August 6th - U.S. REP. Adam Smith, seeking his eight term from Washington's 9th District, draws enough heat from the right and the left to suggest his label as a moderate Democrat is about right.
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August 19th - Today, Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09) released the following statement in tribute to the 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, which was officially designated the last combat brigade to leave Iraq under Obama's plan to end combat operations in Iraq by Aug. 31.
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Washington, August 11- Clover Park officials have been working for more than five years on a plan for school improvements with Lewis-McChord officials, Dicks and Rep. Adam Smith, D-Tacoma., whose district includes the base.

Smith and Dicks, along with Under Secretary of the Army Joseph Westphal, visited Hillside last week to get a close look at school conditions.

“These schools are on the edge of being unsafe,” Smith said, adding that among other things they don’t meet current earthquake standards.

Ray Miller, Clover Park’s business services and capital projects administrator, said school district maintenance workers have done a “phenomenal job” keeping the schools up and running.

“But there’s only so much they can do,” he added.

The Army has been increasingly concerned about the school issue since Defense Secretary Robert Gates visited Fort Riley, Kan., in May and viewed the problems firsthand.

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Washington, Jul 30 - “Today marks an important milestone in our efforts to protect the Green River Valley from flooding. This afternoon, the Army Corps of Engineers laid out the details for interim repairs that will strengthen the Howard Hanson Dam. Yesterday, the President signed into law the Fiscal Year 2010 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill, which provides the Army Corps of Engineers with $44 million to complete these interim measures. These two events are the culmination of many months of hard work by my office, as well as the entire local delegation and stakeholders from across the state, and will protect the Green River Valley from potentially very destructive floods."
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Washington, Jul 29 - Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09) continued to build on his strong commitment to veterans, military personnel and their families by supporting the fiscal year 2011 Military Construction and Veterans Appropriations bill. The legislation invests in projects and programs of critical importance, including veteran’s benefits and healthcare, and military family housing, barracks and mission critical facilities.
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Washington, Jul 27 - Today, Congress approved $44 million for interim measures to strengthen the Howard Hanson Dam and protect the Green River Valley. Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09), who has consistently been a leader in coordinating efforts to fix the dam, played a critical role in ensuring that the funding was included in the final version of the bill. The funding, included in the Fiscal Year 2010 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill, will allow the Army Corps of Engineers to complete a set of interim repairs to the dam. The bill will now be sent to the President to be signed into law.
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Washington, Jun 24 - Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09) released the following statement in response to House passage of legislation designed to impose tough economic sanctions against Iran:

“Today, Congress provided President Obama with additional tools to pressure Iran to cease its efforts to build nuclear weapons.  A nuclear armed Iran would destabilize the Middle East and pose a grave threat to the United States, our allies, and particularly Israel.  This scenario is unacceptable.

“We cannot allow Iran to continue to act in a way that threatens the international community and its neighbors in the region.  This legislation builds on the recent U.N. Security Council Resolution and will help forcefully pressure Iran to meet its international obligations.

“In concert with the international community, it is critical that the United States continues to pursue both diplomatic and economic avenues to hold Iran accountable.  While there is more diplomatic work to be done, the bill passed by Congress today is another way to increase economic pressure on Iran to change its behavior.”

 

Washington, Jun 18 - This week, Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09) voted in support of important legislation designed to make it easier for small businesses to succeed and create jobs in our communities. Together, the Small Business Lending Fund Act and the Small Business Jobs Tax Relief Act, will address the lack of access to credit and remove some of the restrictive tax obstacles impeding small business growth.

“Small businesses are the foundation of our economy – generating approximately 65% of new jobs over the last 15 years and employing our families, neighbors, and friends,” said Congressman Adam Smith. “Our nation’s long term economic stability relies on small businesses and we must continue to enact legislation and remove government barriers to help them grow.”

The Small Business Lending Fund Act will create a $30 billion lending fund to help small businesses expand through investments in states and small banks that focus on lending to local small businesses.  The bill will also help cultivate American innovation through a new public-private partnership designed to channel early stage investment capital to promising new start-ups.

To further ensure small businesses have every opportunity to succeed, the Small Business Jobs Tax Relief Act will help businesses expand and create new jobs through a 100% exclusion of small business capital gains; small business penalty relief; and increased deductions for start-up expenditures.

These two bills, which are fully paid for, will now move together as one for consideration by the U.S. Senate.

 

Washington, Apr 28 - On Tuesday, April 27 2010, Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09) received the Goodwill National Policymaker Award for 2010. Smith recently sponsored legislation (H.R. 4299) to help expand the workforce training capacity of organizations like Goodwill.  He has continued to be a strong supporter of local Goodwill initiatives and projects such as the Milgard Work Opportunity Center, which recently opened in Tacoma, WA.

“For over 100 years, Goodwill has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to helping individuals in need develop the skills necessary to succeed,” said Congressman Adam Smith. “This work is not only inspiring, but it also builds strong communities and families.  They deserve our continued praise and support.”

“Congressman Smith has consistently supported Goodwill’s positions on our key legislative priorities, both on a national and local level,” said Terry Hayes, CEO of the Tacoma Goodwill Industries, who nominated Congressman Smith for the award.

At a reception in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, April 27, Smith was recognized and thanked for his ongoing concern for issues relevant to Goodwill. The reception was part of Goodwill Industries International’s fourth Advocacy Day — “Invest in the American Worker.”

Goodwill Industries International is a network of 180 community-based, independent agencies in the United States, Canada, and 13 other countries. Goodwill agencies are innovative and sustainable social enterprises that fund job training programs, employment placement services and other community-based programs by selling donated clothing and household items in more than 2,400 retail stores and online.