Press Releases

On Monday, August 26, Congressman Adam Smith (D-09) will hold a town hall meeting to discuss current Congressional efforts to tackle corporate responsibility.    

In late July, the House of Representatives passed, by 412-3, tough corporate reform legislation to create a strong, independent oversight board, increase civil and criminal penalties on corporate wrongdoers.  The passage of the Public Company Accounting Reform and Investor Protection Act was an important step forward in restoring investor confidence in our economy, but is by no means the last.

Congressman Adam Smith continues to call for effective legislation on corporate governance and accounting, which must be enacted to restore investor confidence and firmly lift the U.S. economy out of last year’s recession.  U.S. capital markets, despite being the deepest in the world, may fail to attract steady investments if the public feels there are more Enrons or WorldComs lurking in the wings.

Members of the media are invited and encouraged to attend the town hall.  For further information or to speak with Smith during the day, please contact Katharine Lister at (202) 226-8454.

6:30p.m. – 8:30p.m.  
Corporate Responsibility Town Hall Meeting with Congressman Adam Smith
Where: Federal Way Regional Library
34200 First Way South, Federal Way

Yesterday, Boeing received a $9.7 billion contract from the Air Force for the construction of 60 new transport planes, the C-17 Globemaster, by 2008.  

“I’m very pleased that Boeing has been selected to provide these transport planes,” Congressman Adam Smith (D-Tacoma) said.  “This contract is further evidence of their role as the world’s largest military aircraft manufacturer.  What is more, many of these planes are currently stationed at McChord and the Air Force’s continuing investment in cutting-edge technology underscores the base’s critical role in the United States’ military transformation.”

On Monday August 19, Congressman Adam Smith (D-Tacoma) will speak to the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce’s Military Affairs Committee and the Transportation Club of Tacoma about Homeland Security efforts nationally and the impact on the South Sound region.  

In the morning, before his address, Congressman Smith will meet with representatives from the Ports of Tacoma, Seattle and Olympia, the Coast Guard and U.S. Customs officials to discuss their efforts to secure the region’s Maritime and how Congress can be helpful in meeting the challenges they are currently facing.

After his meeting with the Military Affairs Committee and Transportation Club of Tacoma, Congressman Smith will visit with Advanced Interactive Systems in Tukwila and test their cutting-edge simulator for sky marshal training. 

Members of the media are invited and encouraged to attend both the Tacoma meeting and the AIS tour afterwards.  For further information or to speak with Smith during the day, please contact Katharine Lister at (202) 225-6902.

12:00p.m. – 1:30p.m.  
Speech on Homeland Security to the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber’s Military Affairs Committee and the Transportation Club of Tacoma

Where: LaQuinta, 1425 E. 27th Street, Tacoma

2:00p.m. – 2:45p.m.   
Tour of Advanced Interactive Systems and testing of sky marshal simulator

Where: 565 Andover Park West, Suite 201, Tukwila

Representative Adam Smith (D-Tacoma) will join the Democratic Leadership Council for a discussion on “Public Policy and the Future of the Biotechnology Industry,” on Tuesday, August 22 in Seattle.

Biotechnology has the potential to develop new treatments and cures for many disabling diseases and improve the quality of life for million of Americans. By providing funding for basic research, ensuring the protection of intellectual property and investing in regulatory agencies such as the Patent and Trademark Office and the Federal Drug Administration, the federal government can encourage advances. The Puget Sound region is well positioned to prosper from developments in the biotechnology industry, but future growth of the industry hinges on a number of tough questions, including:

Will health care coverage provide reimbursements for biotech-based products that are adequate for the industry to survive and prosper? 
Will opponents of biotech succeed in restricting key areas of research and application, such as stem cells, cloning and genetic engineering of plants and humans? 
Will the necessary supports for the industry — venture capital, biomedical research and a constant supply of trained scientists and technicians —be available to meet the industry’s needs? 
Participating in discussion of how state and federal policy affects the biotechnology industry are representatives from Seattle’s biotechnology community, public and private health care and research professionals and federal and state public policy leaders. 

For further information on the conference, visit www.ndol.org or contact Eric Wortman at (202) 546-0007.  To speak with Smith during the day, please contact Katharine Lister at (202) 225-6902.

 What:          “Public Policy and the Future of the Biotechnology Industry”

 When:          Tuesday, August 22, 2002
                      9:30 AM – 1:30 PM 

 Where:        Edgewater Hotel, Olympic Ballroom
                     Seattle, WA

 Who:          Representative Adam Smith, (D-Tacoma)
                    State Representative Aaron Reardon, (D-Everett)
                    Dr. Leroy Hood, president and director, Institute for Systems Biology
                    Robert Atkinson, vice president and director of the New Economy and
                                                  Technology Project,
                    Progressive Policy Institute
                   Jeff Lemieux, senior economist and health policy analyst, Progressive
                                           Policy Institute
                   Bob Nelsen, ARCH Venture Partners
                   Cathryn Campbell, Campbell & Flores LLP
                   Barbara Cosgriff, NASDAQ
                   John Morris, Celsis International
                   Patrick Ronan, Biotechnology Industry Organization

Tomorrow at 8:30am, Congressman Adam Smith (D-09) and Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) will discuss transportation issues at a panel with the Renton Chamber of Commerce. 

Traffic costs everyone valuable time, and is an unhealthy blemish on the business environment of the Puget Sound. Congress' role in alleviating traffic and improving transportation is to support local efforts and provide as much funding as possible to local projects.  Under the leadership of Sen. Murray, the Washington state delegation has been able to provide many urgently needed dollars for state and local priorities but much more needs to be done to relieve the overwhelming congestion and improve the quality of life for citizens.  Tomorrow’s meeting with the Renton Chamber of Commerce will be an important conversation with state and local leaders on how best to improve the roads for all Washingtonians. 

After the Renton meeting, Congressman Adam Smith will attend the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Third Street project in the City of Auburn. 

Members of the media are invited and encouraged to attend both the Renton meeting and the Auburn ceremony afterwards.  For further information or to speak with Smith during the day, please contact Katharine Lister at (202) 226-8454.

8:30a.m. – 9:30a.m.     Transportation Meeting with Renton Chamber of Commerce
Where: Renton Chamber of Commerce board room
300 Rainier Ave North, Renton

10:00a.m. – 11:00a.m. Ribbon cutting ceremony for the Third Street project
Where: Sound Transit Parking Garage 
Corner of SR 18 and 'C' Streets, Auburn