Schiff, Adam

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SCHIFF, ADAM

SCHIFF, ADAM (1960– ), U.S. lawyer, congressman. Schiff represents California's 29^th Congressional District, including the communities of Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, Glendale, Griffith Park, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena, and Temple City. Born in Framingham, Massachusetts, he is a graduate of Stanford (1982) and Harvard Law School (1985). Schiff served with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles for six years (1987–93), most notably prosecuting the first fbi agent ever to be indicted for espionage. He ran for the State Assembly three times and lost to James Rogan twice. First elected to the State Senate in 1996, he was its youngest member. He chaired its Judiciary Committee and the Joint Committee on the Arts. He spearheaded legislative efforts to guarantee up-to-date textbooks in the classroom, overhaul child support, and pass a patient's bill of rights. He also taught political science at a local community college.

In 2000 he ran for Congress, defeating incumbent James Rogan, who had served on the House Judiciary Committee and pushed the impeachment of President Bill Clinton. Much of his initial support came from a backlash against Rogan. At the time, it was the most expensive race in history and one of the very few in which the impeachment was the issue. Hollywood mogul David *Geffen raised millions of dollars to defeat Rogan.

Schiff was a member of the House Judiciary Committee and the House International Relations Committee. He continued his interest in education. He was a self-described moderate and joined the "Blue Dog Democrats." He served on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security and the Subcommittee on the Constitution. As congressman he introduced the Deadly Biological Agent Control Act to bolster the security at labs that stock agents such as anthrax, and the Sky Police Act to increase air security by training local police to serve as air marshals. He also introduced the Air Cargo Security Act to ensure that all air cargo on passenger planes be screened for explosives.

In March 2003, Schiff joined Reps. David Scott and Steve Israel in forming the Democratic Study Group on National Security in an effort to educate, inform, and develop policy on emerging national security issues. The group has hosted a wide range of speakers on topics such as international terrorism, defense, military transformation, shifting alliances, Iraq, homeland security, non-proliferation, Iran, Korea, the United Nations, and missile defense.

He also introduced the Rim of the Valley Corridor Study Act to enlist the National Park Service in protecting open space in Southern California. A member of the bipartisan House Education Caucus comprised of former educators, Congressman Schiff fought to expand opportunities for students. He introduced the Access to Higher Education Act to increase federal aid to students in public colleges, was instrumental in crafting legislation to create federal merit grants for students who excel in math and science, and cosponsored legislation to refocus national education policy on helping states and local school districts raise academic achievement levels. Schiff also supported federal assistance for class-size reduction, music and art education, and after-school programs.