Adam Schiff

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi.)

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 is a solid, bipartisan bill, one that garnered unanimous approval in the committee by voice vote. I thank my committee colleagues and the entire HPSCI staff for their collaborative efforts in crafting the measure that we consider here today. In the 114th Congress, this committee worked in a similar bipartisan fashion to pass into law four key pieces of national security legislation. I am proud of our past legislative accomplishments, which testify to the virtues of substantive deliberation and reasoned compromise without needing to compromise the security of the American people or of our brave servicemembers. Reflecting on the past year, on Russia's assault on Western democracies, and on other challenges as well, from everything to include North Korea's unrelenting pursuit of a strategic nuclear capability, we owe the American people a deliberate process. I wish the bill had come to the floor with a rule that allowed Members to offer amendments. That opportunity is commensurate with the importance of the intelligence bill and the need for vigorous oversight of the IC by the whole Congress. Nonetheless, the manifest shortcomings in the process cannot take precedence over the imperative of discharging our duty and authorizing the operations of the intelligence community. On its merits, I urge all Members to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 3180 today. The Intelligence Committee oversees some of the most sensitive and highly classified aspects of U.S. intelligence operations and programs. The annual Intelligence Authorization Act is the primary means by which we can guarantee an appropriate balance between our Nation's national security imperatives and the civil liberties and privacy rights enshrined in the Constitution. H.R. 3180 does just that by funding, equipping, and giving policy direction to the intelligence community and military intelligence elements of the Defense Department. It sustains support for key national security priorities and programs, and represents a slight decrease from the President's budget request from 2018. This bill features a number of provisions championed by my Democratic colleagues, some of which redouble the IC's focus on the scope and nature of the threat, both overt and covert, that Russia poses to our interests and American political institutions. H.R. 3180 also mandates public reporting about counterintelligence and cyber threats against future U.S. elections; bolsters oversight of our policy guiding counterterrorism actions outside of declared areas of hostilities; and seeks more information about the executive branch's process for determining when and to whom to reveal information about vulnerabilities in computers and networks. At the same time, and unlike IAAs of years past, this bill omits problematic language regarding Guantanamo detentions and the role of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. I am less supportive of some elements in this legislation, but the bill's merits outweigh any misgivings I may have, and I was proud to cosponsor the bill along with the chairman. Through it, our committee and the Congress as a whole serves as a guardrail against any excesses, transgressions or abuses. That has always been a solemn obligation, but at this uncertain and unprecedented moment in our national life, it carries even more responsibility for all of us. So, again, I urge my colleagues today to vote with me to advance the Intelligence Authorization Act and see that it is enacted into law. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. The Intelligence Authorization Act is a critical oversight tool, one component of the legal architecture that governs the authorities and boundaries of our civilian and military intelligence professionals. The bipartisan legislation before us today is sound, and I endorse its substance on the merits. But I agree with our leadership that the suspension process is not the appropriate venue for its adoption. For this reason, I will vote ``no'' on the measure tonight, but I remain optimistic about this legislation's ultimate passage into law after we complete its consideration under regular order. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to taking up the Intelligence Authorization Act on suspension at a time when issues concerning the intelligence community have taken on an even greater significance and urgency, and taking up the bill this way will deprive Members of the opportunity to offer important amendments. The Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 is a good and bipartisan bill, but even a good bill can be made better. And although we have taken up the IAA on suspension on occasion in the past, it has only been on the basis of mutual agreement, which is not the case this year. On its merits, I believe the IAA should and will become law, and I look forward to its ultimate approval by both the House and Senate, and enactment. Nevertheless, I share Leader Pelosi and Whip Hoyer's view that tonight's suspension vote should be opposed. This IAA should go through regular order so that Members may offer amendments. I will vote ``no'' today because I disagree with the expedited procedure used to bring this to the floor. The Intelligence Committee has a unique role in this House and a special obligation to the American people. It is our job to oversee the activities of the 17 agencies that comprise the intelligence community, ensuring that we strike an appropriate balance between protecting our country's national security and the civil liberties of everyone who calls America home. On behalf of the House--by and through our oversight tools, including the IAA--our committee helps ensure that the activities of the U.S. intelligence community do the following: that they adhere to the Constitution and to the law; that they advance the national security interests of the United States; that they wisely expend taxpayer dollars; and that they steadfastly protect Americans' civil liberties and privacy rights. The legislation before us today, like its predecessors, continues to fund, equip, and give policy direction to the intelligence community and military intelligence elements of the Department of Defense. It provides funding levels slightly below the President's 2018 budget request and sustains intelligence priorities provided for in previous authorizations. In addition to the unclassified legislative text and accompanying House report, the IAA includes a classified annex, which directs the resources and spending for the IC's activities and programs. This includes a correlating schedule of authorizations that lays out funding for the IC and the DOD. This year's IAA, once again, incorporates a number of Democratic Member oversight priorities: it improves our efforts to stamp out waste, fraud, and abuse by requiring an Inspector General-level review of existing whistleblower procedures and by permitting IC contractors to come directly to Congress without requiring permission from the IC elements that employ them. A provision accompanying the report mandates that the ODNI notify and provide justification to Congress if the executive branch alters the existing Presidential Policy Guidance, or PPG, relating to U.S. counterterrorism actions located outside of designated areas of active hostilities. The PPG, first promulgated under the previous administration, is an important element of U.S. policymaking that seeks to ensure direct action against lawful terrorist targets is undertaken only when necessary and consistent with U.S. national security and foreign policy interests. This is the result of rigorous legal and policy deliberation and coordination within the U.S. Government. Reporting to Congress on any changes to it ensures proper oversight. The bill also furthers our committee's belief that the future of the IC workforce depends on diversity; as such, this year's IAA enhances the ODNI's Centers of Academic Excellence program. Finally, this bill reflects a clear-eyed assessment of the threat we face from a resurgent Russia determined to undermine our democratic institutions and our faith in the American political process. As the intelligence community has determined, Moscow initiated as early as mid-2015 an active measures campaign to assault our 2016 election. The Kremlin's influence campaign consisted of cyber espionage, hacking and weaponizing stolen documents, and a propaganda machine that was used to great effect to amplify every element of their appalling campaign, and perhaps more. This year's IAA acts on that unanimous IC judgment by directing assessments on Moscow's influence campaigns against foreign elections and the threat posed by Russian finance activities globally. It also requires ODNI to publish a report on the foreign cybersecurity and counterintelligence threats to future U.S. Federal election campaigns. As with any product of a good-faith attempt at compromise, I do not pretend this bill is perfect. There are provisions I wish were modified, and some provisions that I would have liked to have seen included. Many of my colleagues feel the same way, and they should have been permitted to offer amendments, something I hope they will be permitted to do by voting ``no'' on this bill under suspension. For example, we wish this bill had done more to codify in law some of the previous administration's counterterrorism reforms, including giving the status of law to an executive order requiring the Director of National Intelligence to continue the practice of releasing publicly available data on the total number of combatants and noncombatants killed or injured due to counterterrorism action. I look forward to the fiscal year '18 Intelligence Authorization Act being enacted into law--not through the vehicle of the suspension calendar, but through consideration under regular order. For that reason, I urge a ``no'' vote here so that all Members will have a chance to be heard. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Alabama (Ms. Sewell), who is one of our superb members of the committee and also one of our ranking members.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Cole amendment. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma for his work in pushing Congress to have a debate on an AUMF. I had offered an amendment as well to the defense bill, along with Mr. Sanford and Mr. Moulton, that would put in place a new consolidated AUMF, and I wanted to describe it. I know there has been considerable debate over whether this is the right bill for an amendment of this nature. But what we have tried to do in this language is avoid the red lines that both parties seem to have in this debate. As I perceive those red lines, my friends on the Republican side of the aisle are reluctant to--in what would be considered too restrictive a way--tie the hands of the Commander in Chief by putting limits on geography or the introduction of ground troops. On the Democratic side, we are resistant to the idea of giving the Commander in Chief too much of a blank check. The way that we have sought to navigate the distance between these two red lines is a resolution that would repeal the old authorizations which no longer really apply to our current situation, replace it with an authorization of use of force against al-Qaida, ISIS, the Taliban, and their associated forces. It would place no geographic limits and no limits on the introduction of ground forces, but it would have these necessary safeguards. First, it would have a sunset date of 3 years so that we don't again get to a 15-year period where we can't get a vote on an authorization and it goes on beyond its intended life. But it would also provide that, if a President decided to introduce ground troops in a combat mission, a privileged motion would be in order that any Member could trigger where within a discrete period of time set up by the War Powers Act you could compel a vote to either approve or modify or repeal the existing authority. That would, of course, not prevent us from taking a vote at any other time, but it would at least allow a vote and some accountability. So I commend it for people's consideration as a way that we might navigate the distance between the parties. I appreciate, again, my colleague from Oklahoma's efforts to get us to weigh in and consider and live up to our constitutional responsibility.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize my friend, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, and to thank him for delivering the opening prayer on the House floor today. Archbishop Derderian has had a tremendous impact on people of all faiths and has played a vital role in the religious and civic life of millions. Since his election as primate in 2003, Archbishop Derderian has been a dedicated religious servant for the thousands of congregants who look to him for guidance, managing a diocese which covers the Western United States. In the large Armenian-American diaspora community that I am proud to represent, Archbishop Derderian is an articulate and steadfast voice for the values of faith, family, and community service that are at the core of the Armenian people's perseverance and strength. Archbishop Derderian and the Western Diocese have joined other religious and community leaders in rallying support and aid for Armenia, Artsakh, and for refugees fleeing the horrors of civil war in Syria and Iraq. I thank the Archbishop for all that he does to make our community and our Nation stronger. I am proud that Congress today was able to hear the moral leadership he brings to his work in the Western Diocese.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 347.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, on May 16, a group of peaceful protesters gathered at a public park outside the Turkish Ambassador's residence in northwest Washington, D.C. They came from a variety of backgrounds-- Armenian, Kurdish, Yazidi, and more--but they shared a common concern about developments in Turkey, including the crackdown on political opposition and free speech in that country and Turkey's continued denial of the Armenian genocide. About a mile away, Turkey's President, Tayyip Erdogan was received warmly by President Trump at the White House, with no mention of Turkey's human rights abuses and growing authoritarianism. The protesters felt, and rightly so, that they had to exercise their First Amendment rights and raise their voices in dissent, the very dissent which has been violently squelched by Erdogan in his own country. What happened next was a chaotic and violent confrontation that left 11 people injured, 2 of whom required hospitalization. Tensions were already high, with pro-Turkish counter-protesters outside the residence scuffling with protesters. When Erdogan and his entourage arrived, the situation quickly spiraled out of control. As he exited his car, observing the protests, Erdogan can be seen on video speaking briefly to his security detail, and soon thereafter, several of these men, some of them armed with handguns, rushed past D.C. police officers to violently confront protesters, causing several injuries. The images that you see to my right are indelible and bloody. A Kurdish woman was put in a choke hold and told by the dark-suited man who attacked her that he was going to kill her. Protesters, men and women alike, were knocked to the ground and assaulted with kicks to the face and torso. This was not a scuffle. It was a full-fledged assault by professional thugs on a peaceful protest. Such scenes have become common in Turkey, where state-sponsored violence and repression have become the chief instrument to cement Erdogan's power. Selahattin Demirtas was, until recently, the leader of the Kurdish HDP party and someone I had the honor to meet 2 years ago, and now he sits in prison as prosecutors seek to sentence him to 143 years of confinement. Turkey has become the world's leading jailer of journalists, most recently adding French photojournalist Mathias Depardon, held in solitary confinement and without charge, to the ranks of 81 journalists currently imprisoned. Mr. Speaker, Erdogan cannot export the violent repression he visits on his own citizens to our streets. The violence of May 16 can't go unanswered or forgotten. Yesterday the House unanimously passed H. Res. 354, condemning the attacks and calling on the administration to pursue justice and hold those who carried out these attacks responsible, whether they be Turkish or not. This is a good start, but it cannot be the end. The D.C. police department is carrying out an investigation into the attacks, and ultimately they will require cooperation from Turkish authorities in identifying those responsible. Nothing that Turkey has done so far indicates that that cooperation will be forthcoming, and indeed, rather than show even the slightest contrition after their security forces assaulted Americans, authorities in Ankara instead summoned the U.S. Ambassador to lodge a complaint against the United States and police officers who sought to keep the peace. The message from Turkey is as clear as day: We can do as we please whether at home to our own citizens or on your own American soil. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to affirm that we will not allow Turkey to beat innocent protesters on the streets of our Nation's capital. We will continue to pursue justice and to make clear that America will always stand up for the right of peaceful and free expression.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Michael Bahar, who will be leaving the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, where he has served as general counsel since September 2012, and as staff director and general counsel since early 2015. Because of Michael's commitment to always finding a way to ``yes,'' he has helped guide HPSCI to a run of remarkable legislative success over the past 2 years. In a city of tacticians, Michael's great gift is his ability to look at things strategically, even while reacting in real time to emerging matters at hand. Under Michael's leadership of the HPSCI Democratic staff, we have passed two successive bipartisan intelligence authorization acts, both of which received multiple and successively larger vote tallies each time they came to the floor. In June 2015, we passed the USA FREEDOM Act that ended bulk collection of telephony metadata under section 215 of the PATRIOT Act, replacing it with a new regime more protective of Americans' privacy. And later in 2015, the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 was included as part of the 2016 omnibus spending bill. CISA, which encourages businesses and the Federal Government to share cyber threat information in the interest of national security, could not have been timelier. Neither bill would have been possible without Michael's tireless efforts. He worked on a broad range of issues with a broad range of stakeholders, in and out of government, and these measures were necessary and effective in securing our liberties. Prior to joining the committee, Michael served with dedication in the Obama White House as Deputy Legal Adviser to the National Security Council staff. He is a Naval reservist supporting U.S. Special Operations Command. After a well-deserved vacation, Michael will embark on a new career as a lawyer here in D.C. On behalf of the entire HPSCI family, I want to wish Michael, his wife, Hannah, and their daughter, Rose, the very best, and thank him for his years of service to the Nation.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Child Protection Improvements Act. I would like to thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bishop) who has been an excellent partner working with me on this bill, the first version of which was introduced in 2007. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank Chairman Goodlatte and Ranking Member Conyers for their work on the bill as well. I volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters many years ago. I was paired with an extraordinary young man named David who is now himself a Big Brother. I have always said that I have learned as much or more from David and the program as he ever learned from me. The experience also helped me understand the huge amount of trust that we put in volunteers at organizations all around the country. In the vast majority of cases, that trust is well placed. But, unfortunately, there are exceptions. For that reason, in 2003, Congress created the Child Safety Pilot Program to demonstrate the feasibility of allowing youth-serving nonprofits to access FBI background checks. The FBI maintains the database of criminal histories from every State in the Nation, searchable by fingerprint. An FBI search is really the gold standard when it comes to background checks, as it cannot be evaded by using a fake name, and it will find convictions from every State. I believe that the gold standard is what we should strive for when it comes to protecting children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities who are put in a potentially vulnerable situation. Between 2003 and 2011, youth-serving organizations were able to run over 100,000 background checks through this pilot program, and about 6 percent of the potential volunteers were revealed to have criminal records of concern. Applicants were found with convictions for everything from murder to child abuse, to sexual assault; and frequently those convictions were from out of State, so only a national background check would have found them. H.R. 695 ensures that every child-serving organization in America will have access to the most comprehensive and effective background check possible. H.R. 695 will also protect the applicant's privacy and does not allow for the individual's specific criminal record to be disclosed without explicit consent by the potential volunteer. We have demonstrated that background checks for nonprofits working with children can be conducted quickly, affordably, and accurately. It is time to create a system that is permanent and that will protect children and other vulnerable populations while ensuring the privacy of volunteers. I urge the passage of this bipartisan bill.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the memory of Lucy Casado, beloved matriarch of the landmark restaurant Lucy's El Adobe Cafe in Los Angeles, California, who passed away on May 2, 2017 Lucy was born in El Paso, Texas on January 18, 1926. Although she originally wanted to pursue a career in medicine, she decided that cooking was a reasonable alternative. In 1964, she and her husband, Frank, opened a small one-room cafe, Lucy's El Adobe Cafe, as a family business, on Melrose Avenue, across the street from Paramount Studios in Los Angeles. The warm, cozy restaurant grew to become a popular destination for a variety of actors such as John Belushi and Jack Nicholson, and musicians such as Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne and Don Henley. Also a favorite spot for politicians, Governor Jerry Brown frequented the cafe long before he became an elected official, and he became a close friend of the Casado family. Other elected officials such as Senator Bob Dole, Senator Robert Kennedy, and Vice-President Hubert Humphrey were known to patronize the cafe when visiting from Washington, DC. Many of the celebrities that were seen walking through the restaurant doors developed personal and long-lasting relationships with Lucy, and were proud to watch as El Adobe Cafe cemented itself as a beloved cornerstone of the Los Angeles community. Lucy and her family had a passion for political and social activism, and in 1960, they co-founded the Mexican American Political Association (MAPA) as a way to elect Mexican-American candidates to public office, and to work on social and economic justice issues. Mrs. Casado also supported numerous charitable causes, and Lucy's El Adobe Cafe hosted many fundraisers for worthwhile organizations, including her favorite charity, the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter Los Angeles. Preceded in death by her husband Frank in 1990, Lucy is survived by her three children: daughter Patricia and sons Darryl and Frank James. Lucy was an irreplaceable part of our community and she will be sorely missed by her family, friends and all those who called Lucy's El Adobe Cafe their home away from home. I ask all members to join me in remembering Lucy Casado.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 261 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 262.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lieutenant Colonel David Worley, who is retiring after forty-two years of distinguished service with the United States Air Force. Born in Los Angeles in 1953, Dave grew up in Woodland Hills, California. An excellent student and astronomy enthusiast, he attended Serrania Avenue Elementary School, Parkman Jr. High and Taft High School. Dave met his future wife, Gayle, in Sunday School, and after their high school graduation, they attended Pierce College together. In 1975, Dave enlisted in the United States Air Force (USAF) and he and Gayle married shortly after his enlistment. Upon completion of his basic training, he was assigned to the Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi for technical training. After finishing his technical training, he was assigned to Dover AFB for a one year assignment. He was reassigned back to Keesler AFB in Biloxi, where their children, Valerie and Bryan were born. Dave served as an Air Traffic Controller Manager for seven years, after which he received his commission. Upon completing training as an Air Battalion Manager, then-Second Lieutenant Worley was stationed in Germany for eight years, where he served as a mobile Theater Air Control specialist and evaluator and was promoted to the subsequent ranks of First Lieutenant and Captain. In 1992, Captain Worley served as a Flight Commander at the Squadron Officer School at the Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama and in 1994, he was stationed in Korea where he was promoted to Major and worked as Battle Director for airspace control. In 1995, Major Worley returned to the Squadron Officer School as Chief of Plans and Programs, then attended college in Virginia, and after college, began a three year tour at the U.S. Central Command Headquarters in Tampa, Florida. While in Florida, he served as the Chief of the Theater Air and Missile Defense Branch as Executive Officer to the Director of Operations, where he received the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In 2000, Lt. Col. Worley returned once again to Alabama as Commander of the 30th Student Squadron Officers School, where he commanded hundreds of USAF officers, international officers and U.S. Department of Defense civilian personnel as an airpower and leadership education scholar, before his retirement in 2002. In 2003, Dave became a Senior Aerospace Science instructor at Crescenta Valley High School in La Crescenta, California. Lt. Col. Worley was responsible for administering the Air Force Junior Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) program, a citizenship-based program for nearly 100 high school student ``cadets,'' who are expanding their aerospace science and leadership education to become better leaders and citizens. During his illustrious career in the United States Air Force, Lt. Col. Worley has received several decorations including the Joint Service Commendation Medal, five Meritorious Service Medals, a Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and two USAF Commendation Medals, and was honored in 2007 and in 2008 with the AFJROTC outstanding instructor award, which is presented annually to the top twenty percent of all AFJROTC instructors worldwide. I ask all Members of Congress to join me in thanking Lt. Col. Worley for his many years of dedicated service to our country, the AFJROTC students at Crescenta Valley High School, and the greater foothills community.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Burbank Temple Emanu El upon its 70th Anniversary. The Burbank Temple Emanu El (BTEE) is a progressive-minded, egalitarian synagogue serving Burbank and the greater San Fernando Valley. Its rich history steeps in the tenets and traditions of American Conservative Judaism dating back to 1947. Since its founding, BTEE has fostered a vibrant Jewish presence in our community and has grown from a one-room nursery on Grismer Avenue to a full-service temple with numerous programs and activities for all ages. Today, BTEE is equipped with an award-winning Early Childhood Center, Hebrew School, and Adult Education program and encourages member participation throughout the year with weekly services, holy celebrations, simchas, and service projects. Members can also engage in tikkun olam (fixing the world) through the Temple's Social Action Committee which strengthens the congregation's ties with the surrounding community. The time, energy, and care that this temple has given to its members and the community are extraordinary and would not be possible without the dedicated and exceptional clergy, leadership, volunteers and staff of BTEE. At this time, I ask all Members to join with me in congratulating Burbank Temple Emanu El upon 70 years of service to the Burbank community.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. 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, Netty Carr of Atwater Village, a unique neighborhood in Los Angeles, California. Netty Carr was born in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, and has been a resident of Atwater Village for many years. A successful small business owner, Ms. Carr founded Netty's Restaurant in 1987 in Silver Lake, serving comfort food to customers until 2007. Over the years, Ms. Carr has dedicated her time and efforts to better her community. She is an avid supporter of green space, the environment, and historic preservation. Most notably, in 1999, Netty spearheaded the Coalition to Save the Van de Kamp's bakery building on Fletcher Drive, because a developer had plans to demolish the building to build a ``big box'' store. Through the hard work and commitment of Ms. Carr and the Coalition, which was comprised of 23 community groups, they succeeded in saving this historical building. Ms. Carr co-founded Friends of Atwater Village, a non-profit organization, where volunteers work together with the common goal of improving Atwater Village, and promoting and preserving the local history. From neighborhood clean-ups to mural projects, two of which Netty personally funded, Netty's dedication to improve the community through beautification projects is nothing short of extraordinary. I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Netty Carr.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. 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, Lena Kortoshian of La Crescenta, California. Ms. Kortoshian attended California State University, Northridge, where she received a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics, and a Master's Degree in Leadership and Policy Studies. For many years, Ms. Kortoshian has been a pillar of education and an avid supporter of our youth. Lena's career in education began in 1986, when she was working as an instructional assistant at an elementary and a middle school in the Glendale Unified School District. Since then, she has served in many capacities, including as a mathematics teacher at Glendale High School and Clark Magnet High School, Assistant Principal of Herbert Hoover High School, and a Mathematics Administrator at the Los Angeles County Office of Education. Lena has also served as Assistant Principal and Associate Principal of Clark Magnet High School, and is currently Principal of the school. Lena has always dedicated her time and efforts to ensure the success of her students. She served as a volunteer math tutor with the Committee for Armenian Students in Public Schools, a non-profit organization that addresses both the educational and social needs of immigrant children in public schools, and continues to tutor students after school, giving special attention to each student she helps. Lena is also a Member of the Board of Regents of Prelacy Armenian Schools--a board which is appointed by the Prelate and Executive Council of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America. Over the years, Lena has received recognition for her contributions to the community, such as the Armenian American Chamber of Commerce's ``Friend of the Armenian Community'' award. I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Lena Kortoshian.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. 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, Anne-Marie Johnson of Silver Lake, a unique neighborhood in Los Angeles, California. Born in Los Angeles, Anne-Marie Johnson has been a lifelong Silver Lake resident, and graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles. Since 2011, she has served as an At-Large Representative on the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council. In this capacity, she has co- chaired town hall meetings and has served as co-chair of the Governmental Affairs Committee. Ms. Johnson is a familiar face in motion pictures and television. She has starred in numerous television series such as Melrose Place, In Living Color, In the Heat of the Night, and for a few seasons, she appeared on JAG, portraying Congresswoman ``Bobbi Latham.'' In addition, Anne-Marie has appeared on Days of Our Lives, Chasing Life, Hunter, The X-Files and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and most recently in Pretty Little Liars, Castle, Grey's Anatomy, Major Crimes, and NCIS: Los Angeles. Anne-Marie Johnson has an impressive list of feature film credits, in addition to the remarkable roles she has had in many television series. She has appeared in Strictly Business, Robot Jox, Pursuit of Happiness, True Identity, and Sister Code among others. For many years, Ms. Johnson served as a Screen Actors Guild National Board officer, and served as the Screen Actors Guild's first vice president for four terms. In 2016, she received the Screen Actors Guild Ralph Morgan Award, and was the first African American to receive this award since the inception of the honor in 1981. In 2017, Anne-Marie received the Rosa Parks Legacy Award from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, in recognition of her tireless efforts in the community. In addition, Ms. Johnson has volunteered with the Los Angeles Police Department, where she co-created, co-produced and co- directed a series of public service announcements called ``Obey The Rules Of The Road'' to bring attention to traffic safety. Anne-Marie has been married to Martin Grey since 1996. I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Anne-Marie Johnson.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. 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, Karen Volpei- Gussow of Burbank, California. For over twenty years, Ms. Volpei-Gussow has symbolized the tireless and dedicated work of a true pillar of her community. She has given of herself with joy, humility, and grace and, along the way, has changed so many lives for the better in Burbank. Her kind and relaxed demeanor is not only evident in her treasured relationships with her husband Barry, her family and friends, but also in her charitable work in the community. Ms. Volpei-Gussow has brought her incredible talent, insight, time, and energy to numerous boards and special committees over the years. She currently sits on the Boards of the Burbank Chamber of Commerce, City of Burbank Heritage Commission, Burbank Arts for All, Burbank on Parade, Burbank Business Partners, and Keller Williams Agent Leadership Council. She serves on committees for the Providence Saint Joseph Foundation Emergency Service Campaign, Boys and Girls Club of Burbank and Greater East Valley, Burbank Temporary Aid Center, and Family Service Agency of Burbank. Her past community involvement includes Ambassador Chair of the Burbank Chamber of Commerce, Docent at the Burbank Historical Society's Gordon R. Howard Museum, and Board Member of both the Kids Community Dental Clinic and The Burbank Association of REALTORS, Community Service Foundation. Ms. Volpei-Gussow's charitable and professional work has not gone unnoticed as she was awarded 2012 Realtor of the Year by the Burbank Association of REALTORS and named Community Leader of the Year at the Boys and Girls Club of Burbank and Greater East Valley 2013 Gala Dinner. Ms. Volpei-Gussow rarely says no when asked to give a helping hand, and once given, her level of leadership, support, and generosity never waivers. She is a community leader who is unafraid of challenging the ways things were done in the past as she looks towards the future with a bold new plan to make the organizations she is involved with and the City of Burbank grow and thrive. I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Karen Volpei-Gussow.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. 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 Amanda Truelove Fairey of the Franklin Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Amanda Truelove Fairey is a co-founder and partner with her husband, Shepard Fairey, in the creative agency Studio Number One, the art and project space Subliminal Projects Gallery, and the online store Obey Giant/The Art of Shepard Fairey; all based in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. Ms. Truelove Fairey became a vocal advocate for research advancements through the MS Hope Foundation, after her own diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis in 2013. She also believes in the importance of arts and music education for all, through her work with Art of Elysium and the Silverlake Conservatory of Music. Ms. Truelove Fairey currently sits on the board of the Library Foundation of Los Angeles and was the 2016 Chair of the foundation's annual fundraiser, The Young Literati Toast. Funds raised at the Toast support Adult Literacy Services, a vital program of the library that breaks the cycle of low literacy throughout Los Angeles with one-on-one tutoring, self-directed and online practice, and group classes. In 2016, Ms. Truelove Fairey and her husband founded Make America Smart Again, an organization that encouraged voter education and registration during the 2016 election season. It has evolved from a call to action into a movement that empowers citizens to stay engaged and informed about social issues. Make America Smart Again has partnered with a variety of non-profit organizations including Rock the Vote, The Young Literati, and Vote Detroit to continue its mission in building a coalition of a well-informed citizenry. Ms. Truelove Fairey enjoys family time with her husband, Shepard and their two wonderful daughters, Vivienne and Madeline. I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Amanda Truelove Fairey.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. 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, Phyllis Kim of Glendale, California. Phyllis Kim received her Bachelor of Arts Degree and an Interpretation & Translation Certificate from the University of California, Los Angeles. Currently, she is a court interpreter in the Korean language in Los Angeles. For years, Ms. Kim has been very active with the Korean American Forum of California, which is dedicated to bringing public attention and recognition to the ``comfort women'' of World War II. From 1932 until the end of World War II, over 200,000 women and girls throughout Asia, many of them kidnapped, threatened, or lured from their homes under false pretenses, were forced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Armed Forces of Japan. Ms. Kim continues to raise awareness about these women, known as ``comfort women,'' and also works toward receiving a formal recognition and an apology from Japan for its past war crimes of sexual slavery by its military, and to prevent wartime crimes against women as well as children. Through the dedicated efforts of Ms. Kim and the Korean American Forum of California, the Comfort Women statue was built in Glendale, California. Phyllis makes every effort to visit the statue as often as she can to honor the Halmoni. Phyllis lives in Glendale with her husband of nine years, Roy Hong. I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Phyllis Kim.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. 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, Betty Porto of La Canada Flintridge, California. The success of the Porto family stems from humble beginnings in Manzanillo, Cuba. After Fidel Castro's violent revolution erupted in Cuba in the 1950s, Raul, Sr. and his wife, Rosa requested permission to leave the country. As they waited for approval, both Raul, Sr. and Rosa were dismissed from their jobs. To support their three children, Betty, Raul, Jr., and Margarita, Rosa, a talented baker, refined her recipes and started selling her cakes to neighbors and friends. The Porto family's request to leave the country was eventually approved, and they entered the United States in the early 1970s. In the United States, they opened a bakery in the Echo Park area of Los Angeles that quickly flourished, and Betty Porto, in addition to her siblings, was there to lend a helping hand. Betty Porto attended John Marshall High School in Los Angeles, and simultaneously worked at the family's bakery, Porto's Bakery & Cafe, taking care of the front of the house since she loved interacting with people and enjoyed customer service. Her mother, who valued the importance of receiving a higher education and credits a large part of her success to having a bachelor's degree, influenced Betty's love of learning. Upon graduating from high school, Betty received a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in political science from California State University, Los Angeles, and the University of California, Los Angeles, respectively. Her goal was to attend law school, but she quickly changed her mind as spending time with her family at the bakery had awakened her passion for the family business, and she wanted to support her parents, keeping in mind all the sacrifices they had made to give her a better life. Over the years, Ms. Porto and her siblings became increasingly involved in the community by supporting many worthwhile organizations, including Glendale Healthy Kids, American Red Cross, Glendale police and fire departments, and the Alex Theatre to name a few. For the past seven years, Betty has been a staunch supporter of Union Rescue Mission, donating the remaining food from Porto's Bakery & Cafe at the end of each day. She also gives tours of Porto's Bakery & Cafe to culinary students, to show them firsthand, out of the classroom setting, how to run a bakery, and has even hired some of these students to work at Porto's Bakery & Cafe. Betty and Rick, her husband of twenty-five years, have two daughters. I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Betty Porto.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Andrea Van de Kamp, of Pasadena, California, upon receiving the prestigious Rose Award from the Los Angeles Parks Foundation. Born in Michigan, Andrea attended Michigan State University and received her Master's Degree from the Teacher's College of Columbia University. Andrea has an impressive and varied career in business, fundraising and the arts. These include serving as Associate Director of Admissions for Dartmouth College, Director of Public Affairs for Carter Hawley Hale Stores, Executive Director of the Southern California Coro Foundation, Director of Development at the Museum of Contemporary Art, and President and CEO of the Independent Colleges of Southern California where she administered annual funding campaigns for 15 colleges. In addition, she was Managing Director of Sotheby's West Coast Operations and Vice President of Sotheby's North America. Andrea is well known for her energy, good sense of humor, and exceptional people skills, and those traits have been invaluable to the many arts organizations she has been involved with. A volunteer for the Music Center: Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles for many years, she chaired the center's Board of Governors, chaired the Operating Company, was a member of The Blue Ribbon--the center's women's support group, and chaired the foundation giving fund. One of her greatest achievements was in 1995 when Andrea took up the challenge and embarked on a vigorous funding campaign and raised the remaining $264 million needed to build the Walt Disney Concert Hall. In addition to the Music Center, where she is Chair Emeritus, she served on the Walt Disney Company Board of Directors, the UCLA Hammer Museum Board of Directors, Vice Chaired the California Council of the Humanities, was Co-Chair of the Los Angeles Arts Task Force, as well as serving on various financial and business organizations. In addition to the Los Angeles Parks Foundation Rose Award, Ms. Van de Kamp was honored with the 2003 Junior League of Los Angeles' Lifetime Community Achievement Award. Andrea and her late husband, former California Attorney General John Van de Kamp, have one daughter, Diana. I ask all Members to join me in thanking Andrea Van de Kamp of Pasadena, California for her extensive and outstanding contributions to the arts in the greater Los Angeles community.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. 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, Amy Yanow of the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Amy Yanow has always had a passion for community. After a career in real estate development, she obtained a Master of Business Administration from the Anderson School of Management at UCLA and combined her love of community with her love for small businesses. As co-owner of two of the most notable craft beer destinations in Southern California, Mohawk Bend in Echo Park and Tony's Darts Away in Burbank, Ms. Yanow has found innovative ways to incorporate her desire to support community and her passion for locally sourced products and services. Ms. Yanow formalized sourcing guidelines which focus on procuring products that celebrate Los Angeles and California local farming. Charitable giving is built into every level of Ms. Yanow's restaurant strategy from menu offerings to marketing efforts. She believes in personal outreach to build lasting and meaningful relationships with her community. On behalf of Mohawk Bend, Ms. Yanow has partnered with thirty local non-profits to achieve fundraising and awareness of community-based initiatives in her backyard. Machine Project, 826LA, Echo Park Recreational Center, Echo Park Parenting and Education, Sandra Cisneros Academy, Fire Station 20 Echo Park, Echo Park Community Parade, Edendale Branch Library, and Food Forward are a few of the beneficiaries of her generosity. Under her guidance, Tony's Darts Away has supported community-based initiatives in the City of Burbank by providing funds to the Family Service Agency of Burbank, the Beagle Freedom Foundation, and Keep-A-Breast Foundation to name a few. Ms. Yanow and her husband, Tony Yanow, have shown great dedication to the non-profit organization River LA and its mission to unlock the potential and beauty of the Los Angeles River's fifty-one miles. From late 2015 until February 2016, the Yanows led a public matching grant campaign to raise funds and awareness for the creation of the community-oriented recreation areas and green spaces along the river. Ms. Yanow was deeply involved in the fundraising drive by creating a public awareness campaign through personal outreach and building a comprehensive social media strategy that ultimately accomplished the fundraising goal of $500,000. Ms. Yanow is a treasure to her community and an inspiration to all who know her. I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Amy Yanow.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. 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, Holly Hampton of Echo Park, a unique neighborhood in Los Angeles, California. Holly Hampton has been a resident of Echo Park for many years, calling this historic neighborhood and community home since 1989. Ms. Hampton currently serves as Vice President of the Echo Park Historical Society's Board of Directors, which preserves and promotes the neighborhood's architectural and cultural heritage. Holly also serves as Chair of the Historic Echo Park Home Tours. Ms. Hampton, a professional graphic designer, has been recognized for her involvement in numerous community design projects. Most notably, she participated as a judge for the Echo Park Community Parade's children's art contest for the past six years, and has designed installations for the Echo Park Historical Society. She received recognition from the City of Los Angeles at the Echo Park Farmers' Market's 10 year anniversary for her work with Katrina Alexy, an artist, on the creation of the market logo. In 2001, Ms. Hampton purchased a home in Echo Park, and became active in the development of her local neighborhood watch, which included neighbors on Grafton Street, Lemoyne Street, Effie Street, Lake Shore Avenue and Lobdell Place. She also began partnering with the Los Angeles City Council 13th District Office to organize staircase street clean-up events in an effort to help maintain the public staircase located on her street. I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Holly Hampton.