Sen. Adam Schiff met with residents and first responders after the devastating Eaton fire in Altadena. (photo courtesy of Sen. Adam Schiff’s office)

United States Sen. Adam Schiff is a familiar figure, having represented the local area in the House of Representatives for 12 terms from 2001-24 and serving as chair of the high-profile House Intelligence Committee from 2019-23.

Never afraid to back down from a fight, Schiff stays laser focused on safeguarding American values. Elected to the U.S. Senate on Nov. 5, 2024, Schiff succeeded the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, entering Congress at a tumultuous time characterized by a polarizing president. Schiff said the fight for democracy and the needs of his constituents are always top of mind, and he is working to uphold freedom and ensure the rights of the American people are always protected.

“My primary focus since being sworn in as U.S. senator has been to meet the needs of all Californians, in every part of the state. I am fighting to bring down the costs of housing and health care, of food and groceries, the price at the pump and the cost to heat and cool your home,” Schiff stressed. “All of this work has been made far more difficult by the actions and policies of the Trump administration, which has been setting the agenda, and unfortunately that agenda is chaos. And so I’m fighting this administration and all the harm it is inflicting through their on-again and off-again tariffs, indiscriminate and lawless immigration raids and their efforts to undermine the rule of law.”

Schiff said despite the adversarial nature of the Trump administration, he has made progress during the early months of his U.S. Senate career. He described it as a drastically different experience than serving in the House, which has a much larger number of representatives.

“The culture in the Senate is much different than the House. It’s a small place. You get to know people very quickly, and it’s much more collegial,” Schiff said. “There’s more opportunity to form relationships with your colleagues, to work on bipartisan priorities, because most things require unanimous consent, or at a minimum, 60 votes. So, I have been taking the time to have coffees, lunch and dinner with Republican senators to get to know them and find the elusive common ground.”

Schiff has long been critical of Trump, leading impeachment proceedings and congressional investigations into the president’s actions during Trump’s first term and afterwards in the wake of the Jan. 6 insurrection. Unfettered by Trump’s frequent attacks, Schiff maintains checks and balances in Washington, fighting hard during a time when he said so much is at stake.

“Under the Trump administration, American democracy is under attack in a way we have never experienced in this country, and the damage will be long-lasting. The president’s sweeping tariff policies are threatening the livelihoods of Americans and the rampant corruption of the administration … are damaging the very idea of America,” Schiff said. “This administration is threatening law firms, universities, the media, judges and members of the House and Senate who stand up to him. He has created a pervasive climate of fear in which he hopes that people will be afraid to speak out.”

Schiff said he is proud of the 2025 FIREWALL Act – his first bill approved in the Senate – which helps communities become more resilient to natural disasters through a new federal tax credit. Schiff said he is especially grateful for the partnership of Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-Montana) on the bill.

“While on some of the most contentious issues there may be minimal room for bipartisanship, I’ve found that there are huge areas where we can get things done on a number of different fronts,” Schiff said. “You have to find a Republican willing to work together on things that are of mutual interest, and I am focused on finding opportunities to reach across the aisle to deliver for my constituents whenever possible.”

Schiff also focuses on help for America’s underserved communities including LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, those struggling to afford the American dream and farmworkers.

“I feel enormously grateful to represent nearly 40 million people in California, and it is fascinating getting to know different communities, regions, industries and more in this amazing state. Among my other committee assignments, I sought out a position on the Agriculture Committee so I could represent the many farmers and farm workers who put food on the table and meet the needs of residents who are often overlooked in Washington, D.C.,” he said. “I’m fighting back against the Trump administration’s overreach of power in every way I can – highlighting the harms they are doing to individual families, speaking out on the Senate floor and voting to end these harms. I’ve demanded answers from the administration about the abuse of data from many agencies like Health and Human Services, the IRS and Medicaid. These actions drive immigrants into the shadows where they are less safe and not able to participate in their communities, go to work, attend school and have family members who are citizens seek medical help. I am also cosponsoring legislation introduced by my California colleague Senator [Alex] Padilla to expand a pathway to lawful permanent residency for millions of long-term U.S. residents and legislation holding federal agents such as ICE accountable when they are conducting immigration raids. And I am fighting for legislation that protects the rights of immigrant families like farm workers [and] Dreamers.”

The California senator added that American democracy is under threat and it is more important now than ever to continue putting pressure on Congressional representatives and demand they do everything possible.

“Stay engaged. We are in crisis as a country, but we will get through this. The country has been through more difficult times in the past and this too shall pass,” Schiff said. “I will keep fighting for the future of my constituents and the country and you can count on me to continue to speak out against the harmful, unlawful and unconstitutional actions of the Trump administration.”