Adam Schiff

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. I want to speak in support of what my colleague from Tennessee has said. In the United States, access to justice shouldn't be available only for those who can afford it. I think most Americans recognize that we have an out-of-control deficit and debt, that we need tough action to deal with that, and I think Americans, irrespective of party, are ready to make sacrifices. The President's budget I think indicates that there are going to be some tough days ahead, and there are going to be some of the efforts we have supported in the past that we can't afford to support anymore. But at the same time, I think the American people recognize that there is a lot of waste in government that can be eliminated without harming people; that a lot of inefficiencies can and must be eliminated; but they also don't want in these difficult economic times for our first steps to be to take away vital resources from those who are most in need or from middle-income families that are trying to stay in their homes. One of the reasons why legal services has been so busy in the last several years is because of the foreclosure crisis, where many who are being forced out of their homes who can't afford counsel have nowhere to turn and have increasingly turned to legal services for help in trying to get them to stay in their home. Imagine what we are telling those families that are struggling to stay in their homes that we are now going to defund the lawyer that's been helping them. I don't think that's where we need to go in order to balance our budget. Legal Services Corporation is the largest funder of legal services for low-income Americans and for the growing population of Americans who have no income because they can't find work. Legal Services helps ensure representation before courts and is available to all Americans no matter what their income, their station in life, or what their circumstances happen to be. LSC-funded programs help single women trying to keep their families together, victims of domestic violence, elderly Americans trying to avoid foreclosure, and an increasing number of veterans arriving home from service in Iraq and Afghanistan who are unable to find jobs. Federal funding for LSC makes up only 40 percent of the operating income of those programs. The rest comes from State funding, support from the private bar, and funds from lawyer trust accounts; but the economy that is sending more people to the door of legal aid offices than at any time in history has also sapped those other sources of funding. The CR cuts legal services to the poor by $70 million. That's a 17 percent cut compared to the current level. Again, there is no question we need to find savings in the budget, and we are and we will, and we stand ready to work with our colleagues across the aisle to fund cuts that make sense. But to make a drastic cut to a program at a time that it is keeping people in their homes and where people are struggling most is not the most propitious place to find savings. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment and move to strike the last word.

Mr. SCHIFF. We can have reasonable debates about the deficit situation and the actions that should be taken, but I don't think the hyperbole that we are hearing is adding to the quality of the debate. When the Legal Services Corporation is described as a ``trial lawyer bailout,'' I think it shows a total misapprehension of what Legal Services does. For many Americans, tens of thousands of Americans who are at risk of having their house foreclosed out from under them, seeking assistance from Legal Services to stay in your home, that is not a trial lawyer bailout. I don't think people who go to Legal Services because they can't afford an attorney and desperately want to stay in their home feel like they are giving some sort of bailout to trial lawyers when they go to the neighborhood Legal Services and ask for help to stay in their home. It also has been described as some kind of a bastion for left-wing causes. I don't think it is a left-wing cause to want to help people stay in their house. I don't think it is a left-wing cause when you have veterans coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan who need mental health services and need the advice of counsel and need the help of counsel to get services they are entitled to. I don't think that is a left-wing cause. I don't think it is a right-wing cause to want to foreclose on someone, and I don't think it is a left-wing cause to want to keep them in their home. I think, frankly, this ought to be all of our cause, that people through no fault of their own who are hardworking but have lost their job as a result of the economy or lost part of their income as a result of the economy and need help to stay in their home, and this is the only place they can get it, the only place they can afford a lawyer, and anyone who has tried to hire a lawyer knows how expensive that is, I don't think that is a left-wing cause, and I just don't think it sheds much light on the debate. Are there things that can be cut? Yes. Is the President's budget cutting them? Yes. Are there more cuts we are going to have to find? Yes. But let's speak frankly about what this organization does and what it doesn't do. And if my colleagues have issues to take with a particular Legal Services branch in a particular city, then we should take that cause in our committee, the Commerce, Justice, Science Committee, with our chairman, Mr. Wolf, and do oversight to make sure that LSC funds aren't being used to lobby Congress, to make sure that only for permissible purposes are funds being used in LSCs around the country. The LSCs I think over the last several years have done extraordinarily well under that oversight, and that oversight needs to continue. And where LSCs can operate more efficiently, they are going to have to, because it is not just a problem in terms of the Federal budget, but all the States are cutting back as well. But I don't think we can really get to the heart of where we can afford to make cuts, where the cuts will inflict the least pain, if we are going to pejoratize the service of a lot of hardworking lawyers out there who work for Legal Services, many of whom offer their services pro bono, who get no compensation whatsoever for the work they provide, and try to demean them by saying this is a trial lawyer bailout. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SCHIFF. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize New Revelation Missionary Baptist Church of Pasadena, California, upon its fiftieth anniversary. New Revelation Missionary Baptist Church was established in Pasadena in 1961 by Minister Ike Morris. In 1963, the church purchased a building on Orange Grove Boulevard--a three-bedroom house--which served as the new place of worship. In 1967, with the resignation of Pastor Morris, William Turner, Jr. a minister who served faithfully under the tenure of Pastor Morris, was called to become the new Undershepherd and Pastor of the church. Under the leadership of Pastor Turner, and with the vision and support of the congregation, a vision to ``serve the whole person'' was set forth. To that end, a massive ten-year building project was undertaken to create a Sanctuary, child development center, full-court gymnasium, and tutorial program. In 1967, the church purchased and renovated a twelve-room apartment house. In 1968, the church completed the plans for the project, a building permit was granted in 1969 and the church began building. Church members and friends among the community donated their labor and financial assistance, and the Sanctuary was completed in August of 1970. Soon thereafter, with the assistance of Mr. Raymond Jones, the church was able to secure a loan liquidating some of the building expenses. In 1973, with the help of Mr. Vaughn Hardy and Mr. Nick Nickolson, the church received a loan from Prudential Insurance Company for the completion of the project, and in 1974 the building project was finished. Since its inception, New Revelation Missionary Baptist Church has provided spiritual guidance and tangible support to the Pasadena and Altadena community--living by their dictum: ``until the whole person is saved, our mission remains.'' This ideology is apparent in the church's many programs and ministries that include the Family Counseling Center, New Revelation Twelve Step Sober Living Home for Women, Street Ministry, Pastor's Care Ministry, Inner City Word Processing Center, New Revelation Shelter Home for Men, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program, and New Revelation Community Development Center. Additional programs include the Revelation Enrichment Academy Preschool, the Spiritual Manpower Program, a Cell Evangelism Ministry, the Critically Homeless Program and a Love and Care Ministry for homeless disabled Veterans. I consider it a great honor to recognize New Revelation Missionary Baptist Church, and I invite all Members to join me in congratulating the congregation upon fifty years of service to the community.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor The League of Women Voters Pasadena Area, LWVPA, upon its 75th anniversary. The Pasadena League was established in late February, 1936, when 50 women--charter members--met in the Pasadena home of Mrs. James Grant Macpherson. Shortly afterwards, on March 31, 1936, about 100 women held a public meeting in Pasadena to launch this local League of Women Voters chapter. Working out of an office in the Women's City Club, the fledging Pasadena League followed the national League's goals of political education, legislation and getting out the vote, while also focusing on children's issues, city government, and eradication of gender and racial discrimination in housing, education and government. In the first few years, the new League studied government and child welfare issues, and was instrumental in working on a ``street-trader law'' that protected youth who sold newspapers on city streets. The 1940s saw the League leading guided tours of Pasadena City Hall, the appointment of two women to the city's Planning Commission, and assisting on a school bond issue. In the 1950s, the League urged the formation of a redevelopment agency to address blighted residential areas of Pasadena and published a pamphlet, The Perfect City, about planning, zoning and urban renewal, and citizen participation. In the 1960s and 1970s, the League worked on local issues such as school and municipal bonds, and was instrumental in the formation of the Pasadena Human Relations Commission and the Commission on the Status of Women. The League promoted minority representation in local government, backed a 1968 measure to change the election system of the Pasadena City Council, advocated for the integration of Pasadena's public schools and sued the Pasadena Board of Education for violations of the Brown Act over that issue. By 1976, with the expansion of the League to include La Canada Flintridge and Sierra Madre, and the later incorporation of the Alhambra and South Pasadena Leagues, the LWVPA was the second largest league in California and a prominent political force. The 1980s and 1990s saw the LWVPA produce public affairs programs on cable television, advocate for greater citizen input regarding power deregulation, support local library tax assessments and participate in the study and adoption of Instant Runoff Voting, and SmartVoter.org. From 2000 to 2011, some of the LWVPA's achievements include supporting Prop 11 which established a Citizen's Redistricting Commission, providing objective information on ballot measures and conducting candidate forums, and monitoring affordable housing in local communities. It is my honor to ask all Members of Congress to join me in congratulating the League of Women Voters Pasadena Area upon 75 years of service to the community.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker it is with great pleasure that I rise today to honor McKay Hatch, founder of The No Cussing Club. During middle school, McKay grew tired of the constant stream of obscene and cruel language from his peers that lowered their self- esteem. He courageously asked his classmates to not cuss around him. His peers accepted the challenge and stopped cussing and thanked him for his leadership efforts. Encouraged by his peers' support for his efforts, McKay founded the No Cussing Club at South Pasadena Middle School. Club members take the No Cussing Challenge, which is a commitment to use better language. The commitment not only improves their lives but also the world around them by using empowering, instead of deflating, language. Through the club motto of ``Leave People Better Than You Found Them,'' members seek out opportunities to lift people up through their words and actions. In high school, McKay formed a No Cussing Club during his freshman year and it soon had over 100 active members. The club dedicated itself to spreading its message and adding members in all 50 states. Today the No Cussing Club has over 50,000 members, in all 50 states and 30 different countries. McKay and the No Cussing Club have also worked with local and state leaders to designate local and state cuss free weeks. In 2008, the city of South Pasadena declared the first week of March and all subsequent first weeks of March as No Cussing Week. In 2009, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted a similar proclamation and in 2010 the California legislature adopted a resolution declaring the first week of March to be No Cussing Week. The local and state-wide No Cussing Weeks serve as a reminder to both public officials and private citizens to be more civil toward one another and to elevate the level of discourse in both public and private life. McKay now travels regularly to spread his message of using clean and respectful language that is uplifting, encouraging, and motivating to students all over the country. He has recently expanded his efforts to encourage an end to bullying, which includes reducing the use of negative and discouraging language. I ask all Members to join me in honoring the inspiring work of McKay Hatch.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, for myself and Mr. Goodlatte, as the Chair and Ranking Member respectively of the Committee on the Judiciary's Task Force on Judicial Impeachment in the previous Congress, we would like to take this opportunity to recognize Arid B. Waldman who recently left the House to take a position with the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia. Mr. Waldman served in the Office of the General Counsel for 18 months as an Assistant Counsel. We will miss him. Mr. Waldman provided important legal advice and representation to the Committee and Task Force, particularly in connection with federal court litigation that arose out of an impeachment investigation and proceeding involving a federal judge from Louisiana. We and our respective staffs relied on his expertise and judgment to prepare legal pleadings and briefs, which ably and effectively defended the Task Force's ability to conduct its inquiry, and which resulted in rulings favorable to the Committee and Task Force in each instance. Mr. Waldman served the House with distinction, and we know he will serve the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia with that same level of distinction. We thank him for his service to the House and extend to him our very best wishes for his continued success.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the progress we've made towards meaningful health care reform, and I stand in strong opposition to the Majority's efforts to retract much needed provisions that have since gone into effect for millions of Americans. Our economy's slow recovery from what's been the deepest recession in modern history has highlighted the wide and growing gaps in our health care system. We've seen too many families who've lost their insurance coverage when a provider in the household becomes unemployed, leaving the whole family unprotected and at risk to fall through those widening cracks--unable to afford COBRA, ineligible for public coverage, and precluded by high and growing premiums or pre-existing conditions from obtaining private insurance. In California, we've been aggressive in moving forward with implementation, and will continue to lead the way in improving our ability to provide access to quality, affordable care, instead of retreating into the broken status quo of the past. We recognize what a vote for repealing the Affordable Care Act means to the uninsured and underinsured: increasing health care costs for millions of Americans, causing many families to lose coverage, and increasing the national debt by over $1 trillion. This is a repeal vote that has real implications, and will mean a great deal in the day-to-day lives of the people I have the privilege of representing. If you're a senior who fell into the ``donut hole'' of prescription drug coverage and needed help covering that cost, this is a vote to take that assistance away. If you're a young adult who can benefit from staying on your parents' insurance until age 26, this is a vote to take you off that coverage. If you've ever worried about your insurer dropping your coverage unexpectedly if you or someone on your policy gets sick, this is a vote to bring back those worries. If you're a small-business owner trying to compete with large employers while doing right by providing insurance to your employees, this is a vote to make that nearly impossible for you. And, if you're a taxpayer worried about the national deficit, this is a vote telling you that your Representatives are not serious about our nation's budget woes. A report released just this week brought to light the pressing need for the kind of protections the Affordable Care Act brings about. According to the report, an analysis by HHS, 50 to 129 million Americans under the age of 65 have some type of pre-existing health condition. And one in five of those--25 million individuals--is uninsured. As the number of uninsured who are denied coverage has grown considerably over the last few years, thanks to the ACA, starting in 2014, these Americans cannot be denied coverage, be charged significantly higher premiums, be subjected to an extended waiting period, or have their benefits curtailed by insurance companies. At a time when this country is looking for those willing to make the tough decisions that lead us into a more prosperous, future, a vote for repeal is a vote to take a step, not forward, but backward. I urge my colleagues to vote no on this bill.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, last Wednesday, this Nation and the world witnessed the orderly transfer of power in this House when Nancy Pelosi passed the Speaker's gavel on to Speaker John Boehner. That simple act occurred without violence. It occurred without soldiers in the streets or a massive show of force by the police. For most Americans, indeed for most people working in this building, the day was rather ordinary. Our lack of political violence, our tradition of resolving policy arguments in the legislature and the courtroom is one of the greatest gifts that the Founders and all of the generations that followed them have left to us. But, as we were so cruelly reminded last Saturday, our peaceful civil discourse can never be taken for granted. It is a gift that must be safeguarded. Last Saturday, our colleague, Gabby Giffords, set up shop outside a local Safeway in Tucson to engage her constituents to perform the central role of representative democracy--listening to the people. The hatred exhibited by the would-be assassin, before and during the shooting, were an assault on that connection between those of us who have the honor to serve and those we represent. My heart goes out to Gabby, her family and staff, and to the families and friends of Federal Judge John Roll, Congress staffer Gabe Zimmerman, Phyllis Schneck, Dorwan Stoddard, Dorothy Morris, and Christina Taylor Green, who was born on September 11, 2001, and who deserved a longer life than this. And to Gabby and her staff here in the gallery today, there is one day that we look forward to above all others, and that is the day that Gabby walks back onto this House floor and stands before this podium and is recognized. We know that day will come, and we pray that it comes soon.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. ``A person charged in any State with treason, felony, or other crime, who shall flee from justice and be found in another State, shall on demand of the executive authority of the State from which he fled be delivered up, to be removed to the State having jurisdiction of the crime.''

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 628, and I want to begin by acknowledging the leadership of my colleague Darrell Issa from California in developing this bill. I joined with Mr. Issa to introduce this important legislation back in the 109th Congress. It has not been a short road to get here today to hopefully enact this bill, but we would not have made it without his leadership. I partnered with Mr. Issa on the bill because we share a deep interest in improving the efficiency of the patent process, in reducing litigation costs and inefficiencies in patent review, and also in improving the quality of patents. This bill, in part, grew from a hearing in the 109th Congress on improving Federal court adjudication of patent cases in response to high rates of reversal. At this hearing, a number of proposed options to address this issue were discussed. Serious concerns were expressed about a number of proposals, including those that would create new specialized courts and those that would move all patent cases to existing specialized courts. These concerns centered around the need to maintain generalist judges, to preserve random case assignment, and to continue fostering the important legal percolation that currently occurs among the various district courts. Our proposal aims to avoid these pitfalls. H.R. 628 establishes a mechanism to steer patent cases to judges that have the desire and the aptitude to hear such cases while preserving the principle of random assignment in order to prevent forum shopping among the pilot districts. The legislation will also provide the Congress and the courts with the opportunity to assess the program on a periodic basis. Reports will examine whether the program succeeds in developing greater expertise among participating district judges, the extent to which the program contributes to improving judicial efficiency in deciding these cases, and whether the program should be extended, expanded, or made permanent. By providing our courts with the resources they need to carefully consider patent cases, we will ultimately save the taxpayer money. While this legislation is an important step at addressing needed patent reforms, I believe that Congress must continue to work on a more comprehensive reform of our patent system, and I look forward to continuing my work with my colleagues in order to address these issues.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, for the past three Congresses, I've been an enthusiastic cosponsor of the DREAM Act, which I see as an essential component of comprehensive immigration reform. No child raised in America should be permanently penalized for the immigration status of their parents. The DREAM Act gives young people a chance to contribute to the United States, often the only country they know. I've heard from many high school students in my district who have done everything right, but discover when they apply to college that they are not a citizen, that the doors of education and a better life they have worked for so hard are closed to them. The U.S. has a proud tradition of welcoming immigrants who want to work hard and play by the rules and build a better life for themselves and their families. The DREAM Act comes from that tradition. It will make our economy, military, and Nation stronger. Yesterday evening I was proud to cast an ``aye'' vote on the rule to bring the DREAM Act to the floor. I was not on the floor later that night and missed the final vote on the act. Had I been present, I would have enthusiastically voted ``aye,'' and I urge my Senate colleagues to take up the legislation in the remaining days of the 111th Congress.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to Raymond Demetrio Gutierrez, a wonderful man, a husband, a father, a grandfather, and great-grandfather, who also served his country bravely during World War II. Mr. Gutierrez, of San Gabriel, California, was born December 22, 1926, and was 18 years old when he left his family to answer the call of duty to his country. He served as Seaman First Class on the USS BonHomme Richard, which joined the Pacific Fleet during World War II. Raymond Gutierrez passed away on October 28, 2010, at the age of 83. His memory will live on through his wife of 57 years, Norma; his son, David; and daughter, Theresa. He was also blessed with five grandchildren--Aundrea, Valerie, Alissa, Kimber, and Michael--and a great-grandson, Ryan. He is fondly remembered by his family as a man of great personal conviction, always putting his family first and treating everyone with great respect. A man of great humor, Raymond would never directly disclose his age but would instead pay it out in change. At age 83 he would say, ``I am three quarters, one nickel, and three pennies.'' He is affectionately remembered in a poem written by his granddaughter, Alissa Cano, for his 84th birthday, which I submit for the Record. We are indebted to Mr. Gutierrez for his life of service and for the fine family and extraordinary example he leaves behind. Three Quarters, One Nickel and Four Pennies With weak legs, a feeble body and a sharp mind Tata you've lived an exciting life, ``one of a kind'' A mischievous child you always found trouble From stories I've heard you were a lot to juggle At one dime, one nickel and three pennies a navy man you were Standing tall with pride aboard the Bon Homme Richard Shortly after serving you settled down and tied the knot And it wasn't long before you had a tinny little tot A family man and hard worker with your hands You still found time to venture out across the lands Throughout many years the Gutierrez family grew in size You became a storyteller and friend in your watchful granddaughter's eyes We learned about Ferdinand loving flowers and Old Freddie Fewie And we each earned our own nicknames like Sam, George & Lewie At three quarters, one nickel and three Pennies You're a great grandfather and one of Ryan's buddies Your time has not come so keep your head high and stand a little taller Because Tata I love you and want you to live for a dollar

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Margie Fites Seigle and to celebrate her retirement after 17 years as the visionary President & CEO of the California Family Health Council (CFHC), headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Margie Fites Seigle has long been a peerless advocate for the low- income and underserved. A champion for women's and civil rights, Margie's career in social justice began after she accepted a job with Planned Parenthood, an organization dedicated to advocating for and ensuring access to important reproductive and sexual health care services. For the next 17 years, Margie served as Executive Director of two Planned Parenthood affiliates: Allentown, Pennsylvania and Orange/ San Bernardino Counties, California, where she lead an expansion of services and geographic outreach. But perhaps Margie's most pivotal role has been as the President & CEO of the California Family Health Council. CFHC works with over 70 delegate agencies that provide family planning services in more than 300 clinics throughout the state of California. More than one million Californians receive care in one of these clinics. CFHC also conducts contraceptive research; develops culturally and linguistically appropriate educational materials; facilitates conferences, seminars, and training workshops for clinical staff and community health workers; and champions reproductive health and justice issues through coalition building and policy advocacy. Aside from her leadership roles, Margie has actively promoted increased access to health care services for California's women and men through strategic alliance building. Margie has served on the boards of the Coalition of Orange County Community Clinics; the Family Planning Councils of America; the Family Planning Providers Council; the Guttmacher Institute; and the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association. Margie has worked hard to promote and preserve California's Medicaid waiver for family planning services, FamilyPACT, which provides health care to low-income women and men at no cost. Though the waiver provides cost-savings to the state of California, it is consistently under threat. The FamilyPACT program remains alive today as a direct result of the efforts of Margie and other coalition partners who fight to maintain it. Madam Speaker, I want to recognize Margie Fites Seigle for all of the important work she has done to expand access to vital reproductive and sexual health care for millions of Americans, and for her many years of unwavering dedication to the low-income and underserved.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Russ Norman, an emeritus faculty member at Glendale Community College, whose commitment to education has contributed substantially to student achievement. Professor Norman began teaching business courses at Glendale Community College in 1955, and continued as a full-time professor until his retirement in 1995. As a dedicated educator, Mr. Norman has continued teaching as an adjunct faculty member since that time. He primarily teaches accounting courses, in addition to written business communications and mathematics of finance courses. Professor Norman holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in education (M. Ed.) from the University of California, Los Angeles. In his early years at Glendale Community College, Mr. Norman served as coach of the Judo Club. Under his leadership, the club garnered its first Southern California Kodokan Judo Association Collegiate Championship, beating his alma mater, UCLA. Even more impressively, Mr. Norman's accomplishments stretch far beyond his role as a college instructor and coach. He served on the Board of Governors for the Institute of Internal Auditors, and was the coordinator of a project to create an IMAX theater in Jakarta, Indonesia. It was Mr. Norman who supervised procurement of system components, and brought in the company which filmed the first film shown in the venue. Further, Mr. Norman is a veteran, having served in the U.S. Army at the beginning of World War II. Russ Norman is a tremendous asset to Glendale Community College and to our community, and I ask all Members to join me in thanking him for his dedicated service and remarkable achievements.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam 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: (translated by the son and daughter of Bedros Vartan Yessaian--Hovhannes Yessaian and Dench Bedros Yessaian, respectively--a survivor of the Armenian Genocide.) This is the true story in every detail that has been told to me and my sister by my father.----Hovhannes Yessaian. Bedros Vartan Yessaian: A Survivor's Story My name is Bedros Vartan Yessaian. I was born in 1904 in a village called (Kinjilar), which is not far from Izmit and Istanbul, and had about 2,500 inhabitants, most of which were Armenians. My father is Vartan and my mother is Denchali. We were four brothers, Antranig (born 1989), Ohannes (born 1901) Bedros (born 1904) and Jirair (born 1907). My mother had two brothers, Minas and Hagop. It was in the summer of 1915 that the Ottoman government gave orders that all Armenian males aged 18-45 go to the military service, while the rest of the family was to be deported. My father went to the military but actually was working as a day laborer cutting stones to pave roads. So I accompanied my mother and two brothers, Antranig and Jirair, in deportation. My other brother, Ohannes, and two uncles were at that time in Istanbul and escaped deportation. In few days time we gathered what we could carry and took the train to a city called Konya. From there we walked all the way to Derzor, sometimes hiring horse or oxen driven carts, if we could fine one. Later we learned a pregnant woman of our village had childbirth at the departure time and was obliged to throw her newborn child into the nearby Sakaria River. She was the young wife of Janig Belalian. On our way we came across Armenian soldiers working as stone cutters and paving the road for the Berlin Baghdad railway project. My father was one of them, and was able to escape his group and joined us in the death march. Somehow we managed our way until Aleppo in Syria. On the way many died of starvation, thirst and hunger besides the cruel treatment of the police and gendarmes. After that the march was horrible in the desert, especially for who live in colder climate. Although the Euphrates River was nearby, we were forced to march far from it, as some would die of thirst and exhaustion. Sometimes we march in endless circles ending in the afternoon at same place we started in the morning. We marched on foot from Aleppo to Meskena, Rakka Derzor and Shaddadiya. My younger brother, Jirair, died of starvation and hunger. We continued our march without knowing our final destination. On a rainy day and still under the tents, my father asked my brother, Antranig, to buy a cup of tea from the street vendor. My brother said he has no money. Father pulled the bed sheet over his head and few hours later we found him dead. Few weeks later my mother died. Neighbors came consoling me and wishing them a peaceful death. In the morning the collector came and took her body. All who had died were stripped of their clothes and their bare bodies were thrown into a large ditch. The more we marched the more the police and gendarmes grew cruel. They beat, tortured, raped and killed innocent and unarmed people. In a neighboring caravan two young beautiful girls threw themselves into the Euphrates River preferring death to rape. Raping became more regular and even pregnant women were not spared. the gendarmes gambled on the gender of the unborn child by cutting the woman's abdomen by sword letting the woman die in her blood. The Arab Nomads who live in the Syrian Desert used to come to our tents asking us to live with them instead of sure death. Thousands of Armenians were thus saved. I saw no hope and informed my brother that I was going to live with the Arabs. My brother stayed with the caravan and later I learned that he reached Mosul city in Iraq. With Arab nomads I stayed for two years and my Arab (parents) treated me as if their own biological son. The Arab Sheikhs (head of a tribe) even refused the invitation of the Turkish authorities to participate in killing the Armenians and keep any looted property. They treated all the saved children and women with respect and dignity. While with the Arabs, I saw Turks forcing the Armenians to collect dry bushes and thorns and later pushed them into a cave. then they burned the bushes and all inside the cave died of burns or choked to death. Later I left my Arab parents and fled to Istanbul where my two uncles and brother Ohannes lived. After the armistice I returned to my village with my brother Ohannes and Uncle Hagop. However in 1922, Kemal Ataturk forces invaded the western part of Turkey burning villages and killing the Christians. My uncle Hagop and brother Ohannes were killed and the entire village of Kinjilar was burnt to ashes. I fled the massacre to Istanbul and from there to Greece with my uncle Minas who later emigrated to Armenia. After leaning that my brother was in Baghdad I traveled to Baghdad and formed a family. My wife Serpoohi was also a genocide survivor, originally from Bilejik, a nearby village to Kinjilar. ----Bedros Vartan Yessaian

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam 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 (submitted by Shirley Collins): My name is Shirley Kalashian-Collins. I was born in 1951 to Armenian parents. My mother was born in Aintab, Turkey, in 1920 in the midst of the genocide of Armenians. My mother and my grandparents narrowly made it out alive and found refuge in the U.S. My paternal grandmother also had a harrowing story. Due to the threat against the Armenians she was shipped to the U.S. at 15 years old to marry an Armenian, only to find out a few years later that her parents were killed and her younger sisters kidnapped. My mother tried hard to put all these stories down on paper so the world would know what happened to our families. After she passed away, I attempted to finish her project. After nearly 10 years and hundreds of hours of work, I put the story together. Now I want to thank our Rep. Adam Schiff for his efforts to put these stories that are left untold in the Congressional Record. I know my mother, if she were alive, would be dancing up and down with joy. You can't imagine how exciting this is for me after all the years of work to make sure these stories are kept alive and heard so that history will be recorded accurately. Thank you Rep. Schiff. This is such a wonderful and amazing idea. This is the story of my Grandmother, Horipsema ``Helen'' Meneshian, as told by my mother, Azadohi Kalashian: My mother was a remarkable woman. She was born in Aintab in 1895. She was the only daughter of five children born to Soghmon and Khanoom Meneshian. In 1914 she married Armen Guleserian. They had a big and fashionable wedding party that lasted for three days. Their first child was a beautiful and bright little girl who gave them much joy. This child was not quite two years old when the Turkish government sent orders to have the Turkish army go around and evacuate everyone in Aintab from their homes. Only whatever could be placed on a donkey's back was allowed to be removed from the house. Then the Turkish soldiers sealed all the doors, windows and locks of our house. We were all ordered to march in the direction of the Syrian Desert. My mother's trousseau of finest lace, satin and silk was not meant to be enjoyed by her. One by one, each article was sold for the price of something to eat. Her gold coins, chains and rings also went the same way. Eventually, hunger became unbearable, and death took its grim toll. One by one, God called their first born, then their second born, then their third born to be by HIS side. They were never to feel hunger again! Armen had been sent off to the military and Hripsema had been left alone in Damascas. She tried to reach her father but they would not let her travel because she was Armenian. So, she found someone to travel with to go to Hama where her relative, Kevork, was. In an interview with daughter, Azad, in 1979 she says: Everybody got off when we were near Hama. I was the only one left. They gave me to a woman who had donkeys and this woman took me to Hama on a donkey. We had nothing. I had the child in my arms and the child's necessities tied on my back. We came by a cemetery and the woman said, ``I will not go in here.'' She took me off of the donkey. She said, ``I will be afraid to be in a cemetery. You do whatever you will.'' I went in by myself, I found a shop. I asked the man in the shop, ``There is the Baronyan family living here, do you know them?'' He said, ``Yes, they went to Haleppo.'' I said, ``There is Kevork Guleserian here.'' He said, ``Yes, they are here but their place is very far.'' Then they locked the door. The child wanted some water, I gave him some water and I went and sat by the store. And it got dark, it was evening. Then I saw my father-in-law's grandson, he later said that he would never walk the way I was sitting at, he would always go the other way. I lifted my head and saw him. I was looking for them. He got very surprised and asked what happened and I told him everything. He took me, the child was in my arms, he took the load I was carrying and took me to their home. He knocked on the door; they opened the door, a month, or a month and a half. Papa's brother's wife was there. She was Guleserian as well. In about a month the child who was in my arms died. I was devastated. Then papa came and asked, ``Where is the boy?'' I said, ``May your soul live, you'll have another one.'' He was such a nice boy. They had asked to have him, ``Give him to us, we'll raise him up'' in Damascus. I would not. How can you give your own child?

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam 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 (story submitted by Scott Tejerian): My grandfather, Kevork ``George'' Hakalmazian, lost his family in the genocide somewhere around age seven. His father was forced to give my grandpa's sister in marriage to the Turkish mayor of their town, Peri. My grandpa never saw his sister again. Shortly after, when my Grandpa's father, Sarkis, was reading the Bible one afternoon in front of their house, Turkish soldiers took him and my grandpa's mother, Oghapar, away. My grandfather never saw them again. My grandpa and the other children of the village, including his older brother Hagop, were rounded up by the soldiers and taken to the nearby river. At the river they were separated by size. My grandpa's nephew, the son of his eldest brother who was already living in the USA, was separated in the group of smaller children away from my grandpa and his brother, Hagop. The smaller children were thrown into the river to drown, except my grandpa's nephew knew how to swim. When the Turkish soldiers saw him swimming, they shot him dead in the water. For the next few years, my grandpa and Hagop were forced to work for a Turkish farm owner. They were his slaves. Eventually, my grandpa and Hagop were rescued by an older cousin, Marderos, who helped them escape to an orphanage in Lebanon. It was there that their eldest brother, Martin, who was living in Chicago at the time, found them and sent for them to come to America. My grandfather arrived in Ellis Island on July 4, 1923. He didn't know his birthday, so for every year after that his birthday was July 4th.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam 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: (Submitted by Shirley Collins) My name is Shirley Kalashian-Collins. I was born in 1951 to Armenian parents. My mother was born in Aintab, Turkey in 1920 in the midst of the genocide of the Armenians. My mother and my grandparents narrowly made it out alive and found refuge in the U.S. My paternal grandmother also had a harrowing story. Due to the threat against the Armenians she was shipped to the U.S. at 15 years old to marry an Armenian, only to find out a few years later that her parents were killed and her younger sisters kidnapped. My mother tried hard to put all these stories down on paper so the world would know what happened to our families. After she passed away, I attempted to finish her project. After nearly 10 years and hundreds of hours of work, I put the story together. Now I want to thank our Rep. Adam Schiff for his efforts to put these stories that are left untold in the Congressional Record. I know my mother, if she were alive, would be dancing up and down with joy. You can't imagine how exciting this is for me after all the years of work to make sure these stories are kept alive and heard so that history will be recorded accurately. Thank you Rep. Schiff. This is such a wonderful and amazing idea. My great-grandfather, Sarkis Kalashian, married Margaret Hougasian after my great-grandmother, Shoushan, died. Sarkis was killed in 1915 by Turkish soldiers. This left Margaret a widow with small children. My cousin, Margo Torigiants, shared with me the following story of how her grandmother escaped to France after Sarkis was killed: After the massacre of the Armenians started, Margaret suddenly became a widow when her husband and older son were killed in 1915. According to her granddaughter, Margo, Margaret had some gold nuggets as Sarkis had been a merchant in Kharpet. Earlier pictures of Sarkis and Margaret show them happy and very well dressed. She used these gold nuggets to get some Turkish people to help her and her children: Khoren, Hrant, Dickran, Araksi and Vartan (and maybe Agavni--daughter of Khoren) to flee. She dressed up the boys as girls to disguise them. (Boys were more likely to be killed by the Turkish military). Somehow they were able to get to Aleppo, Syria. She tried to get them in an orphanage, but since they had a parent, she could not get them in. she cooked for people and took the leftovers home for the kids to eat. They stayed there for a few years, but stayed close. They were afraid Arabs would kidnap the kids. From there they settled in Marsielle, France.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam 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 (submitted by Aram Demerjian): My father, born in Diarbekir in 1901, told me about the real events as I was growing up. His experiences of what happened to his father and how he made to escape death were not pleasant for me to hear. I was born in Lebanon. I would like give you some of the accounts related to me. My grand-father was an iron smith. He made hand-cuffs for the prison inmates. His own hand-cuffs clamped his own hands by the Turks. He was taken away from his home for questioning and his family never saw him again. I consider my father a very talented man. For instance, he could play musical instruments, he could sing with a vibrant voice. He was not fanatic about his religious practice. On his way to exile, he stopped at many villages for few days or for few months. Some religious man (sheikh) gave him shelter during one stop. This host noticed that he has a good voice. So he invited my father to sing in the mosque. Of course, having nothing to support himself, he could not refuse Sheikh's request. I forgot to mention that my Dad also spoke Kurdish. Three months later, my father who is also a good horse rider, left the village at night time. Not knowing anything about his destiny. At this time, I have not many details about how he made to Aleppo (Syria). Someday, I shall sit down to write many other events regarding his brothers and his mother whom survived this genocide and how my Dad was able to meet them again in Lebanon. His older sister was forcefully taken away by a Turkish soldier. I also have some recollections told to me by my mother's side whose family was also exiled from the town of Konia. On my mother's side, the story is different. Her father (Sarkis) was a merchant. Sarkis owned some wealth. He converted his assets into gold coins. But he did not make the exile with his family made of 3 girls, one boy and his wife (my grand-mother). Sarkis was taken away one morning and never came back. The gold coins were hidden inside underwear of the women. A local Turk helped them ride the train out of Konia to Tarousse against a certain amount of monetary payment.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam 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 (submitted by Angel Shekerdjian): My father, Guiragos, was born in 1905 in Adana, Turkey. He was 4 years old in 1909, when the massacres started in Adana. Several Armenians took refuge in the church; so did his pregnant mother with her 2-year-old daughter and little Guiragos. The Turks surrounded the church and set it to fire. As the people inside realized what was happening, they started running outside. So did my grandmother, carrying the toddler in her arms and holding my father by the hand. As soon as they were outside, a Turk killed her and the little girl. And he stabbed my father 3 times in the back--two stabs as the sign of the cross and a 3rd stab--all around the spine. A ``good-hearted'' Turk saw that the Turk who was stabbing was aiming again, stopped him saying: ``leave the child, he is already dead.'' However, instead of leaving him to die, the ``good'' Turk took him to a hospital. Once he recovered from his wounds, they asked my dad what his name was. He said it was Guiragos. And the last name? He did not know. So they asked what the profession of his father was. My father told them that his father used to make candy, lollipops. . . . So they gave him the name of Shekerdjian, meaning make of sugar. `Sheker' is `sugar' in Turkish. He was sent to an orphanage. He eventually ended up in Beirut, where he met my orphaned mother, also from Adana.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the NASA Authorization Act to provide direction and stability for our Nation's space program. Tens of thousands of aerospace workers in communities across the country are looking to Congress to set a sustainable path for human spaceflight that will minimize the spaceflight gap and ensure that NASA is able to accomplish its mission of human exploration into the solar system. This bill fully funds NASA's science mission to continue Earth- observing satellites, Mars rovers, space telescopes and other missions that provide valuable insight into our planet, our solar system and our universe. It also revitalizes NASA's dormant Technology Development Program, which will provide the tools needed to push human and robotic exploration to new heights and destinations. It authorizes an evolvable NASA launch vehicle. It also provides for an additional shuttle flight in bringing vital tools and supplies to the space station. I want to express my sincere appreciation to our chairman for his extraordinary leadership for many years and his unwavering support of NASA, and urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Jim Hudson, retiring as Chief of the Alhambra Police Department. It is with great pleasure that I congratulate Chief Hudson on his very successful career in public service. His lifetime of dedication to public safety--an amazing 34 years--is remarkable. Chief Hudson not only exhibited valor and perseverance, he also fostered courage and dedication among our brave men and women in law enforcement. Chief Hudson began his career as a Police Explorer, a Cadet, then a Reserve Officer at the Orange Police Department. He then joined the Glendale Police Department in 1981 before he transitioned back to Orange, where he quickly rose through the ranks as an Officer, Sergeant, and finally Lieutenant. In 2001, Chief Hudson made his way to the City of Alhambra where he started as Police Captain and eventually was promoted to Chief of Police in 2004. Under his leadership, the Alhambra Police worked to build a safe community where Southern California families can live, work and play. His great leadership and guidance of the police department and the community will be deeply missed. I ask all Members to join me in thanking Chief Hudson for his extraordinary service. I wish you all the best in your retirement.