Armed Services
As the Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, I am committed to ensuring that our military personnel, veterans, and their families receive the support of our government in return for their years of faithful service. Working to ensure our military families are well cared for will remain my top priority.
In addition to pay and benefits, it is important we work to ensure that our military has the proper equipment, resources, and policies to meet the threats we face today and well into the future. However, in a time of mounting pressure on the Federal budget we must also ensure that every dollar spent on defense is done so in an effective and efficient manner. Simply spending more money does not make our country safer – spending more wisely and effectively does.
While we must ensure that our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines have the equipment and training they need to carry out their missions, we must do a better job of carefully examining our policies, requirements, and acquisition programs to improve efficiencies and eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in the Department of Defense.
To that end, I will continue to work to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as it is becoming woefully expensive to operate and the annual cost-per inmate greatly exceeds the cost of holding someone in a maximum security federal prison. It is of great importance that we work to restore civil liberties and due process for all persons. Our civilian law enforcement and justice systems have a proven track record of success when it comes to investigating and prosecuting suspected terrorists.
I am proud to serve as the Ranking Member of the Armed Service Committee and remain committed to supporting our local communities in Washington State and all member of the Armed Services who represent us bravely at home and abroad.
For more information on this issue, sign up to receive Congressman Smith’s email updates.
More on Armed Services
"My thoughts and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of the Airmen who died in this tragic accident in Kyrgyzstan. Details about the crash are still unclear. Our servicemen and women risk their lives for our nation while training at home and serving abroad. The service and sacrifice of those who lost their lives in this accident will not be forgotten.”
Congressman Adam Smith released the following statement after the House passed the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA):
“My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those who died in today’s tragic accident. Our servicemen and women take the ultimate risk while training at home and serving abroad. Nothing can replace the service and sacrifice of those who lost their lives today.”