Press Releases
Currently showing results in 2015 where the type is news_article
Rep. Adam Schiff: Pope Francis Deserves the Nobel Peace Prize (TIME Magazine)
In America these days, we tend to view everything through the prism of transient popularity or politics-who's up, who's down, who's supporting the Democrats or the Republicans. But in Pope Francis, we find someone who transcends the trends or usual divides, and who has used his pulpit to encourage action on the issues that truly matter, informed by nothing but his faith and communion with God. I am not a Catholic, so it might seem odd for me to be calling for the Pope, the leader of the Roman … Continue Reading
September 24, 2015
More Needs to Be Done to Help Syrian Refugees (Crescenta Valley Weekly)
Over the past four years, the world has watched in horror as Syria has descended into chaos. The clash between Bashar Al-Assad's brutal regime, assorted rebel groups and militant Islamic extremists has left the country a nightmarish war-zone and helped produce the biggest refugee crisis since the end of World War II. This humanitarian disaster has affected countries far beyond the Syrian border, as millions of refugees flee into surrounding countries and Europe. Secretary of State John Kerry … Continue Reading
September 23, 2015
Should Pope Francis receive the Nobel Peace Prize? (Washington Post)
At least one member of Congress thinks so. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) began circulating a letter to colleagues on Wednesday nominating Pope Francis for the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize. "Pope Francis has been a powerful advocate for peace, urging an end to conflict and support for constitutive ties among nations," the letter states. "He has called on the world to use diplomacy and discussion to solve disputes, rather than military force, coercion or intimidation. This commitment to nonviolence, … Continue Reading
September 21, 2015
Help Syrian refugees? Readers respond to our Question of the Week: Letters (Los Angeles Daily News)
There is no simple answer to address the Syrian refugee crisis. One thing that we can do to help thousands of families involves extending humanitarian parole to those Syrians who have family in the United States and already have approved family-based immigrant petitions as part of a larger effort. Humanitarian parole allows individuals into the United States on a temporary basis due to a "compelling emergency." And while it is a tool used sparingly, it has, in the past, saved the lives of … Continue Reading
September 18, 2015
Burbank Congressman Adam Schiff Calls For US To Expedite Immigration For 20,000 Syrians (CBS Los Angeles)
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) - Congressman Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) is advocating for the United States to speed up immigration for 20,000 Syrians. Schiff, in an interview with KNX 1070 on Friday, said he is urging colleagues in Congress to extend so-called humanitarian parole to Syrians who wish to be reunited with family members in the U.S. Many have already applied to immigrate and have been approved, but are facing long delays due to a cap on visas, he said. All those who enter the U.S. … Continue Reading
September 17, 2015
Overnight Regulation: Dems push FDA to finalize nutrition rule (The Hill)
House Democrats are calling on the Obama administration to act swiftly in finalizing a rule that would require food producers to list a percent daily value for added sugars on the Nutrition Facts Labels on packaged foods. In a letter to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Acting Commissioner Stephen Ostroff, Reps. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) said added sugars contribute to a myriad of health issues. Though the World Health Organization and the American Heart Association … Continue Reading
September 17, 2015
Schiff and Chu Back Obama (Pasadena Weekly)
After deep reflection, US Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank on Friday, Sept. 11, voted to support President Barack Obama's efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear bomb by better controlling that country's already operating nuclear power program. "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," said Schiff, the ranking member of the House … Continue Reading
September 15, 2015
Analysts Detail Claims That Reports on ISIS Were Distorted (New York Times)
WASHINGTON - A group of intelligence analysts have provided investigators with documents they say show that senior military officers manipulated the conclusions of reports on the war against the Islamic State, according to several government officials, as lawmakers from both parties voiced growing anger that they may have received a distorted picture about the military campaign's progress. The Pentagon's inspector general, who is examining the claims, is focusing on senior intelligence … Continue Reading
September 11, 2015
House Rejects Iran Nuclear Deal (New York Times)
WASHINGTON - Following the playbook of their crusade against the Affordable Care Act, congressional Republicans on Friday showed no sign of letting up in their effort to pressure the White House over the Iran nuclear accord, even after the Senate effectively settled the matter and blocked a Republican resolution aimed at stopping the deal. The House, as expected, rejected the Iran deal overwhelmingly, in a vote that was sharply along partisan lines. Some House Republicans also said they were … Continue Reading
September 10, 2015
Top House Intel Dem: Silicon Valley asking for encryption proposal (The Hill)
Silicon Valley is urging the government to present a proposed solution to the so-called "going dark" problem, in which law enforcement is worried criminals will use encryption to hide nefarious activities. "Why don't they give us a proposal and let us weigh in on it," was the message Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said he received when he met with top officials from Facebook, Google and Twitter last week. During remarks Thursday at … Continue Reading
September 10, 2015
FBI director: Ability to unlock encryption is not a ‘fatal’ security flaw (Washington Post)
In the tug of war between the government and U.S. companies over whether firms should hold a key to unlock encrypted communications, a frequent argument of technologists and privacy experts is that maintaining such a key poses a security threat. But on Thursday, FBI Director James B. Comey pointed out that a number of major Internet companies do just that "so they can read our e-mails and send us ads." And, he said: "I've never heard anybody say those companies are fundamentally insecure and … Continue Reading
September 08, 2015
It’s time to work together, focus on strengthening constraints on Iran (The Jewish Journal)
Several days ago, Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland became the 34th senator to announce support for the agreement reached by the representatives of the P5+1 nations and Iran over its nuclear program, thus assuring that a presidential veto of a bill of disapproval in the Congress would be sustained and the pact would go into force. The debate over the Iran agreement has been pointed, painful and, at times, deeply destructive. Opponents of the deal have been described as warmongers or faced the … Continue Reading
September 08, 2015
Gun violence in America can be stemmed (Burbank Leader)
Last month, television screens carried the tragic news of yet another shooting, this time the horrific on-air murder of two Virginia television journalists, Alison Parker and Adam Ward. Anyone watching the events unfold could be forgiven if it felt like they had seen this nightmare before because they have - many, many times. Some of these shooting, like the one in Virginia, become front-page news, covered as part of the endless "breaking news" on the 24-hour news networks. A white … Continue Reading
August 13, 2015
New push to regulate teen residential treatment centers
This story contains bonus audio Megan Stokes from the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs talks to Take Two. 6 min 42 sec Congressman Adam Schiff introduced legislation aimed at regulating the country's residential treatment and "boot camp" programs for troubled teens yesterday. While some facilities successfully treat young people, a federal report from 2008 cites instances of physical and emotional abuse at a number of camps across the country. The report also … Continue Reading
August 05, 2015
What if there’s no deal?
If you oppose the Iran deal, you have to ask yourself one question: So then what? Saying the deal stinks without offering an alternative is not a thoughtful position, it's an empty slogan. Until now, the debate has really just been a piling-on against the deal. Supporters are against the ropes and opponents, Ronda Rousey-like, are throwing everything they have against it. And make no mistake, they have a lot. But as August recess begins and the countdown to the congressional vote … Continue Reading
August 05, 2015
Obama on the Iran Deal: The 'Strongest Nonproliferation Agreement Ever Negotiated'
President Obama said Wednesday the deal with Iran on its nuclear program does not resolve all our problems with the Islamic republic, "but it achieves one of our most critical security objectives." "This is the strongest nonproliferation agreement ever negotiated," Obama said. Obama's speech was at American University, the same place President Kennedy called for diplomacy and nuclear disarmament at the height of the Cold War. Wednesday's speech also fell on the anniversary of the nuclear … Continue Reading
August 05, 2015
After One Year of War on ISIS, No AUMF in Sight
The war against ISIS began with airstrikes a year ago this week and lawmakers have spent significant time in the last 12 months debating the strategy and, in many cases, criticizing the way the Obama administration is conducting the fight. But one thing members of Congress have yet to do is have a vote - or even a substantive debate - over authorizing the military campaign. Instead, President Obama has relied on past authorizations for the use of military force (AUMFs) against al-Qaeda in … Continue Reading
August 04, 2015
USGS awards $4 million to earthquake early warning system on the West Coast
PASADENA >> The U.S. Geological Survey has awarded $4 million to help push ShakeAlert, an earthquake early warning system, closer to becoming a functioning $38.2 million network on the West Coast. Since the early 2000s, the project has received $21 million or about 55 percent of the amount necessary to build out earthquake early warning infrastructure in California and the Pacific Northwest, said Thomas Heaton, Caltech professor of engineering seismology and director of the … Continue Reading
August 04, 2015
Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., On Why He Supports The Iran Nuclear Deal
The future of the Iran nuclear deal could hinge on Democrats, who are being pulled in two directions. The Obama administration wants them to back the plan, but Israel and pro-Israel lobbying groups want those lawmakers to oppose the deal. U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff is a Jewish Democrat, and the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee. He tells Renee Montagne why he recently decided to support the Iran … Continue Reading
August 03, 2015
Top House Dem on Intelligence Panel Backs Iran Nuclear Deal
Washington (AP) -- The top Democrat on the House Intelligence committee says he's backing the international accord to curb Iran's nuclear power. California Rep. Adam Schiff said Monday he supports the agreement to limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for relief from billions of dollars in sanctions. The announcement is a boost for Obama during Congress' 60-day review period. The Republican-led Congress is expected to vote in September for a resolution of disapproval that Obama has vowed … Continue Reading