E-Newsletter: Do You Think the Obama Administration Should Delay the Individual Mandate of the Affordable Care Act?

Statement

Dear Friend,

Welcome to my Washington Update, an e-newsletter for the constituents of California's 28th Congressional District. This e-newsletter provides a way for you to keep me informed of your views and interests. You can do this by clicking on the survey question, which appears on the right. In addition to participating in the survey, I would encourage you to send any more detailed thoughts by email.

Rep. Schiff Welcomes Deal to Reopen the Government and Avoid Default

On Wednesday, October 16, Rep. Schiff, a member of the Appropriations Committee, voted for legislation to re-open the government and raise the debt ceiling. The deal extended the debt ceiling to February 7, 2014and funds the government at current sequestration-level spending through January 15, 2014. The legislation to end the shutdown and keep America from default, crafted by negotiations between the Senate's two leaders, Democrat Harry Reid of Nevada and Republican Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, passed on a wide bipartisan vote in the Senate and received 281 votes in the House.

"Now that this divisive and economically destructive ordeal has come to an end, we need to change how Congress operates so we can stop these recurrent man-made crises. We cannot allow a small group of members to hold the government and the nation's credit hostage to an unrelated agenda."

Rep. Schiff joined NBC4 to discuss the deal and the impacts of the 16-day shutdown.

Rep. Schiff Calls for Additional Oversight on NSA Surveillance and an End to Bulk Collection of Phone Records

This week, the House Intelligence Committee held a hearing to discuss NSA surveillance programs. During the hearing, Rep. Schiff questioned intelligence officials about whether they had properly notified Congress of surveillance activities, including the alleged targeting of certain world leaders. Additionally, Schiff published an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times, arguing that the NSA should stop the bulk collection of phone records of Americans, and instead request information from telecommunications companies when a particular number might be suspected in a terror plot.

In the op-ed, Schiff urged that, "the bulk collection of America's telephone records must stop. The administration and the NSA would be wise to restructure it in a way that protects our privacy. If they fail to act, it's likely that Congress -- where legislation already has been introduced -- or the courts will do it for them."

Schiff also spoke with CNN's Jake Tapper about the hearing and the need to strengthen oversight of certain NSA programs. Click here or watch below.

Rep. Schiff Calls on USPS to Cancel Relocation of West Hollywood Post Office

Last week, Rep. Adam Schiff called on the United States Postal Service to cancel plans for the relocation of retail operations at the West Hollywood Branch Post Office on San Vicente Boulevard. In a letter to the USPS, Schiff expressed his concern that the proposed site on the western edge of the city was less centrally located than the current location and that converting the San Vicente location into a mail processing center would increase traffic and noise pollution in the area. Additionally, Schiff, local leaders and the City of West Hollywood strongly believe that the post office is central to the commercial success of San Vicente Boulevard and its closure would be harmful to business and the community. To see the full letter, click here.

Schiff is also a supporter of a larger, more comprehensive approach to the USPS's financial troubles and is a co-sponsor of the Postal Service Protection Act (H.R. 630), which would allow the USPS to use the funds it has previously overpaid in retirement benefit liabilities to meet the prefunding requirement.

News You Can Use

L.A. River Public Comment - The US Army Corp of EngineersLos Angeles River Ecosystem Study is now open for public comment through November 5, 2013. The Corps' tentatively selected plan is Alternative 13, but theLos Angeles City Council and river enthusiasts have expressed preference for the more expansive Alternative 20. This is your opportunity to provide input to the US Army Corps of Engineers. Send your comments directly to the Corps. Comments emphasizing habitat, ecosystem and environmental values and documentation will be especially influential. Written comments may be sent to Josephine R. Axt, Ph.D., Chief, Planning Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, P.O. Box 532711, ATTN: Ms. Erin Jones, CESPL-PD-RN, Los Angeles, CA 90053-2325 OR by email tocomments.lariverstudy@usace.army.mil.

Daylight Savings -Sunday, November 3marks the end of daylight saving time (DST), so remember toturn your clocks back one hour, starting at 2:00 AM on November 3. Learn about daylight saving time and U.S. time zones.
Detection Saves Lives -- October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month.Breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women. Although it's one of the deadliest cancers in the United States, breast cancer is often treatable when detected early. Mammograms, which are low-dose x-rays of the breast, continue to be vital in the early detection of breast cancer. To learn more, read the publicationMammograms by FDA's Office of Women's Health. You can read it online, download it as a PDF, and order print copies for yourself and loved ones.VisitWomensHealth.gov for additional information about breast cancer, including symptoms, risk factors, treatment, and more.
Federal Benefits for Same-Sex Couples - The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, which said "marriage" and "spouse" only applied to heterosexual unions, was unconstitutional. A number of federal agencies have released information about changes to federal programs and benefits as a result of the Supreme Court's decision. Learn more about the changes to taxes, Social Security, Medicare, visas, and benefits for uniformed service members and federal employees.

You can always share your thoughts through Facebook or Twitter. Through these quick-read updates, I hope to keep you informed of my work at home and in Washington, D.C. on issues of interest to our communities, as well as provide an opportunity for you to keep me informed of your views and interests. As always, I welcome hearing from you on these and any other issues, and hope that you will stay in touch.

Sincerely,

Congressman Adam Schiff

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