Adam Bennett Schiff is an American lawyer, author, and politician who has served as a U.S. representative since 2001. A member of the Democratic Party, he has represented California's 28th congressional district since 2013.
Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election preserved our democracy — but without strong legislative reform, and vigorous grassroots action, that lifeline may only be temporary.
Donald Trump’s time in the White House took a devastating toll on our democracy. On the rule of law. And on the truth. All because of one man, who abused the powers of the presidency and invited chaos, and all those who enabled him.
The greatest threat to our democracy does not come from without, but from within. The threat comes from those who would put country over party, and loyalty to one man above the law and Constitution.
Climate change is real, our planet is on fire, and we must act. Now.
That seems like common knowledge, but half of our country’s political structure still refutes that simple truth. And worse, refuses to act on it.
With so much at stake, when the Green New Deal was introduced, I was an original co-sponsor. And I want to tell you why.
The Green New Deal is not just a bold plan for addressing climate change and beginning to right the ship, it also is an urgent call to invest in growing a modern, green economy that is equitable and just for all.
Right now, our economy works for the wealthiest few — many billionaires and big corporations pay zero dollars in taxes, while working-class Americans struggle to make ends meet. And too many young adults are unable to start their lives, get ahead, or live comfortably due to crippling student debt. And this has all been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
At this moment, we have a once in a generation opportunity to shift our economy. Invest in our people, families, and workers. And put forth bold solutions to a challenge that is personal to each and every one of us – our ability to provide for ourselves and our loved ones.
Let’s be absolutely clear. Health care is a right – not a privilege. And in the richest nation in the world, we must have universal health care. There has never been a better time in history to move towards Medicare for All. But until we reach that goal, there is so much we can do.
With President Biden in the White House, we must expand medicare coverage. Now. That means expanding Medicare to cover dental, hearing, and vision care.
Next, we must leverage the power of our Medicare and Medicaid systems to negotiate the price of prescription drugs. Let’s face it, the price of life-saving medications is out of control. With prices skyrocketing over the past decade, it’s pushed individuals into poverty and bankruptcy in order to pay for the care of a loved one. We have a moral obligation to lower drug and other health care costs so everyone can afford coverage.
Climate change is real and human activity is a major contributor. We do not have time to debate that fact when essentially all scientists are in agreement, and the potential harm is so devastating.
In California, we already see the effects of climate change in prolonged drought and extreme heat. And while El Niño brought us much needed drought relief, it was not enough to quench our years-long drought or to refill our depleted aquifers ahead of future dry years. We must prioritize the protection of our environment and transition to renewable sources of energy.
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy asked America to lead the world in the race to the moon with the Apollo missions. America needs a new Apollo mission, but this one to come up with and implement an all of the above strategy to wean ourselves off of fossil fuels and invest in clean and renewable energies at every level of our lives.
I am also committed to preserving open space in our region, and for more than a decade I have been pursuing the creation of a “Rim of the Valley Corridor” addition to the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area that would more than double its size. In 2016, following the completion of a long awaited study by the National Parks Service, I introduced legislation to make this expansion a reality and ensure that future generations can enjoy the incredible natural beauty of our region
The future of our nation hinges on educating young people to compete in a global marketplace. All families deserve access to a quality and affordable education, from Pre-K all the way through college.
I believe that every student who wants to attend college should be able to – and no student should be turned away because their families cannot afford to send them. Too many young people are leaving school burdened by large loans which will take decades to repay. I support ideas to lessen that burden by lowering interest rates, allowing borrowers to defer payments, making community college free for those who cannot afford it and are willing to work, and even forgiving loans for those who pursue careers in understaffed fields.
We must also ensure that all children are able to learn in a safe environment, free from discrimination based on race, gender, religion and sexual orientation
The Supreme Court’s decision in June of 2015 to make marriage legal for all couples across the country was a huge step forward for true equality for the LGBT community in America. But the fight for equality continues, since a couple that is married today can still be fired tomorrow simply because of whom they love.
As vice chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, I strongly believe everyone, regardless of race, gender, religion or sexual orientation, should be treated equally under the law. That’s why I have fought to fully integrate all LGBT service members in the military and to ensure that LGBT families receive equal treatment in adoptions. I am also a strong supporter of the Equality Act, which would ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and sex
The Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission was a devastating blow to our democracy. Corporations are not people and unregulated independent expenditures drown out the voices of all but the wealthiest Americans.
We need to reform our campaign finance system to ensure everyone’s voice is heard equally; not just large corporations. That is why I have introduced a constitutional amendment to reverse Citizens United and allow states to set up a public financing system if they choose. Both are critical steps to reduce the influence of money in politics, and protect our democracy
America has always been a beacon of opportunity around the world, and for centuries people from all around the globe have traveled over land and sea in search of the American Dream.
We are a nation of immigrants, but our immigration system is outdated and broken. I support comprehensive immigration reform that will fix our broken immigration system by securing our border, providing a path to citizenship for those who are already here, requiring civics education and the payment of any back taxes, and reforming and improving the legal immigration system.
I have also supported President Obama’s executive actions on immigration, including the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which uses existing authority to stop the deportation of people who came to the United States as children. Fixing our immigration system is a necessity, both to make our laws more humane and for our economic competitiveness
As the Ranking Member, or top Democrat, on the House Intelligence Committee, I believe our government’s highest responsibility is to ensure the security of our nation. In today’s dangerous world, it’s not enough to have the world’s strongest military or most capable national security apparatus. One of my goals in Congress is to articulate and pursue a smart, progressive course on national security and foreign policy which keeps us secure, while staying true to our core values as a nation.
We must expand cooperation among our allies and partners across the world to fight terrorism and defeat ISIS. That’s why I have supported our military efforts in Iraq and Syria, our efforts to counter ISIS propaganda by empowering the voices of our Muslim allies, stronger efforts to counter violent extremism at home, and efforts to improve Homeland security. That’s why I also believe America must speak with a clear voice about human rights – including all genocides, like the Armenian Genocide and the one ISIS is waging against Christians and other religious minorities in Iraq and Syria.
We face threats from terrorist organizations including ISIS and al Qaeda, as well as from nations like Iran, North Korea, and a newly aggressive Russia. We must confront these threats using all the tools in our arsenal — diplomatic, economic, and military. I supported strong sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, freedom of the sea exercises in the South China Sea, an international coalition to constrain North Korea’s dangerous and provocative actions, and the Iran Nuclear Deal which dramatically lengthened Iran’s potential breakout time, required vigorous inspections and required Iran to export most of its highly enriched uranium and pour concrete into the core of their plutonium reactor.
As Ranking Member of the Intelligence Committee, I have helped strengthen our efforts to gather information on those who would attack us, even while I have helped lead the way on issues like privacy and civil liberties, pushing to end the bulk collection of American’s phone records while also maintaining the capabilities we need to keep Americans safe. I also helped write and pass the Cybersecurity Act, which will help to secure public and private networks from attacks by hackers by improving information sharing
With more than 30,000 Americans killed each year with guns, and with mass shootings in places like Orlando, San Bernardino, Aurora, and Newtown, gun violence is nothing short of an epidemic. Congress must act, and I support passing long overdue reforms to reduce gun violence, including universal background checks for all gun sales, banning assault weapons, and passing “No Fly No Buy” legislation so that known and suspected terrorists can’t purchase powerful weapons. I was proud to join a sit-in on the House floor in June 2016 in support of these reforms, and I will keep doing all I can to see that we do not stand by and allow our fellow citizens to be gunned down