Press Releases

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) today voted for S. 966, the Passport Backlog Reduction Act of 2007. The bill addresses the serious backlog of passport and related travel document applications caused by the 2004 intelligence overhaul law which required more secure documents for travel between the U.S., Bermuda, Canada and Mexico. The measure was passed by voice vote.

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) today made the following remarks in the U.S. House of Representatives in reference to H.R. 2956, the Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act. The bill would require a responsible redeployment of U.S. troops beginning within 120 days of enactment and ending by April 1, 2008. The legislation also requires the President to publicly justify the post-redeployment missions for the U.S. military in Iraq and the minimum number of troops necessary to carry out those missions.

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) today issued the following statement on the President's failed Iraq escalation, which was announced six months ago today:

"Six months ago, President Bush announced a plan to increase troop levels in Iraq with assurances that we would hold the Iraqi government to a set of concrete benchmarks for progress. Today, press reports indicate that the administration's upcoming report will say that Iraq's government has failed to achieve a single benchmark.

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) issued the following statement on Independence Day 2008:

"On Independence Day, we are mindful of those who serve or served in our Armed Forces. We honor the sacrifices that they and their families make in defense of our country. I have had many opportunities at home and overseas to witness their devotion to duty, their professionalism, and their courage in the midst of the conflicts in which we have asked them to fight.

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) today issued the following statement in response to President Bush's decision to commute I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby's sentence:

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) today issued the following statement in response to the attempted terrorist attack on Scotland's busiest airport in Glasgow. Today's attack followed the discovery yesterday of two cars laden with explosives in London, and authorities in the United Kingdom believe the two incidents are linked. Smith chairs the terrorism subcommittee on the House Armed Services Committee.

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) applauded passage of H.R. 2764, the fiscal year 2008 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. Smith voted for the bill, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday by a vote of 241 to 178.

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) today applauded the veterans-related sections included in H.R. 2642, the fiscal year 2008 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act. The bill passed by a vote of 409 - 2.

"The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan create new veterans every day. Our men and women are returning home with complex mental and physical wounds, and we must do more to help them. This bill provides the largest increase for Veterans Administration (VA) funding in history to make sure these honorable Americans are cared for when they return home." Smith said.