Adam Smith

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gallego), the chair of the Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Connie Ballmer for being the 2021 recipient of the YMCA's A.K. Guy Award, which is presented to an individual with outstanding volunteer service and dedication to social responsibility and equity and justice for all. Connie Ballmer founded the Ballmer Group in 2015 with the mission of giving every child an equal chance to achieve the American dream. Since then, the Ballmer Group has worked diligently to remove economic barriers that prevent children from having equal access to education opportunities, housing, childcare, mental health resources, and healthcare. The Ballmer Groups has changed systems to allow every child to have equitable opportunities. Making these investments in our children now gives them the best chance at a successful future. The Ballmer Group's mission has become even more important over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, as millions of families faced further economic strain. Without the incredible work of the Ballmer Group and the leadership of Mrs. Ballmer during COVID-19, many children would have completely lost access to resources critical to their development. Under Connie's leadership, the Ballmer Group has been able to drastically change the lives of the next generation for the better. From making improvements to the foster care system to expanding access to behavioral health systems, the Ballmer Group has been on the forefront of tackling childhood poverty and ensuring every child has an equal chance to succeed. Madam Speaker, it is my privilege today to thank Connie Ballmer for the enormous contributions she has made to her community and congratulate her on being the 2021 recipient of the A.K. Guy Award.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Andrew Lofton's outstanding career with the Seattle Housing Authority and congratulate him on a well-earned retirement after nearly five decades in public service. Over the course of his astonishing career, Mr. Lofton held a variety of titles including Chief of Staff to Mayor Norm Rice, Budget Director of the City of Seattle, Chief of Departmental Operations for the City of Seattle, and most recently, the Executive Director of Seattle Housing Authority. The positive impact Andrew has made on his community cannot be stressed enough. Seattle is without a doubt better because of his hard work, dedication, and passion for developing affordable housing. Under his leadership as Executive Director, the Seattle Housing Authority grew by over 1,500 units making a world of difference for over 3,000 children and adults. He grew the Seattle Housing Authority to the largest it has ever been, serving over 37,000 Seattle residents in over 8,400 units. In a career full of achievements, one that stands out is his role in organizing and leading the community of Moving to Work Housing Authorities and serving as the first President of the Moving to Work Collaborative. This work was absolutely critical in piloting a new approach to more effectively and efficiently using Federal housing resources to serve low income communities. Moving to Work agencies assist families with children where the head of the household is seeking work or participating in a workforce development program. Not only do they help these families become economically stable, but they also increase housing choices for low-income families. Because of Andrew's dedication, these programs remain successful in Washington and across the country. Andrew was also pivotal in the Community Moves to Opportunity initiative. This partnership between Seattle Housing Authority, King County Housing Authority, and Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights research team at Harvard paved the way to broaden geographic choice and access to opportunity neighborhoods for low-income families. This work has been foundational for new national mobility efforts funded by Congress and currently being rolled out by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Madam Speaker, it is my great pleasure to congratulate Andrew Lofton on a distinguished career. The State of Washington is lucky to have had him working for its people and after 47 years of service he always worked with grace, a generosity of spirit, and a never-failing sense of humor.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to congratulate Michael Mirra on a well-earned retirement and thank him for nearly two decades of service to the Tacoma Housing Authority. The positive impact Michael has had on his community cannot be overstated. He has diligently served as Executive Director of Tacoma Housing Authority for the last 17 years, where in that time he helped countless people and substantially improved the Tacoma Housing Authority by growing the number of units and increasing the reach of their services. Prior to this role, Michael was a highly successful litigator who represented homeless families and poor neighborhoods in several high-profile legal cases. Under Michael's leadership, the Tacoma Housing Authority completed a reconstruction project of 200 urban acres costing $250 million in Tacoma's Salishan neighborhood. Not only was this the largest project in Tacoma's history, but also the largest West of the Mississippi. The project increased the total number of units under the Tacoma Housing Authority by 29 percent. Michael also spearheaded innovative ways to use federal housing dollars to further benefit families. With the Education Project, Michael was able to help the children of families working with the Tacoma Housing Authority succeed in public schools and pay for the college education of students experiencing homelessness. Michael was instrumental in finding new ways to use funds and enlisted local developers to incorporate low-income housing into market-rate developments. He also established the Tacoma Housing Authority as a Moving to Work agency, becoming just one of 39 in the country. Moving to Work agencies are given the flexibility to test innovative, locally designed strategies to use federal resources more efficiently and help residents find employment to become financially stable in the long-term. This work was absolutely critical in piloting a new approach to more effectively and efficiently using Federal housing resources to serve low income communities. Not only do they help these families become economically stable, but they also increase housing options for low- income families. In 2016, in recognition of his distinguished career, Michael was awarded the Margaret M. Sevy Lifetime Achievement Award by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission. Madam Speaker, it is my distinct honor to honor Michael Mirra on an outstanding career in public service, thank him for serving his community so well, and congratulate him on retiring.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, one of the great honors that I have as a United States Congressman is to nominate young adults from my District for admission to our Nation's service academies, and during my time in Congress I have become acquainted with many fine young persons who have sought a nomination to one of the service academies. Today, I rise to give recognition to two such young persons who are my constituents, Samantha Scott Edwards and Alexander Thompson Edwards, from Mercer Island, Washington. In 2018, I nominated Samantha to the United States Military Academy Class of 2022, and this spring I nominated Samantha's brother Alex to the United States Military Academy Class of 2025. This coming academic year Samantha will be a senior at West Point, while Alex will be a freshman plebe, and both Alex and Samantha will be competing on the West Point varsity swim team. While it is not unusual for West Point cadets to have relatives who have attended West Point, it is uncommon for a brother and sister to attend West Point at the same time, let alone compete on the same athletic team. Samantha and Alex are incredibly talented in the pool and classroom and both have been named as Academic All Americans by USA Swimming. Samantha now holds two West Point records in relay events and is in the all-time Academy top 10 rankings for her individual times in the 100 yard and 200 yard freestyle events. For her Senior year at West Point, Samantha has been appointed as a Team Academic Mentor, which is a recognition of Samantha's own scholarship as well as her ability to provide scholastic mentorship to other team members. In addition to earning Academic All-American status from USA Swimming for his scholastic achievements, Alex served as Captain of his high school swim team and received his high school's 2020 ``Excellence in Elective Studies in History'' Award. In recognition of his accomplishments in the pool, the National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association has twice designated Alex as an All-American swimmer. As their Congressman and Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, I am pleased that Alex and Samantha have each chosen to attend West Point to become officers in the United States Army. Given their academic achievements, as well as their athletic talents, these outstanding young adults could have gone to any number of fine universities--that they have chosen to attend West Point and serve our Nation's Armed Forces speaks volumes about their character and commitment. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Samantha and Alex. I am proud they are my constituents, look forward to great things from them, and wish them the very best in the future.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and thank Doug Mattson for his work on the United Airlines Master Executive Council Legislative Committee. A Washington native, Doug went on to serve honorably in the United States Air Force. During his time in service, Doug Mattson flew T-37s, T-43s, and C-40Bs and went on to finish his time in the military as a Captain. After his service to our country, Doug couldn't keep his feet on the ground and became a pilot for United Airlines flying Boeing 787s. For the last eight years, he served on the Executive Council Legislative Committee where he worked to protect and promote the careers of pilots, concentrating on safety, pay, working conditions, benefits, and job security. He played a key role in preparing the next generation of pilot advocates to lead on these key issues. Doug provided a steady hand over his eight years and is an Air Line Pilots Association member his colleagues came to depend on. His ability to mentor pilots of varying political persuasions is a testament to his commitment to ensuring that the Executive Council Legislative Committee fulfilled its duty to ensure that pilots voices are heard on Capitol Hill. No matter the day or flight, he always had a smile on his face. Even though Doug has been busy dividing time between flying and advocating for pilots nationwide, he is a family man and enjoys spending time with his lovely wife Sharon, and their two sons Eric and Cameron. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to thank Doug Mattson for the time he spent advocating for his fellow pilots on the United Airlines Master Executive Council Legislative Committee.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Bishop Nathaniel James Davis, Sr., Th.D. He was profoundly devoted to his faith and his family, and dedicated his life to serving his community. Bishop Davis moved to Seattle in 1955, and quickly became a pillar in the Christian community. He joined the Bethel Christian Church of the Apostolic Faith shortly after moving, finding a home among other service- and family-minded members of the organization. He was deeply involved with the Bethel Christian Church, and has undoubtedly touched the lives of countless members of the Seattle community. After many years of selflessness and dedication, Bishop Davis became a Pastor at the Bethel Christian Church, a position he held for 37 years. His legacy and influence are felt by countless members of the Church, where he was a fixture for more than 65 years. Bishop Davis' leadership and commitment to his faith extended beyond his work in Seattle. He was the founding Bishop of the Alaska District Council, serving as Diocesan of the 56th Episcopal District and presiding over the Council for 9 years. He was deeply dedicated to his family, and was married to Evangelist Dr. Addie Davis for 64 years. He leaves behind his wife, 13 children, 41 grandchildren, and 18 great- grandchildren, who will undoubtedly carry on his legacy of service and leadership. Madam Speaker, it is with great respect and honor that I recognize the life of Bishop Nathaniel James Davis, Sr. His life and dedication to serving his community should be an inspiration to us all.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Doctor Stephen Plymate on being the 2020 recipient of the William S. Middleton Award for outstanding scientific contributions and achievements in the areas of biomedical and bio-behavioral research relevant to the healthcare of Veterans. This prestigious award is the highest honor given by the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development Service. Doctor Plymate, a veteran himself, is an endocrinologist at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System and associate director of the Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center. He is credited with scientific breakthroughs that identified the biological mechanism underlying lethal, castration-resistant prostate cancer. Prostate cancer cells can become resistant to a common form of treatment and Doctor Plymate's discovery identified why traditional therapies have failed and spurred innovation for newer, potentially more effective therapies. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Veterans, and over 500,000 known Veterans are currently battling this disease. Doctor Plymate's research will save the lives of countless Veterans and civilians alike. Once again, the Puget Sound VA has recruited the brightest and produced research that will revolutionize medicine. Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to recognize Doctor Stephen Plymate's on his groundbreaking research and being the well-deserved recipient of the 2020 Middleton Award.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and thank Ms. Jamie Jackson for her service to the United States Congress and congratulate her on her appointment to serve as a Senior Deputy Associate Counsel at the White House. A two-time graduate of the University of Virginia and with a law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law, Jamie's career has spanned a decade of public service. After working in various positions in the Legislative and Executive Branches of government, Jamie joined the House Armed Services Committee's professional staff in 2018, where she served as the minority staff lead for the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation. She also advised Members of the full committee and the Subcommittee on Military Personnel on policy matters related to information technology, cybersecurity, and military justice. More recently, Jamie served as the committee's Deputy General Counsel from 2019 to 2021, where she played a critical role in the development and passage of two National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAA). Through her work with Members, outside committees, the Office of Legislative Counsel, and the Office of the Parliamentarian, Jamie played a central role in advising Members and staff of the committee on legal and procedural matters related to the bill. I can say with certainty that the committee would not have been able to get the 59th and 60th consecutive NDAAs done without the tireless work and support of Jamie Jackson. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the House Armed Services Committee, I extend our deepest appreciation to Jamie for her dedicated service to the committee, the Congress, and the military and civilian personnel of the Armed Forces. We wish her well as she continues her public service at the White House.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and thank Mr. Jesse Tolleson for his years of service to the United States Congress and congratulate him on his transition to commercial industry. A graduate of James Madison University, Jesse has served our country for over 22 years beginning as a Staff Assistant on the Armed Services Committee and became one of the few people in our committee's history to promote directly into a Professional Staff Member position. Since 1999, Jesse has been responsible for evaluating and making recommendations for legislation, policy, and the authorization of appropriations across the entire spectrum of issues within the jurisdiction of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee. This is a significant responsibility as the complexity and volume of aviation, maritime and ground-based weapon systems, equipment, and programs in the subcommittee's jurisdiction includes hundreds of items valued in the tens of billions of dollars. Committee members have always recognized and depended upon Jesse's intelligence, command of programmatic and policy details, and uncompromising insistence on the objective facts from the defense agencies and industry. Over these years, Jesse's recommendations have contributed to the readiness and modernization of our Armed Forces. It is no overstatement to say that Jesse's determination and commitment in the early years of the wars in the Middle East, especially his work in support of congressional acceleration of the development and procurement of improved body armor and Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, saved the lives of many service members who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere. The bipartisan and bicameral success that the Armed Services Committee has enjoyed for the last 22 years is due in no small part to Jesse Tolleson's professionalism, integrity, devotion to the committee's traditions, and collegiality. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the House Armed Services Committee, we extend our deepest appreciation to Jesse for his dedicated and selfless service to the committee, the Congress, and the military and civilian personnel of the Armed Forces. We wish him and his family all the best as they start this next chapter.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and thank Mr. Doug Bush for his years of service to the United States Congress and congratulate him on his appointment to serve as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology. A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, former Army officer, and long-serving congressional staffer, Doug has served our country in uniform and as a civilian for nearly 30 years. Though he started his congressional career as a Senate staffer, something we try not to hold against him, Doug has spent the last 14 years as a valuable member of the House Armed Services Committee's professional staff. From 2007 to 2019, Doug supported the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee's oversight of aviation and ground-based weapon systems, equipment, and programs. Doug's work with committee members helped the committee accelerate the development and fielding of weapon systems and equipment that enhanced the capabilities of our Armed Forces and terminate under-performing programs. More recently, Doug served as the Deputy Staff Director of the Armed Services Committee from 2019 to 2021 where he managed the day-to-day operations of the committee and the development of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). As the Congress grappled with how to safely continue operations during the COVID-19 pandemic this past year, Doug played a critical role to ensure the Armed Services Committee continued to conduct effective oversight while also enacting the 60th consecutive NDAA. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the House Armed Services Committee, I extend our deepest appreciation to Doug for his dedicated service to the committee, the Congress, and the military and civilian personnel of the Armed Forces. We wish him well as he continues his public service at the Pentagon with the Department of the Army.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and thank Ms. Leonor Tomero for her years of service to the United States Congress and congratulate her on her appointment to serve as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Missile Defense Policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Leonor has committed her professional career to advancing dialogue on nuclear non-proliferation and arms control within the non-profit world, amongst our international allies and partners, and most notably, with the Departments of State and Defense. She has been a strong advocate for taking a common-sense approach to rethinking our reliance on nuclear weapons--one of the only true existential threats to humankind today. Though she started her congressional career as a Senate staffer, something we try not to hold against her, Leonor has spent the last 10 years as a valuable member of the House Armed Services Committee's professional staff. From 2010 to 2021, Leonor supported the Strategic Forces Subcommittee's oversight of national security space, nuclear weapons, nuclear non-proliferation, nuclear clean-up, and missile defense issues. Leonor's work with committee members helped the committee conduct proper oversight of both programmatic and policy aspects of strategic deterrence and increased understanding regarding the delicate balance of strategic stability. Leonor's commitment to advancing space from a national security standpoint culminated in the establishment of the Space Force, which despite the previous administration's boasting, was truly a bi-partisan effort that emanated from the HASC Strategic Forces subcommittee. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the House Armed Services Committee, I extend our deepest appreciation to Leonor for her dedicated service to the committee, the Congress, and the military and civilian personnel of the Armed Forces. We wish her well as she continues her public service at the Pentagon with the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the order of the House of January 21, 2021, I call up the bill (H.R. 335) to provide for an exception to a limitation against appointment of persons as Secretary of Defense within seven years of relief from active duty as a regular commissioned officer of the Armed Forces, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself an additional 1 minute. Mr. Austin will be the first African American nominated to be Secretary of Defense, which is enormously important in and of itself. The military has a problem with diversity. They have an insufficient number of people of color who have been advanced to high positions, to general and general flag officers. It is enormously important that they address that. In addition, in this country, we have an enormous problem right now with White supremacy. We also have a problem within our military ranks. Now, let me be perfectly clear: I have 100 percent confidence in our military. But this is an issue that they do need to address, the rise of White supremacy and White nationalism within their ranks. Having a highly qualified African American be Secretary of Defense will be an enormous step toward addressing that problem. So I believe 100 percent Mr. Austin has met the criteria to be granted this exclusion. Lastly, I want to say, this law still matters because without this law we wouldn't have this process. We would not have the opportunity to question Mr. Austin in advance of his confirmation in the Senate. So the law has upheld its meaning and its role, to maintain civilian control of the military, by forcing this conversation. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to vote in favor of the waiver for Lloyd Austin, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 335.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur).

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 3 minutes. Mr. Speaker, this is the bill that will grant a waiver, an exemption, to Lloyd Austin to be nominated and confirmed as the Secretary of Defense. This is required because there is a law on the books that says that you must be 7 years separated from military service in order to serve as Secretary of Defense. Mr. Austin has been out for almost 5 years, but does not meet the 7- year requirement. So we need to pass this law to give him that exemption. Now, this is not an easy question. Civilian control of the military is enormously important. That is why this law was put in place. But in looking at this, I feel there are three basic questions: Number one, does the nominee in question understand and reassure us in the House--for the purposes of our vote on this portion of the waiver--that he understands and is committed to civilian control of the military? Second, is there something about this particular nominee that makes it important to grant this exclusion, to grant this waiver? And, third, is the individual qualified for the job? Because I do believe that that is important, and the details of their history is important in deciding that. And I have, after a lot of thought and a lot of conversations with Mr. Austin and others, concluded that all three of those criteria are met in this instance. Taking the last one first, Lloyd Austin is unquestionably highly qualified to be the Secretary of Defense. He had a distinguished career in the military, serving in multiple different command posts, including the commanding general in Iraq, the head of CENTCOM, and the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army. It is beyond question that Lloyd Austin is qualified for this job. He just finished a 2-hour presentation before the Armed Services Committee, taking our questions, in which he made it absolutely clear that he has a keen understanding of the issues that are going to face the Secretary of Defense and the experience and the intelligence necessary to deal with them. He is highly qualified. On the first question of civilian control of the military, he has assured us over and over again of how important that is, and, more importantly, his actions reflect that. He has come before the House, which you do not typically have to do in order to be confirmed to a Secretary-level position, but he has called us and he has reached out to us in a way that, frankly, 4 years ago, the Trump administration did not permit then-Secretary-nominee Jim Mattis to do. He has called countless members of the committee; he has met with us. He has showed us that he respects what is really one of the cornerstones of civilian control of the military, and that is the House and the Senate. We are the ones who have oversight over the Pentagon. He has shown that he respects that. So I can tell you and all Members voting, without a shadow of a doubt, I have no concern whatsoever about Lloyd Austin upholding civilian control of the military. And then there is the second issue: Why this person, in this instance? Mr. Austin will be the first African American nominated.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Horsford).

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from the U.S. Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett).

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the distinguished Speaker of the House.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the other gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Crow).

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Ohio.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch).