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Smith Statement on the Debt Limit Vote

January 23, 2013

House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (WA-09) released the following statement after he opposed H.R. 325, the “No Budget, No Pay Act”:

"Rather than increasing the debt limit in a long-term way that would provide certainty and stability for our economy, the legislation passed by the House of Representatives simply punts the debt limit issue until May.  By choosing to delay addressing our debt limit in a serious way, we only make matters worse.

“The debt limit allows the U.S. government to pay back its debts and in no way increases our spending.  Not being able to find long-term solutions to our debt limit will only prevent the U.S. from being able to pay back our debts – not reduce our deficits. Congress and the American people need to be serious about reducing our deficits by cutting spending and increasing revenue. The proposal passed today fails to get us on a path to fiscal security. “

Congressman Smith Statement on Observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 21, 2013

Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09) made the following statement in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day:

"Today, we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day by remembering Dr. King's commitment and tireless efforts to provide every American with equal rights and opportunities. His courage, compassion, and inspiration continue to make our nation better.

"Although our country has made strides, we have not fully achieved Dr. King's dream. Too many children still have unequal access to a good education and adequate healthcare. On this important day, we must honor Dr. King's legacy by continuing the fight for equality."

Congressman Smith Statement on President's Plan to Reduce Gun Violence

January 16, 2013

House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (WA-09) released the following statement after President Obama announced his proposal to reduce gun violence:

“America is facing an epidemic of gun violence.  We need to find a comprehensive approach that improves access to mental health services, closes loopholes in background check requirements, and bans military-style and excessively violent assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.   

“Today, the President offered an initial plan to reduce and prevent gun violence through executive actions.  It is now Congress’ turn to act to create lasting reforms that keep our communities safe.  As part of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, I will work with my colleagues to review the President’s plan, as well as other proposals, to put policies in place that protect our children and communities while maintaining the rights granted by the Second Amendment.“

Congressman Smith Statement on Fairchild AFB as Finalist for KC-46A

January 9, 2013

Today, the Air Force announced that Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington State is a final candidate to serve as a base for the KC-46A aerial refueling tanker.  The base is a candidate for the first Main Operating Base, which will host three KC-46A squadrons of twelve aircraft each beginning in 2016.  House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (WA-09) released the following statement after the announcement:

“I am pleased to see Fairchild Air Force Base included in the list of final candidates to host KC-46A,” Smith said. “Fairchild has played a critical part in our nation’s aerial refueling effort with the KC-135, and it is my hope that it will continue to do so with the next generation of aerial refueling tankers.”

After identifying the basing criteria in April 2012, the Air Force examined military installations across the country to select the candidates for the first two operational bases for KC-46A.  In addition to Fairchild Air Force Base, the other candidates for the first Main Operating Base announced by the Air Force include Altus Air Force Base, OK; Grand Forks Air Force Base, ND; and McConnell Air Force Base, KS. The Air Force will conduct site surveys of the candidate installations before announcing the preferred and alternative bases in April 2013. A final basing decision is expected to be made by the Air Force in Spring 2014.

On May 16, 2012, Congressman Smith signed a letter with local Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers and the rest of the Washington State Congressional Delegation to Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, encouraging the Air Force to base KC-46A at Fairchild. The letter detailed Fairchild’s capacity to accommodate the tanker and its success with previous aerial refueling efforts.

Smith Statement on the Fiscal Cliff Agreement

January 2, 2013

Congressman Adam Smith released the following statement on the passage of the H.R. 8, the fiscal cliff agreement:

"I voted against the fiscal cliff deal because it left too much uncertainty for government programs, lacked a realistic path towards deficit reduction, and fell short in providing necessary revenues to effectively move towards fiscal responsibility.

"The legislation leaves far too much uncertainty on government spending. Sequestration still looms, it was simply delayed two months, and the debt ceiling was not addressed.  As the Ranking Member on the Armed Services Committee, I am concerned that our Department of Defense once again faces a situation where they do not know how much money they will have to spend, and the very real possibility of indiscriminate across-the-board cuts just two months from now.  I am also concerned that all other areas of discretionary spending--education, transportation, infrastructure, housing, and more--face this same crippling uncertainty.  I recognize that defense and other areas of spending will face cuts, but we should be clear on what those cuts will be and they need to be more thoughtful than the blind across-the-board approach of sequestration.

"Second, the deal did nothing to address our long term debt and deficit problems.  No grand bargain was reached that could help our economy right now by giving some clear picture of what our ten-year plan is to achieve some measure of fiscal responsibility.  I understand that our current situation means that balancing the budget in that ten-year period is not a wise policy decision.  But we should at least have something in place that shows we will keep the debt at a manageable level.  This bill failed to do that.

"And third, not only did this bill fail to offer that ten-year plan, it made getting to a reasonable ten-year plan far more difficult by making permanent 90 percent of the Bush Tax Cuts.  By not allowing those tax cuts to expire, and then making them permanent, we took $3.5 Trillion of revenue off the table. This will lead to one of two results, both of which I am strongly against. Either our debt will climb over 100 percent of GDP or we will have to make devastating cuts in vital programs like Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid, education, transportation, and more.  

"We face very tough choices right now.  Our economy is weak, and our debt is substantial and growing by nearly one trillion dollars a year with no end in sight.  There are no easy answers.  But continuing to take an approach that delays addressing the fundamental choices we face will only make matters worse."

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