News

Press Releases

Congressman Smith Supports House Passage of Water Resources Development Act

Washington D.C. – Congressman Smith released the following statement regarding H.R. 5303, the Water Resources Development Act of 2016:

September 29, 2016

“This week the House of Representatives passed a much needed reauthorization of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), a bill that will assist local governments in improving their infrastructure. The legislation provides the Army Corps of Engineers with the authority to study water resource issues, construct projects, and modify existing water development projects.

“WRDA will authorize the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to initiate over 25 water-related infrastructure projects throughout the country. Here in the Pacific Northwest, this authorization language will impact a number of ecosystem restoration projects. Additionally, the bill requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study regarding any remaining federal obligation to Native American communities displaced by dams on the Columbia River in both Oregon and Washington. As the House version of WRDA was crafted, I was a strong supporter of ecosystem restoration funding for the Puget Sound. In June of this year, I joined members of the Washington state delegation in sending a letter to the USACE in support of the Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration General Investigation (GI) study and asked for the swift completion of the Chief’s Report so that it could be included in WRDA. The GI study contained an implementation strategy developed jointly with the USACE and the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife to identify and develop projects to advance restoration of critical nearshore habitat in our region. I was happy to see that following the completion of the Chief’s Report, language authorizing funding for nearshore restoration projects in the Puget Sound made it into the House passed version of the bill.

“I am also extremely pleased to see that the House passed WRDA includes Congressman Dan Kildee’s amendment to authorize $170 million to replace infrastructure in communities like Flint that have declared a state of emergency as a result of the presence of lead and other contaminants in their water. As a co-sponsor of Rep. Kildee’s bill the Families in Flint Act, I have been a strong advocate of providing aid to Flint through federal funding to help families recover from this man-made disaster. I appreciate Rep. Kildee’s leadership in this time of crisis for the over 100,000 Americans impacted by the continued lack of access to safe drinking water, and will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure the Federal government provides resources to families in need during this ongoing public health crisis.    

“As WRDA moves to a conference committee between the House of Representatives and the Senate, I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure Congress is able to pass a bipartisan solution to address the needs of our country’s rivers, harbors, dams, flood protection, aid for disadvantaged communities, and other water resources infrastructure that will provide national economic and environmental benefits.” 

Smith Statement on the Passing of Former Israeli President Shimon Peres

Washington D.C. – Today, Congressman Adam Smith released the following statement:

September 28, 2016

“I extend our deepest sympathies to the people of the State of Israel on the passing of former President Shimon Peres, a visionary leader who dedicated himself to Israel and the cause of peace. 

“With so many conflicts around the globe, we can best honor President Peres by striving to pursue his vision for a more just, stable, and peaceful world. May his memory be a blessing to his family, the people of the State of Israel, and people from all countries.”

Smith Reintroduces Legislation to Improve Freight Mobility Infrastructure and Transportation

Washington D.C. – Today, Congressman Adam Smith reintroduced the Freight Infrastructure Reinvestment Act, a bill that will ensure increased federal support for improvements to critical infrastructure and transportation in the national freight mobility network:

September 27, 2016

“The movement of freight is critical for the strength of our economy,” said Congressman Smith. “Investment in our freight transportation infrastructure provides tangible benefits by improving our capacity to move goods and support job creation.”  

The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, passed by Congress in 2015, made dedicated investments to freight and highway projects across the country through a grant program and formula funding. In order to build on that progress, Congress should create a national freight discretionary grant program supported by an authorized and dedicated sustainable funding source, there must be an additional freight specific grant program funded by a dedicated source of revenue. This program should be used for the sole purpose of funding regionally significant freight projects that will improve mobility and shore up our nation’s shipping infrastructure.

The Freight Infrastructure Reinvestment Act of 2016 creates grants specifically for freight infrastructure projects, establishing a dedicated funding source for these projects by creating a National Freight Mobility Infrastructure Fund through a one percent fee on the shipment of freight cargo. This bill will establish a National Freight Mobility Infrastructure Improvement Program to work alongside the FASTLane Grants program to provide competitive grants to states and designated entities for projects that would improve rail and roadway capacity and safety. These funds will support local projects like the construction of grade separations and railroad and highway junctions, the expansion of rail and highway tunnels, the reinforcement of roads and bridges for heavier traffic and vehicle volume, and the construction of marine terminal facilities used for freight.

“Despite advancements in freight policy and funding through the FAST Act, much more is needed to accommodate forecasted demands on goods movement infrastructure. I applaud Congressman Smith’s dedication to identifying sustainable and robust freight funding that will complement and build upon FAST Act programs,” said Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors President Leslie Blakey. “We thank Congressman Smith for his leadership and significant proposal.”

“This proposal will create a revenue source to address our nation’s most critical freight projects,” said John Creighton, co-chair of The Northwest Seaport Alliance. “Given the high rate of return freight infrastructure investments can achieve for our economy and the challenges facing our current system, Rep. Smith’s proposal is precisely the type of solution we need. We appreciate his leadership and consistent advocacy for freight.”

Prioritizing U.S. infrastructure investment will further assist our economic recovery, improve safety throughout our transportation system, and ensure the continued strength of the U.S. economy for decades to come.

Congressman Smith Votes to Support Youth Opportunity and Improvements to Our Juvenile Justice System

Washington D.C. – Congressman Adam Smith released the following statement after voting for the Supporting Youth Opportunity and Preventing Delinquency Act, bipartisan legislation passed by the House of Representatives today:

September 22, 2016

“Today, I voted in support of H.R. 5963, the Supporting Youth Opportunity and Preventing Delinquency Act of 2016. Led by Rep. Carlos Curbelo and Ranking Member Bobby Scott of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, this legislation reauthorizes and strengthens the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) to help state and local leaders better educate and rehabilitate at-risk youth and juvenile offenders. These long-overdue reforms provide direction and support for necessary juvenile justice system improvements.

“I applaud Ranking Member Scott for his leadership on this critical issue confronting young people across the United States. Rep. Scott’s call for reforms that are ‘smart,’ not ‘tough,’ on juvenile crime will provide the building blocks for a brighter future for all of our youths. Past reforms of our justice system intended to keep our communities safer have resulted in disproportionately high incarceration rates among youth of color, split families apart and helped to perpetuate cycles of poverty. We must do more to invest in the future of our nation, and this bipartisan legislation takes a meaningful step towards truly reforming our juvenile justice system.

“Specifically, H.R. 5963 includes provisions to ensure the continuity of young people’s education while incarcerated, provides clear guidance and directions for state and local governments on how to reduce racial and ethnic disparities among incarcerated youth, and extends protections for children detained in the juvenile and adult justice systems. The bill amends four core mandates of the JJDPA by instituting evidence-based prevention and intervention programs specifically designed to reduce juvenile delinquency. 

“Comprehensive criminal justice reform is long overdue, and I continue to call for specific improvements to our fundamentally flawed system to ensure that all of our children grow up in a more just society. By passing the Supporting Youth Opportunity and Preventing Delinquency Act of 2016, we are giving at-risk youth a second chance, and providing all children the opportunity to achieve a lifetime of success. The education, safety and prevention reforms this bill creates are a critical step in ending the school-to prison-pipeline. With bipartisan commitment to expanding opportunities, we can continue to work towards a justice system that is truly fair and effective.”

Congressman Smith Honors Veterans Service with First Annual Veterans History Project

Washington D.C. – Congressman Adam Smith released the following statement following his first annual participation in the Library of Congress Veterans History Project:

September 12, 2016

“Our veterans have served this nation bravely and heroically. We owe these men and women an enormous debt of gratitude and respect. On August 31st, my office had the honor of hosting our first Veterans History Project (VHP) event at the Nisei Veterans Center in Seattle. The VHP’s mission is to collect, preserve, and make accessible the personal accounts of American veterans so that future generations may hear directly from former servicemembers and better understand their unique stories, and selfless sacrifice. Nisei Veterans have contributed to our region’s history, and continue to play a critical role in educating future generations on the history of our country. The rich history of the Nisei Veterans provided a welcoming and inspiring space for those participating and sharing their stories. The VHP event was also made possible with the generosity of cadets from the local Civil Air Patrol squadron, who volunteered to assist in conducting interviews throughout the day’s event, as well as members of senior leadership from the Seattle Nisei Veterans Committee.   

“At the event, I had the privilege to speak about the significance of our veteran’s service, as well as the importance of future generations being offered this unique opportunity to learn from these very personal stories.  The event showcased a presentation of previously recorded oral histories from Ret. General Peter Chiarelli and Ret. Major General Tim Lowenberg, both Northwest natives and national veteran leaders in the Puget Sound region. The diverse ages and backgrounds of the veterans who participated in the VHP will provide a powerful contribution to the permanent collections of the Library of Congress – one that is truly reflective of our region’s diverse history.”

###

My office will be recording oral histories from veterans in our community on a rolling basis throughout the year. Interested community members can contact my Renton, District office at 425.793.5180 and visit my website for further information on how to participate in the VHP: https://adamsmith.house.gov/veterans-history-project

« First < Prev Next > Last »