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June 11, 2008

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) yesterday offered an amendment to H.R. 6003, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 to encourage collaboration between Amtrak and local and regional commuter rail agencies on train schedules and routing in shared rail corridors. The U.S. House of Representatives approved H.R. 6003 by a vote of 311 to 104 after voting to include Smith's amendment.


June 10, 2008
Floor Speech

My amendment to the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 encourages collaboration between Amtrak and local and regional commuter rail agencies on train schedules and routing in shared rail corridors.

Across the nation there are multiple commuter rail transit agencies that run on the same rails as Amtrak. Many of these public transportation services have made substantial investments in the tracks and signal capacity of a rail corridor to enhance commuter rail service.


June 10, 2008
Floor Speech

Madam Speaker, I would like to bring my colleagues' attention to significant political developments in Southeast Asia. Malaysia, which recently held major elections, is embarking on a new set of democratic reforms to deal with some of the serious problems that the country faces. I am pleased to see that Malaysia is moving toward reforms that would support the rule of law and a more open society.


June 4, 2008

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) today issued the following statement regarding the Democratic budget plan for fiscal year 2009 passed by the House of Representatives this afternoon:


May 21, 2008
Floor Speech

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Jon Lester, a resident of Puyallup, Washington, for his bravery in surviving cancer and his achievements as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox in Major League Baseball.

Jon graduated from Bellarmine Prep School in 2002. That same year, the Red Sox drafted him. He played for the Red Sox's minor league team, the Portland Sea Dogs.


May 21, 2008

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) today won approval for his amendment to the fiscal year 2009 National Defense Authorization Act to enhance U.S. efforts to combat the spread of violent terrorist ideology. The Smith Amendment would address major gaps in our counter-terrorism strategy by requiring the President to develop a comprehensive interagency strategy for strategic communication and public diplomacy. The House of Representatives approved the amendment during consideration of H.R. 5658, which passed by a vote of 384 to 23.


May 21, 2008

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) today voted to improve our nation's military readiness, support military families, recommit to our efforts in Afghanistan and protect our nation from terrorism and unconventional threats. He supported H.R. 5658, the fiscal year 2009 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorizes $601.4 billion to support our national defense, including $70 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.


May 20, 2008
Floor Speech

I want to start by thanking Chairman Skelton and Ranking Member Hunter for the work they have done, not just on this bill but during the 12 years that I've been in Congress and even before then.


May 18, 2008
Blog Post

For all of the challenges in Iraq right now, we cannot lose track of the fact that it is but one piece of a much larger, more complicated struggle. We must also understand both our limited ability to force a given outcome in Iraqi efforts to forge a post-Saddam government, and the reality that many parts of that power struggle do not relate directly to our own larger struggle against al-Qaida and groups that support their violent totalitarian ideology.


May 18, 2008
Blog Post

For all of the challenges in Iraq right now, we cannot lose track of the fact that it is but one piece of a much larger, more complicated struggle. We must also understand both our limited ability to force a given outcome in Iraqi efforts to forge a post-Saddam government, and the reality that many parts of that power struggle do not relate directly to our own larger struggle against al-Qaida and groups that support their violent totalitarian ideology.