Adam Schiff

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a constituent and philanthropist, George Aratani, who passed away last week. Mr. Aratani was part of the Greatest Generation, and served his country as a member of the Military Intelligence Service, or MIS, during World War II. His service came at a time when tens of thousands of his fellow Japanese Americans were interned in camps scattered in the Western United States. He chose to serve and defend America with no guarantee that his own freedom would be defended in return. I was proud to work to ensure that MIS members like George Aratani and all of the Go for Broke veterans received the credit and thanks they were due through the Congressional Gold Medal. When he returned home, Mr. Aratani started and ran several businesses, and dedicated himself to Japanese American educational and cultural causes, including the Go for Broke veterans' memorial and foundation. George Aratani had a profound impact on our country and on his community, and he will be terribly missed.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Late last year, the Supreme Court overturned a century- old Montana law that prohibited corporate spending in that State's elections. In the Montana case, the Supreme Court had the chance to revisit its deeply flawed 2010 decision in Citizens United. But despite the urgings of members of the Court itself and a public shell-shocked by the recent torrent of unregulated corporate expenditures, the Court chose instead to double down and reaffirm the conclusion of Citizens United that corporations are people--at least as far as the First Amendment is concerned. As a legal decision, the Citizens United opinion was remarkable in many ways: in its willingness to overturn a century of jurisprudence, in its choice to issue as broad a ruling as possible rather than as narrow as the case and the Constitution required, and in its reliance on minority or concurring views in prior decisions rather than the prevailing opinions in those same cases. As Justice Stevens pointed out in a striking dissent, nothing had really changed since prior controlling case law except the composition of the Court itself. So much for stare decisis. But what stood out most about Citizens United was not the Court's legal reasoning, but its staggering naivete, as the Court confidently declared: We now conclude that independent expenditures, including those made by corporations, do not give rise to corruption or the appearance of corruption. Unfortunately, the five Justices who joined this opinion must be the last five Americans to feel that way. Certainly none of the evidence before the Court in Citizens United or the Montana case compelled a conclusion so at odds with reality. To be fair to the present Court, they did not invent the distinction between direct contributions, which can be regulated, and independent expenditures, which may not. That flawed distinction goes back more than 35 years to Buckley v. Valeo, where the Court attempted to place limits on both forms of campaign spending. In Buckley, the Court felt that there was a compelling State interest in regulating contributions to candidates but that there was not yet sufficient evidence of a similarly compelling need to regulate independent expenditures, but the Court acknowledged the need to revisit that conclusion in the future if events should prove otherwise. Events have most certainly proved otherwise following Citizens United. Since that decision, corporate expenditures have reached in the billions of dollars, and the ``independence'' of those expenditures-- their theoretical separation from the officeholders they are intended to influence--is a fiction no one buys anymore. The proliferation of super PACs and their outsized influenced on House, Senate, and Presidential politics is beyond dispute by all except those five Americans who happen to sit on the Court. But if the Montana case makes anything clear, it is that the Court has dug in. No amount of unrestrained spending, no appearance of impropriety or actual corruption of our system is likely to dislodge this newly entrenched precedent from the threat it poses to our democracy. Regrettably, a constitutional amendment is required for that. Fortunately, one of the Nation's preeminent constitutional scholars, Harvard law professor Lawrence Tribe, has drafted one, which I have introduced as H. Res. 31. It provides simply: Nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to forbid the Congress or the States from imposing content-neutral limitations on private campaign contributions or independent election expenditures. The amendment also allows, but does not require, public financing of campaigns when States choose to enact such laws, providing: Nor shall this Constitution prevent Congress or the States from enacting systems of public campaign financing, including those designed to restrict the influence of private wealth by offsetting campaign spending or independent expenditures with increased public funding. The tidal wave of independent expenditures creates an unmistakable appearance of impropriety, and over time it cannot help but corrupt. The Court having failed to bear witness to these debilitating changes since Buckley, the people have the power to act. Independent expenditures, like direct contributions, should be subject to reasonable limits and should be transparent. And corporations are not people; for if they were, as Justice Stevens points out, how could we deprive them of the right to vote?

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the community of Montrose, California upon its 100th Anniversary. For over a century, this extraordinary community has grown and thrived as the center of local commerce for residents of the Crescenta-Canada Valley. Montrose, literally meaning ``pink mountain'' in French, was named by French sailors enamored with the beautiful pink mountains that they could see from sea. The area was first inhabited by the Gabrielino- Tongva Indians and later settled by Don Jose Maria Verdugo who was awarded the land by the Spanish Crown. In 1913, the Holmes Watson real estate agency hosted an enormous barbeque to promote the new town of Montrose with the intention of garnering interest in the 300 acres of land available for auction. This is when the subdivision of Montrose took place. For the past century, Montrose has prospered, overcoming setbacks such as the flood of 1934. Recently, multiple bear sightings in the backyards of residents have brought Montrose to the public's attention. Montrose Avenue was built as the main business district of the community and touted as the widest road in Los Angeles County. Although this plan never came to fruition, nearby Honolulu Avenue became the economic center of Montrose and in 1967 the Montrose Shopping Park opened. To this day Montrose has flourished with nearly 200 independently owned businesses; some of which include apparel, art, dance studios, restaurants, and bakeries. Montrose has a diverse population of residents nestled in the beautiful San Gabriel Mountains and within a minute's drive of downtown Los Angeles. Every year, residents enjoy annual events such as the Montrose Christmas Parade, an Arts and Crafts Festival, and ceremonies honoring our veterans. I am honored to recognize Montrose, with its rich cultural history and flourishing community and ask all Members to join us in congratulating Montrose upon it 100th anniversary.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Anthony Portantino for his six years of service in the California State Assembly. A graduate of Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania, Assemblyman Portantino started out with a successful career in the entertainment industry. He produced and co-wrote a multitude of film and TV productions, including independent historical films highlighting racial issues in American history. Mr. Portantino was then elected to the La Canada Flintridge City Council in 1999 with over 70 percent of the vote. As a member of the City Council/School District Joint Use Committee, he played a pivotal role in procuring funding and services for local public schools. Mr. Portantino continued to serve as a member of the Council for nearly eight years and served two terms as its Mayor in 2001 and in 2005. He resigned in 2006 upon his election to the California State Assembly. During his years in the California legislature, Assemblyman Portantino served the 44th District with great distinction, championing tougher regulations on firearms and successfully passing 38 bills into law. He presided as Chair of the Assembly's Committee on Higher Education and was a member of the Transportation, Government Organization and Public Safety Standing Committees. He also served as a member of the Assembly Select Committees on the Preservation of California's Entertainment Industry, Foster Care, and Community Colleges. Assemblyman Portantino has been recognized by his community for his extraordinary efforts on behalf of the Gold Line and for his exemplary service as a state legislator. As a strong advocate for transparency and accountability in state finances, and a champion of health care issues, Assemblyman Portantino will be missed in the Assembly and by his constituents, but I know he will continue to represent the needs of his community in any endeavor he chooses to pursue hereafter. I join my colleagues in thanking him for his service and wish the Assemblyman, his wife Ellen, and their children Sofia and Isabella, the best in this new chapter of their lives.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I rise in support of the Katie Sepich Enhanced DNA Collection Act. Katie's Law is named for Katie Sepich, a bright, vivacious 22-year- old from New Mexico who was brutally assaulted, raped, and murdered in 2003. Police were able to extract the DNA profile of her killer from underneath Katie's fingernails, but they got no match in the offender database. When they finally did get a hit on the attacker's DNA 3 years later, they discovered that the murderer had been arrested repeatedly after 2003, but because he was never convicted, he was not required to submit a DNA sample for the database. Had New Mexico required arrestees to submit a DNA sample, Katie's killer would have been apprehended and taken off the street years earlier. Katie's Law applies the lesson that New Mexico and now 24 States across the country have learned: arrestee testing works. This bill would create a new category of grants for States that collect DNA from arrestees for certain felonies. By joining the 25 States, plus the Federal Government, that already collect DNA from arrestees, additional State participation will make the national DNA index system more effective in helping to solve violent crimes. It does so without authorizing any new spending and while protecting civil liberties by putting in place strong expungement requirements. We passed very similar legislation in 2010 with an overwhelming bipartisan majority. In the few short days we have left before the end of this year, we have a window to potentially send this bill to the Senate, where we'll also attract bipartisan support. I believe we should take that opportunity. It has been argued by my colleague that we should wait to consider this bill until the Supreme Court rules on Maryland v. King, the case in which the Maryland State Supreme Court overturned the State's arrestee testing statute on Fourth Amendment grounds. I would simply note that three Federal courts of appeals and the State Supreme Court of California have looked at arrestee testing, and all have found it constitutional. The Supreme Court also took the unusual step of staying the order of the Maryland court. In his order staying the Maryland decision, Chief Justice Roberts writes: Collecting DNA from individuals arrested for violent felonies provides a valuable tool for investigating unsolved crimes and thereby helping to remove violent offenders from the general population. Crimes for which DNA evidence is implicated tend to be serious, and serious crimes cause serious injuries. That Maryland may not employ a duly enacted statute to help prevent these injuries constitutes irreparable harm. This is a practice that is used in 25 States and by the Federal Government. It is not new. I'm confident the practice will be upheld by the Court. And even if we are wrong, the Court will decide this case long before any grant funding would be dedicated to help States build arrestee collection laws, so no funding would be wasted. I want to acknowledge my friend and colleague, Chairman Smith, who has been so supportive of this effort and has done such a marvelous job chairing the Judiciary Committee. I also want to acknowledge Ranking Member Conyers and the ranking member of the subcommittee, Bobby Scott, for their great work on the committee and subcommittee. I also want to thank my colleague from Washington (Mr. Reichert), who knows firsthand the power of DNA evidence from his years as a sheriff. And finally and most importantly, I thank Katie's family and her mother, Jayann Sepich. Jayann has endured every parent's worst nightmare. Her determination and dedication are inspiring. And when Katie's Law is signed into law-- and it will be--it will be a testament to her work and her love for her daughter. Mr. Speaker, I urge the House to pass Katie's Law.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Chris Holden for his 23 years of service on the Pasadena, California, City Council. A graduate of Pasadena High School and San Diego State University, Chris was a basketball star in school and played professionally overseas. He then returned to California to give back to his community by spending the great majority of his life in serving the city he loves. He was first elected to the Pasadena City Council in 1989 at the age of 28 as the youngest member of the Council, and served until he resigned in November 2012, upon his election to the California State Assembly. In 1997, Chris was chosen by his colleagues to serve a two- year term as Mayor of Pasadena, the first African-American man to hold that position. During his years on the City Council, Chris served his Pasadena district with distinction, championing efforts to establish a living wage in Pasadena, crack down on slumlords, create drug-free zones, and bring development, jobs, and services to Northwest Pasadena. Chris has also been a strong supporter of deregulation of Pasadena's municipal utility, a leader of charter reform that created a city-wide elected mayor, and a proponent of policies and projects that have revitalized Pasadena, such as the Paseo Colorado, Old Pasadena, and the Pasadena Convention Center. His service as a long-time Board member of the Burbank-Glendale- Pasadena Airport Authority and supporter of the creation and expansion of the Los Angeles to Pasadena Gold Line clearly demonstrates his commitment to the entire region. I know that Chris will be missed in Pasadena City Hall, but I am pleased that he has chosen to bring his unique talents on our behalf to Sacramento. I join my colleagues in thanking Chris for his service and wish he, his wife Melanie, and their children, Nicholas, Alexander, Austin, Mariah, and Noah the best in this new chapter of their lives.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Kara Knack, who will be retiring from the Friends of the Observatory, FOTO, Board this month after thirty-four years of dedicated service. Kara Knack's enthusiasm for the Griffith Observatory began long before she joined FOTO. She first visited the Observatory on a vacation in the 1950's, at which point she was so enthralled that when she moved to Southern California in the early 1960's, she quickly became a regular visitor to the Observatory. Her ardent interest in astronomy came to the attention of Griffith Observatory Director Dr. Ed Krupp, who encouraged her to become a more active member of FOTO by joining the Board of Directors. Upon joining the Board in 1978, Kara began writing and editing FOTO's Update newsletter, which she continued to do for the next 10 years. Since 1985 she has penned the FOTO Notes section in the Griffith Observer, the Observatory's magazine. Ms. Knack's passion for astronomy and dedication to the Observatory culminated in 2008, when over 2,200 of her celestially themed items were used for the Cosmic Connection timeline, now on display in the Griffith Observatory. For over two decades, Kara has collected celestial objects and jewelry and when the Observatory underwent renovation in 2006, she saw an opportunity to share her collection with the institution she devoted so much of her time to, and with the support of the Observatory staff, the Cosmic Connection was created. As a member of FOTO's board, Kara has served as the secretary for four terms, as vice president two terms, and as president for three terms. In addition she has also served on the Master Plan Committee, the Architectural Committee, the Selection Committee, the Renovation and Expansion Steering Committee, the Exhibit Planning Committee, the Planetarium Planning Committee, the Reopening Committee and the Volunteer Neighborhood Oversight Committee. For decades, Kara has demonstrated unparalleled enthusiasm not just for the Observatory, but for public education about astronomy. She has donated her time, her possessions, and her heart to the pursuit of astronomy, and her extraordinary generosity shall continue to be felt at the Griffith Observatory for years to come. I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in honoring Kara Knack for her exemplary service to the Griffith Observatory.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I, along with my colleague Representative Judy Chu, rise today to honor the community of Altadena, California upon its 125th anniversary. For over a century, this extraordinary community has grown and thrived while maintaining a fierce and admirable independence. In 1881, the land that would become Altadena was sold to John and Fred Woodbury. The two brothers would later open Altadena as a subdivision of the Pasadena Improvement Company in 1887 with the hopes of developing a residential neighborhood and attracting wealthy millionaires. They were initially successful, bringing in wealthy names such as Col. Charles Greene and Andrew McNally, but soon found the region was thrown into an economic depression as part of a larger national depression that lasted through much of the 1890's. Despite the national depression, ranchers and farmers continued to buy land in Altadena and expanded the crops that were farmed from grapes and oranges to include foods such as olives, walnuts, dates, and avocados. Many business magnates also came from the mid-west and built grand winter and retirement homes in Altadena. By the 1940's and 1950's, Altadena was a well-established community that continued to develop and flourish through housing development, modernization, and business growth. In the 1960's and 1970's, Altadena became more ethnically diverse, eventually making it one of the most integrated communities in Southern California. Today, Altadena has a diverse population of 43,000 nestled in the beautiful San Gabriel mountains. Altadena is a wonderful community that has fostered a number of remarkable, world-famous individuals. Notable Altadenans include Thaddeus S.C. Lowe, scientist and inventor, Richard Feynman, physicist, Zane Grey, western novelist and Marni Nixon, renowned soprano and actress. We are honored to recognize Altadena, with its rich cultural heritage and ask all Members to join us in congratulating Altadena upon its 125th anniversary.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize September as Suicide Prevention Month. With nearly 30,000 Americans losing their lives to suicide each year, far too many of our friends and family members are not receiving the support and assistance so desperately needed. Suicide touches all groups, young and old, and knows no religious or ethnic boundaries. Today, however, I wish to focus on two groups who are disproportionately impacted by suicide. The first is our veterans--a growing number of suicides comes from within the ranks of those who have served or are serving in our armed forces. For many of our troops, repeated deployments and prolonged combat has exposed them to high amounts of stressi creating invisible wounds that contribute to suicide. These heroes put their lives on the line every day and upon returning, they deserve our support. We need to be there for our armed forces--veteran and active duty service members alike. This is a tragic problem that needs to be urgently addressed but the reality is that there are not any easy answers and this challenge does not offer any quick fixes. I applaud Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki for marshaling the resources of the U.S. military and the Veterans Administration to attack this tragic epidemic. As we draw down after nearly a decade of war, Secretary Panetta and Secretary Shinseki have committed their departments to not only improve how wars are conducted, but how we address the after-effects of post-traumatic stress disorder and other disabling injuries. In addition to veterans, we also see that a large portion of suicides are coming from within the LGBT community. LGBT youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide and when they are rejected by their families, eight times more likely. With statistics like these, it couldn't be clearer that there is a great need for assistance and support for LGBT youth, as many are often harassed, bullied and subjected to physical violence by their peers. These stories of harassment are becoming far too familiar. Take Tyler Clementi, a college freshman attending Rutgers University and an accomplished violinist. At the young age of 18, Tyler's privacy was invaded by his dorm roommate. Deciding that the ridicule was too much to bear, Tyler tragically cut his own life short. For many, solace has been found with the Trevor Project, a non-profit organization in Los Angeles dedicated to providing life-saving resources to young people in the LGBT community. I recently had the honor of meeting with Abbe Land, the Executive Director and CEO of the Trevor Project and witnessed first-hand how the organization handled phone calls from distressed youth from around the country on their around-the-clock suicide prevention lifeline. With over 30,000 calls each year to the Trevor project, their commitment to saving lives is unparalleled. The problem of suicide has no prejudice or political affiliation. Suicide touches each one of us and forever changes our lives. I am proud to honor the Trevor Project and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline during Suicide Prevention Month as they work tirelessly to prevent the loss of our loved ones who are most in need of support.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I rise in support of the FISA Amendments Act Reauthorization Act. This bill reauthorizes intelligence gathering capabilities that are essential to our national security while also protecting the civil liberties of Americans. The recent events in Libya, Egypt, and elsewhere should serve to remind us all that there remain forces around the world that are determined to kill Americans, injure our interests, and jeopardize our freedoms. The FAA allows us to obtain critical information about terrorist organizations, nuclear proliferation, and a host of other dangers. These authorities have produced intelligence that's vital to defending the Nation against international terrorism and other threats, which is why Attorney General Holder and DNI Clapper have called reauthorizing the FAA their top legislative priority. This bill does not authorize spying on Americans. To the contrary, the 2008 FISA Amendments Act ensured that no American, whether within the United States or overseas, would come under surveillance without a court order and a finding of probable cause. The authorities provided are narrowly tailored to the purpose of protecting the United States from those who would harm us, and I urge an ``aye'' vote.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the men and women of NASA and Caltech's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, who designed and flew the Voyager spacecraft, which have been exploring our solar system for thirty-five years and which are on the cusp of entering interstellar space. Even now, more than thirty-five years after launch, the Voyagers are still transmitting valuable scientific data through NASA's Deep Space Network, which is also managed by JPL. Voyager 2, which was launched on August 20, 1977 and its twin, Voyager 1, which followed on September 5, 1977, were designed to take advantage of a rare alignment of the outer planets that allowed for a ``grand tour'' of the four gas giants that lie beyond the asteroid belt. The Voyager flybys of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune built on the earlier missions of Pioneer 10 and 11 and revolutionized our understanding of the solar system and particularly the complex Jovian and Saturnian systems with their many and diverse moons. Galileo, Cassini and other subsequent missions to the outer planets have deepened our knowledge of our planetary neighbors, but they would not have been possible without the path breaking work of the Voyager team, many of whose members have devoted decades of their lives and careers to this one program. Now, Voyager 1 is poised to become the first manmade object to leave the solar system and venture into the great void of space after completing its primary mission of exploring Jupiter and Saturn in 1980. Voyager 2, which went on to Uranus in 1986 and Neptune three years later, is not far behind. Both craft carry a gold ``record album'' containing sounds and images of Earth if either spacecraft is found by an alien civilization. Voyager was among many spectaculars of NASA's planetary science program, which has contributed so much to our understanding of our celestial neighborhood and of ourselves. We were recently reminded of this when Curiosity, the Mars Science Laboratory, landed on the Red Planet last month. But these missions are not cheap and they take years to design, test and fly. They also require highly specialized teams of engineers and scientists to make them work and to interpret the data they return to Earth. And without missions to work on, this talent pool cannot survive. That is why I am committed to ensuring that funding for NASA includes sufficient resources for a robust planetary exploration program that will provide for continued investigation of Mars, while also allowing us to visit the many other fascinating places in the solar system, like Jupiter's moon, Europa, which was photographed in detail by Voyager 2 in July 1979. We cannot cede our leadership in space exploration and the incredible advances that come with it. I will continue to use my seat on the Appropriations committee to argue for a planetary exploration program that secures our continued place at the head of the table of space- faring nations.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, today, we remember those lost eleven years ago on September 11, 2001. We also remember the extraordinary acts of bravery and heroism performed by courageous passengers and crew on United Flight 93, by the first responders who rushed into burning buildings, and by the thousands of nameless volunteers who provided assistance on that terrible day. We think, too, of our troops around the world who stand in harm's way, many of whom enlisted in the days and weeks that followed the attack on our country. And of those troops we have lost, and who paid the ultimate price for our liberty. For millions of Americans, September 11th serves a day of solemn reflection. For others, it has become a day of community--gathering together in remembrance and in service. No matter how we choose to remember, ours is a tribute that is a deeply personal one. We lost a great deal on that tragic day, but America also revealed herself to be resilient, and more unified and determined than ever.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of a true American hero, the first human being to walk on the Moon-- Neil Alden Armstrong. I had the privilege of meeting Neil Armstrong and introducing him to my son, Eli, at an event commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing. It has been said ``we are all dreamers,'' but Neil Armstrong inspired generations of Americans to dream big and to reach for the stars both figuratively and literally. He believed that the yearning to explore is part of what makes us human, and his singular achievement on July 20, 1969, still inspires. A reluctant hero, Mr. Armstrong never used his Apollo 11 achievement for personal gain. On more than one occasion he questioned his own notoriety, protesting that his walk on the Moon was the result of the dedication of more than 400,000 people--from engineers who designed the Lunar Module, to ground controllers who monitored every aspect of the mission, to seamstresses who stitched by hand the suit that kept him alive on the Moon. The late 1960s was a time of tumult in America, when our Nation was riven by Vietnam, the struggle for civil rights and the emerging women's movement. In the midst of this, Armstrong's climb down the Lunar Module's ladder and his ``giant leap for mankind'' united not just Americans but people of all nations as they watched. That night, countless children looked up at the Moon and dared to dream.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of a true American hero, the first human being to walk on the moon, Neil Alden Armstrong. I had the privilege of meeting Neil Armstrong, and even introduced my son Eli to him at an event commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing. It has been said that ``we're all dreamers,'' but Neil Armstrong inspired generations of Americans to dream big and reach for the stars, both literally and figuratively. He believed that the yearning to explore is part of what makes us human and his singular achievement on July 20, 1969 still inspires. A reluctant hero, Mr. Armstrong never used his Apollo 11 achievement for personal gain. On more than one occasion he questioned his own notoriety, protesting that his walk on the moon was the result of the dedication of more than four hundred thousand people from engineers who designed the Lunar Module to ground controllers who monitored every aspect of the mission, to seamstresses, who stitched by hand the suit that kept him alive on the moon. The late 1960's was a time of tumult in America, when our nation was riven by Vietnam, the struggle for civil rights and the emerging women's movement. In the midst of this, Armstrong's climb down the lunar module's ladder and his ``giant leap for mankind'' united not just Americans, but people of all nations as they watched. That night . . . July 20th, 1969, countless children--including a nine-year old boy in Framingham, Massachusetts--looked up at the moon and dared to dream. Neil Armstrong is no longer with us, but it is a remarkable testament that even now--more than four decades after Eagle landed on the Moon-- the mission of Apollo 11 still inspires us and challenges us to press forward in the exploration of space.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Hillsides, a nonprofit organization for abused and emotionally disturbed children, in Pasadena, California upon its 100th Anniversary. In 1913, Evelyn Wile, a kindhearted young deaconess of the Episcopal Church, opened Hillsides Home for Children in Highland Park for 13 abandoned children that sought to reject the established approach of cold, uncaring institutions and provide a personal and empathetic community for homeless children. Ms. Wile's vision of a campus of cottages where children could flourish in a country-like environment surrounded by sunshine, fresh air, and open space became a reality in 1918, when she moved the home from Highland Park to 17 acres in the San Rafael Hills of Pasadena, where it has remained to this day. The increase in space allowed Evelyn to build more residential cottages and an administration building, which was completed in 1927. Over the next 40 years, Hillsides Home for Children was a safe haven where children were the top priority. In the 1960s, Hillsides shifted focus from being an orphanage to becoming a center for abused and emotionally disturbed children. By the late 1970s, it had grown to include 14 on-campus buildings and 2 satellite homes. Hillsides Education Center was established in 1982 to offer specialized instruction for students with behavioral challenges or learning disabilities, and the Family Center was created that same year to provide crisis intervention and parent education for at-risk families. Hillsides Home for Children's name changed to Hillsides in 1999. In 2005, Hillsides Youth Moving On was established, a transitional living program for young adults leaving foster care. In the last century, Hillsides has grown tremendously from Ms. Wile's original home that served 13 children. To date, Hillsides has rescued over 110,000 families and is recognized as a leader in children's rights advocacy issues. Encompassing a comprehensive network of residential and community facilities that provide an unmatched depth and breadth of resources to at-risk children and families, Hillsides has pioneered techniques that have become standard practices and ranks among the region's most respected and trusted organizations in the field. I am honored to recognize Hillsides for its 100 years of loving care and support to countless children and families and I ask all Members to join me in congratulating Hillsides for its remarkable achievements.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Montrose Search and Rescue team. For over 65 years, Montrose Search and Rescue has been conducting lifesaving operations throughout the Angeles National Forest and the neighboring areas. These brave men and women have risked their own lives to rescue stranded hikers, victims of natural disasters, and anyone in need of assistance. Two weeks ago, their heroism was on full display. The team spotted a little girl who was face down, drowning in a pool of running water in the forest. The 18-month-old girl was unconscious and had stopped breathing when they pulled her out of the water. Thanks to them, this little girl was brought back to life to the unimaginable relief and gratitude of her family. That young girl, along with so many others, is alive today because of the heroic actions of the Montrose Search and Rescue team. They do all this for their community without asking anything in return, and their humbling dedication to service and their selfless desire to help those in need deserve our respect and gratitude. So, today, I rise to say thank you, Montrose Search and Rescue, for the great work that you do and for the lives that you save through your efforts.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise in strong opposition to this resolution. What began as a legitimate investigation into an operation called Fast and Furious has, unfortunately, degenerated into yet another partisan political attack in an election year. And it's a shame this is taking place for many reasons. First and foremost, because the American people have a legitimate interest in getting to the bottom of the gun violence that spills across our border, with the tens of thousands of weapons made in America that end up in the hands of the cartels. But instead of looking into that investigation, instead of finding out what we can do about this gun violence, this has now become a fight over documents, a fight that is completely unnecessary and unjustified. The very documents that are at issue in this resolution were created after this operation had long since been shut down. They will shed no light on the operation. They will shed no light on what we can do to stop this gun trafficking. But then that's not the goal. The goal here is simply the fight. The Justice Department has bent over backwards, produced thousands of documents. The Attorney General has testified eight or nine times before the House, has made every effort to cooperate in this investigation, but the committee will not take ``yes'' for an answer because that's not the goal. The fight is the goal. And so we are here when we should be doing the Nation's business, when we should be working on legislation to create jobs. Instead, we are here in what is nothing less than a partisan brawl over nothing. And you know how this will end? It will end months or years from now with a settlement in Federal District Court in which the Justice Department will provide the very same documents they have already offered to provide. But we will have wasted our time; we will have wasted our money; and we will have wasted the precious opportunity to get the people's business done here in the House. In case the majority hasn't noticed, we are in the midst of a very difficult economy, where people are struggling to find work. They are not struggling to find another partisan fight on the House floor. This is something that cried out for resolution, but those cries were ignored. I urge a ``no'' vote.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise in strong opposition to these contempt resolutions. I spent 6 years as an assistant U.S. attorney, and I have great admiration and respect for the hardworking men and women of the Department. I have great respect for our Attorney General, who I think has been a superb Attorney General and is a man of great integrity. I, like most Americans, would like to know about the facts of Fast and Furious, about the problem of guns crossing our border, about the horrendous violence to the south of our border. But what we do today will shed no light on that. What we do today will not improve the situation in terms of gun violence that has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of Mexican citizens and that has claimed the lives of an increasing number of Americans. What we are doing today is simply a partisan abuse of the contempt power. Thirteen percent of the American people think highly of Congress, and today those 13 percent are wondering why. What we do will cause no injury to the Department, but it will cause great injury to this House. The Justice Department, after providing 8,000 documents and extensive testimony, is now being required to turn over privileged materials; and like all administrations before it, it has reluctantly used executive privilege to respectfully refuse to provide materials it cannot provide. So now we are here, bringing a contempt motion against the Attorney General, who our committee chairman acknowledges was not aware of Fast and Furious. They don't expect any documents to show he was aware of Fast and Furious. Yet we are going to hold this Cabinet official in contempt? That is an outrageous abuse of the contempt power. What will happen when this Congress actually needs to use the contempt power for a legitimate purpose? Will anyone still recognize it? I urge the Speaker to withdraw this motion as, indeed, Speaker Gingrich withdrew the motion in his day and let the parties work it out. We both know, Democrats and Republicans, how this will end. It will end with a settlement in court months or years from now and with the Department's providing the same documents it's offering to provide today. Let's end this partisan exercise now.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 125th Anniversary of United Way. Founded in 1887, United Way has become a celebrated organization committed to improving communities throughout the United States and around the world. Through locally targeted initiatives, United Way strives to advance the common good, helping communities reach their full potential in the spirit of volunteerism and service. United Way mobilizes thousands of individuals and organizations worldwide to improve education, help people achieve financial stability and promote healthy lifestyles in their communities, building the foundation for a stronger, healthier society. Today, United Way includes almost 1,800 community-based organizations in 41 countries and territories. In Southern California, United Way of Greater Los Angeles is dedicated to providing long term solutions for the root causes of poverty. Increasing the high school graduation rate, decreasing homelessness and implementing job training and asset development programs are part of a tireless effort to better our community and help people in need. To all of the passionate volunteers, employees and partners of United Way, I join my colleagues in recognizing and honoring your legacy of inspirational service.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center in Pasadena, California, upon its 90th anniversary. Incorporated in 1921, Jewish members of Pasadena built their first synagogue, Temple B'nai Israel, on Hudson Avenue in Pasadena. In 1929 the congregation moved to a larger meeting room due to a rapid growth in membership. By 1932 membership had grown to 207 family members. In the 1940's, the congregation purchased land and built a new temple on Altadena Drive in Pasadena, its current location. David Cohen became Rabbi in 1942, followed by Rabbi Max Vorspan, who served from 1947 until 1952. During this time, the Pasadena Jewish Community was re-named as the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center (PJTC). In 1952, Maurice T. Galpert became Rabbi, serving until his death in 1988. Rabbi Galpert led the PJTC through growth and modernization, which included building a new sanctuary and school and the ratification of a new constitution. In 1989, Rabbi Gilbert Kollin, long established as a rabbinic leader in the greater Los Angeles Jewish community, led PJTC until his retirement in 2003. Joshua Levine Grater became Rabbi in 2003 and under his leadership, the PJTC has become not only a place to worship but also a positive role model with many service and outreach programs. Since its inception, the PJTC has provided spiritual guidance to its members and support for the community. In addition to hosting affiliated Jewish organizations such as the Weizmann Day School and B'nai B'rith, there are many service committees including the Sisterhood, United Synagogue Youth, Men's Club, and Israel Committees. The Tikkun Olam & Social Justice Committee coordinates ongoing humanitarian and social action work within PJTC and the greater community, and its efforts include coordinating charitable responses to occurrences such as Hurricane Katrina and ending the genocide in Darfur. Members also volunteer with Union Station Homeless Services and Project Isaiah, a food and clothing distribution program, and provide tutoring to Longfellow Elementary School students in Pasadena. I consider it a great privilege to represent the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center and I ask all Members to join me in congratulating the congregation upon their 90th anniversary.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the John Burroughs High School Junior State of America Chapter (JBHS JSA), from Burbank, California, upon being announced as the winner of the fifth annual National Civic Impact Award. The concept for the Junior State was envisioned in the 1930s by Professor E.A. Rogers, who strongly believed that teaching youth the fundamentals of good government is one of the central needs of a democracy. When he introduced this idea to his students, a recommendation for a junior government was proposed by a student, where students would not only learn about democracy, but practice it as well. Formerly known as the Junior Statesmen of America, this project has spread to many high schools in California and across the nation. Since its inception, over 500,000 students have gained the skills and knowledge essential to be informed and active citizens and leaders. Today, the Junior State of America (JSA) and the Junior Statesmen Foundation, strive to prepare and educate high school students for continuing involvement and participation in a democratic society. It encourages students to advocate their personal opinions, develop respect for opinions that oppose their own, think critically, and exchange ideas through problem solving, talks and debates. This experience also allows students to understand the responsibilities and challenges of leadership. Every year, the top JSA chapters from across the U.S. compete for the National Civic Impact Award. This award is presented to the JSA chapter that makes the most prevalent impact at their school, by raising the degree of civic engagement and awareness. Ten finalists, who had all been announced winners of the ``Chapter of the Year'' award in their respective regions, advanced to be considered for the National Civic Impact Award. A panel of judges reviewed the materials the finalists had submitted, and announced John Burroughs High School as this year's winner. In addition to this prestigious title, the JBHS JSA will receive a grant towards maintaining the school's civic engagement programs, a stipend reward for the Teacher/Advisor as well as a plaque highlighting their achievement. The JBHS JSA is also incredibly active in their school and community. They have raised money for the Ronald McDonald House Charity, attended City Council and School Board meetings and hosted guest speakers. I applaud the student participants and all the supporters of JSA for your unwavering commitment to civic engagement, and I ask all Members to join me in congratulating the JBHS JSA Chapter for their noteworthy achievement.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to memorialize and record a courageous story of survival of the Armenian Genocide. The Armenian Genocide, perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, resulted in the death of 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children. As the U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire Henry Morgenthau documented at the time, it was a campaign of ``race extermination.'' The campaign to annihilate the Armenian people failed, as illustrated by the proud Armenian nation and prosperous diaspora. It is difficult if not impossible to find an Armenian family not touched by the genocide, and while there are some survivors still with us, it is imperative that we record their stories. Through the Armenian Genocide Congressional Record Project, I hope to document the harrowing stories of the survivors in an effort to preserve their accounts and to help educate the Members of Congress now and in the future of the necessity of recognizing the Armenian Genocide. This is one of those stories: My Grandmother Araxi This story is dedicated to my children so they may always remember their family heritage. It is in memory of my grandfather and grandmother, Garabed and Araxi Kechbouladian. This is my way to honor them and to immortalize my grandmother's legacy. My ``Nana,'' Araxi, was born in Zeitoun, in 1914, around the time of the Armenian Genocide. My ``Dede,'' Garabed, was born there as well. He died in the 1960's and my Nana lived with us in Germany until the day she died. One of my most vivid memories of her is her singing a particular song. She used to sing this song often. It is called ``Yeraz'' which means dream. I remember the first verse word for word. It goes like this, ``Yes lehsezy me anoush zain, eem zerahzadz mor mod ehr. Paylez neshouil ouraghoutyan. Payz absos vor yeraz ehr.'' It means, ``I heard a sweet voice. It was my mother's. It was a gleam of joy. But, unfortunately, it was just a dream.'' My grandmother would sing it when she was cooking or doing chores. She would cry every time she sang this song. She had never known her mother and her father. Their names were Neshan and Vartouhy Shanlian. Nobody knows what really happened to my great grandparents. All my grandmother would tell is that she was about a year old, perhaps a little older, when she was taken to a German orphanage in Lebanon, located somewhere between the cities of Sour and Saida. She thought that it was called Ghazir. She had heard many stories growing up and she believed that her parents were either killed during the massacre, in 1915, or died during the deportation. If the Armenians were not massacred, they were ordered by the Turks to leave their lands and march through the deserts towards Syria. Those marches were called death marches because many perished of dehydration, starvation, and exhaustion. If the march did not kill them, they were going to be killed eventually. This must have been my great grandparents' fate. As for my grandmother, she must have been kept by other Armenians. Eventually, she was given to the Germans who were gathering up orphans at that time. My great grandparents had seven children. Only four of them survived, my grandmother being the youngest one. Their names were Flora, Maritza, Bedros, Stepan, Hagop, Avedis, and my grandmother Araxi. The siblings surviving the Genocide were Maritza, Avedis, and Hagop. However, my grandmother grew up separated from them in the German-run orphanage. She was found by Badvely Aharonian, a pastor and family friend of the Shanlians. Badvely Aharonian's mission was to seek out and reunite children and family members who were displaced during the deportation. My grandmother was about 11-years-old when the Badvely found her. The only way he recognized my ``Nana'' was by the name plate that was hung on my then infant grandmother's neck displaying her full name. This was recorded in the orphanage and was the only proof of her family lineage. She was taken to Cypress where she was reunited with her sister Maritza and her brother Avedis. Her brother Hagop had immigrated to France by then and she never got to meet him. It is not known how her brothers, Bedros and Stepan, died. However, the story of her sister, Flora, and the way she died, was well-known and talked about many decades later in the Zeitounzy community. When my grandmother had her first child, a daughter, her mother-in-law requested that she be named Flora, after my grandmother's courageous sister. Flora was very beautiful people told my grandmother. She must have been the oldest, or one of the older ones, as she was married to a doctor and had a child by the time of the massacre. Her husband was arrested and most probably killed soon after. The Turks asked her to convert so that she could become a wife to one of them. They would have spared her and her child if she agreed. My great aunt Flora knew that she would be raped, tortured, and killed if she did not accept their offer. However, she chose not to give in. They must have been marching through a mountainous area. She somehow got away and jumped off a cliff into her death. Some said that she jumped with her child. When I was born, my grandmother requested that my parents name me Flora to continue her sister's legacy. My grandmother was a strong woman. She continued to live in Cypress with her sister, Maritza, up to the age of 19. Then she moved to Syria where she got married and bore eight children, two of whom died in their childhood. She was widowed too soon and worked hard for her family. Eventually, most of her children immigrated to France and Germany. She moved to Germany with my father and mother. She lived with us for many years and died in our house at the age of 81. Now she rests in peace in the land of the people who took her in as an infant. It was a privilege to grow up with my grandmother. She was amazing. She was able to sing the German Anthem word for word up to the day she died. She had learned it at the orphanage from her ``Mutter.'' She started her day with prayer and ended her day in prayer. She instilled in me great values such as faith and courage. I learned many things from my grandmother, Araxi. I am grateful to my Nana for naming me after her courageous sister, Flora. I am grateful that she told me all these stories so that I would know about my heritage and never forget. I am grateful for her many prayers and blessings. Here I am grandma, telling your story to the whole world! I love you, your granddaughter, Flora

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I want to rise to congratulate our chairman, Mr. Rogers, and our ranking member, Mr. Ruppersberger, for their extraordinary work in putting this bill together, and the incredible and bipartisan operation of the committee. This work product and the committee operations I think were a model that many of the rest of the committees on the Hill would do well to follow. I rise in strong support of H.R. 5743, an authorization bill that gives our intelligence community the tools they need to keep America safe. I'd like to focus on the technical aspects of the bill, specifically the intelligence community's future investments in key overhead technologies. This is a good bill, as it makes necessary budget cuts without affecting the mission of the intelligence community. And there is one issue in particular I would like to highlight. Since 9/11, we have been investigating the potential advantages of persistent video. Current systems that simply snap pictures miss critical dynamics of the adversary. Standard pictures limited to capturing isolated points in time can't tell where a bad actor came from or where they went after they committed an act of terror. Hypothetically consider: What if we could use a video and video a hostile area 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and during this period a roadside bomb occurred? With a variety of capabilities, we could simply rewind and watch the perpetrators as they planted the device and trace their locations both before and after the device exploded. Independent of the source--whether space, ground, or air--we simply can't do that with still photography. Similarly, such a capacity might help us identify proliferators of nuclear and missile technology. I favor an approach that invests in new technologies that go beyond our past and present capabilities. In my role as ranking member for the Technical and Tactical Subcommittee, I work to ensure that cost, schedule, and performance are met as we strive to explore this potential advantage for national security. Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member, again, I want to thank you for the opportunity to express my views on this bill. I support it wholeheartedly and recommend its passage.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Harvey Milk in recognition of the third annual Harvey Milk Day which will be celebrated on May 22nd. As we come together, let us remember that this day is not only a celebration of this incredible leader, it is also a day to recognize every American who believes in Harvey's visionary fight for equality in this great nation. Harvey entered politics late in life, after becoming frustrated with San Francisco politics and widespread discrimination against gay individuals. In 1977, Harvey won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, marking the first time an openly gay man had been elected to public office in California. He quickly became one of the world's most high profile openly gay elected officials, and used his influence to encourage and support the LGBT and minority communities around him. Harvey was dedicated to building support for real change, and to ensuring that no group was unrepresented or unheard. Although Harvey was only in office for less than a year, his tenure had a massive and lasting influence on thousands of lives both inside and outside of San Francisco. His life became an example of the difference one committed individual can make in their community, and Harvey's was a welcome turning point for LGBT individuals in San Francisco and beyond. Today, we have many more opportunities to follow Harvey's example. But first, we must reaffirm our commitment to LGBT rights, and the right of every American citizen to be a free and equal member of our society. Recently, we have taken great strides towards this goal. We have increased protection against hate crimes motivated by a person's sexual orientation, fought against employment discrimination against LGBT individuals, increased funding for HIV/AIDS research and prevention, and repealed the discriminatory ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' policy. With President Obama's courageous endorsement last week, we are beginning to take small yet certain steps towards the legalization of same-sex marriage. Despite these small victories, there are still many more battles to fight, individuals to inspire and groups to educate. Anna Kronenberg, Harvey's final campaign manager, wrote ``What set Harvey apart from you or me was that he was a visionary. He imagined a righteous world inside his head and then he set about it to create it for real, for all of us.'' Each one of us has an obligation to finish the work which Harvey started. This struggle for equality is too important to avoid, and too desperately needed to put off any longer. I urge my colleagues and every American to join me in my fight for equality as we honor and remember Harvey Milk.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment and move to strike the last word.