Adam in the News
The Hill: Democrat: Get Congress's permission
Kristina Wong reports on Congressman Schiff's desire for President Obama to come to Congress for military authorization. A senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee says President Obama should seek congressional authorization to extend airstrikes against Islamic terrorists to locations in Syria. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) also says Obama should seek authorization to prolong airstrikes in Iraq against fighters with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Schiff said the … Continue Reading
September 08, 2014
Los Angeles Daily News Op-Ed: Time to build a quake early-warning system for California: Dianne Feinstein and Adam Schiff
Ten seconds might seem insignificant, but it can mean the difference between life and death when an earthquake hits. Ten seconds is enough time to slow or stop trains and cars; turn off supplies of oil, natural gas and chemicals; stop elevators and open their doors; and secure sensitive computer data. Even less warning would allow hospital staff to protect patients and people to safely take shelter under tables and in door frames. We already have the technology to send earthquake warnings to … Continue Reading
September 04, 2014
Daily Beast Op-Ed: Why Airstrikes in Syria Won't Work
Last week, President Obama hit the brakes on growing speculation that a United States air attack on ISIS forces in Syria was imminent. He was right to do so. The most significant threat we face from ISIS will be the return of foreign fighters to our shores, something an aerial campaign over Syria will do little to address. And in the absence of an immediate threat to our homeland from ISIS planners in Syria-something Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson acknowledged does not yet exist-the … Continue Reading
September 02, 2014
Yahoo! News: Republicans tone down Benghazi talk as elections near
Meredith Shiner and Olivier Knox report on Republican rhetoric regarding Benghazi. Just four months ago, the future chairman of the House Select Committee on Benghazi delighted core elements of the Republican base when he declared that the panel would be probing "what appears to be a White House cover-up." Now, with the 2014 midterm elections fast approaching and the panel's first hearing slated for September, the former prosecutor from Spartanburg, S.C., is taking a more tempered, … Continue Reading
August 28, 2014
Beverly Press: Schiff offers updates on foreign conflicts
Aaron Blevins reports on Congressman Schiff's briefing on issues in the Middle East. U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) visited the National Council of Jewish Women, Los Angeles (NCJW/LA), on Tuesday and gave an update on foreign policy matters that the U.S. is facing. Schiff, a member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, opened by discussing the situation in Iraq and Syria. While President Barack Obama has recently ordered reconnaissance flights over Syria, Schiff doesn't … Continue Reading
August 28, 2014
Crescenta Valley Weekly Op-Ed: Keeping Film Production in L.A.
For decades, Los Angeles has been synonymous with the film industry. It's part of the culture and history of our region, but more than that, it's a steady paycheck for thousands of middle class workers and families. Nowadays, if a tourist goes for a drive through Hollywood and Burbank, seeing the many studios and soundstages, they might think nothing has changed at all. But behind the scenes, drawn by lucrative tax breaks, movies and television shows are increasingly filming in other states … Continue Reading
August 27, 2014
Los Angeles Times: Amid outcry over police shootings, departments weighing cop cameras
Richard Serrano and Joel Rubin report on the benefits and costs of police body-cameras. The Justice Department is weighing whether to provide funding to more police departments to buy body-worn cameras, which are usually placed on an officer's lapel, shoulder or cap. The Los Angeles Police Department is testing body cameras and New York this week announced plans to study the program too. In Salt Lake City, for instance, an officer shot and killed a 20-year-old man two days after Brown was … Continue Reading
August 27, 2014
Huffington Post: Adam Schiff Pushes Body Cameras For Cops
Arthur Delaney reports on the debate over whether cops should wear body cameras. In response to the furor over the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, a senior House Democrat wants the federal government to encourage local cops to wear cameras while they're working. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) is gathering signatures from other lawmakers for a letter to push Attorney General Eric Holder to help state and local law enforcement agencies acquire body-worn … Continue Reading
August 25, 2014
Wall Street Journal: Pressure Mounts On Obama to Act
Colleen McCain Nelson and Adam Entous report on Congressional opinions for and against stronger airstrikes against ISIL. President Barack Obama faces pressure at home and in the Middle East to quickly step up strikes at Islamic State militants, but also reluctance from some within his own party and European allies do so. The leading options under consideration for strikes in Syria-if Mr. Obama decides to expand the fight-are narrow in scope, designed to prevent the Islamic State from … Continue Reading
August 24, 2014
Los Angeles Daily News: Napa earthquake a reminder to be prepared, emergency responders say
Brenda Gazzar reports on earthquake preparedness in California. While no emergency response crews from Southern California headed to Napa Valley to assist in Sunday's earthquake aftermath, local officials used the opportunity to remind the public about preparedness. "This is the sort of earthquake we expect to happen in California," said Jones, who is normally based at Caltech and is also Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti's science adviser for seismic safety. "It happens somewhere in the state … Continue Reading
August 21, 2014
New York Times: Despite ISIS Horror, Congress Is Wary of U.S. Military Expansion
Mark Landler reports on Congressional reluctance to expand the U.S. mission in Iraq. For weeks, Capitol Hill has tried to keep America's military engagement in Iraq at arm's length: Democrats and Republicans warily backed President Obama's limited airstrikes against Sunni militants, but nobody - aside from Senator John McCain and a few fellow hawks - demonstrated an appetite for deeper involvement. "Most Democrats and Republicans are extraordinarily wary of being sucked into a large … Continue Reading
August 21, 2014
The Hill: Top Intel Dem: 'US should not be provoked' in Iraq by Foley slaying
Martin Matishak reports on responses to the beheading of James Foley. The Obama administration should fight the urge to expand its military campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) following the execution of American photojournalist James Foley, a senior House member said Thursday. "We shouldn't allow this horrible act to provoke us into doing things that are counterproductive," said Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), a member of the House Intelligence Committee, on CNN's "New … Continue Reading
August 20, 2014
Wall Street Journal: Lawmakers Mostly Back Obama's Campaign Against Islamic State
Siobhan Hughes and Felicia Schwartz report on Congressional support for campaign against ISIL. Lawmakers on Wednesday generally endorsed President Barack Obama's campaign against Islamic State militants following the group's release of a videotape of the beheading of an American journalist, though some key Republicans said the president should go further. "The caucus is supportive of what the president has been doing, but I think there is concern that there is no easy way of defining the end … Continue Reading
August 20, 2014
The Hill: Iraq 'certainly looks like war,' says House Dem
Jesse Byrnes reports on Congressional response to the widening U.S. mission in Iraq. The U.S. mission in Iraq has "broadened" into something that "certainly looks like war," says the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee. What started as a mission to protect Americans and ease a humanitarian crisis has expanded to protecting Iraqi infrastructure such as the Mosul Dam, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said Tuesday evening in an interview on MSNBC. "It's a very treacherous and … Continue Reading
August 19, 2014
Reuters: Mother mourns U.S. journalist purportedly beheaded by Sunni militants
Eric Beech reports on reaction to the beheading of American journalist James Foley. The mother of American journalist James Foley, who was purportedly beheaded by Islamic militants, said on Tuesday her son gave his life to expose the suffering of the Syrian people and she asked his kidnappers to release their other captives. "He was an extraordinary son, brother, journalist and person," Diane Foley said in a post on a website set up by the Foley family. James Foley was abducted in Syria in … Continue Reading
August 19, 2014
Washington Post: After "Blackfish", SeaWorld hurt financially but keeps up political spending
Colby Itkowitz reports on SeaWorld's political spending. SeaWorld Entertainment has suffered financially since the release of the 2013 documentary "Blackfish" that accused the theme park of mistreating its main attraction - killer whales. Still, SeaWorld's cash hasn't shielded it from congressional scrutiny. In June, the House passed a bipartisan amendment to an appropriations bill approving $1 million for a scientific study to examine the impact captivity has on marine animals. "The … Continue Reading
August 08, 2014
Wall Street Journal: Congress Accepts Obama Action on Iraq – For Now
Siobhan Hughes reports on President Obama's air strikes in Iraq. U.S. President Barack Obama's decision to authorize air strikes in northern Iraq triggered few complaints he acted without congressional consent - a surprising acquiescence lawmakers made clear could change abruptly change if the mission expands. "Depending on how much further the administration wants to go beyond the authorized mission and beyond protection of personnel, he may be required to come to Congress to seek an … Continue Reading
August 07, 2014
Asbarez: Members of Congress Condemn Azerbaijani Aggression
Asbarez reports on Azerbaijani aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh. Members of Congress on Thursday reacted to the recent aggression by Azerbaijan on the Karabakh-Azerbaijan border by issuing statements that call for lasting peace in the region. Representatives Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Brad Sherman (D-Calif) and David Cicilline (D-RI) made statements through their offices or on their social media pages drawing attention to the latest round of cease-fire violations by Azerbaijan. "For two … Continue Reading
August 06, 2014
CNN: Does Snowden's celebrity breed copycats?
Evan Perez of CNN reports on possible new leaks of classified national security information: U.S. intelligence agencies fear Edward Snowden has achieved celebrity as a leaker and could be inspiring others to disclose classified national security information. Rep. Adam Schiff, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, called it the "copycat phenomenon" and noted it was a big concern. "The degree that people have been lionizing Snowden, it encourages people to make a name for themselves … Continue Reading
August 01, 2014
Frontiers LA: LGBT Advocates, Schiff Urge Obama to Talk About Anti-Homosexuality Laws with African Leaders
Karen Ocamb of Frontier LA reports on Anti-Homosexuality laws in Africa: The White House still plans to hold the long-planned, unprecedented summit Aug. 4-6 with nearly 50 leaders from African countries starting Monday, despite the deadly outbreak of the Ebola virus in West African nations, according to Deputy Press Secretary Eric Schultz. The purpose of the U.S.-African Summit is to "strengthen ties between the United States and one of the world's most dynamic and fastest growing regions," … Continue Reading