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Smith Applauds Passage of Legislation to Assist Homeless Veterans

July 9, 2008

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) today helped pass legislation to expand housing assistance and supportive services for homeless veterans.  H.R.3329, the Homes for Heroes Act, which Smith cosponsored, overwhelmingly passed by a vote of 412-19.

“It is an absolute shame that after years of faithful service to their country, thousands of veterans spend their nights sleeping on the streets or are under the constant threat of becoming homeless. We must do more to support these individuals who served their country. This bill is a step in the right direction to ensure our veterans receive the support and services they need,” Smith said.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 400,000 veterans are homeless at some point during the year, with nearly 200,000 homeless on any given night. This makes up a quarter of the entire homeless population of the United States. Many more low income veterans and their families live at the margins and are at risk of becoming homeless in the absence of permanent housing solutions and supportive services. In fact, 1.5 million veterans have incomes that fall below the federal poverty level, including 634,000 with incomes below 50 percent of the poverty line.

Specifically, the Homes for Heroes Act:

  • Authorizes $200 million for an assistance program at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for supportive housing and services for low-income veterans.
  • Directs HUD to provide at least 20,000 rental vouchers a year for homeless veterans.
  • Establishes the position of Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs within HUD to coordinate and oversee the Department’s assistance programs for veterans.
  • Requires HUD to submit a comprehensive annual report to Congress on the housing needs of homeless veterans and the steps HUD has taken under the programs provided for in this bill.

The Senate must now consider H.R. 3329 before the President can sign it into law.

Pledges Close Scrutinty of New Process

July 9, 2008

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) today issued the following statement regarding Secretary of Defense Robert Gates’ announcement that the Pentagon will re-open bidding for the acquisition of 179 new Air Force refueling tankers:
 
“The Pentagon made the right decision – and the only reasonable one – to correct the Air Force’s mistakes and re-compete the tanker contract.  The GAO’s investigation made clear that the original acquisition process was unfair and disadvantaged Boeing’s bid in several respects.  I hope this will mean that Boeing and our Washington State workers will get a fair shot at the new contract, but I’ll be watching this new process carefully to make sure that’s the case.”

Smith Secures Funds for Local Law Enforcement and Crime Mitigation Projects

July 3, 2008

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) applauded the House Appropriations Committee’s approval last week of the Fiscal Year 2009 Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations bill, which included funding for several critical law enforcement and justice assistance projects in the 9th District. 

The committee approved $300,000 for the Digital Information Gathering System (DIGS), requested by the King County Sherriff’s Office.  The DIGS project will facilitate integration of records and information between all 49 municipal police departments, sheriffs offices, and other law enforcement agencies and will promote enhanced information sharing, data accessibility, and communications.

Also approved by the committee was $250,000 for the Rainier Communications Commission’s Wireless Public Safety and Emergency Response Network.  This network will improve interoperable communications for public safety and emergency management purposes and directly aid local law enforcement and first responders in Pierce County.

“Funding for the King County DIGS project and the Rainier Public Safety Network will help provide our local law enforcement officials with needed technology support to better respond to public safety threats and emergencies,” Smith said.

Smith also helped secure funding for important justice assistance programs that reduce and prevent crime as well as provide support and assistance to victims.

The Appropriations Committee designated $500,000 for the Crystal Judson Family Justice Center to fund their heavily-utilized civil legal services and the child-focused Stepping Stones program, both of which serve adult and child victims of violence.  The committee approved $1,100,000 for the Washington State Methamphetamine Initiative to tackle the problems of manufacture, distribution, and use of methamphetamine.  The committee also approved $1,000,000 for the Pierce County Regional Gang Prevention Initiative, which enables enhanced community-oriented policing activities and outreach to youths and families impacted by drugs, violence, and gangs. 

“These funds will support critical local  programs that prevent drug abuse, crime, and violence and aid victims and affected communities.”

The CJS bill now awaits consideration by the full House and reconciliation with the Senate before it can be signed into law by the President.

Smith Secures Funds for WA State Biofuels, Power Grid Research

July 3, 2008

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) applauded the House Appropriations Committee’s approval last week of funding for two critical energy research projects at universities in Washington State.  The committee approved $500,000 which Smith requested to expand research capabilities at the Center for Biofuels at the University of Washington to facilitate development of new biomass conversion technologies.  The committee also approved $500,000 for research on power grid instability and insecurity and the development of modern “smart grid” technology at Washington State University.
 
“The Center for Biofuels is already completing research that will help Washington  This additional funding will allow them to purchase equipment and expand vital research on converting biomass into fuels,” Smith said. state become a leader in alternative energy.
 
 “Also of critical importance is ensuring that our regional and national power grids are stable and secure.  This funding will help WSU researchers develop smart-grid technology to better protect consumers’ access to the electricity we all rely on,” Smith said.
 
Smith also helped secure funding for the following regional projects:
 
 • $250,000 for the Lower Puyallup River Alternatives Study, which would determine alternatives for addressing flood and related habitat issues of the Lower Puyallup River in Pierce County, Wash.; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
 
• $300,000 for the Puget Sound and Adjacent Waters Restoration to identify and fund important restoration opportunities in the Puget Sound Basin, which can benefit various federally listed species; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
 
• $600,000 million for the Puget Sound Nearshore Marine Habitat Restoration program. This funding will be used to evaluate causes for habitat decline and pollution in the Puget Sound Basin; formulate, evaluate and screen potential solutions to these problems; and recommend a series of actions and projects; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
 
• $1 million for the Duwamish / Green Ecosystem Restoration Project, which provides critical environmental improvements and includes assisting in the recovery of Endangered Species Act federally-listed Chinook salmon; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (King County).
 
• $4.107 million for the Mud Mountain Dam on the White River.  Funding would be used for both construction and operations and maintenance on the Dam, to enable the Corps of Engineers to meet existing and future fish passage responsibilities; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
 
The funds were included in the appropriations bill for energy and water projects for fiscal year 2009, approved by the House Appropriations Committee last week.  The bill now awaits consideration by the full House and reconciliation with the Senate before it can be signed into law by the President.
 

Smith Secures $8.6 million for McChord Cyber-Warfare Center

June 25, 2008

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) today applauded the House Appropriations Committee’s approval of the $8.6 million he requested to build a new cyber-warfare facility for use by the Washington State Air National Guard’s 262nd Information Warfare Aggressor Squadron (IWAS) at McChord Air Force Base.

“This Washington State Air National Guard squadron is at the cutting edge of protecting U.S. national security in today’s high-tech world. I am proud to have these cyber warriors - most of whom have civilian day jobs at local tech companies - here in the Puget Sound area. They need this new facility as the squadron takes on a more prominent role in America’s cyber-security efforts,” Smith said.

The work of the 262nd IWAS involves a range of cyber-security missions, including replicating the cyber-attack capabilities of potential adversaries to the U.S.  The $8.6 million that Smith secured will fund the construction of a state-of-the-art training and operational facility for the 262nd IWAS at McChord Air Force Base. The facility will house classrooms and multiple, highly secured computer networks, and a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) for the storage of Top Secret information. The current facility is a Korean War-era building without adequate space or security protections.

The funds were included in the appropriations bill for military construction and veterans affairs, approved by the House Appropriations Committee yesterday.  The bill will be considered by the full House of Representatives next month.
 

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