Adam Schiff

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Michael K. Woo and to recognize his co-founding of the Hollywood Farmers' Market in Los Angeles, California, which is celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary. Born in 1951, Michael grew up with his four siblings in Monterey Park, California. His parents, Wilbur and Beth Woo, and his grandfather, David Kitman Woo, ran a produce business in Los Angeles until the 1960's, when his father joined Cathay Bank, the first Chinese- American bank in the Southern California area. While in high school, Michael attended a program for gifted students at California State University, Los Angeles, and then went on to receive his BA in Politics and Urban Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and his Master of City Planning degree from the University of California, Berkeley. A leader in the Los Angeles area, Michael was a Los Angeles City Planning Commissioner and served on the Los Angeles City Council for eight years, becoming the first Asian American elected to the council. During his tenure on the city council, where he represented the Hollywood area, he was in the forefront of the Hollywood Redevelopment Plan, made decisions on numerous development proposals and neighborhood debates, and was a leader in the movement for a leadership change in the Los Angeles Police Department in the early 1990's. Since his parents and grandfather ran a produce business for many years, it is not surprising that one of Mr. Woo's major accomplishments while he served on the council was the co-founding of the Hollywood Farmers' Market twenty-five years ago. Various constituencies had worked together to improve the quality of neighborhood life for Hollywood residents and business owners, and out of those efforts, then-City Councilmember Woo proposed the idea of a farmers' market. The objectives were to create a secure, weekly community event, a sales venue for small local farmers, artisans, and food purveyors, and to benefit local neighborhood businesses; and in May of 1991, the Hollywood Farmers' Market opened and was an immediate success. Now in its twenty-fifth year, the market offers not only food products, but also live music, activities for children, and renowned authors' book- signings, and is a lively, fun community meeting place. The Hollywood Farmers' Market is under the umbrella of the Sustainable Economic Enterprises of Los Angeles, better known as SEE-LA, which also produces other Certified Farmers' Markets, focusing on supplying fresh food to low-income neighborhoods. Along with chairing the Board of SEE-LA, Mr. Woo is Dean of Environmental Design at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. I ask all Members to join me in recognizing Michael K. Woo, an invaluable asset to the greater Los Angeles community, and add our congratulations to the Hollywood Farmers' Market upon its twenty-fifth anniversary.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted: On rollcall No. 404, ``nay.''

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment offered by Mr. Becerra. Special interest groups have increasingly been raising dark money for political campaigns by exploiting loopholes in IRS regulations. These groups designate themselves as 501(c)(4) or social welfare organizations, which allows them to operate tax exempt and raise unlimited money completely anonymously. Tax-exempt status was intended to be limited to social welfare organizations that focus on just that--the social welfare--not political activity. But IRS audits of these organization can take years, and at that point, the damage is already done. The announcement that the IRS would release clearer guidelines on what constitutes candidate-related political activity should have been welcomed, not blocked by a rider. Real campaign finance reform is still needed, and passing this amendment striking the rider would be an important step to help the IRS clamp down on organizations illegally funneling anonymous, unregulated money in our elections.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my dear friend Dr. Charles Elachi, as he concludes 46 years of service to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). As Director of JPL for the last 15 years, Dr. Elachi has been an exceptional leader and invaluable contributor to space exploration. Born and raised in Lebanon, Dr. Elachi left home to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from the University of Grenoble, France. From there he received his Diplome Ingenieur in engineering from the Polytechnic Institute, Grenoble. He continued his education at the California Institute of Technology where he received his Master of Science and Doctoral degrees in electrical sciences. After joining JPL in 1970, Dr. Elachi continued his education at the University of Southern California where he received his Master of Business Administration, and the University of California, Los Angeles where he received his Master of Science in Geology. Dr. Elachi began his 46 year career at JPL as a research and science investigator. Quickly rising to leadership, he served as Principal Investigator on numerous NASA projects, most notably the Shuttle Imaging Radar series, the Magellan Imaging Radar, and the Cassini Titan Radar. From 1982 to 2000, Dr. Elachi served as Director for Space and Earth Science Programs at JPL and was responsible for the overall development of instruments for Earth observation, planetary exploration, and astrophysics and the missions utilizing those instruments. In May of 2001, Dr. Elachi was appointed Director of JPL and through the years has steadfastly stewarded JPL to unparalleled success. JPL's highly successful Mars missions--Phoenix and the rovers Spirit, Opportunity and Curiosity--have pushed the boundaries of robotic exploration and have inspired a new generation of scientists. Earth missions such as GRACE, Jason 1, 2, and 3, Aquarius, and Cloudsat to name a few, have furthered our understanding of Earth's climate and given us critical data on the planet we call home. Far beyond our planet, Juno, Kepler, Dawn, and many other missions are studying various parts of our solar system and beyond. Under Dr. Elachi's tenure, these successful missions and JPL's consistent ability to deliver on target have created innumerable job opportunities locally and nationally, and have continued JPL's distinction and prominence in space exploration. Throughout his impressive career, Dr. Elachi has authored over 230 publications and lectured in more than 20 countries about space, planetary exploration, and Earth observation. He holds numerous patents in the fields of active microwave remote sensing and electromagnetic theory. Over the years, Dr. Elachi chaired a number of national and international committees which developed plans for the exploration of our solar system, neighboring solar systems, and Mars. His exceptional career includes over 30 awards and recognitions including the J.E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award, the Association of Space Explorers Congress Crystal Helmet Award and the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal in three different years, to name a few. It is with great appreciation and respect that I congratulate Dr. Charles Elachi upon 46 years of exemplary public service. The time and energy Dr. Elachi put into his work is extraordinary and people across the globe have benefited greatly from his dedicated service. Applauding his commitment and dedication to NASA's JPL and its work, I now proudly ask you all to join me in commending Dr. Charles Elachi for his lifetime of service to our country.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Rabbi Marvin M. (Marv) Gross, who will be retiring as Chief Executive Officer of Union Station Homeless Services in June 2016. Born in 1947, Marvin M. Gross was raised in Evanston, Illinois. He received his education from Amherst College, Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. In the late 1960's, Marv began his lifelong service to the community by volunteering at the dairy of Kibbutz Givat Chaim, Israel for one year. He worked as an organizer for various political campaigns and the Vietnam Veterans Against the War, and as an organizer for the Jewish Council of Urban Affairs in Chicago, where he organized a ground- breaking conference on the mortgage and insurance industry and low- income and minority neighborhoods. Mr. Gross began his studies at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York in the 1970's to become a Reform rabbi, and after his graduation, moved to California. He began serving as a congregational rabbi, leading congregations at Temple Sherith Israel in San Francisco, and later at Temple Sinai of Glendale. In his volunteer capacity, Rabbi Gross served as Social Action Chair of the Board of Rabbis of Southern California, as Co-Chair of Clergy United for Prophetic Action, a Black-Jewish clergy alliance, and played a key role in the organization of religious congregations in California to support California's Bilateral Nuclear Weapons Freeze Initiative. In addition, Marv was asked by the Government of Israel, along with a fellow rabbinical student, to visit the Soviet Union for one month in an effort to promote solidarity and contact with Soviet Jews who had submitted applications to emigrate to Israel. In 1995, Marv Gross accepted the position of Executive Director of Union Station (now called Union Station Homeless Services (USHS) in Pasadena, California, becoming Chief Executive Officer in 2008. USHS is dedicated to helping homeless and low-income families through their outstanding service programs operating throughout the San Gabriel Valley. The programs provide food, shelter, medical care, rehabilitation and job training for homeless and low-income families and individuals, assisting them through each step of the process, so they can become thriving members of society. Under Rabbi Gross' stellar leadership, USHS has expanded from a 36-bed shelter on Raymond Avenue to a successful homeless service institution that serves over 2,200 people each year. In his more recent volunteer capacity, Marv has served on many boards and committees, including Flintridge Preparatory School, the Pasadena Police Foundation, and he is a staunch member of the Pasadena Rotary Club. A longtime Sierra Madre resident, Marv has three children: Becky, Daniel, and Tara. Rabbi Gross has tirelessly committed his working life to profoundly improve the lives of the homeless community. His generosity, compassion and leadership have deeply benefited the lives of thousands of homeless individuals and families. I ask all members of Congress to join me today in honoring Rabbi Marvin M. Gross for over two decades of extraordinary and unparalleled service to Union Station Homeless Services.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer a bipartisan amendment with Representatives Gibson, Peters, Dold, and Swalwell of California, to increase funding for the Advanced Research Project Agency-Energy, otherwise known as ARPA-E. I offered similar bipartisan amendments many times in the past, and they have passed with bipartisan support. The House bill includes roughly $306 million for ARPA-E this year, which is an improvement over prior years, but it still falls $44 million below the President's request. This amendment would not make up the full deficit of $44 million, but would increase funding for ARPA-E by $19 million with the offset taken from the administrative account. With this amendment, the House bill would fund ARPA-E at $325 million. That is the same level as the Senate bill, which acted in a bipartisan fashion to increase funding. While passage of the amendment would mean that ARPA-E is still funded well below the President's request, it will reinforce our commitment to supporting high-risk, high-reward, and game-changing research. ARPA-E is a revolutionary program that advances high-potential, high- impact energy technologies that are simply too early for market investment. ARPA-E projects have the potential to radically improve U.S. economic security, national security, and environmental well- being. ARPA-E empowers America's energy researchers with funding, technical assistance, and market readiness. ARPA-E is modeled after the highly successful Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, which has produced groundbreaking inventions for the Department of Defense and the Nation. Energy is a national security issue. It is an economic imperative. It is a health concern. It is an environmental necessity. Investing wisely in this type of research going on at ARPA-E is exactly the direction we should be going as a nation. We want to lead the energy revolution. We don't want to see this advantage go to China or some other country. If we are serious about staying in the forefront of the energy revolution, we must continue to fully invest in the kind of cutting- edge work that ARPA-E represents. By providing this additional funding with the offset, we will send a clear signal of the seriousness of our intent to remain the world leader. I have a couple of my GOP colleagues who wanted to speak, Mr. Gibson and Mr. Dold. I don't know if they are present. Mr. Chairman, I urge support for the bipartisan measure. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SCHIFF

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. In closing, to describe the world as dangerous is not an overstatement or a political statement--it is a reality. Thankfully, we have the world's most talented, capable, and committed intelligence community to warn and defend us. From leaders like Director Clapper, who has served this Nation exceptionally for more than 5 decades, to those men and women just beginning their careers in intelligence; from case officers to analysts; support and logistics personnel to inspectors general; from acquisition professionals to lawyers; seismologists to cryptologists; from mathematicians to linguists; particle physicists to special forces; to all in the IC: You have our most sincere thanks and admiration. I again thank Chairman Nunes, for his leadership, his hard work, and his commitment to bipartisanship. To my majority and minority colleagues, I thank you for your unwavering commitment to conduct rigorous and continuous oversight of the IC that helps protect our country as well as our privacy and civil liberties. And I thank our excellent committee staff, including on the Democratic side, Carly Blake, Linda Cohen, Bob Minehart, Amanda Rogers Thorpe, Wells Bennett, Rheanne Wirkkala, Thomas Eager, as well as our shared staff, Kristin Jepson, Brandon Smith, and Kevin Klein. I also want to thank my staff director, Michael Bahar, deputy staff director, Tim Bergreen, and Patrick Boland. I urge my colleagues to support this critically important bipartisan bill, and I look forward to improving it further on its way to becoming law. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Himes), also a subcommittee ranking member, and one of the leaders on many issues in the committee but, in particular, on privacy issues related to the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board.

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Swalwell), who is one of our subcommittee ranking members.

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. First, I would like to thank Chairman Nunes, who has once again proven an invaluable partner on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. The Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 is the fourth major piece of bipartisan legislation that we advanced together in less than 18 months. That is no small feat. Working together, we have proven yet again what this body can achieve when the country's interests are put first: solving real problems for each and every American, as well as for people around the world; supporting the men and women of the largest and most capable intelligence community--who work day and night to keep us safe--while ensuring strict oversight of even the most highly classified activities. Chairman Nunes and I do not agree on everything, nor should we. We have different perspectives and speak for an even broader group of Representatives in the body as a whole. There are provisions I wish had been in this bill and some I wish were not in the bill. I know my majority colleagues feel the same way about other provisions. I also believe we could have done this bill under a more open rule. But because we all rolled up our sleeves and worked together, the bill before us today is an exceptional work product, and I am very proud to support it. It is also an honest bill. There are no budget gimmicks to evade spending commitments. While the bill contains a classified annex and schedule of authorizations, each and every page has been available, and will remain available, to every Member for review. This bill also reaffirms one of my core convictions, borne out by the other three bills our committee has passed: that privacy and security can and must coexist. The bill funds and authorizes vital programs and activities of the U.S. intelligence community, including the Department of Defense intelligence elements. At the same time, the IAA's several hundred pages provide detailed guidance, strict authorization, and clear limitations on the IC's activities. Turning to more specifics, this year's IAA authorizes intelligence funding nearly equivalent to the President's budget request, which is about the same level as fiscal year 2016's enacted budget level. The base budget authorization is nearly equal to the President's request, and the overseas contingency operations authorization is roughly 1.5 percent above the request. The bill trims some unnecessary funding and reprioritizes resource allocations, adds money to underfunded programs, and provides congressional direction to ensure greater accountability, transparency, and efficiency within the IC. It also fences, or restricts the spending of, significant amounts of money to better ensure continuous IC accountability throughout the year. The IAA also addresses the key strategic questions that we have been asking over the course of the year: First, are we focusing too much on the threats of the day at the expense of the threats of tomorrow? We do not have the luxury of choosing our challenges. Over the years, we have spent significant resources on counterterrorism priorities in the Middle East and South Asia, and, of course, we must continue to focus on counterterrorism, particularly with the enduring threat of ISIL. But at the same time, we cannot disregard our near-peer competitors, such as China and Russia, whose increasing adventurism challenges our interests and influence abroad and threatens our allies and partners. I am pleased this year's IAA strikes a better balance between the near- term threats and longer term challenges that we face. Second, are we sufficiently protecting what we currently have, whether in space, at sea, or in the cyber realm? Our space, cyber, and sea assets are the most advanced in the world, but unless we are careful, they will become increasingly vulnerable. To better secure them, this bill wisely invests in cyber and supply chain security, as well as in resilience and other means of protection. Third, are we leveraging commercial products and services while, at the same time, making investments in revolutionary technologies that do not yet have commercial application? We have the world's most productive and innovative private sector, particularly when it comes to space. We must leverage and support it wherever we can, which I am pleased the IAA does. At the same time, this bill recognizes that government must invest in the most advanced, game-changing technologies that do not yet have a market. Fourth, are we recruiting, training, and developing the most effective and diverse workforce, as well as leveraging foreign intelligence relationships and building foreign partner capacity? The U.S. has the most advanced, capable, and reliable intelligence community in the world. Wherever I travel, I am continually impressed and inspired when I meet these brave and talented women and men. This bill identifies ways to further support and improve the workforce by expanding diversity in the IC, promoting travel, and supporting language training. It also provides critical support to build the capacity of foreign partner services and does so strategically, in a way that helps ensure the utmost professionalism and respect for the rule of law. As is the case in nearly all legislation, as I mentioned at the outset, this bill is not perfect. For years, I have pushed the administration and Congress to support the publication of an annual report on the number of combatants and noncombatants killed in lethal strikes. Despite our best efforts to ensure to a near certainty that no civilians will be killed or injured, sometimes strikes do result in civilian casualties, and it is important that we acknowledge these accidents, learn from them, and be open about them. At the same time, greater transparency can help narrow the perception gap between what really happens and what is reported or sent out as propaganda. Soon, the administration will release the first accountability report on noncombatant casualties and injuries. This is a good thing. But I also believe that there is a value and a statutory requirement to make this executive action permanent, ensuring that our commitment to transparency extends beyond the term of the current administration. This is an issue that I believe the IAA or NDAA should have addressed, and I will continue to work with my colleagues to push for this change to be codified into law. As I said at the outset, this bill is truly bipartisan, carefully refined, and an honest effort to secure our Nation while safeguarding privacy and civil liberties. I am proud to support this year's Intelligence Authorization Act, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. Once again, I want to thank Chairman Nunes and all of the members of HPSCI. I look forward to working with the Senate, the administration, and with all my colleagues throughout the remainder of this Congress to further improve the bill as it progresses to the President's desk. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Quigley), another one of the leaders on the committee.

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Alabama (Ms. Sewell), also one of our subcommittee ranking members.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 200.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment to H.R. 4641 that will require the interagency task force created by this legislation to study and report on the coordination of information collected from state prescription drug monitoring programs, or PDMPs, as part of its effort to update best practices for pain management strategies. State PDMPs play a critical role in preventing the diversion of pain medication as well as other controlled substances. Chief among their benefits, access to a State PDMP provides an invaluable resource to prescribing physicians by allowing them to review a patient's history of prescription drugs and to spot signs of opioid abuse so that they may proactively refer a patient to substance abuse treatment, if appropriate. They allow medical professionals to intervene before an addiction spirals out of control. Now active in 49 States, PDMPs can also inform prescribing physicians if a patient has recently accessed pain medication elsewhere and help to detect potential doctor-shopping activities by individuals with no legitimate medical need. Further, PDMPs also play an important role in identifying forged or stolen prescriptions. While information sharing between some adjacent State PDMPs currently exists to prevent illicit doctor-shopping activities from occurring across State lines, I believe it is time that we boost efforts to strengthen the sharing of information across all State PDMPs. I recently met with physicians from my district who described from their experience how prevalent the issue of doctor shopping is, particularly in the State of California, and how it is becoming more and more common for individuals with histories of opioid abuse to attempt to receive illicit prescriptions in nearby States. With passage of this amendment, I urge the task force to explore the benefits of potentially establishing a national PDMP that will vastly approve our ability to prevent and disincentivize doctor shopping in all regions of the country, and I look forward to working with other concerned Members on this important topic. By requiring that the interagency task force include State PDMP information as it formulates its expert input and improves prescribing guidelines, we will be able to better understand what is and isn't working and how we may be able to harness the power of State PDMPs to develop an effective national response to the opioid crisis that has devastated communities across the country. It is beyond doubt that prescription drug monitoring programs serve an invaluable purpose, and any effort to address overprescription must include consideration of important data that is gleaned across State PDMPs. While I hope that this Congress will ultimately provide the necessary resources to assure we are able to develop and implement a comprehensive plan to prevent opioid addiction and increase access to treatment, the recommendations developed by the task force created under this bill are an important initial step that must come to pass before achieving that goal. I urge support for this amendment and for the bill. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for her support as well as all of her good work in trying to address the opioid crisis in the United States. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the annual Days of Remembrance, and specifically of the Burbank Human Relations Council's 2016 Days of Remembrance program. The Holocaust was the planned, systemic attempt by Nazi Germany to annihilate the Jewish people and to eradicate every vestige of Jewish life. The genocide resulted in the death of an estimated 6 million Jewish people, Romani people and hundreds of thousands of others who were considered unworthy of life. In 1980, the United States Congress unanimously passed legislation to establish the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. Among their other responsibilities, the Council was entrusted with creating an annual national day of remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust; thus the Days of Remembrance was established. Each year schools, governments, workplaces, religious and other organizations all across the country host observances and remembrance activities for their communities. For many years, the Burbank Human Relations Council has partnered with local temples and churches and presented the Days of Remembrance program, a Community Commemoration of the Holocaust to the Burbank community. In addition, the council has provided an array of Holocaust teaching materials to Burbank's middle and high schools, including films, speakers and books, educating students about tolerance, inclusiveness and compassion. This year alone, over 2,500 students have been given an invaluable lesson in this living history. There are few periods of time in humankind's history that are more appalling and sinister than the Holocaust. We must always recognize the Days of Remembrance, paying tribute to those who perished and those who courageously tried to save Jewish lives, and ensure that a tragedy of this nature will never happen again. I ask all Members to join me in acknowledging the Days of Remembrance commemoration, and in particular, the Burbank Human Relations Council's program.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, an open letter to President Barack Obama. Dear Mr. President: In 2009, less than a year after assuming the Presidency, you accepted the Nobel Peace Prize. You began your acceptance of this honor by acknowledging that it was bestowed at the ``beginning, and not the end of, my labors on the world stage.'' You spoke on that day with eloquence and conviction about fundamental human rights, rights that are endowed not by accidents of birth like nationality or ethnicity or gender, but by our common humanity. And the principles that you articulated have indeed guided and defined your Presidency. In your foreign policy, you have emphasized the rights of ethnic and religious minorities worldwide and put these causes closer to the center of our foreign policy. You have extended aid to refugees fleeing horrific violence. You established the Atrocities Prevention Board to coordinate and monitor our efforts to prevent mass atrocities and genocide. In a few days, you will have a chance to add to your legacy. On April 24, the world will mark 101 years since the systemic extermination of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire, from 1915 to 1923. The facts of the slaughter are beyond dispute, and I know that you are well-acquainted with these horrors visited upon the Armenian people, having spoken eloquently about them as a Senator. I have sat with survivors of the genocide, men and women, their numbers dwindling year after year, and heard them recall the destruction of their lives and their families and all they had known. As children, they were forced from their homes and saw their family beaten, raped, and murdered. They fled across continents and oceans to build lives in our Nation. Mr. President, for them and for their descendants, the word ``genocide'' is sacred because it means that the world has not and will not forget. To deny genocide, on the other hand, is profane. It is, in the words of Elie Wiesel, a ``double killing.'' This April 24 will be your final opportunity to use the Presidency to speak plainly about the genocide. In past years as President, you have described the campaign of murder and displacement against the Armenian people as a ``mass atrocity,'' which it surely was. But, of course, it was also much more; and you have avoided using the word ``genocide,'' even though it has been universally applied by scholars and historians of the period. In fact, as you know better than most, the Ottoman Empire's campaign to annihilate the Armenian people was a prime example of what Raphael Lemkin was trying to describe when he coined the very term, ``genocide.'' I know that, as you consider your words this year, you will hear the same voices as in the past who will tell you to hold your tongue and speak in euphemisms. They will say that the time is not right, or that Turkey is too strategically important, or that we should not risk their ire over something that happened a century ago. Mr. President, regardless of what you say on April 24, there can be little doubt that Turkey will do exactly as it has always done in its relations with the United States, and that is whatever Turkey believes to be in its self-interest. Many of our European allies and world leaders, including Pope Francis, have recognized the genocide, yet they have continued to work closely with Turkey because that has been in Turkey's interest. The same will be true after U.S. recognition of the genocide. I dearly hope, as do millions of Armenians descended from genocide survivors around the world, that you take this final opportunity to call the Armenian genocide what it was-- genocide; to say that the Ottoman Empire committed this grotesque crime against the Armenians, but their campaign of extermination failed; and that, above all, we will never forget and we will never again be intimidated into silence. Let this be part of your legacy, and you will see future administrations follow your example. When you spoke in Oslo more than 7 years ago, you closed your remarks by returning to the counsel of Dr. Martin Luther King and said: ``I refuse to accept the idea that the `isness' of man's present condition makes him morally incapable of reaching up for the eternal 'oughtness' that forever confronts him.'' Mr. President, confronting painful, difficult but vital questions ``is'' who you are. Help us be the America we ``ought'' to be, that beacon of freedom and dignity that shines its light on the darkness of human history and exposes the vile crime of genocide. Sincerely, Adam Schiff.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, last month President Obama nominated a fantastic jurist, Judge Merrick Garland, to the Supreme Court. Seconds later Republicans announced that he would not receive a vote, a hearing, or even a courtesy meeting in many cases. Judge Garland has a sterling reputation as a brilliant centrist and, above all, a fair jurist. He has been praised by Members of both parties in the past. He served in the criminal division of the Department of Justice before his nearly two-decades-long career as a U.S. circuit court judge. Garland is a Harvard University and Harvard Law School graduate. He clerked for a U.S. Court of Appeals judge and then for Justice William Brennan on the U.S. Supreme Court. During his stint with the Department of Justice, he was dispatched in the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing to help set up the prosecution team and help investigators build a case. When Garland was appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals, he received a broad and bipartisan vote. There is no doubt that Garland is superbly qualified. This Nation's Constitution expressly states that the President has the power to appoint Supreme Court Justices with two-thirds of the Senate approving. Nowhere is there some kind of an asterisk stating that, during their last year in office or even during the last few weeks of their term, the President must relinquish this power to a successor. President Obama was elected by the American public in 2012 to serve another 4 years in office. With 9 months left in his term, there is no excuse for the Senate to block him from filling this Supreme Court vacancy. Precedent demands action. In the past, six previous Supreme Court nominees were confirmed by the Senate in an election year, including current Justice Anthony Kennedy, who was nominated by then-President Reagan. A Republican President who was in the final year of his term and a Democratic Congress hoping that one of their own would replace him in The Oval Office, if that sounds familiar, it is. But instead of the partisan gridlock in the midst of a heated presidential campaign, in 1988, Kennedy received a fair and lengthy hearing chaired by then-Senator Joe Biden and then received an overwhelming 97-0 bipartisan vote. The Supreme Court is a coequal branch of government, not to be trifled with, not to be demeaned like some administrative backwater, and certainly not to be made the partisan and political plaything of a Senate GOP leadership desperate to hold on to its majority at all costs. Judge Garland deserves a full and fair hearing before the Senate to discuss his qualifications and judicial philosophy, and he deserves an up-or-down vote on his nomination as soon as possible. To do otherwise would set a dangerous new precedent that further politicizes the judicial nomination process and departs from our constitutional system.

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, Dolores Diaz- Carrey, of Pasadena, California. Born in Los Angeles, Dolores attended Sacred Heart Elementary School and Sacred Heart High School. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Spanish Literature from Holy Names University and her Master's Degree in Education from the University of Southern California. In addition, Dolores obtained a Counseling Credential from the University of California, Los Angeles and an Administrative Credential from California State University, Los Angeles. A consummate educator, Ms. Diaz-Carrey's long career in education began as a teacher at the elementary and junior high school levels in Northern California, after which she moved to Mexico City to teach. In 1969, Dolores joined the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) where she worked for 35 years. In LAUSD's Division of Adult and Career Education, she worked in many capacities, including as an ESL (English as a Second Language) instructor, teacher advisor, counselor, assistant principal, and principal. From 1973 to 1975, Ms. Diaz-Carrey was Executive Producer of the first bilingual ESL television series for adults, ``POCHTLAN", for which she was awarded an Emmy from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. From 1987 to 1998, she was Principal of Garfield Community Adult School and while there, founded a family literacy program for adults and their children. In 1998, Dolores became Director of the Adult Instructional Services Unit where she was responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of all the curricula for adults, including ESL, high school diploma, basic education, parenting, and nursing programs--during this time, she was also Program Director of the Community Based English Tutoring program. Dolores is a longtime member of the East Los Angeles Rotary Club, where she serves as the Rotarian advisor for a youth club, and is the incoming club president. In 2011, she received the Rotarian Foundation District Service Award. Dolores is a member and past President of the San Rafael Library Associates, a support group for the San Rafael Library in Pasadena, and is a generous supporter of the arts, including the Los Angeles Music and Art School, and the Youth Orchestra Los Angeles. A forty-year resident of Pasadena, Dolores enjoys traveling, daily walks with her dog, Dodger, long-distance cycling, and attending Los Angeles Philharmonic concerts and events at the Hollywood Bowl. I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Dolores Diaz-Carrey, for her extraordinary service to the community.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 75, which was passed unanimously Monday evening by the House. I regret that a family commitment kept me from being present for the vote on this important bill, which I am proud to cosponsor. It has been with horror and dismay that we have watched the barbaric acts of ISIL against ethnic and religious minorities in Syria and Iraq. Proud people, including many Christians who have lived in the region for centuries, have been wiped out in a campaign of rape, forced conversion, and murder. The crimes qualify as genocide, and they must be called as such. The global community has a duty, stemming both from the Genocide Convention and our common humanity, to destroy and defeat ISIL and to provide safe haven for those fleeing their monstrous acts. The campaign of genocide against religious and ethnic minorities in Syria and Iraq must be stopped, and those responsible must face justice.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, during Roll Call vote numbers 111, 112 and 113 on S. 2426, H. Con. Res. 75, H. Con. Res. 121, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted aye.

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, Dr. Frieda Jordan, of Glendale, California. After graduating from high school in Tehran, Iran, Frieda Jordan moved to England, where she received a BSc and a PhD in Biochemistry from King's College London. She also became a Certified Histocompatibility Specialist with the American Board of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics. Dr. Jordan is currently the Director of DNA Molecular Typing at Foundation Laboratory, and is a laboratory inspector with the European Federation for Immunogenetics representing Armenia. Prior to her work at Foundation Laboratory, Dr. Jordan was Associate Director of the Human Leukocyte Antigen and Immunogenetics Laboratory at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Dr. Jordan has dedicated an extraordinary amount of time and energy in serving her community through her medical and scientific expertise. She is co-founder and president of the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR), as well as chair of its ``Support Group'' for patients and their family members. ABMDR, which was founded in 1999, recruits and provides matched unrelated donors for stem cell or bone marrow transplantation to patients who are facing life-threatening blood disorders. ABMDR has identified more than 3531 potential matches for patients all around the world, and has facilitated 26 stem cell transplants. This organization has also brought new medical technology to Armenia, where it established a Stem Cell Harvesting Center in 2009. Dr. Jordan is an active member and participant of various medical organizations including the Armenian Medical Association, the World Marrow Donor Association, the National Marrow Donor Program, and the European Federation for Immunogenetics. An accomplished speaker, Dr. Jordan has given presentations at numerous conferences and workshops in the United States and around the world. I ask all Members to join me today in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Dr. Frieda Jordan, for her extraordinary service to the community.