Adam Schiff

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Protecting America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act. Those unfamiliar with Los Angeles may think it is a series of communities interconnected only by freeways. But in fact, the opposite is true. It is connected by the wildlife and open spaces that bridge our communities and bring us together. Mr. Speaker, for nearly 20 years, I have worked with my constituents to expand, preserve, and protect the space that surrounds the L.A. Basin, known as the Rim of the Valley. My legislation, which is included in H.R. 803, is the Rim of the Valley Corridor Preservation Act, and it would expand the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation area to include these pristine lands. The legislation will protect almost 200,000 acres of open space for generations to come. Los Angeles is one of the most park-poor regions in the country. And during the pandemic, while many of us are stuck in our homes, it has caused us to reevaluate our priorities and consider what matters most. For me and many Angelenos, it has been spending time with family and getting outdoors--hikes through Griffith Park, runs through the Verdugos, or walks in the Arroyo. Trails are full on weekends, and that won't change after the pandemic ends. By expanding the national recreation area, the National Park Service will have the authority to make capital improvements, like repairing hiking trails and maintaining facilities for public enjoyment, studying wildlife and its habitats, and participating in cooperative conservation with local landowners. It will help ensure that wildlife corridors that allow Los Angelenos to witness mountain lions, like P-22 and P-96, black bears we have come to know, like Meatball, and other precious wildlife are still present in our own backyards. This package of bills will also support the Biden administration's commitment to conserving public lands and waters, as well as protecting communities from the effects of climate change. Like the last Congress, it is my hope that the House can pass this bill with bipartisan support, and we will finally see this legislation through to the finish line. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that we have a willing partner with President Biden, who strongly supports H.R. 803. I thank Chairman Grijalva, Representative DeGette, and my other colleagues who have bills in this package, for all the work they did on this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 803.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, 1 week ago, the President incited an insurrection against Congress to prevent the peaceful transition of power. It was the most dangerous moment for our democracy in a century. Today, we invoke the remedy the Founders provided for just such a lawless President: impeachment. More important, today, we begin the long road to restoration. America has been through a civil war, world wars, a Great Depression, pandemics, McCarthyism, and now a Trumpist and white nationalist insurrection. And yet our democracy endures. It endures because, at every juncture, every pivotal moment when evil threatened to overtake good, patriotic Americans stepped forward to say, ``Enough.'' This is one of those moments. To preserve this sacred place, this citadel of democracy, for ourselves and for posterity, let us say, ``Enough.'' Enough.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, 6 days ago, I was standing right here, fulfilling my constitutional duties to certify the election. And, 6 days ago, Donald Trump was on the Mall, whipping a mob into a frenzy with false claims of stolen elections and unconstitutional schemes. It was a big lie, the same big lie he had been telling for weeks. He told the mob, ``We are going to the Capitol'' and ``to fight like hell,'' and they did. Five died. Many more were hurt. And we were seconds away from something much worse. My colleagues, upholding our oath, the Constitution, and our democracy means recognizing that every second that Donald Trump is President the Nation is at risk. We have the power to do something about it. Mike Pence must do his duty, invoke the 25th. If he won't, we will move with urgency to do ours and impeach Donald Trump again.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the objection.

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, a little more than 2 months ago, America performed an extraordinary feat. Under some of the most trying circumstances in our history, our fellow citizens conducted a free and fair election, vindicating our Founders' belief once again, that we were capable of self government and a peaceful transition of power. On November 3, the American people chose Joe Biden to be their next President by an enormous margin. The successful conduct of that election, among the most secure in American history, was not an accident. It was the result of the dedicated work of thousands of volunteers, canvassers, poll workers, electors, and State and local election officials. When the conduct of any State election was challenged, the courts, through judges appointed by Democrats and those appointed by Republicans, heard unsubstantiated claims of fraud, found they had no merit, and said so. But most important, the American people persevered. In the midst of the worst pandemic in a century, America had one of the most impressive elections in a century, with historic voter turnout. Our fellow citizens did their civic duty. The question we face today is: Will we do ours? That we are here, with a substantial number of our Members seeking to overturn an election is remarkable, tragic, and all too predictable, for it is the natural result of a locomotive set in motion months ago with a myth. For weeks and weeks, before, during, and after our election, a dangerous falsehood was propagated: That our election would be marred by massive fraud. Never mind it was the same election which brought the very men and women to this Chamber who would challenge its results. What value has consistency when measured against ambition? A former Senator from Georgia, remarking on a contested election over a century ago, said: ``Able men, learned men, distinguished men, great men in the eyes of the nation, seemed intent only on accomplishing a party triumph, without regard to the consequences to the country. That is human nature. That is,'' he said, ``unfortunately, party nature.'' Was he right? We stand in a House which was once the place of giants. Have we become so small? Does our oath to uphold the Constitution, taken just days ago, mean so very little? I think not. I believe, to quote our dear departed friend, Elijah Cummings, that we are better than that. I think Elijah would be proud that the debate here today is not between Democrats and Republicans, and that some Republicans, including the Republican leader of the Senate, remain devoted to the principle that we are a nation of laws, not individuals, let alone a single individual. It may seem unfair to the new Members who have only just taken the oath for the first time, that they should be so soon tested with one of the most consequential votes they may cast, no matter how long they serve. But it is so, and none of us can shrink from that responsibility. Nor can we console ourselves with the intoxicating fiction that we can break that oath without consequence because doing so will not succeed in overturning the election. An oath is no less broken when the breaking fails to achieve its end. We must be mindful that any who seek to overturn an election will do injury to our Constitution, whatever the result. For just as the propagation of that dangerous myth about this election made this moment inevitable, our actions today will put another train in motion. This election will not be overturned. But what about the next? Or the one after that? What shall we say when our democratic legacy is no more substantial than the air, except that we brought trouble to our own house and inherited the wind? This isn't the first time we have had a contentious election, and it won't be the last. In 1800, John Adams lost a closely contested election to Thomas Jefferson, in the first peaceful transition of power from one party to another in our history. Adams was hardly pleased with the result, choosing to skip the inaugural activities, but he did what leaders are required to do in a democratic government when they lose. He went home. He went home. Jefferson would later refer to his victory as the Revolution of 1800, but marveled that the Revolution had occurred ``by the rational and peaceful instruments of reform, the suffrage of the people.'' It has never been our place to overturn an election, and if we hope to remain a democracy, it never will be.

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition.

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, 80 years ago today, Franklin Roosevelt delivered his third inaugural address. ``Every realist knows,'' he said, ``that the democratic way of life at this moment is being directly assailed in every part of the world--assailed either by arms, or by the secret spreading of poisonous propaganda by those who would seek to destroy unity and promote discord in nations still at peace.'' Today, the principal threat to our democracy comes from a different but also poisonous propaganda of those who seek to destroy our unity and promote discord. According to this propaganda, America cannot conduct a free or fair election. Our elections are rigged and doomed. According to this propaganda, the voters can no longer decide who shall be President. The Congress must decide for them. At a time when our Nation faces an unprecedented health crisis, with thousands dying every day, with Americans struggling to put food on the table and keep a roof over their head, who are we to say that the man America chose to lead us out of this calamity shall not take office? The coronavirus will claim more American lives than all of the casualties in World War II. To meet that moment will require unity, not discord; will require an abiding faith in our country, in our democracy, in our government's ability to function and provide for the needs of its citizens. The Members of this body cannot continue to challenge the merits of an election that was fairly conducted and overwhelmingly won by Joe Biden. It must stop. Look at the damage that was wrought in this House today, to this country today. Is that not enough? Roosevelt said: ``This Nation has placed its destiny in the hands and heads and hearts of its millions of free men and women. . . . Our strength,'' he concluded ``is our unity of purpose.'' Let us unite once again in defense of the greatest hope of freedom- loving people around the world, this precious democracy. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin).

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise to emphasize the appropriate application and interpretation of Section 404 of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, which has been included as Division W of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. Section 404 was authored by Chairman Bennie Thompson of the Committee on Homeland Security. Its essence is to establish a specialized fellowship program related to cybersecurity and intelligence within the Department of Homeland Security. The program is meant for certain undergraduate students from diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, and other backgrounds. And the Secretary of Homeland Security--who shall administer Section 404--also will have authority to hire successful fellowship participants as Department employees, and into positions involving cyber or intelligence. The broader and most compelling goal being, of course, to ensure that the Department and the Federal government are doing their utmost to recruit, hire and retain a highly diverse workforce. The language of Section 404 must be interpreted and implemented by the Department broadly, with a mind towards attainment of this lawful objective; under no circumstances should it be read in an inappropriately narrow or needlessly restrictive fashion. Although Section 404 does not require that students attend Historically Black Colleges or Universities or Minority-Serving Institutions in order to participate in the fellowship program, the Secretary of Homeland Security--who will administer this authority-- should make extensive efforts to promote the fellowship among students from HBCUs and MSIs. Together with the other Members of the Homeland Security and Intelligence Committees, I will look forward to receiving the report required by Section 404, which will permit Congress to confirm that, in fact, the Department is conducting the necessary outreach to HBCUs, MSIs, and other Institutions of Higher Education; and, consistent with the approach I have set forth here, reading and applying Section 404's language in a manner that fulfills the initiative's overarching goal.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise because for more than four weeks, Azerbaijan and Turkey have been waging war on Artsakh, bombarding civilians, churches, and committing possible war crimes. More than 800 soldiers have been killed repelling Azerbaijan's attacks, and dozens of civilians are dead. Estimates are that more than half of the civilian population of Artsakh has been displaced, sleeping in cars or open fields away from falling bombs, as winter approaches. For decades, through the OSCE Minsk Group, the United States has supported a peaceful, democratic, and negotiated resolution to the dispute surrounding Nagorno Karabakh, or Artsakh. We have persisted in this policy even as Azerbaijan launched countless assaults and as their leadership frequently threatened war to redraw the line of contact by force, and as they rejected monitoring along the line of contact. Today, it appears that Azerbaijan and Turkey are determined to make good on their threats. With bombs, and drones, and Syrian mercenaries, Turkey and Azerbaijan are pushing ahead with a war that has no end in sight. The Armenian people are the grandchildren and great- grandchildren of the genocide perpetrated a century ago by the Ottoman Empire, and the words and deeds of Erdogan and Aliyev today call to mind the crimes of one hundred years ago. We cannot allow history to repeat itself. If Azerbaijan and Turkey have determined to wage war, the United States, the Minsk Group, and the International Community should make clear that they will not succeed in their aims. And that if they persist in this violence, we must recognize the Republic of Artsakh as an independent nation. Doing so would send the strongest possible message that we will not allow border disputes to be settled by the indiscriminate and devastating use of force against civilian populations. Aliyev and Erdogan must be made to understand that if they continue with this war, there will be consequences. The United States will not stand idly by.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, Martin Luther King, Jr. once said: ``Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and the most inhuman because it often results in physical death.'' As our Nation confronts the crisis of coronavirus, we must also confront the crisis of systemic racism in our society. Nowhere is the fight for racial justice more urgent than in the field of health. The legislation I introduced this week would create a clear and forcible standard for equal healthcare, treating it as a civil rights issue, as it is, and provide strong tools to identify inequitable care and correct it wherever it is found. I acknowledge and thank Dwayne Hall, whose own family experience with bias in healthcare was a driving force behind this legislation and without whose leadership this bill would not have been possible. Every American deserves quality care and every American deserves equal care. I look forward to working with my colleagues on this bill to make health equity a reality in this country.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lieutenant General Robert Ashley on the eve of his retirement, after over 35 years of service to his nation as an Army intelligence officer. As testament to his competence and character, on two-separate occasions, the Nation entrusted General Ashley with the responsibility to lead different elements of our Intelligence Community. The congressional intelligence committees are unique as they must truly partner with the organizations they are charged to oversee. In my time on the Intelligence Committee, and his time leading military intelligence organizations, I have appreciated General Ashley's candor and ability to think strategically. As the Army's Intelligence Chief, he implemented reforms that saved struggling acquisition programs and delivered tools directly to warfighters. Most recently, in his tenure as Director of DIA, General Ashley led key initiatives that ensured continuing the transformation of the DIA. Perhaps most importantly, and in the best tradition of service, General Ashley took time out of his busy schedule to mentor junior intelligence officers. I am confident that this next generation of intelligence professionals will be his most significant and lasting legacy. General Ashley has done his part to leave the Army, the Department of Defense, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the Intelligence Community in a stronger position for his successors and the Nation. We wish him well.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor KNX News Radio (KNX) upon its one-hundredth anniversary. KNX began humbly in the back bedroom of the home of founder Fred Christian, a former wireless operator and manager at one of the first radio supply stores in Los Angeles. On September 10, 1920, with parts from his store, Mr. Christian set up an amateur radio station with the call letters 6ADZ. At the time, the station was one of only two stations broadcasting music in Southern California. In 1922, Mr. Christian built a new 100-watt transmitter and was given the call letters KNX, still used today. That year, the radio station started broadcasting a nightly newscast, one of the first heard in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Times called the broadcast ``one of the best in the land.'' KNX quickly became known as ``The Voice of Hollywood,'' an invaluable news resource for the community and the nation. KNX has a long and illustrious history in Southern California, predating the Hollywood Sign and the Rose Bowl stadium. In 1925, KNX provided what is thought to be the first accurate news coverage of the Santa Barbara earthquake. Five years later, in 1930, KNX became the first station to broadcast the Academy Awards. That timely, accurate reporting became its hallmark. Over the last century, KNX has provided unwavering coverage of local and national news stories. In 1938, the station aired Orson Welles' infamous adaptation of ``The War of the Worlds'' from its new Columbia Square studio complex. That studio went on to host and record precedent-setting broadcasts, including performances by Lucille Ball, Frank Sinatra, and Bing Crosby. In 1968, a landmark year for KNX, the station provided comprehensive coverage of the Vietnam War protests and the assassination of Martin Luther King. The same year, KNX provided critical breaking news coverage of the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, with live on-the-ground coverage from the Ambassador Hotel and Central Receiving Hospital. Today, KNX, a national Edward R. Murrow award-winner for ``Breaking News,'' continues its steadfast commitment to the community by providing instrumental coverage of local and national news stories, and in depth reporting and analysis on biggest issues facing all Southern Californians. That's why millions across Southern California tune in every day, whether they are just waking up or heading home from work, and everywhere in between. The staff, from the producers to the reporters and anchors, who have worked tirelessly over the last century to serve their community deserve our thanks for their dedication and service for our community. KNX Radio Station is a pillar of Southern California, and I ask all Members to join me in congratulating KNX on the hundred-year anniversary of its founding.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Colorado for yielding. I rise in strong support of amendment 659, the Protecting America's Wilderness Act. This amendment includes the Rim of the Valley Corridor Preservation Act legislation I have been working on for nearly 20 years. I first took up the study bill when George W. Bush was President. We got that passed in a Republican House and signed into law. During the course of the Obama administration, we got the study funded and conducted. Thousands and thousands of people commented during the public survey period overwhelmingly in favor of the most aggressive option of tripling the size of the park. Ultimately, the Park Service recommended doubling the acreage in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. This bill would make that law. Twenty years is a long enough time to be pursuing this to finally bring it to completion. This will help us preserve wildlife corridors, rare ecosystems, hiking trails, and recreational opportunities. As Los Angeles expands, this proximity to nature is what so many people love about it. We love how we have lions roaming our hills. We have beautiful bears coming into people's garages to eat Ikea meatballs, all possible because we preserve this open space. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of the late John Swing, whose life was tragically cut short by COVID-19. John Swing was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and widely respected community leader in my district. He was recently appointed Executive Director of Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA), a group serving LA's Filipino community. I was honored to join their event last month to discuss the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Filipino community in Los Angeles. In addition, Mr. Swing was active in a variety of other community groups, including the Filipino American Services Group, Inc., the Coalition of Filipino American Chambers of Commerce, and the Festival of Pilipino Arts and Culture. Mr. Swing also served on the Riverside County Foundation on Aging, where he served as Board Director; as an employee of the Riverside County Probation Department; and in the United States Marine Corps. He was passionate about improving our city and helping those most in need and was particularly involved in the efforts to combat the scourge of homelessness throughout Los Angeles. Mr. Swing is survived by his wife Ellen Rodriguez-Swing and his children, Zachary, Joshua, Chloe, Mackenzie, Nico, and Sasha. My deepest condolences are with them, and the entire Los Angeles Filipino community who has lost a dedicated and energetic leader to this horrific disease. John Swing was a true public servant and he will be deeply missed. His work will continue in all the lives he touched. Please join me in honoring his legacy.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Theodore ``Teddy'' Alvarez-Nissen, who has been named one of 20 United States Presidential Scholars in the Arts for 2020. Teddy was born in Sacramento, California, on October 19, 2001, the son of two lifelong nonprofit and legal advocates, Lynn Alvarez and Steven Nissen. His talent in the arts was nurtured early in California's public schools, first at Lanai Road Elementary School, then at Robert A. Millikan Affiliated Charter & Performing Arts Magnet Middle, and finally at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. Teddy's filmmaking journey began in earnest in fifth grade, when Ms. Karen Bennett's dedication and insight helped Teddy become one of the youngest filmmakers to compete in national film festivals across the country. Recently, Teddy has used his art to highlight social causes that are important to him, including creating media for the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House, El Nido Family Centers, and Arts for Incarcerated Youth. Teddy plans to pursue his dream of making movies as a member of the 2024 class of the prestigious University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts with a major in Film and Television Production. Looking into the future and following in his parent's footsteps, Teddy hopes to start a nonprofit which pairs young artists with charitable organizations in order to create free informational and educational content. Apart from filmmaking, Teddy is an active member of his community through the California YMCA Youth & Government program. Throughout his four years of participation, Teddy has been a natural leader in this politically active community of over 3,500 teenagers throughout the state. His peers elected him California's 72nd Youth Lieutenant Governor in January 2020, and he has used this platform to champion youth initiatives ranging from criminal justice reform to combating food waste. Throughout his high school career, Teddy has consistently amplified student voices in politics. In the wake of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, Teddy marched with a group of students on Los Angeles City Hall to speak out against gun violence. Before he could vote himself, Teddy helped to pre-register over 30 percent of the eligible student body at his school to vote. As part of the Western Justice Center's ``Creating Bias-Free Classrooms'' initiative, Teddy acted in short plays and improv situations to help train teachers to combat racial prejudice in the classroom. It is no surprise that Teddy's dedication to the art of filmmaking and determination to use his talents to serve others is being honored by the White House and the U.S. Department of Education by naming Teddy one of 20 United States Presidential Scholars in the Arts. I ask all Members today to join me in celebrating this exceptional young man of California's 28th Congressional District, Teddy Alvarez- Nissen.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, last year I introduced H.R. 3494, the Damon Paul Nelson and Matthew Young Pollard Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2018, 2019, and 2020. The IAA was included in the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, which became Public Law 116-92. Section 6412, a provision that I authored and that first passed the House as part of the IAA, authorizes the Director of the CIA to provide enhanced injury benefits to a covered employee and/or qualifying dependents who suffer an injury overseas due to war, insurgency, hostile act, or terrorist activities. I rise today to clarify the intent of Congress on one point: due to the unique and limited circumstances under which these benefits are authorized, and for the purposes of Section 104 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, all amounts paid pursuant to Section 6412 should be treated as amount paid under chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code, regardless of whether the recipient would otherwise qualify for workmen's compensation.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. ``My fellow citizens, let no one doubt that this is a difficult and dangerous effort on which we have set out. No one can foresee precisely what course it will take or what costs or casualties will be incurred. Many months of sacrifice and self-discipline lie ahead--months in which both our patience and our will will be tested, months in which many threats and denunciations will keep us aware of our danger.'' Mr. Speaker, these were the words of John F. Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis. They are equally true today. We cannot see what course this virus will take, not precisely. Many months of sacrifice and self- discipline will lie ahead for the American people. We will be tested, and we will prevail. America will rise to meet this challenge or any other. Our healthcare workers already are. In this bill, we give them the tools to do the job and we give families the financial support they need to get by until this time of trial and tribulation is over. Let us support this bill and help put our people and our country on the road to recovery.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Coralyn AndresTaylor of the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Coralyn AndresTaylor has more than thirty years of public health education program development, implementation and management. Her lifelong passion for public health began with her undergraduate degree in Dietetics from the University of California, Davis and then moving on to earn a Master's in Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley. Upon receiving her master's degree, Coralyn was admitted to the prestigious Assembly Fellowship Program at the California State Capitol where her interests and education in policy, finance, and health converged during her work with the Assembly Ways and Means Health Subcommittee. Ms. AndresTaylor, MPH, RDN, CLE, CHES is currently the Department Administrator for PIH Health Good Samaritan Hospital's Community Health Education Department and Lactation Resource Center. Her department oversees nutrition, cardiovascular health, stroke, perinatal health, breastfeeding, and diabetes. Since chronic diseases such as diabetes are both common and costly, Coralyn has a longstanding interest in prevention and educates individual patients and their family members in creating lifelong healthy habits. As a master's-prepared Registered Dietician Nutritionist, Certified Health Education Specialist, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Instructor and Certified Lactation Educator, she has applied her knowledge and skills for the benefit of diverse ethnic and disadvantaged communities throughout Los Angeles County. She continued to serve her community when she was appointed a Los Angeles City Health Commissioner in 2016. With a passion for making a difference in her community, Ms. AndresTaylor volunteers with LINC Housing to help the formerly homeless, and people in need of affordable housing move to a stable living environment. Coralyn is well-regarded in her faith-based community frequently serving as Lector at Sunday morning services, and volunteers as a Eucharistic minister at Our Mother of Good Counsel Church in Los Feliz. She also participates in and plans the Women's Cornerstone retreats and Faith Sharing groups for her church. Coralyn and her husband, Peter have lived in Silver Lake for the past thirty-one years where they raised their two wonderful daughters, Andrea and Allyson. At home, Coralyn is the chief infection control and safety officer who frequently reminds her family and friends to wash hands, use sunscreen and wear bike helmets. I ask all Members to join me in honoring this exceptional, well- respected woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Coralyn AndresTaylor.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Alexis Sanchez of the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. As a native Angeleno, Alexis Sanchez is a transgender woman and a fearless supporter of transgender rights in her community and across the country. Ms. Sanchez displays powerful personal initiative and leadership as an advocate for transgender rights empowering those who may not realize they have a voice. Dedicated to public service, she devotes her time to community organizing, media advocacy, and volunteering to support the LGBTQ+ community. Alexis serves on the board of directors of Still Bisexual, a non- profit that seeks to raise bi+ visibility and advocate for mental health resources for bi+ individuals. Ms. Sanchez is involved in planning the City of West Hollywood's Transgender Day of Remembrance and advocating for the creation of the first Transgender Day of Visibility in Los Angeles. Ms. Sanchez is also a member of the City of West Hollywood Transgender Advisory Board, which is responsible for addressing issues concerning transgender rights, as well as making recommendations regarding the adoption of policies that would benefit the community. She has led the City of West Hollywood Transgender Advisory Board delegation that travels to Washington, D.C. to meet with Members of Congress and the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus to discuss the importance of the transgender rights movement in federal policy. Alexis works within the field of public policy to implement change that benefits her community. She is an Assistant Program Manager at the Institute for Public Strategies, where she oversees a program centered on substance use disorders within the LGBTQ+ community. Alexis is currently collaborating with a coalition of state representatives to create a tool for law enforcement, researchers, community groups, and local municipalities to track methamphetamine data and research in the LGBTQ+ community. Ms. Sanchez spends her free time as a volunteer and mentor with Brave Trails, a leadership camp for LGBTQ+ teenagers and is an enthusiastic hiker and mountaineer. I ask all Members to join me in honoring this exceptional, well- respected woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Alexis Sanchez.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Brenda Burroughs of Burbank, California. Brenda Burroughs is a devoted wife, mother, and community leader in Burbank, California. Ms. Burroughs is an active community volunteer and her generous contributions have impacted the lives of many people in Burbank. With a dedication to public service, she has devoted her time to volunteer with numerous organizations that help benefit schools and charities within her community. Ms. Burroughs began her volunteer work 26 years ago at the Burbank Parent Education Council where she served as their Safety Chair and co- editor of the monthly newspaper. Brenda has volunteered on the School Site Council and has been a member of the National Charity League. She has held numerous leadership positions in the Burbank Council Parent Teacher Association including recording secretary, financial secretary, auditor, and historian, as well as being the Honorary Service Award chairman. A supporter of the arts, Ms. Burroughs has been an engaged volunteer with the Burbank Arts for All Foundation and was the recipient of their prestigious Champion of the Arts Community Volunteer Award in 2017. Her extensive volunteer service list also includes the Burbank Educational Foundation, the Renal Support Network, the Girl Scouts of America and Relay for Life. Ms. Burroughs champions the Family Service Agency of Burbank by volunteering for the non-profit's yearly Carewalk and Party with a Purpose to raise funds that underwrite community counseling and mental health care for the children, families, and veterans in Burbank. She has recently been recognized by Business Life Magazine as a Woman Achiever for the scope and depth of her service to her community. The City of Burbank is made a better place by the invaluable contributions of Ms. Burroughs. I ask all Members to join me in honoring this exceptional, well- respected woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Brenda Burroughs.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Tami Kagan- Abrams of the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Ms. Kagan-Abrams is a loving wife and mother, with a passion for volunteering and philanthropy, and has devoted her time to organizations and programs that benefit children and women. Tami spent 10 years working in program management at Yahoo. She served on the board of directors for the Yahoo Employee Foundation, an employee-led and funded organization that grants funds to non-profit initiatives championed by the employee donors. Through the foundation, Tami successfully advocated for grants for JFS { Hope, one of only a few domestic violence shelters to house entire families and teenage boys, and The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation, a non-profit organization that donates musical instruments to under-funded music programs and offers support services to school districts across the nation. Ms. Kagan-Abrams also spent 6 years with The Walt Disney Company, where she participated with the Disney VoluntEARS program, mentoring Army veterans transitioning back into civilian life and bringing her team to volunteer for JFS { Sova, a Community Food and Resource Program which provides supportive services and free groceries to over 9,000 people. A decade ago, Tami began volunteering with the Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles (JFS) Young Leader Group, and after leading the Young Leaders for an annual term, she joined the JFS board of directors. As a board member, she assists with fundraising, provides direction and support through different committees, and is currently serving as the Public Policy committee chair. In addition to her efforts with the JFS, Ms. Kagan-Abrams chairs the Discretionary Funds Task Force for Los Angeles City Council District 4 and serves on the volunteer steering committee as the Projects Director for Abundant Housing Los Angeles. Ms. Kagan-Abrams received her bachelor's degree in Communication from the University of California, Los Angeles, followed by her Master's in Communication Management from the University of Southern California. Tami lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter. I ask all Members to join me in honoring this exceptional, well- respected woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Tami Kagan-Abrams.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Victoria Malone of Montrose, California. Victoria Malone is a devoted wife and mother with a lifelong passion for giving back to her community. She has been a part of the Montrose community since her teenage years, when she attended Crescenta Valley High School (CVHS) before going on to study at San Diego State University. As the Executive Director of the Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce (MVCC), Ms. Malone has positively impacted many small businesses, and having owned and operated her own business in the area, she has made it her mission to provide vital support to the local businesses. Victoria has helped the chamber become financially sustainable, thus allowing the MVCC to provide numerous charitable donations back to the Montrose community, and she leads the chamber in organizing the annual Montrose Oktoberfest, a community event that has been produced for over four decades. In addition to her work with the MVCC, Victoria devotes her time to volunteering for several local events and organizations. She has volunteered for the Montrose Shopping Park Association Small Business Saturday and the association's Arts and Crafts Festival as Street and Traffic Patrol, and for several years, for the Montrose Christmas Parade Association. Victoria and her husband, Michael Marshall volunteered at the Crescenta Valley Fireworks Association event, where they worked from set-up to clean-up, and also at the 2018 Prom Plus event for CVHS students. Ms. Malone and her family helped pay off the lunch meal debt for CVHS students and families who were struggling to cover that expense. In addition, for the last two decades, they have opened up their home to several rescue dogs who were in search of their forever homes. One of the greatest examples of Victoria's generosity is the four weeks that she spent volunteering in Kathmandu, Nepal, where she assisted an orphanage that helped children and elder women. Victoria donated school supplies, clothing, and backpacks, provided art instruction to the children, and helped manage the kitchen and supplies. Using her background as a life coach, she donated her services to local Nepalese women at a Woman's Empowerment Workshop. I ask all Members to join me in honoring this exceptional, well- respected woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Victoria Malone.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Dr. Ani Halabi of Tujunga, California. Ani Halabi is a devoted wife and mother and has been a successful optometrist for fifteen years. Born in Tehran, Iran, Ani was first introduced to optometry while working in her family's business marketing and designing an eyeglass frame line. She attended Glendale Community College and California State University, Northridge where she received a bachelor's degree in biology, all while working in a private optometry practice. Dr. Halabi continued her education at the Southern California College of Optometry, where she received her Doctorate of Optometry. She specializes in primary eye care, which includes diagnosis and treatment of ocular diseases, prescribing contact lenses and glasses, and working with local eye surgeons. Dr. Halabi is an active volunteer and member of several local non- profit organizations. She is a 10-year member of the Armenian American Medical Society, where she has helped coordinate the vision clinic at the Glendale Health Festival, which serves more than 1,500 disadvantaged patients annually. She is also a 10-year member of the Glendale Northwest Lions Club, where she is a co-chair of the sight conservation committee, and under her leadership, the club has provided free eyeglasses to people in need and has offered eye screenings that have restored and improved vision to more than 3,000 individuals. In addition, as a Glendale Healthy Kids organization volunteer, Ani has provided free eye care services for underprivileged families and children. She has also volunteered at vision screenings at several schools, including St. Mary's Richard Tufenkian Preschool & Kindergarten, Glendale High School and Herbert Hoover High School, educating parents about routine eyecare and providing early detection of vision problems. Dr. Halabi has made it her mission to help aspiring optometrists by mentoring students and offering internships at her practice. She regularly sits on the panel of Glendale Community College's Professional Alumni and has volunteered at college events to guide students who have an interest in the field of optometry. Ani's successes have been recognized by ``Women in Optometry'' magazine, who featured her on their cover. Dr. Halabi and her husband, Steve Khroyan live in Tujunga and have two children, Nara and Sareen. I ask all Members to join me in honoring this exceptional, well- respected woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Dr. Ani Halabi.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Meymuna Hussein-Cattan of the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Meymuna Hussein-Cattan is an executive, social entrepreneur and world traveler dedicated to shifting the narrative around refugees in the United States. Born in an Ethiopian refugee camp in Somalia, Ms. Hussein-Cattan's childhood gave her a first-hand view of the struggles of refugee children. In 1983, Meymuna's father moved to San Diego when he was resettled by the International Rescue Committee. Young Meymuna and her mother, Owliya Dima followed the next year. Growing up with a passion for human rights and advocacy, Meymuna went on to receive her bachelor's degree in Social Sciences from the University of California, Irvine and a master's degree in Organizational Management from Antioch University. Hussein-Cattan wrote her Master's thesis about Tiyya, which proposed creating a nonprofit organization that supports refugees starting a new life in Southern California. Tiyya means ``my love'' in Oromo, which is one of the languages spoken in Ethiopia. Over the years, Tiyya has improved the lives of refugees in the greater Los Angeles area through the arts, education and recreational activities. With generosity and public service as core principles and the help of her mother, Meymuna made it her mission to assist refugees to find stability and navigate the similar complex challenges that her family went through. As co-founder and CEO, Ms. Hussein-Cattan has played a vital role in Tiyya's successes over the past decade, which include impacting the lives of hundreds of people each year with a variety of programs. As funding sources dwindled, Meymuna expanded the organization's mission by launching Flavors from Afar, a program that helps refugees develop culinary careers in their new country and build connections within the neighborhood. Apart from her work at Tiyya, Meymuna is committed to broadening her scope and reaching other advocates with her expertise. A speaker at many organizations and universities, she enjoys sharing her insights and experience to motivate and inspire the future wave of human rights activists. The Los Angeles refugee community has greatly benefited from the generosity and dedication of Meymuna Hussein-Cattan. Meymuna and her husband, Shukry live with their daughter, Suraya in Echo Park. I ask all Members to join me in honoring this exceptional, well- respected woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Meymuna Hussein-Cattan.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the USA FREEDOM Reauthorization Act of 2020. This bill makes a number of critical and important reforms to strengthen civil liberties and privacy protections under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act while simultaneously protecting the national security of the United States. In addition, the bill provides for greater transparency and increased oversight and accountability to ensure the integrity of the FISA process. Over the past several weeks, Chairman Nadler and I, along with Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer, have worked with Members from across the caucus and the aisle to develop a set of reforms that our Democratic Caucus could be proud to support. This bill is a result of that effort. It builds on the achievements of the USA FREEDOM Act of 2015, which passed with 338 votes in the House and the overwhelming support of the Democratic Caucus to put in place long-sought reforms to FISA. The three expiring provisions that this bill would reauthorize are vitally important to protecting national security. One of those measures, the roving wiretap provision, authorizes continued court- approved surveillance of targets, even if they change their phones or other devices. Its expiration, or that of the other two provisions, would be to no one's benefit. Our counterterrorism and national security activities would be severely hamstrung, and we would have lost the opportunity to press for reforms that we are seeking. At the outside of this process, administration officials, like the Attorney General, along with Senate Republican leadership, made it clear that they preferred a clean and permanent reauthorization of these authorities. On a bipartisan basis, this bill rejects that demand, producing a bill that holds firm to our commitment to civil liberties, oversight, and transparency, and, importantly, has an important sunset. Let me describe just a few of the reforms included in this legislation: The bill would end, once and for all, NSA's authority to collect call detail records on an ongoing basis, and destroy all records previously obtained under these authorities. This bill would require that the government get a warrant under FISA, if one would be needed in the law enforcement context. This bill would prohibit the government from retaining business records for more than 5 years, with exceptions, such as an imminent threat to human life. This bill would expand the appointment of amici in FISA court proceedings, permit amici to seek access to more information, and creating a framework for amicus to seek higher court review of questions of law to the FISA courts. The bill would also strengthen the requirement for the declassification and release of FISA court opinions and apply the requirements retroactively to prior to the enactment of the 2015 USA FREEDOM Act. Madam Speaker, I recognize there are additional reforms that Members would like to see in the bill. I sought additional reforms as well. As with any negotiation, no one side is getting everything they want, but I believe it is important to enhance transparency and privacy safeguards whenever possible. But this is a strong result that makes substantial reforms that so many members of our caucus, myself included, have worked hard to secure for many years. And I will continue to work to secure further protections for privacy and civil liberties and to provide vigorous oversight of FISA. Madam Speaker, I support the bill, which makes important reforms to the FISA process and urge Members to vote ``yes,'' and I reserve the balance of my time.