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Smith Talks With Seniors And Health Care Professionals About Needed Health Care Reforms

August 23, 2002

On Wednesday August 28, Congressman Adam Smith (D-Tacoma) will talk with seniors and health care professionals about problems with our health care system and describe some of his proposals to begin to address them.  

Congressman Adam Smith believes that we need a long-term solution to our health care problems.  Currently, there is a decline in access to doctors, hospitals, nurses and home health care for seniors on Medicare in Washington state and prescription drug costs are rising dramatically, while generics are not getting into the marketplace quickly.  

The reality is that we have a ‘perfect storm’ brewing: health care inflation is rising quickly, and, as the baby boomers retire, we will face simultaneously the influx of seniors into the program and dramatically rising health care costs.  Fundamental reforms are needed that focus on healthy outcomes, gives seniors health care options, provides coverage for prescription drugs, and ensures the program is viable for future generations.  

Members of the media are invited to attend both the Firs Retirement Community meeting and the visit to Valley Medical Center.  For further information on the meetings or to speak with Smith during the day, please contact Katharine Lister at (202) 226-8454.

1:00p.m. – 2:00p.m.  
Address to the Firs Retirement Community about health care, prescription drugs, Medicaid, Medicare and reimbursement rates and Smith’s MediFair Bill.
Where: Firs Retirement Community 
426 Lilly Road NE, Olympia

5:00p.m. – 6:00p.m.  
Visit with Valley Medical Center to discuss a variety of health care issues with representatives from Washington State Hospital Association, SEIU and Washington Citizen Action. 
Where: Valley Medical Center, Renton

Smith To Meet With Rainier's Elected and Community Leaders On Tuesday, August 27

August 23, 2002

On Tuesday, August 27, Congressman Adam Smith (D-09) will be in Rainier to meet with the some of the City’s elected and community leaders. 

The lunchtime conversation will concentrate primarily on events and concerns in Rainier, but Congressman Smith will also speak briefly about the current state of affairs in Congress, including new developments in legislation on health care, transportation, veterans affairs, homeland security and the war on terrorism.  

Members of the media are invited and encouraged to attend the lunch with Rainier’s leaders.  Please contact Katharine Lister at (202) 226-8454 to RSVP or for further information on the meeting.

12:00p.m. – 1:30p.m. 
Lunch with City of Rainier leaders.  Invitees include Mayor O’Dell, City Councilmembers, Fire Chief Rita Hutchison, Pastor Rex Niblack, Superintendent Jerry Black and Public Works Director Ron Gibson.
Where: Rainier City Hall, Rainier.

Smith To Meet With Yelm's Elected And Community Leaders On Tuesday, August 27

August 22, 2002

On Tuesday, August 27, Congressman Adam Smith (D-09) will be in Yelm to meet with the Yelm Chamber of Commerce and then for a roundtable meeting with Yelm’s elected and community leaders. 

The Yelm Chamber of Commerce has invited Congressman Smith to talk about the current state of affairs in Congress and to update them on issues of concern to the Yelm area including health care, transportation, veterans affairs, homeland security and the war on terrorism.  

After the Chamber meeting, Congressman Smith has invited elected and community leaders for a conversation about the current state of affairs in Yelm.  He will also get a brief update on the Y3 project from city staff.  

Members of the media are invited and encouraged to attend both the Chamber meeting and the roundtable with Yelm’s leaders.  For further information or to speak with Smith during the day, please contact Katharine Lister at (202) 226-8454.

9:00a.m. – 10:30a.m.  
Meeting with the Yelm Chamber of Commerce
Where: Nisqually Valley Moose Lodge, Yelm 

10:30a.m. – 11:30a.m. 
Meeting with elected and community leaders from Yelm.  Invitees include Mayor Rivas, City Councilmembers, State Rep. Richard DeBolt (20th District), Police Chief Todd Stancil, County Commissioner Diane Oberquell, Superintendent of Schools Alan Burke, Sheriff Gary Edwards, Yelm Chamber of Commerce President Glen Cunningham, Yelm Senior Center Director Fran Sherrill and city staff.
Where: Yelm City Hall, City Council Chambers
105 Yelm Avenue West, Yelm

Smith Announces Additional Funds To Fight Crime In Federal Way

August 22, 2002

Congressman Adam Smith (D-Tacoma) announced today that the City of Federal Way was awarded a grant through the Department of Justice to purchase information technology to help streamline administrative and clerical duties for law enforcement officers, giving them more time to patrol local streets and neighborhoods.   
“This grant will provide critical support to Federal Way’s law enforcement personnel and help give them the tools they need to fight crime more effectively,” Smith said.  “As a former prosecutor, I've seen firsthand the devastating impact crime has on communities and this is one of the ways Congress can be an effective partner with local and state law enforcement to combat crime.  This was a very competitive grant process and in receiving the award Federal Way successfully demonstrated both their vision for more effective community policing and the compelling need for strengthened law enforcement in the area to ensure the safety and well-being of our families.” 

The grant was awarded through the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Making Officer Redeployment Effective (MORE) program, created under the 1994 Crime Bill.  Federal Way received $138,900 to purchase department computers, mobile computing units, computer-aided dispatch systems, automated booking and automated fingerprint identification systems.  The grant will help the Federal Way Police Department address officer safety issues and improve services they provide to the community.

 

Smith To Talk With Community Leaders About Getting Economy Back On Track With Fiscal Discipline

August 20, 2002

On Friday August 23, Congressman Adam Smith (D-Tacoma) will speak with the Des Moines Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club of Lakewood about using fiscal discipline to get our economy back on track.    
 
Last month the Office of Management and Budget revealed that projected federal deficits for this year have exploded to $165 billion, leaving little doubt that the federal government will be forced to dip even further into the Social Security trust fund.  The national debt clock, reset last month, highlights the nation’s troubles as the clock's $6.1 trillion debt figure skyrockets upwards at a rate of $30 a second.  

Congressman Adam Smith believes that a return to sincere and deliberate fiscal discipline must be the cornerstone of our government’s economic policy.  In the 1990s when Wall Street and Main Street saw that the government was serious about keeping its books in order and reducing the national debt, interest rates fell and private investment grew.  Businesses created jobs and all Americans benefited from lower interest rates on their mortgages, student loans and consumer credit.

Members of the media are invited to attend both the Des Moines Chamber of Commerce meeting and the Rotary Club of Lakewood address.  For further information on the meetings or to speak with Smith during the day, please contact Katharine Lister at (202) 225-6902.

7:30a.m. – 9:00a.m.  Meeting with Des Moines Chamber of Commerce 
Where: Des Moines Creek Restaurant
21830 Marine View Drive, Des Moines

12:00p.m. – 1:30p.m. Meeting with the Rotary Club of Lakewood
Where: Oakbrook Golf and Country Club
8102 Zircon Drive SW, Lakewood

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