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.
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More on Armed Services
Congressman Smith (WA-09) today released the following statement after Congresswoman Gabby Giffords announced she will resign from Congress:
"Congresswoman Gabby Giffords is a true friend, and a dynamic and dedicated public servant. Over the last year, she and her family have experienced very difficult and life changing events, but her courage and determination in the face of these challenges has truly been inspiring.
Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, made the following statement today celebrating the final charter aircraft with Joint Base Lewis-McChord Soldiers from the 17th Fires Brigade and the 62nd Medical Brigade returning from Iraq:
“I am pleased to welcome the final large group of Joint Base Lewis-McChord Soldiers home from Iraq today. This is a proud day for the Soldiers, their families, our community and our country.
Grant will assist in improving pedestrian facilities, upgrading traffic signals, and adding additional lanes to address the increased traffic around Madigan Army Medical Center
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Representatives Norm Dicks (D-WA-06) and Adam Smith (D-WA-09) applauded the announcement by the Department of Defense that the City of Lakewood will be awarded a $5.7M grant for a transportation project to improve medical access to Madigan Army Medical Center.
House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith made the following statement in response to the death of Anwar al-Awlaki:
“The death of Anwar al-Awlaki is a significant blow to Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and to the Al Qaeda movement, which has repeatedly tried to carry out terrorist attacks against the United States and the people of Yemen.
“I applaud President Obama for fulfilling his promise to repeal the discriminatory “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” policy and allow individuals to openly and honestly serve and protect the nation they love, regardless of their sexual orientation. This is a welcomed change that puts government policy in line with the values of our country.
“This Sunday, we will observe the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. This was a tragic day in American history that changed the world in a substantial way.