Adam Schiff

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the remainder of my time. The world is a dangerous place, and our intelligence agencies and professionals are on the front lines of keeping us, our allies, and our partners safe. We also have to ensure that no matter how dangerous the world becomes, the United States adheres to its values. What is done to protect America cannot undermine America, and this legislation ensures consistent and rigorous oversight. To the men and women of our intelligence community, you continue to have my sincerest gratitude and respect for all that you do and my full appreciation of your dedication, your patriotism, and your unparalleled skills. We in Congress must now do our part by passing this bill, and then we must turn to completing work on cyber legislation and to beginning the urgent task of preparing for the fiscal year 2017 authorization bill. To Chairman Nunes, Chairman Burr, and Vice Chair Feinstein, thank you again for your leadership, your bipartisanship, and your determination to do what is right. To all the Members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I thank you for your good work as well. Finally, thank you to our very superb professional staff. You do a great job each and every day, and often for very, very long hours. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, as co-chair of the House's France Caucus, I rise to speak today with a heavy heart. The barbaric attacks by ISIL-affiliated extremists in Paris on Friday evening were a savage attempt to shake the foundations of the civilized world. The victims, their families, and their loved ones are in our thoughts and our hearts, and we send them our deepest condolences in this enormously difficult time. The indiscriminate brutality of last Friday's rampage has shocked the conscience of people around the world. But let us be clear, the forces of ISIL cannot extinguish the City of Light, and we will not reap the panic and fear that they are attempting to sow. The United States stands with France today, as we have done for more than two centuries, as a partner, a friend, and an ally. We will confront this evil together and, in the names of all of those who have suffered so mercilessly at the hands of ISIL, we will defeat it. Violence, intolerance, and repression are no match for liberty, equality, and fraternity--liberte, egalite, and fraternite. I stand today in solidarity with the people of France and the people of all nations who would choose freedom over tyranny.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lisa Rawlins, who is retiring as Senior Vice President, Public Affairs for Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. after twenty-five years of exemplary service. Ms. Rawlins, who holds a degree in cinema from the University of Southern California, began her career in story development for Ransohoff Productions and NBC. While working on film production issues and handling the press in former Governor George Deukmejian's office, Lisa saw the need to help combat the problem of runaway film and television production in California. In 1984, she established the California Film Commission, and in 1985, became the first Director of the California Film Commission, and served in that capacity for six years. During her time at the film commission, she wrote film-based legislation, streamlined the film permit process for state agencies, and developed a municipal filming ordinance for cities throughout California. In addition, Lisa founded the Film Liaisons in California, Statewide (FLICS), a network of dozens of local film offices throughout the state. Lisa joined Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. in 1990 as Vice President of Production and Studio Affairs, where she focused on local and state government relations and successful advocacy for television and feature film productions, balanced with consideration of production impact on local communities. During her tenure at Warner Bros., she created their environmental sustainability program, leading the industry in green production and building, conservation, and waste reduction. In her capacity as Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, she managed community affairs, corporate responsibility, government affairs, environmental sustainability and philanthropy. A selfless and generous volunteer in the Burbank community, Lisa has served on the boards of several non-profit organizations including the Burbank Chamber of Commerce, Burbank YMCA, Project Restore, Coalition for Clean Air and the Burbank Unified School District's Partnership Advisory Council. An advocate for the creation of a one-stop film office for Los Angeles City and County, which ultimately became FilmLA, Ms. Rawlins currently serves as a member of FilmLA's Board of Directors. A visionary in the television and motion picture industry, Lisa Rawlins has been an invaluable asset to the film and television field and has left a legacy that will be enjoyed and utilized by generations to come. I ask all Members to join me in thanking Lisa Rawlins for over three decades of distinguished service to the motion picture and television community and the greater Burbank region.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Congressman Steve Israel and his beloved New York Mets after they defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers last week--and I will have no interest in extending my remarks. I lost a bet with Congressman Israel. So now, Steve, this song is for you: Meet the Mets, Meet the Mets, Step right up and greet the Mets. Bring your kiddies, Bring your wife, Guaranteed to have the time of your life; Because the Mets are really sockin' the ball, Knocking those home runs over the wall. East side, west side, everybody's coming down, To meet the M-E-T-S, Mets of New York town. Mr. Speaker, please tell me my time has expired. I don't want to give the impression I am not happy for the Mets. I am, really. I say: Thank God the Mets are going to the World Series-- and not the Yankees.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my name as a cosponsor of H.R. 1151.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution upon its one hundred and twenty fifth anniversary. The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), a non-profit, non-political women's volunteer service organization dedicated to patriotism, education and historic preservation, was founded in 1890 by Mary Smith Lockwood, Ellen Walworth, Mary Desha and Eugenia Washington. At their first meeting held on October 11, 1890, several women attended, as well as four members of the Sons of the American Revolution who served as an advisory board to the organization for its first few years. In 1896 the NSDAR, also known as the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) was incorporated by an Act of Congress. A lineage society, NSDAR members have the common bond of having ancestors who were patriots of the American Revolution. Members have included many noteworthy women, including women's rights pioneer Susan B. Anthony, American Red Cross founder Clara Barton, First Lady Rosalynn Carter, retired NASA astronaut Margaret Rhea Seddon and former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno. With 177,000 members and 3,000 chapters in the United States and internationally, members have volunteered millions of service hours for various projects and programs. Projects include supporting active duty military personnel and assisting veterans, supporting schools for underserved children, awarding scholarships and providing financial aid to students, and restoring American Revolution War sites and memorials. Most of NSDAR's volunteer work is accomplished by the grassroots efforts of chapters on the local level, which focus on the mission areas of DAR: historic preservation, patriotism and education. There are several chapters in my 28th Congressional District. The Don Jose Verdugo Chapter, located in La Canada Flintridge, has been serving the community for sixty-two years, focusing their efforts on veterans and education. Additionally, the Martin Severance Chapter in Pasadena, founded in 1914 and the Hollywood Chapter founded in 1910; both have a strong focus on helping veterans. For 125 years, the NSDAR has exemplified their motto: ``God, Home, Country.'' I am honored to recognize this excellent organization, and ask all Members to join me in commending the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution upon their anniversary.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Crescenta Valley High School Air Force Junior ROTC. Under the distinguished leadership of Lieutenant Colonel David Worley, the Crescenta Valley Air Force JROTC is a well-respected and integral part of the foothills communities. The cadets who participate in this program truly learn the value of community service and personal responsibility. It is a tremendous opportunity for young men and women to embrace the core values of ``Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do.'' The cadets from the program are among the most impressive young people I have had the privilege to meet. We are so fortunate to have a program in our community that provides a structured, vibrant environment to develop future leaders. I wish to offer my heartfelt congratulations and thanks to Lieutenant Colonel Worley and all the participants at Crescenta Valley High School. I am confident there is no program anywhere in the Nation that is a better representative of the Air Force JROTC. I speak for all my constituents when I say, Job well done.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to yield the balance of my time and the ability to control the time to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings).

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the distinguished minority leader.

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume just to take a brief moment to respond to my colleague from California. I wish it were so simple that a credible alternative was the passage of a bill in Congress that had not passed before that we could pass now and, through the mere act of our legislation, compel the rest of the world to join us in a new negotiation and a stronger round of sanctions. We simply don't have that power to coerce the rest of the world with a bill we pass here in Congress. What is more, to imagine that a new sanctions bill will somehow force Iran to come back to the table ready to concede its entire enrichment program is simply not credible. If that is what we are left with, we are really left with no really good alternative. Again, I think that is precisely why we need to move forward with the agreement that has been reached between the world powers and Iran. At this point, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum).

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn), the distinguished assistant Democratic leader.

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky), the ranking member of the Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Defense.

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky).

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), the ranking member of the Committee on Appropriations.

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Becerra), the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 2 minutes. First, I want to address briefly the very strained interpretation I think my friends are giving the Corker legislation. To accept the arguments of the opposition to the deal, you would have to accept the proposition that the Corker legislation requires the administration to provide an agreement between the IAEA and Iran to which the United States is not a party, to which the United States has no obligation, and of which the IAEA is precluded from providing to the administration. That seems to me a very farfetched interpretation of the Corker legislation. What's more, if you accept the argument that we can't have a vote on the agreement until we have this document between the IAEA and Iran, then why has the majority scheduled a vote on the agreement for tomorrow? So it is inconsistent with what their own majority has scheduled. But finally, I don't think anyone is fooled by the nature of this procedural motion or bill. No one expects, in the least, that anyone who has voiced their opposition to the agreement is somehow going to change their opinion if they have access to this private document between the IAEA and Iran. What's more, as we know, the IAEA enters into these agreements with individual nations around the world, so this is not at all unique to the situation with Iran. One final point I would like to make: We are now well into the debate on the agreement, and for all the arguments that have been advanced as to why we should have concerns about provisions in the agreement or concerns about Iranian behavior, many of which I share, there is one thing we have heard precious little about from the opposition to the deal, and that is, what is the credible alternative? So, I ask the question: What is the credible alternative? And the answer, from what I am able to divine from the scarce attention that the opposition pays to this----

Mr. SCHIFF. I yield myself an additional minute. The answer, as far as I can discern from the opposition to the deal, is this: This is how the alternative would work. Congress rejects the deal. Congress, the administration, then, somehow goes out and persuades the rest of the world to maintain sanctions, even when we rejected an agreement adopted by the other major powers, and even when those other powers tell us explicitly that there will be no new negotiations. But somehow we maintain the sanctions regime under this theoretical alternative. And what? Iran gives up all enrichment and comes back to the table prepared to capitulate everything? That seems so fanciful, so far removed from the reality of the situation, that it is no surprise that the opposition devotes very little, if any, time to discussing a credible alternative, because, indeed, there is no credible alternative. So, again, this is why I think it is so important for us to focus on how we can strengthen the constraints in the agreement, mitigate the risks that we will face, and that is a much more constructive path forward than rejection of this, seeing Iran going back to spinning up its centrifuges, picking up where they left off at 20 percent enrichment and going beyond, picking up where they left off with 19,000 more centrifuges and thousands of kilos of uranium. Is that really the path we want to go down? I think not. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, after several years of difficult negotiations with a dangerous and malevolent regime, the administration and representatives of the other P5+1 nations reached an agreement with Iran over its nuclear program. The primary objective of the United States in the negotiations was to prevent Iran from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon. Given the unthinkable consequences of Iran, the world's foremost sponsor of terrorism, obtaining the bomb, this has been an overriding national security imperative of the United States for decades. As an American and as a Jew who is deeply concerned about the security of Israel, it is also intensely personal. I believe our vital interests have been advanced under the agreement, since it would be extremely difficult for Iran to amass enough fissionable material to make a nuclear weapon without giving the United States ample notice and time to stop it. We will still need to guard against any Iranian effort to obtain nuclear material or technology from proliferators abroad, a reality even if Iran had given up all enrichment. But the agreement likely gives the world at least a decade and a half without the prospect of an Iranian nuclear weapon and without going to war to make that so. That is a major achievement. The United States realized this objective by securing a number of important provisions in the agreement, including the power to snap back sanctions, in whole or in part, and not subject to a veto in the United Nations. The United States and its allies also procured an extensive and intrusive inspections regime that lasts for 25 years or more. By applying to the whole chain of the enrichment process, from the ground to the centrifuge, it realistically precludes Iran from developing a hidden and parallel enrichment process. With respect to those inspections, I think it is very important to clarify something which I often hear the opponents obscure, and that is there are inspections with respect to Iran's prior military work, inspections of known nuclear sites and inspections of other sites which we may suspect Iran may conduct work in the future. And the mechanisms with respect to each are different. With respect to the known nuclear sites, there are 24/7 eyes on Iran's enrichment activities that would be the most extensive and intrusive inspections any nation has seen of its nuclear program. With respect to its potential sites--that is sites we don't know, where we suspect in the future they may do work--we will have a mechanism to obtain inspections in a timely way and certainly in a timely enough way that, if they were to ever utilize radioactive material, they would be detected. Finally, we have the inspections into their prior military work. I will say this with respect to the prior military work, those of us that have reviewed the intelligence know that we have an extensive bank of information about what Iran had been doing in the past. To the degree that we need a baseline for what Iran's work has been, we have that baseline, and I think that is a pivotal consideration going forward. As recently as yesterday, the Director of National Intelligence stated that he has great confidence that we can determine if Iran fails to comply with the agreement. For me, it is the size and sophistication of Iran's nuclear enrichment capability after 15 years that is the key challenge. At that point, it is the work necessary to produce the mechanism for the bomb that becomes the real obstacle to a breakout, and that work is the most challenging to detect. Nevertheless, I have searched for a better, credible alternative and concluded that there is none. When it comes to predicting the future, we are all looking through the glass darkly, but if Congress rejects the deal agreed to by the administration and much of the world, the sanctions regime will, if not collapse, almost certainly erode. This does not mean that Iran necessarily dashes madly for a bomb, but it will almost certainly move forward with its enrichment program, unconstrained by inspections, limits on research, and development of new centrifuges, metallurgy, or other protections in the deal. In short, Iran will have many of the advantages of the deal in access to money and trade with none of its disadvantages. Instead of rejecting the deal, therefore, Congress should focus on making it stronger. First, we should make it clear that, if Iran cheats, the repercussions will be severe. Second, we should continue to strengthen our intelligence capabilities to detect any form of Iranian noncompliance. Third, we should establish the expectation that, while Iran will be permitted to have an enrichment capability for civilian use, it will never, never be permitted to produce highly enriched uranium, and if it attempts to do so, it will be stopped with force. Fourth, we will share with Israel all the technologies necessary to maintain its regional military superiority and, if necessary, to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities no matter how deep the bunker. Finally, we are prepared to work with Israel and our Gulf allies to make sure that every action Iran takes to use its newfound wealth for destructive activities in the region will prompt an equal and opposite reaction, and we will combat Iran's malignant influence. The Iranian people will one day throw off the shackles of their repressive regime, and I hope that this deal will empower those who wish to reform Iranian governance and behavior. The 15 years or more this agreement provides will give us the time to test that proposition. Then, as now, if Iran is determined to develop the bomb, there is only one way to stop it, and that is by the use of force; but the American people and others around the world will recognize that we did everything possible to avoid war. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Porto family of Burbank, California, who are being recognized by the Glendale Memorial Hospital Foundation for their contributions to the Dignity Health Glendale Memorial Hospital. The success of the Porto family stems from humble beginnings in Manzanillo, Cuba. After Fidel Castro's violent revolution erupted in Cuba in the 1950s, Raul Sr. and his wife, Rosa requested permission to leave the country. As they waited for their response, however, Raul Porto Sr. was fired from his job and sentenced to compulsory manual labor. Rosa Porto was also let go from her job, forcing her to find a new way to support herself and their three children; Betty, Raul Jr., and Margarita. Rosa, a talented baker, responded to the challenges facing her by refining her recipes and selling her cakes to friends and neighbors in Cuba, establishing a devoted client base. The Porto family's request to leave the country was eventually approved, and they entered the United States in the early 1960s. When they stepped off the plane in America, the Portos had next to nothing except their solid work ethic, Rosa's extraordinary baking skills and the hope for a better life. Rosa's reputation as a skilled baker had preceded her and she found her first customer at the airport. While Raul Sr. found work as a mechanic, Rosa baked and sold cakes from their home, until their home could no longer accommodate the demand, and they opened a bakery in the Echo Park area of Los Angeles that quickly flourished. After diligently working two jobs, Raul Sr. joined Rosa at the bakery fulltime. As they were growing up, their three children had learned the business and upon their college graduations, each took on a more specific role--Raul Jr. managing financing and new product development, Betty co-managing the business with her father, and Margarita joining her mother in the cake decorating area. As the years went on, their business grew in size and menu items, and they now have three branches in the Los Angeles area. With plans to open additional branches throughout Southern California, Porto's Bakery will continue to be family-owned and operated while maintaining the high quality their customers expect, following Rosa's motto, ``quality is the number one ingredient.'' Porto's Bakery has contributed to the development of the local economy by creating hundreds of local jobs and serving thousands of consumers, and has been generous in giving back to their community by supporting many worthwhile organizations including the Glendale Memorial Hospital Foundation, American Red Cross, Los Angeles Mission College and Union Rescue Mission. The Porto family's success is a clear demonstration that the American Dream is attainable for all. I hereby ask all Members of Congress to join me in honoring the Porto family for their dedicated service to the community.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County upon its 50th Anniversary. Since its inception in 1965, Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLSLA) has provided much-needed free assistance to impoverished individuals throughout the Los Angeles area. Serving more than 100,000 people annually, NLSLA focuses on four key issues: housing, health, equal access to justice, and economic security. The firm encourages a holistic approach, working with attorneys, doctors, and other specialists throughout the Los Angeles area to address those issues that disproportionately affect the poor. In addition to its standard services, NLSLA's practice areas are sustained by a series of special projects. These projects include the Shriver Housing Project--Los Angeles, The Wellness Center at Historic General Hospital, Kamenir Health Advocacy Fund, Self-Help Centers, Medical Legal Community Partnerships, and the Dickran Tevrizian Fellowship Program. Many of these programs have received national recognition. Under the exceptional leadership of longtime Executive Director Neal Dudovitz and his dedicated staff, NLSLA has become one of the most respected public interest law advocacy groups in California. The organization has made incredible strides towards lessening the consequences of poverty in Los Angeles' low-income communities, both through systemic policy changes and through working with individuals. Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County has spent the past 50 years advocating for those whose voices may otherwise be lost in the legal system. I ask all members to join me in congratulating Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County upon its 50th anniversary.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Paul I. Goldenberg of La Habra, California, a kind, generous and highly respected man who was a pioneer in the field of television sales and marketing. The son of Jewish immigrants from Russia and Austria, Paul was born in Los Angeles, California on April 22, 1928. After his graduation from Dorsey High School, Paul began his university studies at the University of California, Los Angeles at the young age of 16, but after two weeks, he decided that college was not for him, and dropped out. After serving in the United States Army as a photographer, he enrolled in a television repair course. In 1952, Paul borrowed $1000 from a relative to open his very own TV repair shop on the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles. Mr. Goldenberg expanded his business in 1960 when he opened a store in La Habra, California, selling TVs and other household appliances. Throughout the decades, Paul turned his humble store into the largest single store television retailer in the United States. Through his vision of the future role that television would play, Paul invested heavily into large projection TVs and home video players. It was not long before he became known as the self-proclaimed champion of big screen TV sales, ``The King of the Big Screen.'' Paul was a skilled salesman and marketer who had genuine concern for his customers, and he enjoyed resolving customers' issues, and ensuring that his employees provided top notch customer service. A generous man, Paul was proud of his philanthropic endeavors, and after his retirement, he dedicated himself even more to his charitable efforts. During his lifetime, he gave over $20 million to over 173 non- profit and charitable organizations, including the Los Angeles Jewish Home for the Aging, the CHP 11-99 Foundation, and the City of Hope, a comprehensive cancer center in Duarte. Paul awarded college scholarships to Sonora High School students in La Habra and funded annual educational trips to Washington, DC for students at his alma mater, Dorsey High School. Described as a rescuer and a practical psychologist, Paul often lent support and advice to family and friends during their times of tribulation and crisis. A classic film lover since his childhood, he had a great sense of humor, and was an avid storyteller. Paul passed away on August 13, 2015. He is survived by his son, Douglas Goldenberg, and a granddaughter, Lucy Goldenberg. I ask all members to join me in remembering Paul I. Goldenberg, a captain of his industry, and a man of great virtue and generosity.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Alex Theatre upon its 90th anniversary. The Alex Theatre has been a cornerstone of the Glendale community since its establishment in 1925. In its early years, the Alex Theatre was home to Vaudeville theatrics and silent films. For the next 60 years, the Alex Theatre previewed first-run films, ranging from 1937's Saratoga to 1977's Star Wars, solidifying its continuing identity as the epicenter of Hollywood glamour. Originally designed by architects Charles R. Selkirk and Arthur G. Lindley, the theatre facade was remodeled in 1940 by S. Charles Lee--a remodel that included the extraordinary 100-foot Art Deco tower. The Alex Theatre continued hosting Hollywood premieres until the 1980s, at which point the theatre began to fall into disrepair. In 1991, however, the Glendale Redevelopment Agency restored the Alex Theatre to its former glory, investing over $6 million. The renovated theatre opened on New Year's Eve in 1993 to serve as a community arts theatre and civic center. Owned by the City of Glendale and operated by Glendale Arts, the Alex Theatre was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. Since its redesign in the 1990s, the Alex Theatre has retained its identity as a center for arts, but has increased its functions. Another expansion project began in July 2013 and was completed in June 2014. This $5.2 million renovation added 6,600 square feet to the backstage area. The Alex Theatre is currently home to four companies: the Los Angeles Ballet Company, the Alex Film Society, the Glendale Youth Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. In addition to hosting these companies, the Alex Theatre also hosts dance, comedy, theatre, music, and special events to serve more than 100,000 people who pass through its doors annually. To attest to the theatre's versatility, I had the great pleasure of hosting the 21st State Senate Arts Competition at the Alex Theatre in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The Alex Theatre is destined to continue its impressive legacy as a local and national landmark. I am honored to recognize the Alex Theatre for its great cultural value to the community, and ask all members to join me in congratulating the Alex Theatre upon its 90th anniversary.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the memory of Abdo Youssef Saab of Los Angeles, California, a man of integrity and an outstanding community leader, who passed away on July 23, 2015. Abdo was born in Hammana, Lebanon on August 15, 1945. He was educated in Jesuit schools in Lebanon, studied in France and received his Civil Engineering degree. Abdo came to Los Angeles in the early 1970's, where he met Lourdes, a community liaison for the Los Angeles Mayor's Office; they fell in love and married. They lived and raised their two daughters, Liane and Jessica in La Canada Flintridge before moving to Los Angeles. Mr. Saab began a long and remarkable career as a businessman, ascending quickly to the position of Vice President of Downtown L.A. Motors. He then began several businesses, including a travel agency and a consulting firm. Abdo was also active in the local law enforcement and political communities. A charismatic man, Abdo's presence was felt wherever he went. He loved to make people laugh, and his good sense of humor made a positive lasting impression on everyone he met. Valuing integrity in work, politics and life, Mr. Saab treated everyone equally with respect and as a friend, and cared deeply about civil liberties and justice. He enjoyed helping people and was a dependable friend in hard times. Deeply patriotic, Abdo loved Lebanon, his country of origin, and America, his adopted home. A devoted family man, Abdo is survived by his loving wife Lourdes, daughters Liane and Jessica Saab, brother George and sisters Georgette, Layla, Aida and May. Abdo was an irreplaceable part of our community and he will be sorely missed by his family and friends and all those whose lives he touched. A trusted friend and a man of impeccable character, I ask all Members to join me in remembering Abdo Youssef Saab.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 450, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, earlier this month, Americans were riveted by news that infamous drug lord Joaquin Guzman, better known as El Chapo, had escaped from a maximum security prison in Mexico. It took this spectacular movie-style breakout to return Mexico and its drug cartels to our national attention, and that is a problem. When ruthless, barbaric criminals terrorize an innocent population halfway around the world, America notices. We rightly rise up as one to decry the horrific violence perpetrated by ISIL in Syria and Iraq, recoiling in horror at the news of rapes, beheadings, and savagery run amok; yet, when similar violence is visited upon an innocent population in our own backyard, why are we not similarly outraged? Earlier this year, Aide Nava was beheaded by ruthless thugs not halfway around the world, but in the Mexican state of Guerrero, less than 1,000 miles from the U.S. border. Ms. Nava's death was not an isolated incident, nor was it random. She was a candidate for mayor of her town. Her husband had been mayor until last year, when he was assassinated. A note found near her body warned of similar treatment for other politicians who did not fall in line and was signed ``Los Rojos,'' the name of one of Guerrero's largest criminal organizations. If violence in the state of Guerrero sounds familiar, it should. In the town of Iguala in Guerrero, just last year, 43 students engaged in a peaceful protest were kidnapped, murdered, and cremated in a mass grave. Those 43 are but a tiny fraction of the tens of thousands of Mexicans who have been murdered by Mexican drug cartels over the last decade, including at least four candidates and more than a dozen campaign workers during this year's midterm elections. Disturbingly, violence against women in particular has skyrocketed, and the rate at which women are murdered in Mexico is now double the global average. Meanwhile, a cowed and corrupt leadership seems powerless to stop any of this and may even be actively abetting the violence. We know that drug use in the United States has regrettably contributed to the conditions that have allowed this violence to spread. The money that fuels the drug cartels comes in large part from narcotics sales north of the Rio Grande. Just as the drugs flow north, the guns flow south. I have addressed this Chamber in support of legislation countering the sale of guns through ``straw purchasers,'' which are then sent across the border. This mutually destructive trade of guns and drugs cannot be allowed to continue unabated. More sensible treatment of drug addiction at home and more commonsense gun laws would not only help our own country, but also reduce chaos in the neighborhood. The U.S. has done much to assist Mexico in countering cartel violence, primarily through the Merida Initiative, a counterdrug and anticrime assistance package. Since 2008, we have provided Mexico with over $2.5 billion for the Merida Initiative, whose strategy focuses on disrupting criminal groups, institutionalizing the rule of law, creating a 21st century border, and building strong and resilient communities. The reforms or money supports have been painfully slow in coming. It is still the case that only 25 percent of the crimes in Mexico are reported, fewer than 5 percent are investigated, and fewer than 2 percent ultimately move to trial and sentencing. The problem in Mexico is not simply a lack of resources; it appears to be a lack of will. The active presence of corruption and official collusion squelches free speech, causing citizens to fear their elected officials, allowing the rule of law to fail. Those 43 murdered students appear to have been killed with the knowledge and participation of the local police force on orders from Iguala's mayor and his wife. It is a dramatic story, but not unusual one, a story of corruption and impunity in officialdom. Sadly, those who tell the story, including journalists, human rights activists, and even brave victims willing to speak out, too often meet fates similar to the students of Iguala. Indeed, within the last months, three journalists have been murdered in three different Mexican states, joining the tragic toll of more than 50 Mexican journalists killed or disappeared since 2007. I wish, Mr. Speaker, I stood before you today with a simple solution to these problems. I do not. But I do know that the struggle of the Mexican people for a peaceful, safe, and well-governed nation is our struggle as well. They must know that we are paying attention and that we recognize that Mexico's problems are also our own.