Press Releases
Congressman Adam Smith voted against legislation today to provide $94.5 billion in emergency supplemental funds for Iraq, Afghanistan, and Gulf Coast rebuilding.
"I fully support our troops and I believe we must assist the hurricane victims on the Gulf Coast, but Congress cannot keep rubber-stamping these spending bills while the Bush administration and the Republican-controlled Congress utterly fail in their oversight of the spending," said Smith.
Today, U.S. Representative Adam Smith was pleased to vote for H.R. 5522, the Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill for FY 2007. While not perfect, the bill increases funding to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria, and to assist developing countries through Millennium Challenge Account (MCA). It also provides critical funds for humanitarian relief in Sudan and more focused assistance for trade capacity building.
Today, U.S. Rep. Adam Smith along with House Ways and Means Ranking Member Charles B. Rangel requested the Comptroller General of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to evaluate and report to Congress on several aspects of the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program. Created in 1962, the TAA program helps workers who lost their jobs due to international competition learn new skills through worker retraining programs and respond to changing realities in the global environment.
Today, U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) voted for H.R. 5441, the Homeland Security Appropriations for FY 2007. The bill appropriates $33.1 billion, an increase of five percent from FY 2006, including $19.6 billion for border security and immigration enforcement and $4.2 billion for port and cargo security, a 12% increase over this year.
The following is a statement from U.S. Rep. Adam Smith about the upcoming Memorial Day weekend:
Today, Senator Maria Cantwell along with U.S. Rep. Adam Smith sent a letter to the Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao applauding the Department's decision to "allow, for the first time, workers who produce 'intangible products,' like software, to benefit from TAA [Trade Adjustment Assistance]," that "represents an important and long-overdue change in the Department's policy."
Today, Congressman Adam Smith voted against the latest attempt by the Republican majority to allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in Alaska. The bill on the House floor today, H.R. 5429, repeals the prohibition against production or leasing of oil and gas resources in ANWR and is similar to recent efforts to open the Coastal Plain of ANWR for exploration and drilling.
Today, U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Tacoma) voted against the Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year (FY) 2007, House Concurrent Resolution 376. Smith made the following statement concerning his vote.
"I am pleased that I supported H.R. 5122, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 Department of Defense (DoD) Authorization Bill, which passed out of the U.S. House of Representatives and onto the U.S. Senate with broad bipartisan support," said U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Tacoma). "Our servicemen and women, and their families, sacrifice each and every day for the freedoms that we enjoy. This critical legislation fulfills the commitment we owe them, particularly in this time of war. Also included was $50 billion in so-called bridge funds to cover the first portion of war costs for the coming fiscal year.
Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA) made the following statement today about President Hu Jintao's visit to Seattle and the United States:
"I was pleased that President Hu visited Washington State as part of his state visit," said Smith. "China and the Northwest are significant trading partners and this relationship holds many benefits for Washington State's businesses and workers alike. Pursuing a mutually beneficial partnership with China is an important aspect of our efforts to further broad-based economic development.