of the House Appropriations Committee and was named to three subcommittees – the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee, and the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee. Prior to his appointment to the Appropriations Committee, Schiff served on the House International Relations Committee for six years.
The House Appropriations Committee requires Members to relinquish their other committee assignments. However, Congressman Schiff, a former federal prosecutor, was granted a waiver to hold his seat on the House Judiciary Committee so he could continue working on oversight of the courts and Justice Department. Schiff serves on the Subcommittee on the Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property. He is a co-chair of the Congressional International Anti-Piracy Caucus, a bipartisan group of House and Senate lawmakers dedicated to working with America's international trade partners to secure the enactment of strong copyright laws and the vigilant enforcement of those laws.
And, in a remarkable new assignment, Congressman Schiff was named to a third major committee, when, in recognition of his expertise on issues related to national security, he was appointed to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in early 2008. The Committee has authorization and oversight authority over the nation's intelligence services. As a member of the committee, Schiff serves on the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Human Intelligence, Analysis and Counterintelligence and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
Additionally, Rep. Schiff was named to the newly formed Select Intelligence Oversight Panel. The subcommittee was formed in the 110th Congress in response to the 9/11 Commission recommendations, which called for more comprehensive oversight of the intelligence agencies' mission, capability, coordination and budget. It consists of thirteen Representatives from both the House Appropriations Committee and House Intelligence Committee and is charged with oversight of both authorizing and appropriating functions. The bipartisan panel's goal is to strengthen the working relationship between the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee who control funding and those who have direct oversight of the intelligence agencies.
Congressman Schiff is a co-founder of the Democratic Study Group on National Security. 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.
Schiff also co-founded the Congressional Caucus for Freedom of the Press in May 2006. The bipartisan bicameral caucus is co-chaired by Representatives Schiff and Mike Pence (R-IN) and Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Richard Lugar (R-IN). It aims to advance press freedom around the world by creating a forum to combat and condemn media censorship and the persecution of journalists around the world.
Additionally, Congressman Schiff serves on the House Democracy Assistance Commission, which he was appointed to in 2005 by the current Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and then-Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL). This important body works with emerging democracies to strengthen democratic institutions and the rule of law.
He has received many awards from local organizations for his commitment to our community. In 2008, Schiff was named "Patriot of the Year" by the Glendale Chamber of Commerce Citizenship and Patriotism Committee. Rep. Schiff was also presented with the President's Award from the Child Educational Center (CEC) pre-school in La Canada for his work on his "Kids First" agenda. In late 2006, he received the Business Software Alliance's Cyber Champion Award for his leadership and commitment to policies that promote a safe and legal digital world. He was also just presented with Day One's Community Champion Award for his efforts to protect youth through support of after-school programs, drug prevention programs, and children's health care initiatives. In August 2005, Schiff was awarded the 1st Annual Versie Mae Richardson Founder's Award by the Alkebu-lan Cultural Center for outstanding community and public service. Additionally, he was honored in July 2005 by the California Air Force Association, and in December 2005, he received the Distinguished Civic Award of the Western Diocese, Armenian Church of North America. In October 2005, Schiff was presented with the 2005 Lizarraga Founder's Award by La Casa de San Gabriel Community Center for outstanding service to the community.
Before his election to the House of Representatives in 2000, Congressman Schiff completed a four-year term as State Senator for California's 21st State Senate District. There he chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Senate Select Committee on Juvenile Justice and the Joint Committee on the Arts. He led charge to guarantee up-to-date textbooks in the classroom, overhaul child support, and pass a patient's bill of rights. Prior to elected office 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 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.