Adam Schiff

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 yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren).

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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, Barbara Weber of La Canada Flintridge, California. Born on a military base in Southern California, Barbara Gillis grew up in several states, including Massachusetts, Ohio, Michigan and Texas. Graduating as the Valedictorian from Ladycliff College in Highland Falls, New York, Barbara majored in math and minored in chemistry, and earned a job at Bell Labs in New Jersey where she met her husband, Bill. Barbara and Bill moved to Pasadena, California in 1967 where Bill was employed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). After teaching kindergarten at a local school, Ms. Weber soon joined the staff at JPL. Barbara was one of the few women working at JPL in 1969, and she single-handedly changed their maternity policy regarding pregnant employees by working until her due date. She stayed at JPL until 1974, when she and Bill bought their house in La Canada Flintridge. Ms. Weber then took classes in computing and accounting at Pasadena City College and began consulting for local businesses. Barbara's volunteer work in the community is extensive. She has served on the boards of several La Canada Flintridge Parent-Teacher Associations, assisted with various La Canada Unified School District bond measures and was a classroom volunteer at Paradise Canyon Elementary School. Other organizations that have benefited from her volunteer service include Huntington Hospital, La Canada Newcomers Club, the Assistance League of Flintridge and Caltech Women's Club, and she is a founding member of the Caltech Women's Investment Club. In addition, Ms. Weber is a Eucharistic Minister at St. Bede the Venerable Church, where she was a leader in the Peace and Justice Ministry, and since 1984, has been an active member of St. Bede's Skidettes which prepare and deliver daily lunches to the homeless at various shelters in the Los Angeles area. Barbara and her husband, Bill enjoy spending time with their three children, Billy, Christa and David and seven grandchildren. I ask all Members to join me in honoring this exceptional, well- respected woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Barbara Weber.

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 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, 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, Janet Workman of the Elysian Valley neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Janet Workman is a devoted wife and community leader in Elysian Valley. Ms. Workman was born and raised in Hermosa Beach and briefly lived in Sao Paolo, Brazil as an exchange student during her teenage years. While attending the University of Southern California, she majored in French, after which she spent several years teaching French and English at the high school level. She then moved to the City of Pasadena in 1981, where she started her career in corporate and emergency planning. An expert in her field, she ran her own company for twenty years before working for Southern California Edison. Additionally, she volunteered for eight years as a docent at the historic Gamble House and seven years on the board of a domestic violence shelter. Despite her full and active life in Pasadena, she and her husband, Robert, decided to relocate to Elysian Valley to start a new chapter in their lives. Ms. Workman built a new sense of home in Elysian Valley for herself and her husband. Never one to sit idly by, she started the Frogtown Art Walk with a group of neighbors, of which she was an essential planner for several years. To ensure the Art Walk's success, she and Robert converted a small home into a meeting place for the event which eventually became the social hub for the entire neighborhood. A lover of art, she studied botanical drawing and watercolor, and produced her own stained-glass art that was exhibited at the Frogtown Art Walk. Ms. Workman was also instrumental in restoring the Elysian Valley Community Garden, where she took a hands-on approach to rebuild the garden back into a resource for local residents. She took charge of the restoration by building and painting a tool shed, helping to construct planting beds, and enlisted the City of Los Angeles to donate trees for the garden's orchard. Janet is currently a board member of Friends of Silver Lake Library, a volunteer group dedicated in supporting special programs and cultural events at this branch of the Los Angeles Public Library. As a very active board member, Ms. Workman has increased the library's programs for children and helped to organize the library's 10-year anniversary celebration. The Elysian Valley community and beyond has benefitted greatly from the generosity of Ms. Workman. With a focus on giving back, she has played a vital role in energizing her fellow community members to start their own neighborhood projects and organizations. I ask all Members to join me in honoring this exceptional, well- respected woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Janet Workman.

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, Claire Bogaard of Pasadena, California. Born and raised in San Francisco, Claire Whalen attended the University of San Diego, where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts in History. She and her husband, Bill Bogaard married in 1961, lived overseas and in various cities in the United States before moving to Pasadena in 1970. Claire has made her mark in the community through her stellar leadership in the historic preservation arena. She is a Founding Member of Pasadena Heritage, which was established in 1976 and incorporated in 1977 by citizens who were concerned about the demolition of historic structures in Pasadena. Now one of the largest preservation groups in California, its mission is to identify, preserve and protect the architectural, historic and cultural resources of Pasadena through education and advocacy, and is best known for the preservation and rehabilitation of Old Pasadena, the once-derelict but now commercially successful original downtown, and the 1912 Colorado Street Bridge. Executive Director from 1981 to 1993, Ms. Bogaard assisted with the creation of urban design guidelines and design plans for historic residential neighborhoods and commercial districts, obtaining historic preservation easements and the nomination of buildings to the National Register of Historic Places. Some of the many organizations and committees Claire has served on include as an Advisor and Trustee for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the California State Historical Resources Commission, Advisory Committee for the Restoration of Pasadena City Hall, St. Andrew Catholic Church Restoration Committee, Pasadena Planning Commission, Neighborhood Associations' Board of Directors, and Chair of the No 710 Action Committee. Ms. Bogaard also chaired the effort to clean up and develop a Master Plan for Central Park and the highly successful restoration of the ``New Deal'' era mural at McKinley School in Pasadena. In addition, Claire was a PTA President, a member of the Junior League of Pasadena and served on the Board of the West Pasadena Residents' Association for several years. Claire and Bill have four children: Michele, Jeannine, Joseph and Matthew and eight grandchildren. I ask all Members to join me in honoring this exceptional, well- respected woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Claire Bogaard.

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, Mary O'Keefe of La Crescenta, California. Mary O'Keefe is an esteemed community volunteer and reporter for the Crescenta Valley Weekly, and her contributions, both personal and professional, have positively impacted the lives of many people in the greater La Crescenta community. A consummate volunteer, Ms. O'Keefe's contributions to her community date back to being a Girl Scouts troop leader when her daughters were young. As an enthusiastic Parent Teacher Association (PTA) member and room mom, she quickly became known as a sought-after volunteer for whatever events and activities the PTA was planning. When her son was attending high school, Mary became a vital member of Prom Plus, a non- profit organization which holds a supervised after-prom event for Crescenta Valley High School seniors as well as their guests. When her daughter voiced interest in establishing a youth arm, Prom Plus Club, she became the club's mentor and oversaw hundreds of students as they implemented volunteer tasks in the community and helped create the scholarship program for members of the Prom Plus Club. Ms. O'Keefe remains active in both Prom Plus and Prom Plus Club to this day. Mary founded the Fire House Youth Center in La Crescenta, which welcomes youth to congregate and spend time with each other in a safe place. Under Ms. O'Keefe's mentorship, youth are encouraged to establish their own programs such as Girl Empowerment Day, career night and college information night. In 2016, youth skateboarders from the Fire House worked with Los Angeles County and designed their own skate park at Crescenta Valley Park. In addition, Mary also serves on the Crescenta Valley Prayer Breakfast Committee and Crescenta Valley Fire Safe Council Board, and helped create the local community newspaper, the Crescenta Valley Weekly, where she oversees a staff of reporters who write for the newspaper, while being a main contributing writer herself on in-depth stories. A devoted wife and mother, Mary and her husband Mark have three children: Charly, Molly and Jessy. I ask all Members to join me in honoring this exceptional, well- respected woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Mary O'Keefe.

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, Esther Baum of West Hollywood, California. Esther was born and raised in Los Angeles and has called West Hollywood home for the past thirty years. Upon graduating from high school, Ms. Baum attended college and majored in accounting. With an abundance of talent and skill, Esther had a successful career spanning across decades. She worked for public accounting firms, and as an accountant for several businesses including a garment manufacturer, women's sportswear shop, a beauty salon chain and an oral surgery practice. She retired in 2017. While Ms. Baum had a successful career, she never lost sight of the importance of volunteering and giving back to the community. Esther volunteered at a cancer center in Santa Monica, California where she reconstructed the files and payroll records after the building caught on fire. She also volunteered at Project Angel Food, The Maple Counseling Center in Beverly Hills, and AARP, where she did tax preparation for senior citizens. At ninety-four years old, Esther continues to be a dynamic force in the community. She is currently serving on the City of West Hollywood Senior Advisory Board and is active in the West Hollywood Seniors in Action program, where she plans programs for senior citizens to come together, make friends and share memories. In addition, Esther is a Neighborhood Watch block captain in her area and enjoys hosting National Night Out gatherings in her neighborhood, which she has done for the past twenty-nine years. She has made it a tradition to take all the remaining food to serve to the homeless. Esther is also a longtime and valued member of Congregation Kol Ami. Esther and her late husband, Robert, have one daughter who followed in Esther's footsteps and is an accountant. The entire community has benefitted immensely from the generosity and invaluable contributions of Ms. Baum. I ask all Members to join me in honoring this exceptional, well- respected woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Esther Baum.

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, Susana Reyes of Glendale, California. Susana graduated magna cum laude from Saint Paul College with a degree in Communications. She earned a Civic Engagement Leadership and Management certification from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Anderson School of Management and a Government Purchasing and Contract Administration credential from George Washington University. Susana Reyes has dedicated her life to working on issues that impact the environment, both in her personal life and professional career. As a Sierra Club leader and activist, she is an advocate for the greater Los Angeles community in environmental justice issues. Ms. Reyes supported the successful battle against a large residential development in the Verdugo Mountains of Glendale and helped pause the Glendale gas plant expansion in favor of exploring clean energy alternatives. She was the Political Chair of the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter, a member of their National Political Team, and served on the Sierra Club's Political Action Committee. Susana was an elected member of the Sierra Club National Board of Directors where she served as Vice President, was elected to the Board's Executive Committee and currently is the national volunteer co-lead for the Clean Transportation for All campaign. In addition to her service with the Sierra Club, in 2019, she was appointed by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to the Board of Commissioners of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) making her the first Filipino-American LADWP Commissioner. Ms. Reyes is the founder and CEO of AgilEngines LLC, a consulting and advocacy firm with a focus on civic engagement strategies and community outreach. Prior to this, she was a Senior Sustainability Analyst at the Los Angeles Mayor's office, where she played an essential role in launching the first Sustainable City Plan and was responsible for securing a $1.7 million grant from the California Air Resources Board for the first-ever electric car share program specifically designated for low-income communities. Previous positions also include serving as Manager of the City of Los Angeles Facilities Recycling Program and Human Resources Director at the LADWP. For her outstanding accomplishments, Susana has received the City of Los Angeles Career Service Award, the Sierra Club Political Service Award, the Sierra Club Phil Bernays Award, the Rotary Club Bay Area Women Leaders Award, and the Women in Business Environmental Leader Award. I ask all Members to join me in honoring this exceptional, well- respected woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Susana Reyes.

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, Detective Shannon Geaney of Hollywood, California. Detective Shannon Geaney is an exemplary career public servant. She served as an Officer in the United States Marine Corps and has over two decades of service with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). During her time in the Marine Corps, Shannon faced an inconceivable challenge during the initial years of the Global War on Terrorism, when she served as the Officer in Charge of the forward deployed Casualty Assistance and Hospital Liaison Teams in the hospitals tending to the injured, ill and deceased Marines being evacuated from Afghanistan and Iraq. Major Shannon Geaney's information management database and processes were so effective that the Department of Defense adapted and implemented it as the Defense Casualty Information Processing System. Since her return to the LAPD in 2004, Detective Geaney has been a leader and worked on numerous issues with the LAPD. She tackled the issue of homelessness by volunteering to begin a unit to strategically and successfully address the issue; the unit is now known as Hollywood's Coordinated Outreach Resource and Enforcement (CORE) Unit. Detective Geaney spearheaded the design of the Archangel Critical Asset Management System that identifies and protects critical infrastructure and key resources in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The system's overarching goal is to defend likely targets against terrorist attacks through inter-agency/departmental cooperation and coordination. In addition, Shannon worked for a decade as a member of the Los Angeles Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, where by her immersion into the disturbing world of child sexual exploitation, she saved thousands of innocent victims with a nearly 100 percent conviction rate on the search warrants and arrests effected by the task force. Last year in 2019, Shannon was promoted to Detective III at the Hollywood Division and placed in charge of both the CORE Unit and the Narcotics Enforcement Detail, whose cooperative strategy was due in part to Detective Geaney's innovation and candid assessment of the convergence of mental illness and addiction as a dominant factor in the homeless crisis. Detective Geaney is a remarkable role model, and proud resident of the community in which she serves. She is a member of The American Legion Hollywood Post 43 and volunteers with the non-profit organization, Arts Bridging the Gap which creates murals through curriculum that offers arts enrichment for youth in under-served areas. These community art pieces are sources of pride to the community and help foster connections between the youth and police officers. I ask all Members to join me in honoring this exceptional, well- respected woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Detective Shannon Geaney.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Jeffrey Herr, who is retiring from the City of Los Angeles as Curator of the Hollyhock House in Barnsdall Park, Los Angeles and Curator of The Watts Towers in Los Angeles. For more than three decades, Mr. Herr has dedicated his career to the preservation, appreciation, management and creation of the arts. From his early years as an intern at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) to his present position as Curator of two notable institutions, Jeffrey has had a significant impact on the historic, arts and cultural community in Los Angeles. In 1988, after his internship at LACMA ended, Mr. Herr became a Research Assistant in the Decorative Arts Department at LACMA, and then the Assistant Gallery Director at the Couturier Gallery, which specialized in the American Arts and Crafts era, where he designed, curated and installed art exhibitions. Following that, he joined the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)'s Extension Program, where he created and presented lectures on the American Arts and Crafts movement. Mr. Herr's long and illustrious career with the City of Los Angeles began in 1990 when he was selected as Curator of the City's Department of Cultural Affairs for three years, arranging exhibitions for galleries such as the gallery in the Hollyhock House and at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, before moving on to become Arts Manager of the department, where he oversaw a cultural grants program that awarded three million dollars annually to 250 arts organizations and artists. In 1996, Jeffrey accepted the position of Director of the Banning Residence Museum, implementing and overseeing professional museum standards and restoration of the historic 1864 Victorian structure. In 2001, Mr. Herr became the Arts Manager of Los Angeles' Department of Cultural Affairs for the second time, managing special projects such as publishing and editing the Landmark L.A.: Historic-Cultural Monuments of Los Angeles and acting as the liaison with local agencies. In 2004, Jeffrey became the curator of the world-famous Hollyhock House, where he capably oversaw its preservation and interpretation. The 1921 residence, commissioned by Aline Barnsdall as a cultural arts complex, was designed by renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright with Ms. Barnsdall's favorite flower, the hollyhock, incorporated into the home's design. In 2019, under Mr. Herr's leadership, the Hollyhock House became a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as one of the eight Frank Lloyd Wright sites in the world. In addition to his work at the Hollyhock House, Jeffrey is also the Curator of The Watts Towers, a National Historic Landmark, where he directs its preservation and conservation. Jeffrey Herr was born and raised in East Berlin, Pennsylvania and moved to Los Angeles in 1987. He completed his BA in English Literature in 1972 at Azusa Pacific University and MA with Honors in Art History in 1988 at California State University, Northridge. Jeffrey and his husband, Christopher Molinar have lived the Los Angeles neighborhood of Silver Lake for the past 27 years. I ask all Members of Congress to join me in congratulating Jeffrey Herr for three decades of outstanding service with the City of Los Angeles.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Kiwanis Club of Pasadena upon its centennial anniversary. Kiwanis International is a volunteer-led global organization committed to service and strengthening goodwill. Since its founding in 1915, Kiwanis has grown to nearly six-hundred thousand members spanning across eighty countries. The Kiwanis Club of Pasadena was founded in 1920 and is one of the oldest Kiwanis Clubs in the world. Their objective is to make the City of Pasadena a better place to live and to accomplish their goals working together as a team. The club has approximately forty members and supports many organizations that help the local community. These include Union Station Homeless Services, where club members help prepare, cook, and serve monthly meals to the shelter's homeless families, Villa Esperanza Services where members assist disabled adults in the Pasadena area, through the Aktion Club, and the Salvation Army. The club also works with local Key Clubs, which are international leadership service programs for high school students, by holding a ``Career Day,'' allowing Key Club members to visit various businesses for a day to learn about different careers. In addition, the Kiwanis Club of Pasadena provides annual educational scholarships to outstanding students in the Pasadena area and supports the Camperships for Kids program for youth to attend summer camp. The care, time and energy that the Kiwanis Club of Pasadena has given to the community is extraordinary and the residents of the Pasadena area have benefitted greatly. I ask all Members to join me in commending the Kiwanis Club of Pasadena upon their celebration of one hundred years of outstanding service.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 32nd anniversary of the pogrom against the Armenian residents of the town of Sumgait, Azerbaijan. On February 27, 1988, and for three days following, Azerbaijani mobs assaulted and killed Armenians. The violence left hundreds of Armenian civilians dead and injured, women and girls were raped, and some victims were burned alive. Thousands were forced to flee their homes, leaving behind their belongings. Two years later, it is estimated that only 40,000 of the 250,000 Armenian residents of Baku remained in Azerbaijan. On January 13, 1990, organized Azerbaijani mobs turned on those remaining, many of them elderly or disabled, and killed hundreds and injured many more. The pogroms came as a direct result of years of vicious, racist anti- Armenian propaganda by Azerbaijani authorities, dehumanizing the Armenian residents of Azerbaijan and laying the groundwork for mass violence. Azerbaijani authorities made little effort to punish those responsible, instead attempting to cover up the atrocities and denying the government role in instigating the attacks. The pogroms accomplished their purpose in displacing the entire Armenian community from their homes in Azerbaijan, but in the decades since, Azerbaijani authorities have continued to fan the flames of ethnic hatred, using it as a tool to distract their populace from the corrupt and repressive regime in Baku. The anniversary of Sumgait is a reminder of the consequences when aggression and hatred grow unchecked. Madam Speaker, in less than two months we will mark the 105th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, an event the Turkish government, Azerbaijan's closest ally, goes to great lengths to deny. We must not let such crimes against humanity go unrecognized, whether they occurred yesterday or 30 years ago or 100 years ago. Today, let us pause to remember the victims of the atrocities of Sumgait and Baku pogroms. It is our moral obligation to condemn crimes of hatred and to remember the victims, in hope that history will not be repeated.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Pasadena Host Lions Club upon its centennial anniversary. Lions Club International began in 1917 with a mission to encourage volunteers to serve their communities, promote peace and international understanding, and improve the world with kindness by meeting humanitarian needs. Currently, Lions Club International has 1.4 million members in forty-seven thousand Lions Clubs. As the fifth Lions Club in the state of California, the Pasadena Host Lions Club was chartered on March 26, 1920. For 100 years, Pasadena Host Lions Club members have provided innumerable hours of dedicated service toward the improvement of the Pasadena community, with an emphasis on persons with disabilities, seniors, youth and the homeless. Helen Keller referred to Lions Clubs as the ``Knights of the Blind,'' for their support of organizations that serve those impaired in sight. This is seen through Pasadena Host Lions Club supporting White Cane Safety Day--providing Lions the opportunity to raise awareness on safe navigation of the visually impaired, support of other local groups for the visually impaired, assisting the founding of Lions Eye Foundation of Southern California, and creating the Pasadena Lions Memorial Trust for the welfare of persons with disabilities and children. Other organizations the club supports include the Aspen Camp of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Pasadena Police Foundation, American Red Cross, Pasadena Senior Center, City of Hope, Union Station Homeless Services, Pasadena Jaycees, Young and Healthy, Pasadena YMCA and the Salvation Army. In addition, the club provides youth scholarships, and currently has six charter LEO Clubs for youth that focus on leadership, experience, opportunity and service. Pasadena Host Lions Club members have faithfully served the greater Pasadena area for one hundred years. I ask all Members to join with me in commending the Pasadena Host Lions Club on their celebration of hundred years of service.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Protecting America's Wilderness Act. This bill includes a number of worthy initiatives to expand and protect our national heritage, and I am very pleased and grateful that the legislation includes the Rim of the Valley Corridor Preservation Act, a bill I have been working on for nearly 20 years. The Rim of the Valley Corridor Preservation Act would expand the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area to include the lands known as the Rim of the Valley. This includes Simi Hills, Santa Susana Mountains, Verdugo Mountains, part of Santa Clarita, San Gabriel Mountain foothills, the Los Angeles River, and Griffith Park, all important green spaces in the greater Los Angeles region, one of the park-poorest regions in the country. 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 wildlife corridors that allow Los Angelinos to experience lions, bears, and other precious wildlife in their own backyard. Protecting and embracing our national spaces is very important to me personally. I come from a hiking family. My wife, Eve, and I love to go on hiking trips with our friends or when we can steal away during the summer, evening hikes through Griffith Park. From time to time, I like to run alone in the Verdugos, with a little extra pace at certain points, knowing that one of P-22's mountain lion friends might be watching me from the tall grass. Last week, I asked my constituents to send some reflections about what the Rim of the Valley means to them, along with their favorite pictures of the natural beauty of our region, and you can see just a sampling of the beautiful vistas that they sent behind me. I want to say, I think my constituent Donald from Sunland put it best when he said: ``I appreciate how the calm beauty of undeveloped nature replenishes my spirits. Everyone, including future generations, should be able to access unspoiled nature.'' We owe it to ourselves and our children and grandchildren to safeguard these treasures. The Rim of the Valley Corridor Preservation Act plays an important role in this effort. I want to thank Chairman Grijalva and his staff for their work on this legislation. I want to thank my colleague, Diana DeGette. I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 2546.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of House Amendments to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 550, to repeal the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq, and to prohibit the use of force in or against Iran without Congressional authorization. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting these two bills which would begin to reclaim Congress's Constitutional authority over the use of force. First, the repeal of the 2002 AUMF is long overdue. Passed in the lead up to the Iraq War, the objectives embodied in the authorization are obsolete. Leaving it in effect only invites abuse by this or any other administration, undermining Congress's Article I authority. This 18-year-old authorization should not remain as a blank check for the United States to engage in military action in Iraq in perpetuity. By passing this repeal, Congress will reclaim the important decision- making authority the Founders specifically afforded to the legislature, and not the executive branch. I also strongly support the No War Against Iran Act. The Administration's reckless policies towards Iran have repeatedly brought us near the brink of a war with Iran, one which would be contrary to our interests, which the American people do not want, and which the Congress has never authorized. This bill would make clear that the President does not have the unilateral authority to drag us into war, while leaving in place authorities needed to counter Iran's malicious influence in the region. Finally, while not the subject of the vote today, I hope that the renewed Congressional interest in reclaiming our war powers authorities will be followed by an effort to sunset the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force against those who planned and conducted the 9/11 attacks. This authorization has been stretched beyond recognition to authorize force against terrorist groups around the world, many of which didn't exist in 2001. Should the Executive Branch need additional authorities beyond those granted in Article II, they should come to Congress and make the case for what those authorities should be so that we can determine if a replacement authorization is needed. But the Congressional inertia that has kept the 2001 AUMF in place has gone on too long, and I hope that we will see renewed bipartisan energy to replace it.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) mission managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), the Spitzer Space Telescope. After 16 years of discovering hidden truths of our Universe, Spitzer will be retired on January 30, 2020. Designed to study the cold, old and dusty, Spitzer was launched in August of 2003 and used its sensitive sensors to study infrared light emitted by celestial bodies and cosmic objects from our own solar system to the furthest reaches of the Universe. Spitzer returned data on space phenomena from asteroids to the most distant galaxies ever detected whose light was emitted 13.4 billion years ago when the universe was less than 5 percent of its current age. It discovered the largest ring around Saturn made of dust particles, identified the first Buckyballs in space, found distant blackholes and mapped out our Milky Way with unprecedented clarity. Spitzer gave us a view beyond the gas and dust clouds to study the youngest stars and the ingredients to create planets, comets and other components of our solar system. As with many NASA missions, the telescope operated much longer than expected and has a long list of accomplishments beyond the mission's original science goals. Undoubtedly, one of Spitzer's greatest discoveries was seven Earth-size planets in around the star TRAPPIST-1. Spitzer enabled scientists to study exoplanets and identify atmospheric molecules, temperature variations, and wind speed. As Spitzer is safely retired in deep space orbit far from Earth, the legacy of the mission will be continued by the James Webb Space Telescope, which will also conduct infrared astronomy based on Spitzer's pioneering and trailblazing work in infrared light. The massive amount of data collected by Spitzer has been used in over 8,700 scientific publications and its data will continue to be available to the scientific community around the world for future research. I have great appreciation and pride for the countless personnel that have worked to ensure that Spitzer operated with precision, from design to data analysis, that allowed Spitzer to study the Universe with infrared light. The numerous discoveries made move us closer to shedding light on the profound mysteries of our Universe. I ask all members to join me in honoring the achievements of the Spitzer Space Telescope and the hard-working individuals and organizations that made Spitzer's mission so successful.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the resolution. The task before us is a grave one, but one demanded by our oath. The impeachment inquiry undertaken by the House of Representatives found that President Donald J. Trump abused his power and sought to cover it up with an unprecedented campaign of obstruction. He withheld hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars in vital military aid to Ukraine, a close ally at war with Russia, and withheld a coveted White House meeting critical to the Ukrainian leader's international legitimacy until Ukraine would commit to help President Trump cheat-- cheat--in the next election. President Trump put his own personal interests above the national interests, above our national security, and, if not stopped, he will do it again. For that reason, he was impeached. And for that reason, the House managers will take the case to the Senate and to the American people, because the appropriate remedy--indeed, the only remedy--is the conviction and removal from office of President Donald Trump.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution. Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution grants Congress the power to declare war. This was not a matter of great controversy among the Founders, because going to war is the most portentous decision that a nation can make. And in our democracy, it is a decision to be undertaken by the people through the Congress, and not by one person. We are all enormously grateful that no U.S. personnel were killed in Iran's missile strikes, and I hope that the President will take advantage of the momentary calm to deescalate the situation. But we cannot assume peace will hold indefinitely because of the impulsive actions of this President which have so often brought us to the brink of war. Qasem Soleimani was a malign force responsible for the death of many Americans, but after the briefings I have received, I have no confidence that there is some broad strategy at work, or that the policies of the President are doing anything but increasing the dangers to the American people. That is a recipe for disaster, one which increases the likelihood of stumbling into a war that the American people do not want and Congress has not authorized. The resolution before the House today is a step toward reasserting our constitutional duty to rein in a President whose unilateral actions have isolated us from our allies, increased the risk of a nuclear-armed Iran, and made us less safe. Finally, I hope the vote today is the first of a broader reassertion of Congress' war powers including the sunset or repeal of the 2001 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force which have been stretched beyond recognition. It is past time for Congress to do our job and not simply write the executive a blank check. I urge a ``yes'' vote on the resolution.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, my colleagues would have the country believe that the President held up the aid to Ukraine because he was concerned about corruption. Of course, there is not a shred of evidence for that. All of the national security experts across all the departments testified that Ukraine met the criteria to receive the aid. So what was the real motivation here? Well, one thing is telling. In 2017, the President had no problem with aid to Ukraine, raised no issue of corruption. In 2018, he had no problem with the military aid for Ukraine. So what changed in 2019? Joe Biden announced he was running for President, and all of a sudden, Donald Trump held up the aid for Ukraine. As Ambassador Sondland testified, the President didn't care about Ukraine. All he cared about was the big stuff that affected him personally, the investigation of the Bidens that Giuliani was pushing. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. Spanberger).

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Castro).