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Congressman Smith Statement on Nomination of ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson for Secretary of State

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Adam Smith made the following statement about President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Rex Tillerson for Secretary of State:

December 13, 2016

“In nominating ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson for Secretary of State, the President-elect has chosen an individual whose company opposed efforts to sanction Russia while also receiving an award from Russian President Vladimir Putin. This nomination raises critical questions about the manner in which the President-elect intends to lead our nation. As the President-elect formulates policy and considers nominees for positions in his Administration, it is critical that the fundamental standards of our system of government are met and respected.  The incoming Administration and those who serve it must demonstrate an absolute commitment to the highest ethical standards, pose no real or perceived conflicts of interest, be completely transparent and open on their prior, current, and possible future dealings. 

“The next Secretary of State should be tasked with leading the interagency on a cohesive, thoughtful foreign policy that advances our national security. Given Tillerson’s expansive potential for conflicts of interest, I am encouraged to see that a growing number of Senators with national security expertise have also expressed concerns with the nomination. There must be a full bi-partisan review and vetting of the President-elect’s nominees by the U.S. Senate.”

 

Smith, Cummings, Conyers, Engel, Hoyer, Schiff, Thompson Joint Statement Calling for a Comprehensive Investigation of Russian Interference in the 2016 Election

Washington, DC – Today, House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA), House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D-MD), House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers (D-MI), House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-NY), House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD), House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Adam Schiff (D-CA), and House Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) released the following joint statement in response to news reports about intelligence assessments of Russian interference in the 2016 election, and comments by the House Republican leadership downplaying the need for a thorough investigation:

December 13, 2016

“All Americans should be deeply concerned by the reports that Russian agencies have interfered with a U.S. election. As Speaker Ryan noted, ‘any foreign intervention in our elections is entirely unacceptable.’

“The first duty of the United States government is to safeguard the American people and the integrity of our free society from attacks by foreign adversaries. Cyberattacks on our political institutions are direct threats to their integrity and are just as menacing as attacks on our economic, physical, and military infrastructure.

“Given the gravity of these unprecedented attacks by a foreign state, we need a congressional investigation that is truly bipartisan, that is comprehensive, that will not be restricted by jurisdictional lines, and that will give the American people a complete and full accounting of what happened consistent with safeguarding our national security.”

Congressman Smith Statement on the passage of the Continuing Resolution for Fiscal Year 2017

Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09) released the following statement after the passage of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2028 today in the House of Representatives:

December 8, 2016

“To ensure the continued operation of the federal government, I voted in favor of the Continuing Resolution, also known as the CR.  This legislation extends funding levels for the federal government through April 28, 2017.  Aside from necessary government funding, the bill also contains critical funding for the people of Flint, Michigan, the 21st Century Cures Act, and resources to prevent the continued rise in opioid abuse. 

“I am concerned that Congress, under Republican leadership, has continued to bypass the regular budget process by failing to enact appropriations bills.  Funding our government by continuing resolutions undermines our national security and the economic health of our country. The CR is problematic for two reasons. First, the funding provided by this measure is short term, in this case less than six months, which creates a fiscal cliff in April and prevents federal agencies and outside stakeholders from planning ahead or operating in optimal fashion.  The second problem presented by using a CR instead of the regular appropriations process is that all CRs extend the funding levels from the previous year.  Forcing agencies to live with last year’s budget prevents the completion of past initiatives and hampers efforts to address new challenges.  All of this makes it more difficult to properly run the government.

“I will continue to urge House leaders to return to regular order to ensure we run an effective and efficient government that supports our communities.”

Smith Statement Calling for Removal of Lt. General Michael Flynn from Appointment as President-Elect Trump’s National Security Adviser

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Adam Smith made the following statement regarding the appointment of Lt. General Michael Flynn:

December 6, 2016

“I have grave concerns about the judgment of Lt. General Michael Flynn. He has regularly engaged in the reckless public promotion of conspiracy theories that have no basis in fact, with disregard for the risks that giving credence to those theories could pose to the public. The National Security Adviser is responsible for filtering and assessing crucial information pertaining to the national defense. Someone who is so oblivious to the facts, or intentionally ignorant of them, should not be entrusted with policy decisions that affect the safety of the American people.

“Lt. General Michael Flynn’s name should be removed from the position President-elect Trump has appointed him to. His recent statements make it unquestionably clear that he has become unhinged from reality. If the President-elect cares at all about the future of our national security, I suggest that he appoint another person to this critical administration position.” 

Smith Statement on Nomination of Dr. Ben Carson as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

Congressman Adam Smith released the following statement today regarding President-elect Trump’s nomination of Dr. Ben Carson to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development:

December 5, 2016

“With the nomination of Dr. Ben Carson as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), President-elect Donald Trump has chosen a disturbingly unqualified individual for a key leadership position in his administration. The HUD Secretary has the critical role of building strong, sustainable and inclusive communities that provide access to quality affordable homes for all. Dr. Carson has absolutely no experience to even remotely prepare him for the serious responsibility of leading a federal agency that directly impacts the quality of life of so many Americans.

“It is imperative that the administration and Congress focus on building comprehensive and long-term solutions to reverse the growing epidemic of housing insecurity. The community development and housing assistance programs that HUD directs help ensure that all individuals and families have a place to call home.” 

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