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Congressman Smith Statement on Economic Priorities in the State of the Union Address

February 12, 2013

Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09) made the following statement regarding the economy in the President’s State of the Union Address:

“The most pressing challenges our country faces are creating jobs and charting a responsible path towards fiscal security.  This starts with Congress eliminating sequestration, but it also includes passing long-term federal budgets that lift the crippling uncertainty destined to devastate our economy.

“Tonight, the President laid out the right steps to move towards economic certainty by taking a balanced approach of increasing revenues and reducing spending, making it clear that we cannot simply cut our way to prosperity.  As the President highlighted, it is critical that we make investments in education and clean energy, as well as comprehensive reforms to our immigration system that ensures that bright minds and driven workers are coming to our country to expand job opportunities and strengthen the economy.

“The time is now for Congress to make difficult choices and find long-term solutions that provide economic stability and reduce our national deficits.  We must agree to solutions that eliminate the threat of sequestration, and provides the federal government, and the economy, with the certainty they need to move forward.  I will work with the President and my colleagues in Congress to provide new job opportunities and immediate economic growth while finding long-term solutions to our fiscal situation.

Seattle University, Other Washington Schools Rank Highly in Peace Corps Involvement

February 6, 2013

The Peace Corps announced that Seattle University ranks fifth nationally among small colleges and universities in terms of alumni currently serving as volunteers.  Washington state also took the number one spot in all three categories of small, medium, and large undergraduate schools with Gonzaga, Western Washington, and the University of Washington having the most alumni currently volunteering in the Peace Corps.

“Congratulations to Seattle University for ranking fifth in the Peace Corps rankings for small colleges and universities,” said Congressman Adam Smith.  “The Peace Corps is a great program that has made a remarkable impact around the world in areas desperately in need of basic services, health care, education facilities, and more.  Volunteers demonstrate the true goodwill spirit of the American people and are an important part of American diplomacy and our international development efforts.  It speaks volumes about Seattle University and other Washington state schools that so many alumni have joined the Peace Corps and made significant contributions to communities across the globe.”

Every year, the Peace Corps ranks Top Colleges based on size of the school.  Small schools have less than 5,000 undergraduates, medium schools have between 5,000 and 15,000 and large schools have over 15,000 undergraduate students.  This year’s rankings are calculated based on Fiscal Year 2012 data.  See the full Peace Corps Press Release here.

Congressman Smith Statement on Saeed Abedini Sentencing in Iran

February 1, 2013

House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (WA-09) released the following statement on the sentencing of Saeed Abedini:

”I condemn the arrest of U.S. citizen Saeed Abedini in Iran and Iran's continued violation of the universal right to freedom of religion. By offering Mr. Abedini’s attorney only one day for his defense, Iran has not provided transparency and fairness in his trial. I support the State Department’s condemnation of Iran’s actions and their call to release Saeed Abedini and respect his human rights. I, along with many of their friends in the Puget Sound region, offer my thoughts and prayers to Saeed, his wife Naghmeh, and their children during this difficult time.”

Congressman Smith Statement on Black History Month

February 1, 2013

 House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (WA-09) released the following statement to commemorate Black History Month:

“As we celebrate Black History Month, we are reminded of the great achievements African-Americans both past and present have made to help shape the fabric of our nation.  Throughout history, African-Americans have been remarkable inventors, philosophers, statesmen, writers, and leaders in our community. While Black History Month inspires us to recognize the vast number of achievements of African-Americans, we should continue to incorporate Black history in our schools’ American history curriculum year-round.  
 
“In the face of our nation’s most disgraceful moments, from slavery to segregation, African-Americans have showed incredible leadership, determination, and commitment in fighting for equality that has benefitted millions of Americans.  We should take the lessons of the past to advance our society beyond the oppression, prejudice, and hate that continues to plague our country. While our nation struggles to solve unemployment rates, bring our public schools to a competitive standard, mend our broken healthcare model, and fix our judiciary system, we must recognize that African-Americans are disproportionately affected when we fail to do so. As a nation, it is critical that we ensure every American, regardless of race, ethnicity, or economic status has an equal opportunity to succeed.”

Congressman Smith Statement on Fourth Quarter GDP

January 31, 2013

House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (WA-09) released the following statement after the Commerce Department’s estimate for the GDP in the fourth quarter of 2012:

 

“It is deeply troubling that our GDP contracted in the fourth quarter of 2012, representing the first negative growth in more than three years.  With the risk of sequestration on the horizon, no long-term solution for the debt ceiling, and the inability to pass appropriations bills, it is no surprise that our economy was negatively impacted.

 

“Now is the time for Congress to make the difficult choices and implement long-term solutions that provide stability for the economy.  Unfortunately, Republicans insist on using appropriations bills and the debt ceiling as bargaining chips to further an agenda of spending cuts to important programs like Medicare, while refusing to even discuss increasing revenues as part of any solution.  This has led to stalled appropriations bills, the risk of default, and the threat of sequestration, all of which hurt our economy.  As we move forward, Congress must provide critical stability and certainty by agreeing on comprehensive, long-term appropriation bills that will eliminate the threat of sequestration, defaulting on our debt, and government shutdowns.”

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