House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith released the following statement on the Supreme Court cases reviewing Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act this week:

“No couple should be denied the right to marry and build a life together based on love, commitment, and mutual support.  That is why I am a strong supporter of repealing the so-called “Defense Of Marriage Act.” I will continue to fight for the equal treatment and protection of all LGBT people and their families.  This February, I introduced the Military Spouses Equal Treatment Act, and I will work with my colleagues to pass this bill that would allow equal standing for same-sex spouses of our servicemembers.

“The progress that has been made toward full marriage equality over the past decade is remarkable, but we have not reached our goal just yet.  Marriage equality would be a critical step in recognizing the worth and dignity of our LGBT community.  We must also be aware of and protect bullied teens, aggressively prosecute bias-based crimes, and fight against all prejudice whether it be based on a person’s sexual identity or expression of gender, or ethnicity, religion, sex, age or ability.  I am committed to moving forward and making sure equality is a reality for all Americans.”

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.”