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Statement
Rep. Schiff Attends Memorial Day Events
This Memorial Day, Rep. Schiff attended events throughout the community to commemorate all those who have lost their lives in our nation's Armed Forces. Schiff attended the Memorial Day Ceremony held at the Montrose Vietnam War Memorial, the Crescenta Valley Memorial Day Ceremony at the Two Strike Park War Memorial, the La Canada Flintridge Ceremony and Tribute to Staff Sgt. Scott Studenmund, and the Burbank Memorial Day Ceremony at the McCambridge Park War Memorial. Rep. Schiff joined the Hollywood American Legion Memorial Day Ceremony as well.
Rep. Schiff met with many veterans at the events as well as with family members of those who have served. Schiff said about the commemorations, "Today, we pause to remember those men and women who fought so bravely to protect our freedom. The members of our Armed Forces -- whenever and wherever they serve -- are a part of America's greatest generation."
Rep. Schiff Commends This Year's Appointees to Service Academies
Rep. Adam Schiff met with this years' Service Academy Appointees for the class of 2019. Appointments from the 28th Congressional District include: Lucien Frederic Brule, a Glendale resident who attended Campbell Hall Episcopal High School. Lucien received an appointment to both the Air Force Academy and Military Academy (West Point). He has chosen to attend West Point. John Joseph Gordon Howe, a Burbank resident who attended John Burroughs High School. John will be attending the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Janel C. Valerio, a Los Angeles resident who attended Immaculate Heart High School. Janel will also be attending the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Minor Ray Wetzel, a La Cañada Flintridge resident who attended La Cañada High School. Minor will be attending the Naval Academy in Annapolis.
"These students excelled in both their academic and extracurricular pursuits and I'm sure they will continue to do so at their respective service academies," said Schiff. "I'm extremely proud of these four young people, and I'm confident that they will be among the future leaders of our country. I thank them for their commitment to serving our country in the armed forces." Students interested in applying for admission to a Service Academy for the Class of 2020 should contact Congressman Schiff's District Office at (818) 450-2900 or (323) 315-5555. Information is also available on Schiff's website HERE.
Rep. Schiff Continues the Push to Authorize Military Force Against ISIS
With the United States entering into its tenth month of war against ISIS without any specified Congressional authorization, Rep. Schiff continues to push for a vote on Authorized Use of Military Force (AUMF) in Congress. Schiff believes that under the Constitution, Congress alone has the authority to declare war -- not the President acting on his own. Without a vote to authorize this already ongoing war, Congress risks losing one of its most important Constitutional responsibilities. The President himself sent a draft authorization to Congress in order to begin the process, yet Congressional leadership still refuses to act.
"I find it deeply ironic that Congress has been so willing to wade into a diplomatic agreement with Iran that is not yet finalized, but not take up its constitutionally-mandated responsibility to declare and authorize war against ISIS," Rep. Adam Schiff said. "More than ten months into the war in Syria and Iraq, Congress continues to sit on the sidelines without a debate or vote. Congressional abdication of our responsibility to declare war, or to deny authorization for war, would set a terrible precedent and shift war-making powers substantially, and inexorably towards the Executive."
After ISIS Raid and Capture of Abu Sayyaf, Rep. Schiff Raises Questions of Possible Escalation Despite Successful Operation
The United States recently carried out a raid which resulted in the elimination of Abu Sayyaf, an ISIS leader, as well as in the capture of his wife. Rep. Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, commended the success of the operation, but also cautioned against the risk of significant escalation of the operation had gone badly. If one of our service members was captured or killed -- or captured and then killed -- it would have been catastrophic.
Rep. Schiff said after the operation became public that "we owe a heavy debt of gratitude to the brave U.S. personnel who carried out the operation against Abu Sayyaf. There are serious risks to our troops with any operation in Syria, and the willingness to mount an effort to capture Sayyaf underscores both the importance of cutting off the resources to ISIS and the Administration's determination to do so. While Sayyaf was a significant figure and his loss and that of other senior leadership is a serious setback to ISIS, we should be under no illusion about the long term impacts of any particular operation. This terror group -- like Al Qaeda -- has proven adept at replacing its commanders and we will need to keep up the pressure on its leadership and financing."
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