Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement after the White House announced its intent to create a new class of civil service positions designed to eliminate merit-based hiring and permit “at will” termination of these positions:

“President Trump’s latest executive order is a brazen act to politicize the career civil service and a direct assault on civil service protections. Time and again, the Trump Administration has sought a path that values, and in turn exploits, loyalty over competence. For more than 150 years, the federal civil service program has cultivated a cadre of non-partisan policy experts to augment and provide continuity for the ever-transitioning politically appointed workforce, who serve at the pleasure of the sitting president.

“The Schedule F designation would be applied to mid- to high-grade schedule (GS) positions identified as ‘confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating’ and could potentially impact hundreds of thousands of currently occupied positions. Under this arbitrary distinction, if deemed disloyal, employees could be easily fired for arbitrary infractions or without cause.

“I look forward to working with my congressional colleagues to rebuff the Trump Administration’s actions against our federal workforce. Our federal government relies on these highly-capable career civil servants – their competence must not be undermined in the name of loyalty to Trump.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement after General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other members of military leadership announced they would be self-isolating because of their recent interaction with the Vice Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, Admiral Charles Ray, who has tested positive for COVID-19.

“For months, the nation has grappled with the effects of COVID-19 as millions of Americans have contracted the virus and more than two hundred thousand have died. All the while, the Trump Administration has done very little to effectively alleviate the strain on our citizens, communities, and the economy. President Trump himself has downplayed the severity of the crisis while frequently contradicting qualified health officials, obfuscating the true nature and threat of the virus.

“Now, after publicly flouting the recommendations of his own medical experts and scientists, the President has contracted COVID-19. Since announcing that he tested positive for the virus, the President’s antics have been downright reckless and harmful. Thanks to diligent reporting, we know that many of the President’s senior staff have also tested positive, and as of today most of our senior military leaders are under quarantine.

“While our military can still operate while leadership is quarantined, the national security implications of the President’s recklessness cannot be overstated. Our adversaries are always looking for any weakness to exploit. President Trump’s pathetic attempts to exude strength aren’t fooling anyone – Americans know he is weak and so do those who wish us harm.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged our nation. How can we ever recover if we can’t even count on our commander in chief to follow the most basic guidelines established by his own government? Instead of leading, President Trump continues to willfully jeopardize the safety and security of the American people and our military apparatus.”

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 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) successfully included a provision in the Updated Heroes Act which passed the House this week that would help transit agencies make the most of unused land for community-based organizations and housing.

“Innovative and valuable projects across the nation are being held up due to an unnecessary roadblock in transferring land from transit agencies to local non-profits and community-based organizations,” said Rep. Adam Smith. “This includes progress on the Youth Achievement Center here in King County, a vital initiative to bring housing, health care services, jobs training and education, and other services to youth. I am proud to have secured inclusion of a provision that would give federal entities an easier path to transfer unused land to nonprofits and community-based organizations. I applaud the tireless efforts of Councilmember Zahilay, Peter Rogoff, and others who raised this issue and continue to work to meet the needs of King County through the development of the Youth Achievement Center and other projects.”

“Government has an obligation to use our resources expeditiously and effectively to meet the needs of the community,” said King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay. “Underutilized publicly-owned land can be a vital resource to build new foundations in historically marginalized areas of our country. Transferring ownership over for new housing, commercial centers, and facilities for necessary services is the pathway to thriving communities. Congressman Adam Smith has been an incredible federal partner in achieving this vision. By relaxing federal red tape and bureaucratic hurdles, he and his team will ensure designated publicly-owned land in King County (and possibly the entire country) can be quickly transferred to communities and used for housing and other needed amenities.”

“This provision will support Sound Transit in partnering with non-profit organizations to help turn our surplus properties into wins that will advance equity for the residents of our communities,” said Sound Transit CEO Peter Rogoff. “We are grateful to Congressman Smith for his tireless support for building not only transit investments but other community infrastructure that our residents need to thrive.”

Current federal law makes it difficult for nonprofit organizations and other non-governmental organizations to acquire unused lands from transit agencies to create projects that will benefit the local communities. Congressman Smith’s provision included in the Updated Heroes Act removes this red tape, making it easier to transfer land from the federal entities to local organizations to make way for projects that benefit local communities. This would help support housing and other community-based organizations working to expand housing and other services to their communities, including the Youth Achievement Center in King County. 

Community-based organizations in Washington state and across the country are working to bring projects to life that will better serve the needs of communities such as providing affordable housing, access to health care, and other services for underserved communities. Nonprofits that were already struggling for resources have been hit even harder by the COVID-19 pandemic. This provision would alleviate a significant roadblock these organizations face so they can more easily kickstart valuable projects and fully realize their innovative ideas.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) released the following statement today after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 925, the Updated Heroes Act, which would address the continued public health crisis and provide desperately needed support for struggling families and essential workers.

“We have surpassed 200,000 COVID-19 deaths and 7 million cases in the U.S. – it is long past time for Senate Republicans to take action. The Updated Heroes Act makes clear that House Democrats are willing to do what is necessary to provide our communities, workers, and families urgently needed health and economic relief amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Like the Heroes Act passed by House Democrats in May, this bill includes vital support to communities including aid to state, local, and tribal governments; an extension of small business relief through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and expanded unemployment benefits; another round of direct payments to individuals and families; rental assistance and an extension of the eviction moratorium; and enhanced food security benefits. Importantly, the bill also makes investments to combat the pandemic itself with money for testing, contact tracing, vaccine distribution, and personal protective equipment.

“Nine months into the pandemic, it is unconscionable that President Trump and his administration still refuse to take the pandemic seriously and Congressional Republicans remain unwilling to act. Individuals, families, and businesses across the country are still struggling. It is imperative that Congressional Republicans and the White House finally face the reality of this crisis and work with House and Senate Democrats to advance legislation that meets the needs of our communities.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) released the following statement today following the announcement that Boeing would consolidate 787 Dreamliner assembly in South Carolina, ending production in Everett, Washington.

“With an unparalleled workforce, Washington state remains the best place in the country for the aviation and aerospace industry to do business. Boeing’s decision to move its production of the 787 Dreamliner out of Washington state is deeply disappointing and illustrates the shortsighted approach of many large corporations.

“It is unfortunate that Boeing has not engaged in a meaningful way with elected officials at the state and federal level to maintain their presence in Washington state, and that more notice was not given about the timeframe and scale of the consolidation effort. Boeing’s employees and their families deserve better, and there must be a fair plan laid out for workers impacted by this decision.

“The Puget Sound region and Washington state will remain an unmatched place for the aviation and aerospace industry with workers who maintain the highest industry standards of production. Our strong education system, skilled workforce, and robust supply chain are not going anywhere. I will fight to support the workers impacted by this decision, ensure other Puget Sound workers in the industry are able to keep their jobs, and further grow the aerospace and aviation industry in the Pacific Northwest.”

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