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Reps. Smith, Clark Urge FAA to Implement Airplane Noise Mitigation Program

February 22, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representatives Adam Smith (WA-09) and Katherine Clark (MA-05) sent a letter to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Steve Dickson urging the agency to implement report language from the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2021 that would help communities with repairing or replacing noise mitigation on homes.

“Residences across our districts received sound insulation and other mitigation in the earliest phases of the FAA’s noise mitigation program in the 1980s and 1990s,” wrote Reps. Adam Smith and Katherine Clark. “At the time, materials used for sound insulation were of lower quality than what is used today. Additionally, the installation in the early phases of the program was sometimes done without proper ventilation or attention to other structural concerns, leading to cases of mold or structural damage in certain homes. To ensure the airports can take advantage of this exemption, it is vital that the FAA quickly establish a process for airports to be reimbursed for repairing or replacing noise mitigation in homes that were installed prior to 1993.”

Airport Improvement Program (AIP) regulations bar airports from applying for federal funds for the same project more than one time, meaning that residences with failing sound insulation historically have not been entitled to repairs or replacements using AIP funds. The report language included in the appropriations bill passed at the end of the year directed the FAA to allow airports to utilize AIP funds for the purpose of repairing or replacing noise mitigation on homes that were insulated prior to 1993.

You can read the full letter here.

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Rep. Smith Statement on President Biden’s Plan to Safely Reopen Schools

February 17, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) released the following statement today following President Biden’s plan with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to safely reopen schools.

“The Biden Administration and Democratic leaders have put forward a good road map to getting our kids back to school.  I strongly support the continued discussions between educators, administrators, and public health officials on charting the best path to enabling our schools to reopen for in-school instruction in a way that ensures the safety of all involved.  Studies and analysis have made clear that in-person learning is crucial for our children, but we must do the work necessary to make sure that it can be done safely, and with buy-in and support from educators and families alike. 

“I want to sincerely thank all the educators, parents, school administrators, public health officials, and others who have reached out to me to answer questions and offer perspectives on how to handle this difficult public policy challenge.  It has helped me understand how best to approach it. 

“First, I strongly support the swift passage of President Biden’s proposed $1.9 trillion relief package. The pandemic exposed the cracks in our systems, and we know both COVID-19 and the economic recession have disproportionately impacted low-income households, people of color, and families with essential workers.  The relief bill contains critical funding for schools as well as economic support for struggling families. Its passage will not only make safe reopening more achievable but will help meet many of the other underlying structural inequities faced by communities hit the hardest as well.  States should ensure that this federal funding is provided to school districts in addition to existing state and local resources, as opposed to making harmful cuts at this time of crisis. I will continue to work to ensure the passage of this legislation as quickly as possible.

“Next, we must work quickly to ensure all educators and staff receive the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. Vaccination is not absolute, one-hundred percent protection, but it does greatly decrease the risk of infection.  There are roughly 150,000 school personnel in our state of over 7 million people, so prioritizing them would not significantly set back vaccine distribution to other populations.

“We should also work towards a plan that gives people an option of either returning to school in person or continuing online learning to the greatest extent possible.  I understand how difficult this is, but the truth is every person’s situation is different in terms of pre-existing conditions, people in their households, tolerance for risk, need for/access to childcare, and many other factors.  Across the country, we have seen this model work and we must be willing to give flexibility to all involved.

“It is crucial that any plan for returning to the classroom is developed in close consultation with educators and other school district personnel.  They are the ones most impacted and also the ones with the most direct knowledge of how to make any implementation plan work effectively in the school and classroom.

“I want to express my deepest appreciation to all educators, administrators, school board members, school personnel, and parents who have had to struggle since last March to figure out how best to take care of our children during this pandemic.  This has demanded great sacrifices from educators and staff, who have gone the extra mile to ensure students have access to the resources needed for digital learning.

“My son is now in his senior year and as challenging as this has been for our family, I know that it doesn’t even begin to compare to the challenges so many people have faced across our district, state, and the country.  It has not been easy, but with the help of educators, family, and neighbors, people have been able to meet the challenge.

“The bottom line is: it is up to policymakers and school districts to make every effort to develop safe reopening plans that have buy-in from educators, staff, and families. This will require difficult conversations, and it demands that we listen carefully to each other’s concerns. I look forward to continuing the conversation and will continue to fight for additional resources from the Federal Government to provide school districts with the resources necessary to carry out safe reopening plans that address each community’s unique concerns.”

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Rep. Smith Statement on Senate Vote to Acquit Donald J. Trump for Inciting the January 6th Insurrection

February 13, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) released the following statement today after the Senate voted to acquit former President Donald J. Trump in the impeachment trial for the incitement of the January 6th insurrection.

“The impeachment trial for Donald Trump should have been an open and shut case. Trump and his supporters spent months spreading the Big Lie and propaganda about the election, and on January 6th, the former president incited a violent mob to follow through on his advocacy of political violence. These pro-Trump extremists attempted to stage a coup, overthrow the democratic process, and violently overturn the certification of our free and fair presidential election. His hateful rhetoric the morning of the insurrection was consistent with his repeated refusal to denounce white supremacy and to stand up to racists, bigots, and anti-Semites, many of whom attended his speech and desecrated the Capitol. This heinous domestic terrorist attack on our Capitol should have been the wake-up call Republicans needed to finally stand up for our democracy. 

“There is no question that Trump violated his oath of office. He incited this mob, encouraged his supporters the morning of the attack, and refused to denounce or stop the violence which ultimately led to the death of five Americans, including members of law enforcement. We are forever grateful for the service of the Capitol Hill Police and others who stood tall in the face of danger and of those who lost their lives in defense of our democracy.

“From the very beginning, Trump and his co-conspirators, including many Republicans in Congress, lied about the presidential election in a brazen attempt to hold onto power, even at the cost of lives and our democracy. This crucial vote will almost certainly play a part in how these Senators will be remembered and judged by history. Trump demonstrated he was unfit to serve as President and is unfit to hold any public office in the future. This lack of accountability is antithetical and insulting to our democracy and our Constitution, and it is my hope that other courses of action will be taken to hold all those involved accountable. We must set a precedent for future Presidents to ensure that what occurred on January 6th can never happen again.”

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Rep. Smith Applauds House Passage of the National Apprenticeships Act

February 5, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) released the following statement following House passage of the National Apprenticeship Act reauthorization which would invest in increasing access to Registered Apprenticeships (RAs), youth apprenticeships, and pre-apprenticeships during a time of record unemployment left by the wake of the pandemic.

“Our nation faces one of the worst economic downturns since the Great Depression, and the economic hardships and inequities impacting jobless workers and families are continuing to worsen due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With over 10 million people out of work, now is the time to invest in the most successful workforce training programs in the country. Registered Apprenticeships provide paid, on-the-job learning opportunities and a pathway to stable, good-paying jobs which in turn will accelerate our economic recovery.

“The National Apprenticeship Act would invest more than $3.5 billion over five years to create nearly 1 million additional apprenticeship opportunities in existing and emerging industry sectors. The bill expands access to apprenticeships making it easier to participate in high-quality programs, strengthening workers’ pathways to lifelong careers. Workers will have more opportunities with the expansion of apprenticeships in new occupations and sectors, ensuring that there are new pathways in emerging in-demand fields. 

“Additionally, I successfully included an amendment co-introduced with my colleague Rep. Langevin, that would enable pre-apprenticeship programs to offer stipends to pre-apprentices to assist with the financial costs of participating in these programs such as housing, childcare, transportation, and more. This financial assistance will remove those barriers so workers can more easily obtain the initial credentials needed to enter an apprenticeship program and will ensure both pre-apprenticeship programs and apprenticeship programs are more widely accessible for individuals with barriers to employment.

“As workers and families continue to struggle with economic hardships amidst the pandemic, we must do all we can to help people obtain the education and skills needed to succeed. In addition to creating pathways to the middle class and beyond, the National Apprenticeship Act reauthorization would invest in this proven workforce system with a paid pathway to high-quality employment opportunities, help struggling workers through this crisis, and build an economic recovery for a better future.”

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Rep. Smith Cosponsors Bill Introduced to Strengthen Workers’ Right to Organize

February 5, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) released the following statement following House introduction of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act – a bill he is an original cosponsor on – which would strengthen workers’ power to organize and negotiate for fairer paychecks, better benefits, and safer working conditions.

“Strong unions are paramount for combatting economic inequality and ensuring workers’ rights are protected. The PRO Act would be the most significant upgrade to U.S. labor law in 80 years which would strengthen workers’ power to organize and negotiate for fairer paychecks, better benefits, and safer working conditions.

“As income inequality continues to increase, only ten percent of American workers today are union members which is the lowest rate on record. Wages have not increased at the same pace as the rising costs of education, child care, housing, and other basic necessities, and this legislation is a direct response to the struggle that many hardworking families face, especially in a pandemic. This bill will help strengthen these unions, hold companies and executives accountable for working conditions, and close loopholes that corporations use to undermine the right to organize.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has further shown how vulnerable workers truly are without the ability to collectively bargain and how crucial it is to ensuring workers have better pay, benefits, and safety. After decades of attacks on workers’ rights to organize and profits off of rising income inequality, passing the PRO Act will take a giant step towards restoring a fair and equitable economy that empowers workers to hold companies and executives accountable for working conditions.”

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