Press Releases

Washington D.C. – Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA) issued the following statement on the passing of Dr. Emily Clyburn:

“Sara and I are heartbroken to hear of the passing of Dr. Emily Clyburn. We are all offering our condolences and prayers for our friend James Clyburn, their daughters Mignon, Jennifer, and Angela, their extended family, and all those whose lives Emily touched.

“Emily was an unstoppable force of good in this world – her fight for civil rights and equality, her service to the community as a librarian, and her efforts raising tens of thousands of dollars to help send students to college are just a few examples of a long list of how she profoundly impacted the lives of those around her. Her life, her work, and her steadfast commitment to helping others sets an example for us all to strive to emulate.

“My colleagues and I join the Clyburn family in mourning the loss of Emily, and we hope they find comfort in each other sharing stories, honoring her memory, and celebrating her life and legacy.”

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Washington D.C. – Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA) announced that he has named Amanda Wyma-Bradley as Legislative Assistant and Justin Weiss as Communications Director.

Amanda Wyma-Bradley joins Congressman Smith’s office as a Legislative Assistant after completing the Master of Public Policy Program at Georgetown University. Wyma-Bradley holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Communications, with a minor in Women’s Studies from Seattle Pacific University, and formerly worked on program implementation for a pilot project funded through the Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime. She will take over agriculture, business, financial services, housing, transportation, tax, among other issues in Congressman Smith’s office.

Justin Weiss joins Congressman Smith’s office as Communications Director following the departure of Rebecca Bryant who now serves as Community Relations Manager at Fred Hutchinson. Weiss brings a communications background in advocacy and policy messaging most recently having worked at Rational 360, a public relations firm, where he worked on accounts in health care, fiscal policy, and international relations. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications and French from Denison University.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA) today issued the following statement in response to the Trump Administration’s new rules issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which would prohibit Title X grantees from providing or referring patients for abortion, except in cases of rape, incest or medical emergency:

"The Trump administration is forcing Planned Parenthood grantees out of Title X with a gag rule that will impact women across the country.

“The Trump administration’s Title X rule change is a direct attack on Planned Parenthood and the access to health care that millions of women rely on. Reproductive choice and women’s health are being threatened due to the Trump administration’s deliberate attempt to reduce access to birth control, cancer screenings, and limit the other crucial services the organization provides.

“I stand with Planned Parenthood to ensure the reproductive rights of all women are protected, and I will fight to keep their critical services in Title X.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA) today issued the following statement on the current conditions affecting residents in the disputed territories of Jammu and Kashmir in India. In addition to meeting with district constituents with family in the area, Smith also spoke with His Excellency Harsh Vardhan Shringla, India’s ambassador to the United States and reiterated the following position:

“I am continuing to monitor the situation regarding the government of India’s decision to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. There are legitimate concerns about the ongoing communications blackouts, increased militarization of the region, and enforcement of curfews. 

“The constituents I met with all had family in Kashmir or Jammu. Some have visited the region since the change in Indian policy. They were afraid for their own lives, and terrified for the safety of their family members who remain in the region. They saw a region under siege with its residents isolated, without an ability to communicate at all outside of the region. The Indian government must take steps to reduce these fears and offer greater transparency for the world to see what is happening there.

“A commitment to the protection of basic human rights and equal rights, as well as recognition for the potential disparate impact of this decision on the region’s Muslim population and other minority groups – now and in the future – is imperative. 

“This policy decision exacerbates an already tense environment in the region. I encourage both India and Pakistan to keep lines of communication open to prevent the further deterioration of the situation, and exercise restraint instead of engaging in rhetoric and actions that inspire extremist ideology.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA) today issued the following statement in response to the Trump Administration’s recently proposed rule from the Department of Labor, which would allow businesses with federal contracts to skirt worker protections if they cite “religious objections” as their reason for discrimination:

“I am extremely disappointed in the President’s blatant discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This attempt to remove protections for the LGBTQ community under the guise of religious exemption is unacceptable, and these repeated attacks are dangerous and bigoted. This rule will not only undermine our civil rights, but also put millions of Americans’ livelihoods at risk. We owe it to our fellow Americans in the LGBTQ community to continue to fight for equality, and to uphold and expand these protections”

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