Adam in the News
Democrats Want Time Limit On War Against ISIS
WASHINGTON - House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Adam Schiff Wednesday introduced narrowly crafted legislation authorizing the Obama administration to wage a limited, three-year war against ISIS in Iraq and Syria while prohibiting the use of ground troops. Schiff's bill, which is similar to legislation the California Democrat introduced last year, will almost certainly face stiff opposition from the Obama administration and Republican leaders in both chambers, all of whom favor a far … Continue Reading
January 26, 2015
GOP Says Obama Must Act First On New ISIS Resolution
ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST: For nearly six months, the U.S. has carried out air strikes in Iraq and Syria against the self-proclaimed Islamic State. But Congress has yet to authorize that air war. Last week in his State of the Union address, President Obama urged lawmakers to act. But Republicans say its the president to should make the first move. NPR's David Welna reports. DAVID WELNA, BYLINE: President Obama told Congress the time has come for a new authorization for the use of military force, … Continue Reading
January 23, 2015
Resignations of Yemeni president and his Cabinet add to chaos
The Yemeni president and his Cabinet resigned Thursday, creating a leadership vacuum and raising the prospect of chaos and fragmentation in a strategic Arab nation that has been a pivotal ally in U.S. anti-terrorism efforts. The surprise departure of President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi and his government ministers came a day after the embattled administration appeared to have reached an accord with Houthi rebels who surrounded the presidential palace and residence during two tense days of … Continue Reading
January 23, 2015
Frustration Grips Authorization Vote Over Islamic State
WASHINGTON-In his State of the Union speech this past week, President Barack Obamarepeated a call he has made several times for Congress to officially endorse the fight against Islamic State forces and "show the world we are united in this mission." Republican leaders in Congress say they are prepared to tackle the issue, as well. "I expect that we will have hearings on that and that we will, in fact, have a debate and a vote," House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) said this week. But as … Continue Reading
January 22, 2015
Yemeni Government Collapses as President and Prime Minister Resign
SANA, Yemen - The pro-American president of Yemen abruptly resigned Thursday night along with his prime minister and cabinet, leaving his Houthi opponents the dominant force in a leaderless country that is a breeding ground for Al Qaeda. The Houthis, who are allied with Iran, have been strongly critical of the United States, particularly opposing Yemen's cooperation with drone strikes against the Qaeda affiliate here, Al Qaeda in Yemen. At the same time, the Houthis, whose leaders are … Continue Reading
January 22, 2015
Yemen chaos threatens U.S. counterterror efforts, including drone program
The White House's strategy for fighting al-Qaeda in Yemen - repeatedly presented as a model by President Obama - was left in tatters Thursday bythe resignation of the manwho personally approved U.S. drone strikes in the country and the collapse of its central government. U.S. officials struggled to sort out a melange of reports about who, if anyone, is in charge in Yemen. The prospect of continued chaos cast doubt on the viability of the Obama administration's counterterrorism policy for … Continue Reading
January 22, 2015
Schiff troubled by rail’s path through forest
Last week, U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) expressed opposition to the California High-Speed Rail (HSR) Authority's plan to study running the high-speed rail through the Angeles National Forest. The original route from Palmdale to Burbank proposed by the HSR bypassed the Angeles National Forest altogether and ran alongside California State Route 14. This is strongly preferable to the new proposal to tunnel through the forest, which wasn't even under consideration prior to this summer, … Continue Reading
January 17, 2015
Editorial: Rail-tunnel proposal is not the best solution (Glendale News-Press)
As Gov. Jerry Brown's $68-billion high-speed rail project to connect San Francisco and Los Angeles by 2029 lurches into fruition, the authority overseeing it is expected to make a decision this spring on the route for the segment connecting Palmdale to Burbank. A route proposed last summer by Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich that causes the most concern to us would have the rail leave Palmdale east of the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway, then shoot through 35 miles of the western … Continue Reading
January 17, 2015
Space News: Lamborn, Schiff Re-establish Space Power Caucus in House
Mike Gruss from Space News reports on the launch of the House's space power caucus WASHINGTON - U.S. Reps. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) are relaunching the House's space power caucus, a bipartisan group hoping to teach members about the importance of space in national security, according to a Jan. 14 press release. "Our national security is at risk in space, for a variety of reasons, and it is vital that Members of Congress understand the importance of space for our … Continue Reading
January 16, 2015
Associated Press: Democrats defend naming Muslim to House Intelligence panel
The Associated Press reports on Democrats naming Muslim to House Intelligence panel WASHINGTON (AP) - Top Democrats are defending their appointment of a Muslim congressman to the House Intelligence Committee after protests erupted on social media, warning the move is dangerous. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi this week appointed Rep. Andre Carson of Indiana to the panel, which oversees the government's intelligence departments and activities. Much of the business that comes before the … Continue Reading
January 15, 2015
Glendale News-Press: Schiff decries proposal for high-speed rail tunnel below Angeles National Forest
Arin Mikailian of the Glendale News-Press reports on the proposal for high-speed rail tunnel Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) is speaking out against the proposed idea of having high-speed rail tracks run through underground tunnels beneath the Angeles National Forest to connect Palmdale and Burbank and calls the alternative a costly dead-end. California's High-Speed Rail Authority plans to study having a section of the rail pass through the southwestern part of the forest - known as the East … Continue Reading
January 14, 2015
Los Angeles Times: Yemen branch of Al Qaeda says it planned Paris attack
Brian Bennett, Paul Richter and Laura King of the Los Angeles Times reports on Yemen branch of Al Qaeda in Paris attack Al Qaeda's affiliate in Yemen on Wednesday claimed responsibility for planning and financing last week's massacre at a satirical magazine in Paris. The assertion came as U.S. intelligence agencies' ability to track the group has been hobbled by civil unrest in the Arab nation and its political power-sharing deal with an Iranian-backed rebel group. In a nearly 12-minute … Continue Reading
January 13, 2015
McClatchy Washington Bureau: Obama to unveil cyber security initiatives
Lesley Clark from McClathcy Washington Bureau reprts on cyber security intiatives. Warning that foreign governments, criminals and hackers target American computer networks "every single day," President Barack Obama pushed Tuesday for legislation to bolster the U.S. against cyber-attacks. Obama's remarks at the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center came a day after Islamist jihadist sympathizers hackers tapped into the Twitter and YouTube accounts of the U.S. Central … Continue Reading
January 12, 2015
Washington Post: Attack in France shouldn't blunt drive for NSA surveillance reform
Greg Sargent of the Washington Post reports on the France attack and reform for NSA surveillance: Politicians and Beltway commentators are today consumed in a debate over whether President Obama, in failing to attend the march in Paris, failed to show solidarity with the victims of the terror attack and the cause of free speech in general. Meanwhile, beyond such hand-wringing over symbolism, the attack could have an actual impact on national security policy here at home: It could make it … Continue Reading
January 08, 2015
Politico: Adam Schiff to be named top Democrat on influential intel panel
Lauren French of Politico reports on Rep. Adam Schiff's new role as ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. California Rep. Adam Schiff will be named ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi announced Thursday that Schiff, who also serves on the House Select Committee on Benghazi, will be the top Democrat on the influential intelligence panel. "Schiff has been a vital voice on the most pressing … Continue Reading
January 07, 2015
Washington Post: Paris attack lacked hallmarks of Islamist assaults in West
Greg Miller of the Washington Post reprts on the Paris attack commanded by ISIS: The mass shooting at a satirical newspaper in France on Wednesday was a well-orchestrated assault by gunmen who fled the scene, setting it apart from most of the bombings and suicide attacks carried out by Islamist militants in the West. The ruthlessness of the attack and the nature of the target - a publication known for ridiculing Islam and other religions - suggested possible ties to a radical organization, … Continue Reading
January 01, 2015
The Wall Street Journal: Debate Over U.S. Government Surveillance Faces a Deadline
Felicia Schwartz of the Wall Street Journal reports on the U.S. government's debate over surveillance networks WASHINGTON-A debate over the reach of U.S. surveillance networks heads unresolved into 2015, after calls for drastic spying limits were blunted by the recent surge in global extremism, but a statutory deadline looms at midyear. Key provisions of the Patriot Act are set to expire in June after attempts to modify the Sept. 11-era national security law were stymied in the Senate in … Continue Reading
January 01, 2015
Los Feliz Ledger Op-Ed: In Search of Bipartisanship in the New Congress
The American voters sent a message in the most recent midterm elections-that they are fed up with the conduct of the government and its endless, destructive bickering, and want the Congress to find a way to work together and get things done. This is not too much to ask-in fact, it should be a bare minimum. Here are a few areas where we can get started: First, let's fix what's broken. America should begin repairing, replacing and modernizing our nation's crumbling infrastructure. Flying into … Continue Reading
December 25, 2014
Crescenta Valley Weekly: High Speed Rail Should Be Done Right
Robin Goldsworthy of the Crescenta Valley Weekly reports on high speed rails in California California has been a leader in the nation in so many ways, and over the next few years, we will have the opportunity to do so again by constructing the nation's first high speed rail. This is long overdue - while many countries in Europe and Asia have used these fast-moving trains for many years, the United States is only now moving away from its reliance on traditional forms of transportation. The … Continue Reading
December 22, 2014
Pasadena Now: Congressman Adam Schiff Visits Flintridge Preparatory School
Pasadena Now reports on Congressman Adam Schiff's visit to Flintridge Preparatory School Fresh off a Cromnibus vote and the recently publicized Senate Intelligence Committee report on CIA torture, Congressman Adam Schiff (Democrat, House of Representatives) made time to speak to some of the youngest members of his district, Sarah Cooper's 8th graders at Flintridge Preparatory School. They were joined by a generation of almost-voters, Christine Madsen's AP Government seniors. It all started … Continue Reading