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Murray, Cantwell, Dicks, Smith Announce $50 Million OEA Grant for Schools on JBLM

June 25, 2012

Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and U.S. Representatives Norm Dicks (R-WA-06) and Adam Smith (D-WA-09) announced that the U.S. Department of Defense’s Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) will award two grants totaling $46,485,468 to the Clover Park School District (CPSD), in Lakewood, to replace two elementary schools on Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

According to OEA, these awards will remedy the capacity and/or facility condition deficiencies that placed Hillside and Carter Lake Elementary Schools as the second and fifth schools on the July 2011 Deputy Secretary of Defense “Public Schools on Military Installations Priority List”.  

These awards are from the $500 million program authorized by Section 8109 of Public Law 112-10, the DoD and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011, and Section 8118 of Public Law 112-74, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012, to construct, renovate, repair or expand public schools located on military installations. OEA, in making these funds available, must give priority consideration to those military installations with schools having the most serious capacity or facility condition deficiencies, as determined by the Priority List.

A multi-disciplined Federal Evaluation Team, with membership from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, the Military Services, U.S. Department of Education, and the Office of Economic Adjustment, conducted a review of these projects to ensure these awards were appropriate for the noted capacity and facility deficiencies.

“This is great news for the schools and for the entire JBLM community,” said Senator Patty Murray. “This is a critical investment in the public school system for the base.  These grants will help ensure that the children of our servicemembers have a top-notch school facilities.”

“This new investment for Joint Base Lewis-McChord is great news for military families and their children in school,” said Senator Maria Cantwell. “The new facilities for Hillside and Carter Lake Elementary schools will ensure that children at JBLM have the tools they need to excel. I was proud to join Representatives Norm Dicks and Adam Smith, and Senator Patty Murray in supporting this critical investment.” 

“The release of these funds today allows for the replacement of the Hillside and Carter Lake schools, which will be followed in succeeding years by the reconstruction of four more schools that the Army has determined are substandard.  This is great progress,” said Representative Norm Dicks, ranking Democratic Member of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. 

 "This is an overdue and critical start for the replacement of two of the five aging schools at JBLM," said Representative Adam Smith, Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee. "All students in our community deserve the highest quality education and first-rate facilities. This money will ensure the children at JBLM receive both."

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Smith Statement on Supreme Court Ruling on Arizona Immigration Law

June 25, 2012

Congressman Smith (WA-09) released the following statement after the Supreme Court's ruling on the Arizona immigration law:

"While I am pleased with the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down key provisions of Arizona’s immigration law, the remaining provision makes it clear that more must be done to address critical issues within our immigration system. I am disappointed that the Supreme Court decided to uphold the "Show Me Your Papers" provision of Arizona's immigration law. Unfortunately, this provision allows local law enforcement to rely on racial profiling, and no individual should fear being unfairly questioned by authorities solely based on their appearance or the color of their skin.

"However, the court's decision to strike down the remaining provisions that would have unjustly detained or punished innocent individuals, families and workers is an important step forward. Criminalizing unauthorized employment and allowing for warrantless arrests violates fundamental civil rights while failing to address the deeper flaws within our current immigration system. The court's ruling also makes it clear that it is the responsibility of the federal government, not states, to enforce immigration laws in this country.

"Immigration enforcement should focus our limited resources on those who pose risk to our national security and public safety, rather than those who are actively contributing to our society. I will continue working with my colleagues and the Obama Administration on comprehensive immigration reform that addresses our national security and economic needs while protecting the civil and human rights that are paramount to maintaining equality of opportunity in America.”

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Smith Statement on Obama Administration Directive on DREAM-Eligible Youth

June 15, 2012

Congressman Smith (WA-09 ) made the following statement on the decision by the Obama Administration to protect DREAM-eligible youth from deportation:

"The President's announcement today provides relief for undocumented individuals and is a significant step in ensuring we apply our immigration laws fairly.  Often, these children were brought here through no choice of their own.  Now, as young adults, they pose no threat to our national security or public safety, and deserve a chance to continue contributing to society and to work at achieving their American dream.

"I commend the President for his action today, but the deferred relief extended to these young adults is only temporary. I urge my colleagues in Congress to pass the DREAM Act into law and move forward with comprehensive immigration reform to ensure we provide a suitable path to citizenship and equal opportunity for those who have only known this country as their home."

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Smith Statement on President Obama’s Remarks on the Economy

June 14, 2012

Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09) made this statement following President Obama’s remarks on the economy:
“Recent discussions about the economy outlined today reflect sharp contrasts in visions for our economic future.

“Republicans have historically favored a top-down, trickle-down approach to economic recovery and growth that relies heavily upon indiscriminately cutting taxes, slashing regulatory safeguards, and trusting corporations to do what is necessary for the well-being of Americans.  This approach has been tried time and again, most recently during the last Bush Administration, and has simply not worked.  As a result, our country suffered a financial system breakdown and continues to suffer from the effects of a deep and painful economic recession that has hurt millions of American families.

“Now, Republicans are proposing we try this failed approach again. Our country needs a recovery that is focused on and driven by the middle class.  Only when American families are once again able to purchase what they need and are able to more fully participate in the demand-based economy, will we see a strengthening of our country.

“To achieve this, sound public policies that support individuals and enable them to achieve more from their work are necessary. Businesses must be encouraged to hire, innovate, and remain globally competitive so they can create opportunities for workers to be hired into well-paying and rewarding jobs.  The only way this can happen is through policies that enable us to enact fair and efficient tax reform, improve our transportation infrastructure, education and worker training systems, promote the sale of U.S. products and services abroad, and ensure that economic security and fairness remain our top priorities.”

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Smith Statement on LGBT Pride Month

June 1, 2012

Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09), made the following statement today in celebration of LGBT Pride month, which is celebrated during the month of June:

“This June, we celebrate our lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities and recognize their resilience in the pursuit of complete equality under the law. This is an important time in the history of our country’s LGBT community. While we’ve made great strides toward full marriage equality, the awareness and protection of bullied teens, and aggressive prosecution of bias-based crimes, there is still much more to do to ensure every individual is granted equal and fair treatment within their community.

“The LGBT community’s pursuit of liberty reminds us that we all have a stake in protecting the equal rights and freedom of every person in our nation.  While we celebrate our diversity this June,   I hope we also take time to think about how we continue moving forward in making all parts of the American dream everyone’s reality.”

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