Adam Schiff

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, Abbe Land, of West Hollywood, California. Abbe arrived in California in the late 1970s and has since dedicated her life to public service. Drawn into public life by possible eviction, she joined the Coalition for Economic Survival, a tenants' rights group to build the City of West Hollywood with LGBTQ activists, renters, and immigrants. After her appointment to the city's very first planning commission, Abbe was elected Councilmember for the City of West Hollywood and served for 23 years including serving as Mayor five times. For much of her time on the council, she served as the sole woman, and she was instrumental in the creation of the Women's Advisory Board, Disabilities Advisory Board, and the city's domestic violence prevention program for same-sex couples. For more than two decades, she has influenced policy at the local, state, and federal levels. In 1993, she led the effort for West Hollywood to declare itself the nation's first ``pro-choice city.'' In 1996, she led her city in enacting an important gun control ordinance which paved the way for the state of California to ban the sale of certain handguns. Abbe is currently the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Trevor Project, a nationally recognized nonprofit providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention to LGBTQ youth. Under her leadership, the Trevor Project continues to save the lives of youth around the country. Prior to the Trevor Project, Abbe served as Co-CEO of the Saban Free Clinic, in Los Angeles, where she led the clinic's growth from a budget of $6 million to one of $16 million. From Abbe's work protecting our environment to fighting for civil and reproductive rights, from her support for inclusionary housing to her efforts to combat homelessness, the people of the 28th District have benefited from her voice and steady leadership. Throughout her life's work, Abbe has been an inspiration to all who fight injustice. Abbe continues to live in West Hollywood with her husband, artist Martin Gantman. I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Abbe Land, for her extraordinary service to the 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, 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.

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, Linda S. Pura, of Los Feliz, a unique neighborhood in Los Angeles, California. Born in New Jersey, Linda attended Skidmore College and New Jersey City University for her registered nursing degree and teaching credential, and California State University, Northridge, where she obtained her Master's of Public Administration Degree. Linda's illustrious forty-two year career as a registered nurse, health care educator and nursing manager began at Bayonne Hospital in Bayonne, New Jersey. After moving to California, she was a critical care instructor for seventeen years at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, and then clinical manager of their blood donor facility, where she was responsible for blood donations and stem cell collection patient care. Linda provided, developed and coordinated educational programs and education needs assessments for over 400 primary care clinicians for the California Department of Health Care Services' Los Angeles County Cancer Detention Program, ``Every Woman Counts.'' In addition, Mrs. Pura acted as the Consumer Representative for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) National Mammography Quality Assurance Advisory Committee, where she advised the FDA in the development of quality standards for mammography facilities and accrediting bodies, and developed procedures to monitor compliance with standards and mechanisms to investigate consumer complaints. A tireless advocate for women's breast health, Linda co-founded the Susan G. Komen Los Angeles County affiliate, an organization that provides funding for breast cancer education and outreach, and breast health services in the Los Angeles County communities. Linda has participated in multiple aspects of the organization, including serving as Board President, Race for the Cure Chairperson, and on the Education and Grants Committees, and is currently a member of their speakers' bureau, their metastatic breast cancer committee and the Race for the Cure committee. One of Mrs. Pura's major achievements was the design and organization of breast cancer diagnostic centers funded by Susan G. Komen Los Angeles County for symptomatic women and men. For her efforts, Linda received the national organization's Jill Ireland Award for Volunteerism. Linda and her husband, Marshall Pura, have been Los Feliz residents for almost fifty years. Married for nearly half a century, they have one daughter and two granddaughters. I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Linda S. Pura, for her extraordinary service to the 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, Janet Diel, of Burbank, California. Janet Diel is a dedicated volunteer who has committed endless hours of service to a variety of organizations. She has been a member of the Burbank Coordinating Council for nearly three decades, currently serving as President, Co-Chair of the Holiday Basket Program and Chair of the Campership Program. Every year, through their partnership with community members and organizations, the Burbank Coordinating Council provides holiday baskets to hundreds of families whose children participate in the free or reduced cost lunch programs in Burbank schools. This program matches needy families in the community with organizations and families that want to adopt them by providing presents for their children and food for the holidays. Through the Campership Program, needy children between the ages of 8 and 18 are given the opportunity to attend a week of resident or day-camp in the summer. In addition to her work with the Burbank Coordinating Council, Janet finds time to volunteer for several other organizations including the Burbank Tournament of Roses Association, serving as the City Liaison for more than 28 years, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association, the City of Burbank's Advisory Council on Disabilities, the Burbank Domestic Violence Task Force, the Burbank Human Relations Council, Relay For Life, and the Burbank Transportation Commission, where she has been a member for more than 22 years and is currently serving as Vice Chair. She is also a member of the Burbank Nonprofit Coalition, the Burbank Unified School District School Facilities Oversight Committee, and the Burbank/Los Angeles Kindertransport Association, where she also serves as the Program Director, and annually speaks at Burbank middle schools to bring Holocaust awareness to young people. Janet has been the recipient of several awards, including the Burbank Council PTA's prestigious Golden Oak Service Award in 2010. She has been married to her husband, Henry Diel, for 35 years, they have five children, and one grandson. I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Janet Diel, for her extraordinary service to the 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, Jamie Keyser Thomas, of Sunland, California. Jamie is currently a Program Manager of Los Angeles Community Engagement, which is part of the Citizenship division of The Walt Disney Company, where she helps produce and execute community outreach programs in the areas of creativity, compassion, and conservation in the greater Los Angeles region, particularly in the City of Burbank. In addition, Jamie runs Disney VoluntEARS, a program which provides Disneyland Resort cast members with opportunities to give back to the community through volunteer service. She also oversees the Disney VoluntEARS Leadership Council. Jamie's dedicated service to Disney spans many years and this year will mark a major milestone--her 25th anniversary with the company. During her time at Disney, Jamie has worked in various divisions including Corporate Brand Management and the Disney Development Company. Ms. Keyser Thomas has devoted considerable time and energy to serving the community through various organizations. She serves on the Board of Directors for Leadership Burbank, an organization that offers a leadership training program for individuals who reside or work in the City of Burbank, and is a Board Member of Burbank Business Partners, which aims to increase community interaction and investment in local schools. In addition, she has served on special committees for the Burbank Temporary Aid Center, the Burbank Chamber of Commerce, Special Olympics Southern California, and Meet Each Need with Dignity, a non- profit organization that offers basic human needs to individuals in the community who are living in poverty. Jamie and her husband, Mike, live in Sunland with their two dogs. When she is not busy helping her community, Jamie enjoys the outdoors, traveling, cooking and spending time with family and friends. I ask all Members to join me today in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Jamie Keyser Thomas, for her extraordinary service to the 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, Pauley Perrette of Hollywood, California. Pauley is an accomplished artist, writer, photographer, and civil rights activist. Her family is from Alabama. She was born in New Orleans and grew up in several southern states. After college where she studied Sociology, Psychology, and Criminal science, she spent time in New York City before moving to Los Angeles working steadily in film and television. She is best known for her portrayal of the beloved Abby Sciuto on the CBS Television Series NCIS, the Number 1 most watched television show in the world. Pauley's incredible commitment to community is what sets her apart. She is known as a philanthropist and she works with over 30 charities including Project Angel Food, AIDS Project Los Angeles, the Trevor Project, LAFD Foundation, Habitat for Humanities, the Thirst Project, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, the Make a Wish Foundation, the Humane Society, People Assisting with the Homeless, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, Hope Gardens, the Amanda Foundation, the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, and the Los Angeles Police Department Police Activities League, just to name a few. Pauley inhabits both a national and local stage with ease. She joined efforts across the nation to bring justice for Alabama and Detroit child murder victims Shannon Paulk and Raven Jeffries. She can be found at National Night Out, an annual effort by the Los Angeles Police Department and Neighborhood Watch to bring together local residents and their police officers. She uses her voice to speak up for the most vulnerable in society, from children to our animal companions, from individuals faced with seemingly insurmountable odds to those fighting for civil rights for themselves and their communities. I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Pauley Perrette, for her extraordinary service to the community.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Lucile M. (Lucy) Jones, a preeminent leader in the field of seismology, who is retiring from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Dr. Jones received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Chinese Language and Literature, with a minor in Physics, graduating Magna Cum Laude from Brown University, and her Doctor of Philosophy in Geophysics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Jones has worked for the US Geological Service for the past thirty-three years. During her time at the USGS, she has served in various capacities, most recently as Science Advisor for Risk Reduction, Natural Hazards Mission. In this position she leads long- term science planning for natural hazards research, and directs the Science Application for Risk Reduction (SAFRR) Project, which uses USGS science to help communities at risk for natural disasters. Lucy is also a Visiting Research Associate at the prestigious California Institute of Technology Seismological Laboratory, a position she has held since 1983. Prior to serving as Science Advisor for Risk Reduction, Dr. Jones created, led and was Chief Scientist for the Multi Hazards Demonstration Project (MHDP), whose landmark programs included the Great ShakeOut, an emergency public preparedness program which has been adopted throughout the state of California, and the Southern California Debris Flow Warning System, in partnership with the National Weather Service. Lucy was also a scientist on the USGS Earthquake Hazards Team for many years, including serving as Scientist-in-Charge for Southern California from 1998 to 2006. In addition to her work with the USGS, Dr. Jones is a member of the California Earthquake Prediction Evaluation Council, which advises the Governor of California. She served as seismic safety advisor to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, raising awareness about the city's need for greater earthquake preparedness. Lucy also served as Commissioner on the California Seismic Safety Commission. Author of multiple scientific papers on seismic research with a primary focus on earthquake hazard assessment and foreshocks, Dr. Jones has often testified before the United States Congress on various public safety seismic matters. Lucy has been the recipient of many awards, including Woman of the Year from the California Science Center, the Shoemaker Award for Lifetime Achievement in Science Communication from the USGS, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer's Women Making History Award, the Alquist Award from the Earthquake Safety Foundation and the Meritorius Service Award from the U.S. Department of the Interior. Dr. Jones lives in Pasadena, with her husband Dr. Egill Hauksson, who is a fellow seismologist and a Professor at Caltech, and they have two children, Sven and Niels. Dr. Lucile M. (Lucy) Jones will leave a scientific legacy that will be appreciated for generations to come. I ask all Members to join me today in honoring her for over three decades of exemplary public service.

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, Kimberly Holland, of La Crescenta, California. For nearly three decades, Kimberly Holland has been working with the Professional Development Center of Glendale Community College, serving in the capacity of Executive Director for the past decade, and has overseen the training of employees from organizations and companies in Southern California. Over the years, the Professional Development Center has been a tremendous force in providing technical services, a quality education, and training for Southern California employees, and is recognized as one of the most innovative training agencies in California. As a testament to its success, employees who undergo training provided by the Professional Development Center currently experience an average earnings increase of $5.40 per hour. Ms. Holland's unparalleled leadership and steadfast commitment has immensely contributed to the many milestones the Professional Development Center has achieved. The Professional Development Center has trained 34,000 California workers and has created relationships with numerous clients that include USC Verdugo Hills Hospital, Glendale Adventist Medical Center, DreamWorks Animation, Lexus of Glendale, Whole Foods Market, and The Cheesecake Factory. In addition to her work at the Professional Development Center, Kimberly spends time participating in local and community fundraising events. She also enjoys attending sporting events, and is a big fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Lakers. I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Ms. Kimberly Holland, for her extraordinary service to the 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, Patricia A. (Pat) Anderson, of La Canada Flintridge, California. Born in Los Angeles, Pat attended West Athens Elementary School, George Washington School and local colleges. Pat became President/CEO of the La Canada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association in 2003, a position she holds today. She oversees all aspects of the chamber, including annual events such as the Fiesta Days/Memorial Day Weekend festivities and parade, the chamber's internship program, and works closely with residents, businesses and city officials on local issues. Under her stellar leadership, both the business and residential membership expanded, the chamber's revenues grew, and she was responsible for creating new programs such as the Chamber Ambassador program. Pat's professional organizations include memberships in the Southern California Chamber of Commerce Executives, Professional Women's Networking Group, California Contract Cities Association, California Chamber of Commerce, and the Los Angeles County BizFed, of which she is a Founding Member. The consummate volunteer, Ms. Anderson's list of volunteer activities is extensive and varied. She was a member of the Palm Crest Elementary School PTA and the La Canada High School Drama Boosters Club, civic clubs such as the La Canada New Members Club and the Thursday Club, the La Canada Flintridge City Incorporation Committee and was a volunteer instructor at the Braille Institute. Also, Pat is a Founding Member and is active in the Canada Auxiliary of Professionals, and the O. Warren Hilgren Scholarship committee, is Past President and a current Board Member of the Paradise Valley Homeowners Association, and a Director of the La Canada Flintridge Coordinating Council. In addition, Pat is a nearly-thirty year member of the Kiwanis Club of La Canada, and a forty-five year member of the La Canada Congregational Church, where she has served as a Sunday School Teacher, Music Committee Member and chaired several committees. For her civic and professional accomplishments, Ms. Anderson has received the Kiwanis Club of La Canada's La Canadan of the Year Award, the Les Tupper Community Service Award, Business Life Magazine's Woman Achiever 2012 Award, and was named Woman of the Year for the 44th Assembly District in 2010 by then-Assemblyman Anthony Portantino. A forty-five year resident of La Canada Flintridge, Pat and her late husband, Rev. Philip Longfellow Anderson, were married for twenty years before his passing in 2003, and have one daughter, Katherine. I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Patricia A. (Pat) Anderson, for her extraordinary service to the 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, Dolores Diaz- Carey, 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-Carey'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-Carey 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-Carey, for her extraordinary service to the 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, Dr. Cheryl Revkin, of Silver Lake, a unique neighborhood in Los Angeles, California. Cheryl Revkin was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. After obtaining her Bachelor's Degree at the University of Wisconsin, she attended the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic where she received both her Bachelor's of Science and Doctor of Chiropractic degrees. A compassionate chiropractor, Dr. Revkin made a commitment to donate one- third of her practice to individuals with no chiropractic insurance, such as the six patients a week that she treated who were referred to her from the Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic, patients with HIV, and many children. A community activist while running her practice in Silver Lake, after thirty-three years, Cheryl retired and devoted all of her time and talents to helping her community. Dr. Revkin's involvement in Silver Lake community organizations is extensive. She was the Founder and President of the Silver Lake Chamber of Commerce, where she was active for more than two decades, and now acts as a consultant to the chamber. Currently, Cheryl serves as Co- Chair of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council History Collective Committee, a position she has held for over a decade, is a board member of the Friends of the Silver Lake Library, and volunteers with CollegePath LA at John Marshall High School. In addition, Dr. Revkin is on the Los Angeles City Disability Access Review Board Commission, helps out in the Los Angeles Neighborhood Justice Program and the Center for the Study of Political Graphics, and serves on the Board of Automata, a puppet theatre in Los Angeles. For her efforts, Cheryl received the Pioneer Woman of the Year Award from then-Los Angeles City Councilman Eric Garcetti. Dr. Revkin has one daughter, Casey Revkin and one grandchild, Emil Ryan, who also live in Silver Lake. I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Dr. Cheryl Revkin, for her extraordinary service to the 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, Helen Leung, of Elysian Valley, a unique neighborhood in Los Angeles, California. Helen grew up in Elysian Valley and attended local public schools. After high school, she moved east to attend the University of Pennsylvania, where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and Communications, after which she attended Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government and obtained a Master's Degree in Public Policy and Urban Planning. With a passion for redefining the connection of social equity and community development, Helen worked at Living Cities in Washington, D.C., a national funders collaborative focused on systemic impact in low-income communities. She then served as a White House Intern in 2010, a Fellow at the Department of Housing and Urban Development in 2012, and gained extensive community-based experience working for former Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti, in policy, planning and neighborhood development. Currently she is Co-Executive Director of LA-Mas, a non-profit community design organization headquartered in Elysian Valley. In this role, Ms. Leung ensures that all LA-Mas projects, such as the Futuro de Frogtown and Elysian Valley Knowledge Hub projects, are grounded in community need and policy potential. Helen's past volunteer involvement includes serving on the boards of the Elysian Valley Riverside Neighborhood Council and the Wildwood Foundation. Currently she serves on the Los Angeles Police Commission's Police Permit Review Panel, the Community Advisory Board of Genesis LA and the board of the Elysian Valley Arts Collective. I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Helen Leung, for her extraordinary service to the 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, Kelly Erickson, of Echo Park, a unique neighborhood in Los Angeles, California. Born in Oakhurst, California, Kelly attended Oakhurst Elementary School, Oak Creek Intermediate School and Yosemite High School. She moved to Southern California to attend Pitzer College, where she obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Political Journalism. Because of the college's environment of social and community activism, Kelly credits Pitzer College for guiding her into volunteering and community activism. Ms. Erickson's involvement in Echo Park community organizations is extensive. She served on the Outreach Committee of the Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council, is Chair of the Echo Park Community Parade Committee, a member of the Echo Park Chamber of Commerce, and is active in the Echo Park Improvement Association, where she serves as Secretary and on the Neighborhood Issues Committee. In addition, Kelly has worked on several neighborhood projects, including promoting local small businesses and her most current project, which is the documentation and preservation of Echo Park area murals. Several years ago, Kelly founded the website: Echo Park Now, to help increase community awareness and involvement. When she is not writing or attending community meetings, she is running her graphic design and marketing services business, Craft Media Los Angeles. Kelly frequently donates her business' services to assist in community efforts. Kelly is married to Bennett Erickson and they have two rescue dogs, Aja and Josie. I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Kelly Erickson, for her extraordinary service to the community.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 28th anniversary of the pogrom against the Armenian residents of the town of Sumgait, Azerbaijan. On this day in 1988, and for three days following, Azerbaijani mobs assaulted and killed Armenians. When the violence finally subsided, hundreds of Armenian civilians had been brutally murdered and injured, women and young girls were raped, and victims were tortured and burned alive. Those that survived the carnage fled their homes and businesses, leaving behind everything they had in their desperation. The pogroms were not an accident. They were the culmination of years of vicious anti-Armenian propaganda, spread by the Azerbaijani authorities. The Azerbaijani authorities made little effort to punish those responsible, instead attempting to cover up the atrocities in Sumgait to this day, as well as denying the role of senior government officials in instigating the violence. Unsurprisingly, it was not the end of the violence, and was followed by additional attacks, including the 1990 pogrom in Baku. The Sumgait massacre and the subsequent attacks on ethnic Armenians, resulted in the virtual disappearance of a once thriving population of 450,000 Armenians living in Azerbaijan, and culminating in the war launched against the people of Nagorno Karabakh. That war resulted in thousands dead on both sides and created over one million refugees in both Armenia and Azerbaijan. Time has not healed the wounds of those murdered in the pogroms in Sumgait, Kirovabad, and Baku. To the contrary, hatred of Armenians is celebrated in Azerbaijan, a situation most vividly exemplified by the case of Ramil Safarov, an Azerbaijani army captain who savagely murdered an Armenian army lieutenant, Gurgen Margaryan with an axe while he slept. The two were participating in a NATO Partnership for Peace exercise at the time in Hungary. In 2012, Safarov was sent home to Azerbaijan, purportedly to serve out the remainder of his sentence. Instead, he was pardoned, promoted, and paraded through the streets of Baku as a returning hero. The assault on ethnic Armenian civilians in Sumgait helped touch off what would become a direct conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno Karabakh. And today, Azerbaijan's dangerous behavior on the Line of Contact threatens peace and stability in the region. Artillery and sniper fire across the Line of Contact has become a fact of daily life for civilians in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, causing numerous casualties. I have urged the OSCE Minsk Group to deescalate the situation by ending a policy that equates unprovoked attacks by the Azerbaijan with the defensive responses of Karabakh and Armenian troops, and by pressuring Azerbaijan to accept the installation of technological monitoring devices along the border. The anniversary of Sumgait is a reminder of the consequences when aggression and hatred is allowed to grow unchecked. Mr. Speaker, this April we will mark the 101st Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, an event the Turkish government, Azerbaijan's closest ally, goes to great lengths to deny. We must not let such crimes against humanity go unrecognized, whether they occurred yesterday or 28 years ago or 100 years ago. Today, let us pause to remember the victims of the atrocities of the Sumgait pogroms. Mr. Speaker, it is our moral obligation to condemn crimes of hatred and to remember the victims, in hope that history will not be repeated.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Francine R. (Fran) Kaufman, renowned pediatric endocrinologist, author, consultant, professor, researcher, and corporate officer in the medical field of diabetes. Dr. Kaufman is being honored by The Executives of the Los Angeles Jewish Homes at their 19th Annual Circle of Life Gala, for her extraordinary contributions in the medical field. Born in 1951, Fran grew up in Chicago with her parents and two siblings. According to Fran, she believes she decided to become a doctor when she was about four years old, under the direction of her father, who was a physician. After attending Northwestern University, she obtained her medical degree from Chicago Medical School, specializing in Pediatric Medicine with a sub specialty of Endocrinology and Metabolism. In 1980, Dr. Kaufman was appointed as an Instructor in Clinical Pediatrics at the University of Southern California (USC); in 1997 she became Professor of Pediatrics at USC; and in 2001 she accepted the position as the Head of the Center of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Currently, Fran is the Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Global, Medical, and Health Affairs at Medtronic, Inc., a Distinguished Professor Emerita of Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Some of Fran's professional volunteer positions include serving as a Delegate to the World Health Organization Assembly in Switzerland, a California Delegate to the Healthy School Summit in Washington, D.C. and the California Task Force on Childhood Obesity. In addition, she was President of the American Diabetes Association, Chair of the Youth Consultative Section of the International Diabetes Federation, Chair of the National Diabetes Education Program, a member of the Advisory Council of the Diabetes Branch of the National Institutes of Health, and is currently a member of the National Association of Medicine, among other organizations. Dr. Kaufman has received numerous awards, including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, the American Association of Diabetes Educators Living Legend Award, the McGovern American Medical Writers Award, the California Public Health Advocacy Award, and the Charles Siegel Disability Rights Legal Center Award of Loyola Law School. Consistently included in the annual ``Best Doctors in America'' list, she has been recognized by the California State Senate and the Los Angeles City Council for her health advocacy efforts, and nominated by former Congressman Henry Waxman as a Local Legend of Medicine. She is also a member of Phi Kappa Phi, USC's honorary society, and was awarded their Undergraduate Writers Humanitarian Award. In 2009, she received a Telly Award for starring in and authoring Diabetes: The Global Epidemic, the Discovery Health Documentary. Dr. Kaufman is married to Dr. Neal Kaufman, MD. She and her husband have two sons, Adam and Jonah, and four grandchildren, Maya, Dylan, Logan and Cassia. I ask all Members to join me in recognizing Dr. Francine R. Kaufman for her significant contributions to the medical field for more than three decades.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Barbara Sykes, of Burbank, California, an accomplished volunteer and community leader who passed away on Thursday, February 11, 2016. Born in 1960, Barbara grew up in Toluca Lake, California. Barbara married Dave Golonski and they raised their three children in Burbank, where she and her husband became deeply involved in their community. Barbara was active in various charitable organizations, before, during and after Dave's service on the Burbank City Council. Generous with their time and resources, Barbara and Dave frequently hosted events at their home for several organizations that raised money for both local causes and others in need--I always looked forward to their annual holiday party that benefitted the Burbank Coordinating Council, Five Acres, the El Faro and Hacienda Orphanages of Tijuana, Mexico and the Kids International Foundation, of which Barbara was a founding member. Ms. Sykes had a passion for charities that benefitted children, and to that end, she was a founding board member of the Boys & Girls Club of Burbank and the Greater East Valley, an organization that she was steadfastly dedicated to and active in for over twenty years. Ms. Sykes was a longtime volunteer with the Family Service Agency of Burbank and the Burbank Coordinating Council, where she served as one of the key organizers for their holiday basket program, and created the council's ``Coins for Campers'' program. In addition, Barbara raised funds for the Condor Squadron, founded by her father, Richard T. Sykes, a local organization of aviation enthusiasts which flies World War II and other military airplanes in formation over veterans' events, memorial ceremonies and parades throughout the region. Barbara is survived by her mother, JoAnn Sykes, husband, Dave Golonski, children, Randi, Russell and John, son-in-law, Nathan Lowery, grandchildren, Grant and JoAnn, and her brothers and sisters, Edmond, Jeanne, Carol, Gene, Richard, John and Mary. Barbara is an irreplaceable member of the Burbank community, and her loss will be deeply felt by the many people whose lives she touched. I ask all Members to join me in remembering one of Burbank's most beloved citizens, Barbara Sykes.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the environmental tragedy affecting residents in Porter Ranch. Just a few miles from my district, and until yesterday, methane gas continued to leak into the air from one of the wells, spewing 110,000 pounds of methane per hour. This leak began last October. The full health and environmental impacts of this unmitigated disaster may not be known for many years, and already it has displaced thousands of families and caused innumerable illnesses and property losses. Today I am calling on the U.S. Department of Energy to lead a comprehensive investigation into what caused this leak, its inadequate response, and to provide recommendations for mitigating the damage and preventing future incidents. This tragedy must never be repeated. Between Porter Ranch and Flint, Michigan, it is clear that both the government and the private sector are far from placing the priority we need on our families' health and their safety.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, during Roll Call vote number 46 on February 1, 2016, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted aye.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, during Roll Call vote number 47 on February 1, 2016, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted aye.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Tracking Foreign Fighters in Terrorist Safe Havens Act, and I want to thank Chairman LoBiondo, Representative Swalwell, and the full committee chairman, Mr. Nunes, for their leadership on this issue. This bill will help inform Congress and the public on one of the most pressing counterterrorism challenges we face today: the flow of foreign fighters from the West to and from Syria, Iraq, and other terrorist safe havens. The Paris attacks brought home the dangers posed by citizens of Western nations who can move easily between countries, traveling to Syria and Iraq to fight with ISIS, and who may then return home to commit horrific acts of terror and violence in their own countries. Tracking foreign fighters is a constant concern of the intelligence community and an issue on which we receive continual briefings. I believe these new reporting requirements will help keep Congress and the Nation more fully informed about this very serious threat to our national security. Of course, tracking foreign fighters is not enough. We have to redouble our efforts to staunch the flow of foreign fighters to and from Syria and Iraq. In addition to intelligence coordination, this requires a serious, substantial, and new commitment from Turkey, whose border with Syria has proven to be a conduit for a large number of fighters, as well as oil, money, and arms entering and leaving Syria. From the Mara line to the Euphrates, there is a 60-mile stretch along the Turkish-Syrian border through which much of the illegal trafficking in fighters and goods flow to ISIS. Turkey must close that border to ISIS. It has the power to do so, but does it have the will? Thus far, the answer has been, tragically, no, and this must change. Turkey must stop the flow of foreign fighters from crossing into Syria to join the fight. Where the Turks have been unable or unwilling to stop that flow, Kurdish forces have stepped up and demonstrated much greater success. I believe that if the Turks are unwilling to do more to shut down the flow of foreign fighters and resources that cross that border, we should increase our assistance to the Kurds, who have proven themselves far and away the most effective anti-ISIS fighting force in the region. Once again, I thank the chairman and Representative Swalwell for their leadership on this issue. I hope that, in addition to these reports, we will also hear from the intelligence community about actions that Turkey takes to close down this critical 60-mile stretch of border between the Mara line and the Euphrates.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, as a co-chair of the House Caucus on the Freedom of the Press, I strongly support H. Res. 536 and its condemnation of violations of press freedom and violence against journalists, bloggers, and individuals exercising their right to freedom of speech across Latin America and the Caribbean. Thomas Jefferson once said, ``Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.'' Those words ring true not only for our nation, but for all nations and all people dedicated to the ideals of democracy and committed to a democratic system of government. Whether through act and intimidation by the government or non-state actors, the voices of journalists across Latin American and the Caribbean--voices raised to speak out against corruption, abuses of power, and criminal activity--are being silenced at an alarming rate. This cannot be allowed to continue. I commend the House of Representatives and the sponsors of this legislation for drawing attention to this issue, and call on regional leaders to take all necessary steps to foster, protect, and defend the inherent right of their citizens to express themselves freely, publicly, and without fear of reprisal. Every time this right is violated, the foundations of society are weakened. We must all be vigilant and unrelenting in our support of free expression around the world.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the service of Major Cameron Gallagher. I first met Cameron in 2013, when he was serving as a military fellow in my office, advising me on a range of defense and foreign policy issues. For the past 2 years, Cameron has worked in the Army's Office of the Chief Legislative Liaison, where he has continued to be a trusted adviser to me and to other Members of the House. Cameron's service will now take him and his family to Fort Carson, Colorado, where he will serve as a battalion executive officer in the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade. Cameron truly represents the very best our Armed Forces and our Nation have to offer. Intelligent and dedicated, Cameron is such an optimist that he sent me trash talk emails for days in the lead-up to last year's Stanford-Army football game. Stanford won 35-0, but that is not really the point. Cameron, we will miss having you here in Congress. We wish you, C.C., and Henry all the best in your new assignment. And don't forget the Schiff Hotel California policy. You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 674, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 158, the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act. The Visa Waiver Program is overall an excellent program that facilitates the travel of more than 20 million people to the United States each year, travelers who encourage cultural exchange and contribute significantly to our economy through tourism and job growth. The overwhelming majority of travelers who utilize the program are not a threat in any way. However, even a small number of individuals can do us grave harm. Among those of greatest concern are European citizens who return to countries like France and Belgium after traveling to Iraq and Syria to train with terror forces. It is incumbent upon us to take every precaution to ensure these individuals cannot exploit the Visa Waiver Program to enter the United States. The reforms we are voting on today are reasonable, and they are appropriately targeted improvements to this important program. Specifically, they will require that nationals of Iraq and Syria as well as other designated countries and those who have traveled to these countries since 2011 undergo an in-person interview with a U.S. official and more rigorous security screening processes prior to traveling to the United States. It will also require DHS to strengthen its background check procedures and ensure improved information sharing among intelligence and law enforcement agencies. In the wake of the recent terror attacks, we must continue to review our existing security efforts to ensure we are doing all we can to protect the country. Rather than focus on the refugee resettlement program, which is the most heavily screened and lengthy process to enter the United States, Congress should focus our energy on closing known vulnerabilities that could allow those who mean us harm to enter the United States quickly and with little scrutiny. This bill does just that. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. First, I want to begin by thanking Chairman Nunes. It has been a great pleasure to work with him. I greatly appreciate his dedication to the responsibilities that we have, the bipartisan way that he has run this committee, the professional way that he and his staff have conducted all the business of the committee. It has just been an honor to work with him, and I am greatly appreciative of all he has done to bring this bill forward. I also want to express my gratitude to Senators Burr and Feinstein for their efforts at producing this bipartisan, bicameral work product. Earlier this year the House passed its version of the Intelligence Authorization Act for the fiscal year 2016. After the Senate's Intelligence Committee advanced its version out of committee, we worked together to produce the bill that is before us today. It is the result of careful negotiations and of a bipartisan and bicameral commitment to produce a strong intelligence bill for the sake of our country and of our allies. I was not able to vote for the intelligence authorization when it first came before the House in June, but I am proud to support it today. Many of the underlying issues have been resolved or significantly improved. This annual bill, like those that came before it, funds, equips, and sets priorities for the U.S. intelligence community, which is critical in the world that we inhabit today. The recent Paris attacks drive home just how vigilant we need to be, and the bill before us provides urgent resources for the fight against ISIS and al Qaeda. At the same time, we must never let our focus on any one threat or terror group distract us from the other challenges we face, like those posed by Iran, North Korea, Russia, and China. This bill strikes the right balance by providing the necessary means to counter other wide-ranging threats from state and nonstate actors, particularly in cyberspace, outer space, and in the undersea environment. The bill also takes critical steps to shore up our counterintelligence capabilities. This is of particular significance after the devastating OPM breach. Additionally, the intelligence authorization continues to be the single most important means by which Congress conducts oversight of the intelligence community. We much support the IC, but we also have to rigorously oversee it and make sure that what it does in our name comports with our values. The bill, therefore, prioritizes and provides detailed guidance, strict authorizations, and precise limitations on the activities of the intelligence community. It also fences funds to ensure that throughout the year congressional guidance is strictly followed. Some of the other highlights of the bill include emphasizing collection to monitor and ensure Iran's compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action--this is critical--funding our most important space programs, investing in space protection and resiliency, preserving investments in cutting-edge technologies, and enhancing oversight of contracting and procurement practices. I am particularly pleased with where the revised bill ends up with respect to our space programs. Other highlights of the bill are promoting enhancements to our foreign partner capabilities, which are crucial to multiplying the reach and impact of our own intelligence efforts; enhancing human intelligence capabilities, which is often the key to understanding and predicting global events; greatly intensifying oversight of defense special operation forces activities worldwide. The revised bill also continues to incorporate some of the excellent provisions championed by many of the Democratic members of the House Intelligence Committee as well as Republicans, in particular, Mr. Himes' effort to enhance the quality of metrics we use to enable more thorough oversight, Ms. Sewell's provisions to enhance diversity within the intelligence community, Mr. Carson's provisions to better understand FBI resource allocation against domestic and foreign threats and the role of FBI and DNI in countering violent extremism particularly in minors, Ms. Speier's provision to provide greater human rights oversight of the IC's relationships with certain foreign partners, Mr. Quigley's provision regarding intelligence support to Ukraine, and Mr. Swalwell's provision to ensure that Department of Energy's national labs can work with State and local government recipients of Homeland Security grants. As I said earlier, I was not able to support the prior version of the bill, but I am proud to support this version. I urge my colleagues to do the same. This version corrects the misguided overreliance on short- term overseas contingency operations funding to evade the Budget Control Act caps at the expense of our domestic programs. The bill still contains unwelcome restrictions, in my view, on the closure of our facility at Guantanamo Bay, but it modifies them to mirror the provisions, which passed in the National Defense Authorization Act and which the President recently signed into law. To the extent there are any intelligence funds which could be used to close the prison, these IAA provisions would subject them to the same restrictions as govern the spending of defense funds in the NDAA. I remain strongly opposed to any restrictions on closing the prison at Guantanamo Bay. As these provisions reflect what is currently in law, I support the larger bill. Especially with what happened in Paris, we need to act now to fund and enable our intelligence agencies. Once again, I want to thank Chairman Nunes, Chairman Burr, and Vice Chairman Feinstein, as well as the wonderful and hardworking staff of the HPSCI and the SSCI. I also want to thank the administration for their good work. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.