Adam B. Schiff
(1960 - )
Congressman Adam B. Schiff
represents California's 29th Congressional
District, including the communities of Altadena,
Burbank, Glendale, La Canada Flintridge,
La Crescenta, Pasadena, San Marino, South
Pasadena and Sunland Tujunga. He won re-election and defeated independent candidate Steve Stokes in the general election of 2014.
As an elected representative, Congressman Schiff has focused on bolstering
national security, improving the quality of life in our neighborhoods,
strengthening our educational system and introducing a "Kids First"
agenda of initiatives to improve the everyday lives of children.
As a member of the House Judiciary Committee and its Subcommittee on
Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, Congressman Schiff has initiated
measures to make our nation safer. He has introduced the Deadly Biological
Agent Control Act to bolster the security at labs that stock agents
such as anthrax, the Sky Police Act to increase air security by training
local police to serve as Air Marshals, and cosponsored the bipartisan
PATRIOT Act, which updates law enforcement's ability to fight terrorism
while safeguarding our civil liberties. He has also introduced legislation
to provide laid-off workers and their families with federally assisted
health care coverage.
As a member of the House International Relations Committee and its
Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights as well as
its Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, Congressman Schiff
has sought to prevent weapons of mass destruction from falling into
the hands of terrorists by introducing the Russian Federation Debt Reduction
for Nonproliferation Act. Congressman Schiff also supports legislation
calling for United States recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
Congressman Schiff has worked to improve the quality of life in our
neighborhoods. He introduced the Rim of the Valley Corridor Study Act
to enlist the National Park Service in protecting open space in Southern
California. He has also spearheaded governmental efforts to respond
to the public health threat of the chromium 6 that has contaminated
drinking water supplies. A supporter of public transit and congestion
relief, Congressman Schiff has won federal support for a light rail
line from Los Angeles to Pasadena as well as for low-polluting local
shuttle buses.
A member of the bipartisan House Education Caucus comprised of former
educators, Congressman Schiff has sought to expand opportunities for
students. He has introduced the Access to Higher Education Act to increase
federal aid to students in public colleges, is crafting legislation
to create federal merit grants for students who excel in math and science,
and has cosponsored legislation to refocus national education policy
on helping states and local school districts raise academic achievement.
Congressman Schiff also supports federal assistance for class-size reduction,
for music and art education and for after-school programs.
Congressman Schiff has introduced a comprehensive children's agenda-the
"Kids First" Initiative. To expand educational opportunities,
he has introduced the Reading Readiness Act to strengthen the reading
skills of children enrolled in Head Start programs. He has cosponsored
legislation to improve the access of children to health and dental care
and is working on a proposal to make it easier for families to enroll
online in California's "Healthy Families" program of health
coverage for children. Congressman Schiff inaugurated the Congressional
Science Forum for local schoolchildren featuring inspirational lectures
by the leading scientists in our region, and hosts the annual Congressional
Arts Competition recognizing the talented student artists in our area.
Elected in November 2000 after the most costly House race in U.S. history,
Congressman Schiff co-founded Freshmen for Reform with a Republican
colleague to build support for the House version of the McCain-Feingold
reform legislation banning unregulated campaign donations. His efforts
to organize Republican and Democratic freshmen support for the bill
provided key votes needed for passage, and on March 27, 2002, President
Bush signed the bill into law.
Congressman Schiff's efforts have drawn national and local attention.
He was named among the top 10 freshmen House members to watch in 2001
by Roll Call newspaper, and is serving a six-month term as President
of the Freshman Class of Democrats. He was named Legislator of the Year
for 2001 by the Burbank American Legion Post, was honored with the Good
Guy Award for 2001 by the National Women's Political Caucus of Greater
Pasadena and received a 100% voting rating by the Association of American
University Women. For his leadership in building support for the arts
and arts education, he was recognized by the City of Glendale Arts and
Culture Commission.
Prior to his election to the House of Representatives, Congressman
Schiff completed a four-year term as State Senator for California’s
21st State Senate District, chairing the Senate Judiciary Committee,
the Senate Select Committee on Juvenile Justice and the Joint Committee
on the Arts, and leading legislative efforts to strengthen California’s
schools, after-school programs and public safety laws. Before being
elected to the State Legislature, Schiff served with the U.S. Attorney's
Office in Los Angeles for six years, most notably prosecuting the first
FBI agent ever to be indicted for spying.
Adam Schiff, born June 22, 1960, is a graduate of Stanford University
and Harvard Law School. Adam, and his wife, Eve (yes, it's true), have
two children, a daughter, Alexa Marion, born in July 1998, and a son,
Elijah Harris, born in July 2002. They reside in Burbank.
Sources: Congressman
Adam B. Schiff |