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"President Trump's pardon of Sheriff Arpaio is an affront to the rule of law and a deeply disturbing use of Presidential Power to sanction discrimination. As Sheriff of Maricopa County, Arpaio flagrantly ignored clear Federal immigration enforcement guidelines and aggressively pursued policies of racial profiling. His continued violation of civil rights led to a conviction in a court of law for his unlawful immigration practices.
"This Presidential order is a cravenly opportunistic act of discrimination against men and women who volunteer to defend the United States.
"Congratulations to Densho and the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience for being awarded these competitive grants to help preserve crucial lessons from our past to help inform our present. Their projects work to maintain the memory of, and educate the public about Japanese American Confinement Sites where more than 120,000 Japanese Americans were imprisoned," said Congressman Adam Smith. "Although Japanese American incarceration is one of the darkest chapters of American history, it is imperative for current and future generations to understand what occurred.
"This week, the President has doubled down on his divisive and bigoted language. The renewed prejudice on display during his deranged press conference is further proof that Trump is morally unqualified for any elected leadership position, much less the position of President.
"The events that have unfolded today in Charlottesville, VA are incredibly tragic. The vile views espoused by White Supremacist movements must be swiftly and loudly condemned. I firmly believe that individuals have the right to express their thoughts and beliefs, but racism is unacceptable and we must be clear that it will not be tolerated. This is not who we are as a country.
"It is a privilege to see young students, like our local Congressional Award Medal recipients, demonstrate personal initiative and a sincere commitment to bettering Puget Sound communities. I look forward to hearing about the accomplishments of these young leaders in the future. Their teachers, mentors, parents, and communities should all be incredibly proud of their accomplishments.
"On the 52nd anniversary of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), we celebrate one of our country's most important civil rights laws. As we remember this landmark legislation, we must also denounce the Supreme Court's 2013 Shelby County v. Holder ruling. This decision gutted portions of the VRA, allowing states with a history of voter discrimination the autonomy to re-implement discriminatory voting restrictions. In response to the Shelby v. Holder case, I have cosponsored the Voting Rights Advancement Act.
"The United States has a proud history built on our founding as a nation of immigrants. Our existing immigration system is in dire need of reform, but the deeply prejudicial RAISE Act the President has endorsed is not the solution. This detestable proposal would slash our legal immigration program in half and keep families apart through dramatically altering our current family-based immigration system to a so-called merit-based program. The bill would also deny asylum to tens of thousands of refugees fleeing dangerous conditions and persecution.
"We need to provide for more environmentally responsible and economically sound management of our public lands," said Congressman Adam Smith. "As we look for sustainable solutions to our fiscal challenges, the Rural Economic Vitalization Act provides a mechanism to restore our public lands while providing economic opportunities. This legislation will benefit the American taxpayer while simultaneously protecting our environment."