News

Congressman Adam Smith (D-Tacoma) announced today that Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and United States Fire Administration (USFA) have awarded SeaTac City Fire Department a grant through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program for Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety. The department is a first time applicant for federal funding and will use the funds to purchase mobile data computers for their fire engines.

On January 10th, Congressman Adam Smith (D-Tacoma) and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) led members of the Northwest Congressional delegation in a letter to Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) Administrator Steve Wright and Northwest Power Planning Council Chairman Larry Cassidy in support of renewable energy and energy efficiency. The letter attracted the support of all 11 members of the Washington state delegation as well as four other Northwest lawmakers - Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, and Oregon Reps. Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, and Darlene Hooley.

On Wednesday January 15, Congressman Adam Smith (D-Tacoma) will meet with his Technology Advisory Council to discuss several issues that will come up in the new legislative session, including the tax and stimulus plans, homeland security implementation, privacy policies, copyright law and digital rights management, broadband policy (both tax incentives and national plan), cybersecurity and spectrum relocation.

Congressman Adam Smith (D-Tacoma) released the following statement today on the passage of 13 additional weeks of federally funded benefits to jobless workers who have exhausted their 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits. S. 23, the Unemployment Insurance Benefits Extension Act provides jobless workers in all states who exhaust their 26 weeks of regular benefits between now and the end of May with an additional 13 weeks of benefits.

Congressman Adam Smith (D-Tacoma) released the following statement today on the economy in light of both the Republican economic "stimulus" package introduced by the president and the rules for the federal budget introduced by the Republican House Leadership for the coming session.

Unable to attend today's funeral due to the House of Representatives' voting calendar, Congressman Adam Smith (D-Tacoma) issued the following statement on the death of Tacoma resident and friend, Brownie Braunsteiner:

"I would like to offer my condolences to Brownie Braunsteiner's family. This is a hard day for all of us; Brownie will be missed.

Pierce College in Lakewood will be one of 12 new colleges and universities to begin offering on-line courses in 2003 through eArmyU, the U.S. Army's largest e-learning virtual university program with more than 30,000 enrolled soldiers. Pierce College will be one of 32 institutions of higher education offering on-line college level courses to U.S. Army personnel throughout the world, according to IBM Business Consulting Services, which operates eArmyU. Pierce College is the only education institute in Washington state to partner with IBM to help the U.S.

Congressman Adam Smith (D-Tacoma) announced today that Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and United States Fire Administration (USFA) have awarded Central Pierce Fire and Rescue and the Pierce County Fire District No. 11 grants through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program for Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety. Both fire units are first-time applicants for federal funding and both received extraordinary award packages from FEMA to purchase new and safer equipment.