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Congressman Smith Statement on Budget Votes

March 21, 2013

Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09) released the following statement after the passage of the Republican budget:

“Over the last 12 years, we have cut taxes to the tune of $7 trillion, while spending has significantly increased.  This is a recipe for huge deficits and debt.  We need to get our deficit under control, but we must also be mindful of our economy now. Deep budget cuts passed today by House Republicans would be too great of a blow to our economy and would hurt millions of working class Americans, families, and seniors.    

“The Republican budget radically dismantles Medicare by cutting benefits and turning the system into a voucher program. The budget fails to eliminate sequestration, slashes investments in education and worker training programs for working class families, and doesn’t raise a penny of revenue. This all-cuts approach forces education, transportation, and other essential programs to face deep, destabilizing cuts that could limit growth by undermining investment in our national priorities.  

“I voted in support of two proposals that outline a balanced approach to decreasing our deficit, making measured investments in our economy, and maintaining the benefits and integrity of Medicare and Medicaid.  I voted for the House and Senate Democratic budgets because they encourage economic growth now and in the long-term.   These proposals would eliminate the mindless, across-the-board cuts known as sequestration, and put in place a balanced, sustainable deficit reduction plan that raises revenues and makes strategic cuts in spending,  while also investing in job-creation and education.  These budgets set reasonable goals in decreasing our deficits while also investing in jobs and our economy now.

“While our economy continues to recover, our nation needs a thoughtful deficit reduction plan that is balanced through increases in revenue and cuts to spending, removes sequestration, drives our economy toward prosperity, and is careful not to cut too deeply too quickly.  Unfortunately, the so-called Ryan Budget that passed today in the House of Representatives fails in all four tests.”

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Congressman Smith Statement on Continuing Resolution

March 21, 2013

Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09) released the following statement after the passage of the Continuing Resolution today in the House of Representatives:

“The Continuing Resolution that passed today is in no way perfect.  I support the resolution because it prevents a government shutdown that would destabilize the economy and provides more flexibility to Defense, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Science, and Homeland Security funding as they deal with the over 8 percent across the board spending cuts known as the sequester.  I hope that by averting the shutdown, Congress can come together to work on passing comprehensive, long-term appropriations bills that will eliminate sequestration and promote jobs and economic growth.”

Congressman Smith Statement on Japan’s Request for Membership in TPP Negotiations

March 15, 2013

Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee made the following statement after the announcement that Japan will request membership in Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations:
 
“Japan’s interest in joining negotiations is a major step toward expanding the economic reach of TPP, which negotiators are already seeking to shape into an ambitious and comprehensive 21st Century agreement.  Japan is a major economic partner and strategic ally in a geopolitically essential part of the world. There are remaining issues that the Administration has raised and, while progress has been made, I would encourage both governments to dedicate themselves to resolving these legitimate issues.  
 
“The countries of the Asia Pacific region will continue to be essential strategic partners in the future.  It is in our national interest to engage this fast-growing region and deepen our relations through regional and bilateral diplomacy, increased military engagement, and improved economic relations.
“If done right, TPP will promote innovation, high labor standards, help small and medium sized businesses participate, and allow our country and the Pacific Northwest to more actively compete in international markets.  Nearly 40 percent of jobs in Washington State are trade related, and by potentially reducing barriers for U.S. goods to this region, exporters will have greater access to markets and opportunities for growth.  I will continue to monitor TPP negotiations as they advance to ensure that our trade partnerships are the best deal for the American people.”

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Ranking Member Smith Statement on Air Mobility Command’s Rodeo Cancellation

March 13, 2013

Today, the U.S. Air Force announced that the Air Mobility Command’s (AMC) biennial Rodeo readiness competition has been cancelled this year because of budget shortfalls.  The event would have been held at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in July.   Congressman Adam Smith released the following statement after the cancellation was announced:

“The AMC’s Rodeo competition at JBLM is a great event that includes airlift, air-refueling, aeromedical evacuation, aerial port, and maintenance crews competing against one another in many mission-related competitions.   It is very disappointing that this training event has been cancelled, but I understand the decision since mission-essential requirements are prioritized over events like these,” said House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith.  “This represents a real example of how the fiscal uncertainty and across-the-board cuts of sequestration are negatively impacting Washington State.  Congress has a responsibility to the American people to address our fiscal issues in a balanced and effective way, and I will continue to work to that end.”

Over 20 U.S. and a dozen allied nations teams were planning to attend AMC’s 2013 Rodeo event at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.  For more information, see the U.S. Air Force’s Air Mobility Command press release here.     

Congressman Smith Statement on the Republican Budget

March 12, 2013

Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09) made the following statement regarding the release of the Republican budget:

“Instead of finding a balanced, comprehensive approach to dealing with our deficit right now, the Republican budget introduced today radically reforms Medicare by cutting benefits and turning the system into a voucher program, slashes investments in education and worker training programs for working class families, and fails to raise a penny of revenue.  It is intolerable to make these severe cuts without raising any revenues.

“Over the last decade, spending has significantly increased while revenue has been cut leaving us with a deficit around $1 trillion.  This is not a recipe for fiscal responsibility.  We have a deficit problem that must be addressed, and we need to find savings in all areas of government, but we cannot simply cut our way to a balanced budget.

“Without raising revenues, Medicare, Medicaid, Social security, education, transportation, and other essential programs will face deep, destabilizing cuts.  I support raising the revenue necessary to protect these programs.  By taking an all-cuts approach to deficit reduction, the Republican budget burdens seniors with cuts to health benefits, deeply cuts essential programs for millions of underserved families, and limits national growth by undermining the investment to our national priorities.  This is not fiscal responsibility.  

“I hope the House Budget Committee can come together and put forward a balanced approach that responsibly reduces our deficit by making strategic cuts in mandatory and discretionary spending, while also raising revenues.  Congress has a responsibility to the American people to address our fiscal issues in a balanced and effective way, which the Republican budget does not offer.”
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