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Early this morning, the House of Representatives passed legislation to provide Trade Promotion Authority and expand health care and unemployment assistance to workers dislocated by global competition. For the first time ever, Trade Adjustment Assistance includes a new health care benefit for laid-off workers and doubles funding for job training. The trade package also extends eligibility for both health care and job training to "downstream" workers - for example, suppliers to factories that have shut down - and workers whose factories have relocated overseas.
Tonight, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed legislation authorizing the creation of the new Department of Homeland Security, effectively strengthening our nation's response to the war on terrorism. Congressman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) issued the following statement after the 295-132 vote:
"Today I am proud to join with my colleagues in the House to pass landmark legislation creating a new Department of Homeland Security.
Today, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed tough corporate reform legislation to create a strong, independent oversight board, increase civil and criminal penalties on corporate wrongdoers. Congressman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) issued the following statement today after the 412-3 vote to approve the House-Senate conference report on corporate reform:
"Today's passage of the Public Company Accounting Reform and Investor Protection Act is an important step forward in restoring investor confidence in our economy.
Last night, the House voted to pass the Supplemental Appropriations bill, which designated $28.9 billion for emergency purposes. Among the projects deemed "emergency spending" were the conversion of Washington D.C.'s metro system fare vending machines to accept one dollar coins and mail service in rural Alaska. Controversial language providing trade protections for two textile states was also included in this bill. The Supplement also contained funds to make up for the President's cuts to important, ongoing government programs like Pell Grants and medical care for Veterans.
Today, the House rejected an attempt to reverse normal trade relations with Vietnam. The following is a statement from Congressman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) on his support for continuing trade relations with Vietnam.
At a forum today on the uninsured crisis in America, Congressman Adam Smith (D-09, Tacoma) called on Congress to take action to help states deal with the ballooning numbers of uninsured individuals.
The forum offered a look at the nation's pending uninsured crisis, discussed ways in which small businesses in Washington can provide coverage to their employees at reasonable cost and presented both long- and short-term strategies to combat the problem.
Congressman Adam Smith (D-09, Tacoma) will spend July 1st talking with Seniors about problems with the Medicare program and describing some of his proposals to begin to address them. Some topics that Smith is likely to discuss during the day include the current decline in access to doctors, hospitals, nurses and home health care for seniors on Medicare in Washington state; rising prescription drug costs and lack of generics in the marketplace; and his "MediFAIR" bill, calling for fairness in national Medicare reimbursement rates. The following is the schedule of events for the day:
Congressman Adam Smith (D-09, Tacoma) will host a forum on July 2 to open a dialogue about how to ensure that every Washingtonian has access to quality health care. With the state currently in an economic downturn, it is more important than ever to make sure that people are getting the help they need and aren't falling through the cracks in the system.
Of the 43 million uninsured Americans, seven out of every ten have a connection to the workplace and beginning to address the problem by making employer-sponsored health coverage more affordable and more accessible makes sense.
New Democrat Coalition (NDC) co-chair Congressman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) today joined other NDC members to unveil the group's "e-genda 2002." The annually released document is the NDC's comprehensive technology policy agenda, outlining goals and priorities for the coming year.
On June 22, Congressman Adam Smith (D-Tacoma) will host a town hall meeting in Auburn with interested district residents to talk about transportation issues in the state. All district residents are invited join him for an open dialogue on this and other important community issues ' including the economy, energy, tax cuts and education.