Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) released the following statement on Memorial Day:

“This Memorial Day, it is especially important to remember the sacrifices the men and women who have served in the armed forces for our country have made. Memorial Day is a day to honor all who made the ultimate sacrifice – those who gave their lives in service to their country.

“As we deal with the COVID-19 pandemic across the country and around the world, leadership, sacrifice, and the willingness to put the needs of others first have never been more important. Nobody understands this sacrifice better than the families of the women and men who have given their lives in service.

“Memorial Day should always be a solemn time to reflect, but it shouldn't be the only day we remember that sacrifice. Today and every day, we honor the women and men who gave everything to protect our freedom. Thank you to all servicemembers and their families, and let us never take for granted all they do to protect our country.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representatives Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Jackie Speier (D-CA), Chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel, this week sent a letter calling on President Trump to extend Title 32 activation of the National Guard beyond the June 24 end date to September 2020 at the earliest.
 
“As we grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, our National Guard members have played an essential role in our continued response,” said Chairman Smith. “When called upon, the Guard has performed essential tasks like supporting our food banks, assembling test kits, and bolstering contact tracing capacity. Now, as it becomes clear that the pandemic is far from over, the President should extend Title 32 status to ensure our continued response includes the Guard – our country needs them.”
 
“You don’t spell gratitude to the National Guard members who have been building hospitals, doing testing in nursing homes and boxing food at food banks during the pandemic by cheating them out of retirement or GI bill benefits,” Rep. Speier said. “COVID-19 will not magically end at the stroke of midnight on June 24—the President must extend Title 32 status so the Guard can stay in the fight against the coronavirus. Reopening the economy and saving countless lives depends on it.”
 
The activation of the National Guard under Title 32 provides essential support to states and localities as they confront this public health crisis. Guard members are assisting with testing, especially for vulnerable populations like in nursing homes; logistics; and warehouse distribution support, and all these efforts are essential to mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on every state, facilitating a responsible reopening, and getting our economy back on a path to recovery.
 
A copy of the letter can be found here.
 
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representatives Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Committee on Armed Services, and Eliot L Engel (D-NY), Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, this week denounced the Trump Administration’s plans to illegally withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty. In a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, the lawmakers pressed that this scheme will endanger U.S. national security and empower Russia.
 
“We offered on several occasions to work closely with you and others in the Administration on the future of the Open Skies Treaty and other critical national security issues. Yet these overtures were ignored and now you are flouting legal requirements to consult and notify Congress.  It appears that short-sighted interests and partisan politics prevailed over reason and good foreign policy. This is a regrettable decision that will have lasting consequences. We will continue to press this Administration and hold it accountable to ensure decisions are made with the best interest of the American people, and our allies and partners, in mind,” wrote the lawmakers.
 
The full text of the letter can be found here.
 
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representatives Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Jim Cooper (D-TN), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, today issued the following statement in response to reports that the Trump Administration plans to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty:

“The Administration’s decision to withdraw the United States from the Open Skies Treaty is a slap in the face to our allies in Europe, leaves our deployed forces in the region at risk, and is in blatant violation of the law. This decision weakens our national security interests, isolates the United States since the Treaty will continue without us, and abandons a useful tool to hold Russia accountable.

“What’s more, this decision has been made without any consultation with Congress. Not only does the FY20 National Defense Authorization Act require a minimum 120-days’ notification of the withdrawal notice, but also multiple communications from the House Armed Services Committee and other congressional chairmen have gone unanswered.

“The Trump Administration continues to give Russia the upper hand with regards to arms control, which leaves our allies and deployed forces less protected in Europe. Despite the Department of Defense’s rhetoric about the dire need to prepare for ‘great power competition,’ this decision will undoubtedly do the exact opposite, and further fracture our relationships with allies needed to push back against Russian aggression in the region.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) today issued the following statement after the Navy granted its first waiver to allow a transgender service member to remain in uniform. The waiver was granted to a Sailor over a year after President Trump’s discriminatory transgender ban went into effect, which threatened her ability to continue serving the country after nearly a decade.

“The Navy’s decision to grant a waiver to this Sailor exposes President Trump’s transgender ban for what it is: Illogical and discriminatory. If a service member has proven that they are fit to serve, then it is irrelevant if they are transgender or cisgender. 

“I am glad that this Sailor, who has dedicated nearly a decade of her life to defending our country as a surface warfare officer and is highly qualified, can now continue to serve in her preferred gender. It is unfortunate however, that this decision doesn’t change the circumstance for thousands of other transgender service members who still face discrimination because of President Trump’s ban.

“It is time for this ban to end. The members of our military deserve our respect for their service and sacrifice – including those who are transgender.”

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