Friday Jun 21, 2013

What is going on in Congress

Adam Smith

US Congressman Washington's 9th District

Our speaker today is US Congressman Adam Smith who  represents Washington’s 9th District. He will discuss what is going on in Congress including the budget, the sequester, defense issues and other significant issues happening in congress and then he will open it up for questions form the audience. His preference for the  program is to make it a discussion format.

Given his current and previous committee assignments and extensive travel, Congressman Smith has unique insights into today’s major national security issues throughout the Middle East, including the war in Afghanistan, as well as Northern Africa and our larger efforts to stop the spread of violent extremist groups and their ideology around the globe.

Understanding the need for a holistic approach to national security, Congressman Smith recognizes the importance of poverty reduction, access to education, sustainable global markets, diplomatic engagement, good governance and other measures to enable our pursuit of stable international partners.  He has supported efforts to reform American foreign assistance, introduced legislation to address global poverty, and created the bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Effective Foreign Assistance (CCEFA) with Congressman Ander Crenshaw.

 

About the Speaker

Now in his 9th term, Congressman Smith is a senior member in the House of Representatives and part of the Democratic leadership team. His district spans from diverse South Seattle to the bustling Port of Tacoma, and includes the city of Bellevue, a center for high-tech innovation. For 16 years, he has fought for issues important to his constituents in the 9th district.

Congressman Smith serves as Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, where he is a strong advocate for our military personnel and their families. He is committed to providing our military with the best equipment available to carry out their current and future missions while ensuring that the Pentagon spends taxpayer dollars in the most efficient and effective manner.