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Congressman Adam Smith Announces Federal Education Grants

July 12, 2004

Congressman Adam Smith (D-Tacoma) is pleased to announce that the Clover Park school district, the Renton school district and the Highline school district have received funding through the federal Smaller Learning Communities Program. The purpose of the program is to promote academic achievement through the planning, implementation or expansion of small, safe and successful learning environments in large public high schools.

“This funding is an important step in continuing to fund our public education system,” said Smith. “This funding will help ensure that all students graduate with the knowledge and skills necessary to make successful transitions to college and careers.”

The grants range from $149,000 to more than $1.2 million and will be issued over a one to three-year period. The grants will be used to implement smaller learning programs at large public high schools and will be used to implement programs that will go towards improving student achievement levels in math and reading.
 

Congressman Adam Smith Statement on Iraqi Sovereignty

June 28, 2004

Congressman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) made the following statement today on the handover of power in Iraq:

“I am pleased that the transfer of sovereignty to the interim Iraqi government has been completed.  There is clearly a great deal of work ahead and it is my sincere hope that the Iraqi leadership will rise to this challenge and create a better nation for the Iraqi people.  Right now, it is important that the United States and its NATO and Coalition allies continue to have a presence in the country in order to support the Iraqi security forces that will provide the level of security and stability needed for democracy to take hold.  We have made our mission in Iraq a priority and, although continued violence remains likely, we must continue to support our troops by providing them with the proper equipment and training necessary for them to be successful in their mission.”

 

Smith Returns from Trip to Iraq; Vistis Troops, Leaders

June 14, 2004

The following statement by Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) follows his recent trip to Iraq over the past weekend:

“I recently returned from a trip to visit our troops in Iraq.  I met with our military’s top leaders in the region and I was also able to meet with some of the soldiers, Marines and airmen from Washington state. They are doing a great job and we should make every effort to support them.

One common thread that I heard over and over again is the strain that is being placed upon our troops as their deployments stretch out longer and longer. This is a strain on both our troops and their families back at home. We need to take action to reduce the enormous strain that our operations in Iraq have placed on our service members, including those in the Guard and Reserve.  As I have witnessed first hand in Iraq, we have a dramatic need to increase the number of troops in our active duty military. If we’re going to continue to be actively engaged around the world, we must make sure we have enough active duty members to support our missions.

We also cannot afford to abandon our reconstruction efforts in Iraq. In order to ensure that Iraq will not reemerge as a destabilizing force in the Middle East, we must establish security there and help Iraqis build the foundations for a democracy. To pull out of Iraq at this point would leave a shattered country in the hands of whichever militant group is able to establish control and suppress the Iraqi people. As we have seen in Afghanistan and elsewhere, unstable countries in which people lack basic freedoms are the most likely to become breeding grounds for terrorism. Without question, leaving Iraq in this condition would create an even graver threat to our security and that of our allies in the region.

In my role on both the House Armed Services and International Relations Committees, I will continue to support our mission in Iraq and will keep working to make sure we effectively address the challenges that arise in its reconstruction. First and foremost, though, we must continually remember ours sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, friends and neighbors who are on the front lines, throughout the world in this War on Terror. They deserve our constant attention and we must show them all of the support that we can offer.”

Smith Pleased With Announcement of Boeing's Contract for the U.S. Navy's Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft

June 14, 2004

Congressman Adam Smith (D-Wash) is pleased with today’s announcement that the Boeing Co. has been awarded a $3.9 billion cost-plus-award-fee contract to develop the U.S. Navy’s Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA).

“I’m excited that the Boeing Company, in particular, the Boeing plant in Renton, will play a large role in the development and manufacturing of this new aircraft,” said Smith. “Our Navy has played an important role in the War on Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan and the MMA will replace our aging P-3 Orion fleet.  With the development of this aircraft in the Puget Sound region, this will be a boost to our local economy and bring much needed economic relief to the entire region. ”

The MMA offers a modern, highly reliable airframe which will be equipped with improved maritime surveillance and attack capability, allowing a smaller force to provide worldwide responsiveness while potentially on a smaller support infrastructure.  MMA will be a key component in the Navy’s Sea Power 21 Sea Shield concept by providing persistent anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare capabilities, supporting Sea Power 21’s Sea Strike doctrine through provisions of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.  The platform will also play a key role in the Navy’s FORCEnet architecture via development of the common undersea picture.  These operational capabilities will be key factors in providing a sustained forward presence, sea domination, and distributed and networked intelligence.
 

Smith Names New Scheduler/Office Manager and Field Representative

June 9, 2004

Today, Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA) announced that Katie Kuciemba will be his new scheduler and office manager in his Washington, D.C. office and Scott Heinze will be a new field representative in his district office in Tacoma, Washington.

Kuciemba joins Smith’s office after working at Quinn Gillespie & Associates where she was the executive assistant to Jack Quinn. Prior to her move to Washington, D.C., Kuciemba worked in the Office of Community Outreach for Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. She has also served as the legislative assistant to Washington state Senator Jeri Costa. Katie, a native of Federal Way, is a graduate of the University of Washington.

Heinze joins Smith’s District office in Tacoma after recently working as the assistant director of outreach for Kent Youth & Family Services. Prior to this position, Heinze worked as a consultant and coordinator in the Parks & Recreation field and as the executive director of a non-profit organization.  He also has spent six years working as a park officer for the City of Spokane and as a police officer for the City of Tukwila.

Heinze will primarily focus on education, law and justice issues, the environment and health care. Heinze is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.

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