Press Releases
Rep. Schiff Announces Annual Congressional Student STEM Challenge
Burbank, CA -Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) announced the start of the annual congressional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) academic competition, the Congressional App Challenge, for the 28th Congressional District. The competition aims to foster an early interest and engagement in STEM education and technology by challenging students to develop an application ("app"). Established by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2013, this competition is part of a nationwide … Continue Reading
December 03, 2015
Intel Committee Ranking Member Schiff Statement on San Bernardino Mass Shooting
Washington, DC - Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), the Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement: "This morning, I was briefed by the FBI on the investigation into the mass shooting in San Bernardino. They are conducting a thorough investigation into the suspects to determine the motive for this attack and whether there is any connection to a terrorist organization or evidence of domestic radicalization. At this point it is too early … Continue Reading
November 23, 2015
Rep. Schiff Introduces Legislation to Protect Children From Predators by Requiring Criminal Background Checks
Washington, DC - Every year, thousands of youth recreation programs are a vulnerable target for child predators who hope to gain access to their next victims under the guise of seeking employment or volunteer opportunities. In as many as 34 states, child-serving organizations do not have reliable access to both state and national FBI fingerprint-based background checks -- the gold standard for criminal background checks - because access to the FBI system is often limited, unreasonably … Continue Reading
November 19, 2015
Rep. Schiff Statement on Bill to Halt Syrian Refugee Program
Washington, DC - Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), the Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement after voting against H.R. 4038, the American SAFE Act: "Concerns about security after the nightmare we saw in Paris are understandable, and safety must come first. As the Ranking Member on the Intelligence Committee, I continually review the dangers facing the country and our vulnerabilities and what I can say is this: There are … Continue Reading
November 09, 2015
Rep. Schiff Responds to SeaWorld Decision to Phase Out Orca Shows in San Diego
Los Angeles - On Monday, November 9, 2015 Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) responded to SeaWorld's announcement that their San Diego park will phase out killer whale shows: "The decision by SeaWorld to phase out killer whale shows in San Diego is a welcome step along the path towards ending the captivity of these magnificent creatures," said Schiff. "Much more needs to be done, however, and I would urge the company to curtail the breeding of their orcas and partner in the creation of ocean … Continue Reading
November 06, 2015
Rep. Schiff to Introduce ORCA Act to Phase Out Display of Captive Killer Whales
Los Angeles, CA – At a press conference on Friday, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) announced that he will introduce the Orca Responsibility and Care Advancement (ORCA) Act. This landmark legislation would phase out the captivity of orcas so that their display ends with this generation. Specifically, it would prohibit the breeding, the taking (wild capture), and the import or export of orcas for the purposes of public display. This legislation will also allow for the orderly phasing … Continue Reading
November 04, 2015
Over Sixty Members of Congress Urge Obama Administration to Extend Humanitarian Parole to 20,000 Syrians
Washington, DC - Today, Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Dan Donovan (R-NY), along with sixty other Members of Congress, sent a letter to President Obama urging the Administration to move quickly to grant humanitarian parole to those who have already-approved immigrant petitions and family in the United States. Establishment of a parole program would provide emergency relief to more than 7,000 Syrian families - or an estimated 20,000 individual men, women and children - that have already passed … Continue Reading
October 28, 2015
Thirty-Six Members of Congress Urge Administration to Robustly Fund Earthquake Early Warning System
Washington, D.C. - Today, Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Derek Kilmer (D-WA), along with 34 Members of Congress, urged President Obama and the White House's Office of Management and Budget, to increase the funding level for earthquake hazards programs in their 2017 budget request and more specifically, to provide $16.1 million dollars in funding for an on-shore Earthquake Early Warning System being developed by scientists in Southern California and along the West Coast. Such an early warning … Continue Reading
October 27, 2015
Rep. Schiff Urges House Leadership to Not Grant Any Blanket Extensions to Implementation of Positive Train Control
Washington, DC - Today, Rep. Schiff (D-CA) sent a letter to House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) and Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-OR) asking them to ensure that Congress does not provide any more blanket extensions to the implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC), predictive collision-avoidance technology which can override an operator to prevent train collisions and save lives. The technology consists of GPS signals and wayside devices that can detect … Continue Reading
October 08, 2015
Members of Congress to TSA – Reform Screening Procedures for Transgender Passengers
Washington, DC - Today, Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Brian Higgins (D-NY) along with twenty-nine other congressional colleagues sent a letter to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administration Peter Neffenger urging changes in the way that the agency screens transgender passengers. The letter comes on the heels of reports of a transgender traveler, Shadi Petosky, being detained and put through inappropriate airport security screening procedures by … Continue Reading
October 06, 2015
Rep. Schiff and Thirty-Five Members of Congress Nominate Pope Francis for 2016 Nobel Peace Prize
Washington, DC - Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) along with thirty five of his colleagues sent a letter to the Nobel Committee to nominate Pope Francis as the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. The letter, which was circulated to Members before His Holiness' address to Congress on Thursday, highlights the Pope's commitment to peace, his leadership in taking on the challenges facing our planet, and his courageous stand for human rights, his pleas on behalf of refugees, and his condemnation of all … Continue Reading
October 01, 2015
Reps. Schiff and Israel Wager on Los Angeles Dodgers – New York Mets Playoff Series
Washington, DC - With the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets set to square off in the first round of the MLB playoffs - the National League Division Series - Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Steve Israel (D-NY) today announced they had placed a friendly wager on the outcome of the series. The winner of the bet shall receive a local food from their district. Schiff, who represents the areas surrounding Dodger Stadium, wagered gourmet popcorn from Pauline's Premier Sweets in Burbank, … Continue Reading
September 23, 2015
Rep. Schiff Circulating Letter Among Colleagues to Nominate Pope Francis for 2016 Nobel Peace Prize
Washington, DC - Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) announced that he is circulating a letter among his colleagues addressed to the Nobel Committee to nominate Pope Francis as the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. The letter, which will be distributed to both Democratic and Republican Members of Congress before His Holiness' address to Congress on Thursday, highlights the Pope's commitment to peace, his leadership in taking on the challenges facing our planet, and his courageous stand for human … Continue Reading
September 17, 2015
Reps. Adam Schiff, Rosa DeLauro, and Other Members Support New FDA Proposal to Require Daily Reference Value for Added Sugars on Nutritional Facts Labeling
Washington, DC - Today, Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) joined with a number of congressional colleagues in writing a letter to Acting Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Stephen Ostroff in support of the supplemental proposed rule for the Nutrition Facts Label, which would require listing a daily reference value (DRV) for added sugars. In March 2014, the FDA issued a proposed rule which would require "added sugars" be listed on the Nutrition Facts labels, … Continue Reading
September 11, 2015
Rep. Adam Schiff Votes to Support Iran Deal
Washington, DC - Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), the Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) released the following statement after voting for the resolution of approval: "I voted today to support the Iran deal negotiated by the Administration and the representatives of the other P5+1 nations - a deal which will realistically prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Given the unthinkable consequences of Iran, the world's foremost sponsor of … Continue Reading
September 04, 2015
Rep. Schiff Distributes Tickets For Papal Visit to the Capitol
Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Schiff announced that his office will distribute a select number of tickets for a live telecast on the West Front Lawn outside of the Capitol during the Pope's speech to a Joint Session on Congress. His Holiness will address both chambers of Congress on September 24, 2015. Limited tickets for the broadcast will be provided to members of the 28th Congressional District, chosen by raffle, to those that fill out and submit this form. Due to the limited number of … Continue Reading
August 03, 2015
Rep. Adam Schiff Announces Support of Iran Deal
Washington, DC - Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), the Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement: "After several years of difficult negotiations with a dangerous and malevolent regime, the Administration and the representatives of the other P5+1 nations reached an agreement with Iran over its nuclear program. The deal realistically precludes Iran from developing an atomic bomb for fifteen or more years, and does so while reducing … Continue Reading
July 30, 2015
Rep. Schiff Statement on USGS Awarding $4 Million for Earthquake Early Warning System
Washington, DC – The U.S. Geological Survey awarded approximately $4 million this week to four universities – California Institute of Technology, University of California, Berkeley, University of Washington and University of Oregon – to support transitioning the “ShakeAlert” earthquake early warning system toward a production stage. USGS also provided an additional $1 million to purchase new earthquake early warning sensor equipment. Rep. Adam Schiff … Continue Reading
July 29, 2015
Rep. Schiff and 19 California Members to FAA – Consider Deploying Drone Mitigation Technologies in Civilian Drones to Prevent Interference in Firefighting Activities
Washington, DC - Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank), the Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and nineteen Members of the California Congressional Delegation sent a letter to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta urging the agency to consider measures to prevent commercial and hobbyist drones from interfering in firefighting operations. Recently, as the "North Fire" threatened cars on the 15 Freeway, firefighting planes had to be rerouted because of five drones … Continue Reading
July 23, 2015
Rep. Schiff to FAA – Consider Requiring “Geo-Fencing” in Civilian Drones to Prevent Interference in Firefighting Activities
Washington, DC - Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank), the Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, began circulating a letter to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta among his California colleagues urging the agency to consider measures to prevent commercial and hobbyist drones from interfering in firefighting operations. Recently, as the "North Fire" threatened cars on the 10 Freeway, firefighting planes had to be rerouted because of five drones flying in the area. … Continue Reading