Press Releases

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) and U.S. Rep. Thelma Drake (R-Va.) today offered H. Res. 305 to honor the 20th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM). The resolution passed under suspension of House rules by voice vote. Smith chairs the Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee on the House Armed Services Committee.

Below are Smith's remarks:

"Mr. Speaker, I'm proud to work with Representative Drake to mark the 20th anniversary of founding of the Special Operations Command.

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) today issued the following statement on the Pentagon's decision to extend Army deployments from 12 months to 15 months. Smith is chairman of the Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee on the House Armed Services Committee.

"This is hard news for our Fort Lewis soldiers and families. They should know how proud we are of their service. My office stands ready to help them in any way and I hope they and their families will contact me if we can be of any assistance.

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) today issued the following statement after voting for H.R. 1591, the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health, and Iraq Accountability Act. The bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 218 to 212.

On Friday, March 9, U.S. Reps. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) and Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.) fought to change the Bush Administration's flawed Iraq policy and provide Congress with a plan to responsibly redeploy our troops. Smith and Tauscher introduced a bill that would terminate the authorization for the use of force in Iraq and allow for a new vote on a different mission for our Armed Forces.

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) today issued the following statement in response to President Bush's assertion that "if we fail in Iraq, the enemy will follow us home." The President offered this false dichotomy in a speech today to the American Legion.

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) today issued the following statement regarding reports of possible casework deficiencies at Fort Lewis' Madigan Army Medical Center:

"I'm very concerned about recent reports of neglect at Walter Reed and possible casework deficiencies at Fort Lewis' Madigan Army Medical Center. My staff and I are looking into these reports. In the meantime, I look forward to Thursday's House Armed Services Committee hearing on these issues, where I hope to get some answers on behalf of my constituents.

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) and House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO) today requested Secretary Robert Gates share with Congress any Defense Department contingency plans for the failure of the President's troop increase strategy in Iraq. Smith chairs the terrorism subcommittee on the House Armed Services Committee.

U.S. Representative Adam Smith (D-WA) and U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) took steps this week to require the President of the United States to create a strategy to combat extreme poverty and to report to Congress on his progress. Smith reintroduced his Global Poverty Act, H.R. 1302, late yesterday in the U.S. House of Representatives. On Friday, Cantwell offered the bill as an amendment to the Senate version of the 9/11 bill, which the Senate is considering this week.