Adam Smith

Mr. SMITH of Washington

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

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I fear this debate is going to come down to a difference of opinion on tax. My staff and I have looked at this very, very carefully. This does not restrict us from what we are currently doing, and it is the position of this sponsor and myself that we need to make sure our stockpile is safe and usable, and we have an adequate deterrent. We do not need to do live nuclear testing. Mr. Speaker, the reason we are concerned about this is because the Senate has actually put $10 million into their version of this defense bill to do precisely that. So, there are some who apparently think this would be a good idea. We want to make it clear: We don't think it is a good idea to do live nuclear testing. Keep doing what you are doing. That is fine. Collect your stockpile. We don't need to be setting off nuclear weapons again. In this regard, what Russia and China are doing is beside the point. It is not in our best interest to do this. If they think it is in their best interests to do live testing, I would disagree with that. This doesn't help protect us. It endangers people unnecessarily. I know we are going to get into a debate over the actual language here, but be clear on what this amendment does.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me associate myself with Ms. Jayapal's remarks. I completely agree with everything she said. I have an enormous amount of respect for Mr. Thornberry, but I disagree with the premise of part of what he said. Part of what he said is absolutely right. We should exercise our independent judgment and not simply rubber-stamp what the Pentagon asks us for, but I don't see how having them give us even more of what they want somehow better enables us to exercise our independent judgment. It is the Pentagon who is sending us what ``their priorities are.'' I think we should be absolutely skeptical of whatever they sent us. But to say, ``Look, you get to ask for $740 billion, and then you can ask for even more,'' that somehow that makes it easier for us to exercise independent judgment, independent of what the Pentagon wants, sort of stands logic on its head. Make no mistake about it, there is one and only one reason for this law. It is because there are some who believe that no matter what you spend on the Pentagon and defense spending, you could always spend more. They are trying to push us down that road toward more, which is wrong because it is a waste. But it is also wrong because it is bad for national security. We need to make choices, not imagine that the budget is unlimited. That is what this does, and it should go away.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Norcross), the chair of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Speier), the chair of the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Golden), a member of the committee.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, this amendment allows us to continue doing what we are already doing to preserve and protect our nuclear deterrent. It simply says: You can't go setting off nuclear weapons again. It doesn't work. It doesn't help. And it is extraordinarily dangerous. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the amendment.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Haaland), a member of the Committee on Armed Services.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Malinowski).

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Cunningham).

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui).

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support the en bloc package, as well as the NDAA upon final passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman).

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. Spanberger).

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor and congratulate Thomas ``Tom'' Trompeter, President and CEO of HealthPoint in Washington State, on his retirement. Tom Trompeter's career spans over 30 years in the non-profit, healthcare, and social services sectors. Tom began his career as Executive Director for Northwest Regional Primary Care Association (NWRPCA) and the Association of Community and Migrant Health Centers in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Tom left NWRPCA as CEO before moving on to work at Community Health Centers of King County, now known as HealthPoint. In 1998 Tom transitioned into the roles of President and CEO at HealthPoint and has dedicated 20 years of his career in those roles. Tom's three prominent areas of impact at HealthPoint were public policy to support the expansion and financial health of community health centers, developing vital partnerships and networks to strengthen the work being done by HealthPoint, and good stewardship as a passionate and dependable leader. Tom led with the belief that when we make even one person healthier, we help not only that one person, but also that person's whole community. And that's both a privilege and a gift. It is clear Tom has led with that belief from the beginning. Tom has guided HealthPoint's growth to its current state of over 17 comprehensive primary care centers that provide innovative, integrated care beyond traditional healthcare models. Tom's influence can be seen in the 100,000 plus patients served annually, 900 current employees, and the students who have had the opportunity to learn under Tom's leadership and go on to pursue a career in community health. Madam Speaker, it is with great admiration that I recognize and congratulate Tom Trompeter on his retirement and the legacy he will leave in the healthcare community in Washington State.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor and thank Susan Davis for over 12 years of dedicated service to her community as Executive Director of the Rainer Chamber of Commerce. Susan provided an invaluable service to South Seattle over the last 12 years as the Executive Director of the Rainer Chamber of Commerce. She always saw the potential in the region and worked tirelessly to celebrate diversity and bring economic prosperity. Although not originally from Washington, Susan became a heartbeat of her community. There are few who have had a stronger dedication to South Seattle. Susan focused on improving education, economic development, and public safety. During her time as Executive Director she produced festivals and parades for the community, helped create the Southeast Seattle Map and Guide, and hosted extraordinary guests at the Chamber luncheons. Her enthusiasm and kind spirit allowed her to connect and make friends with nearly anyone. Susan's genuine passion for giving back did not go unnoticed--and still does not. Even though Susan is no longer with the Chamber of Commerce, she is still working on projects in the neighborhood and looking for ways to contribute to her community. The entire community will miss Susan's presence in this role, but she has created a legacy and we will continue to see the benefits of what she accomplished for many years to come. Madam Speaker, it is with great respect and admiration I honor Susan Davis on her outstanding career as Executive Director of the Rainer Chamber of Commerce and the lasting impression she made on her community.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor and congratulate Peter Newbould, the Senior Public Policy Manager of the Alzheimer's Association Washington State Chapter, on his retirement. Peter has had an outstanding career advocating for those affected by Alzheimer's. In his six years at the Alzheimer's Association he guided other advocates in opening a meaningful discussion with Congress about this disease. Peter spread awareness of Alzheimer's and was a top ten recruiter in the nation for the Alzheimer's Impact Movement. Peter was instrumental in advancing public policy goals and served on the advocacy subcommittee of the Dementia Action Collaborative, helping win State appropriations to implement priorities in the 2016 Alzheimer's State Plan. Prior to joining the Alzheimer's Association, Peter had an impressive career including working for over 13 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. In the 1980s, he was Chief of Staff to Congressman Jim Florio of New Jersey and Congressman Ron Wyden of Oregon. He then served for 21 years as Director of Congressional & Political Affairs at the American Psychological Association, during which he co-chaired a coalition that won passage of two federal laws on mental health parity. Madam Speaker, it is with great admiration that I recognize and congratulate Peter Newbould on his retirement and the incredible advocacy work he has done for those facing Alzheimer's.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, government and public health officials in the U.S. have started grappling with how to reopen the economy amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Much of this discussion has understandably focused on what we need to do here in the U.S. such as drastically expanding testing capacity and hiring additional personnel to conduct a massive amount of contact tracing. For us to be prepared to prevent outbreaks here at home, however, we also have to think beyond our borders. The reality of infectious diseases like COVID-19 is that outbreaks anywhere in the world threaten transmission here in the U.S. The pandemic has upended countries in almost every corner of the world, but the impact on developing countries will be especially devastating. Not only do these countries already have low-resourced health systems but many are facing other challenges caused by conflict, climate change, droughts, migration and displacement. Their ability to prevent, contain, and respond to outbreaks is severely limited, making assistance from the international community critical. While the prevalence of COVID-19 in most developing countries remains unknown due to limited testing, the impact of the crisis is already taking its toll. The economic fallout from the pandemic will hit vulnerable populations the hardest; hundreds of millions of people could be pushed into poverty. The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization has warned of a looming food crisis caused by significant strains on the global food supply chain. By the end of this year, the number of people on the brink of starvation around the world could double. In the short-term, the U.S. must bring significant investments in emergency economic and humanitarian relief to the table. The potential for drastic increases in poverty and widespread famine will foster further instability and displacement. Progress in developing countries to reduce conflict, increase economic opportunity, and promote good governance will be set back. Providing immediate additional resources to combat COVID-19 in other countries will not only alleviate the humanitarian crisis and reduce its potential destabilizing impacts, but it will also help prevent new outbreaks here in the U.S. In the long run, the work to prevent future outbreaks and combat the next pandemic is never-ending. The investments we make today in global health and development will help determine our ability to prevent and combat future outbreaks. For decades, unfortunately, this work has been underfunded. We have to increase our funding for global health security to strengthen health systems in developing countries so they are better prepared to contain diseases and prevent outbreaks. Investments in development and economic assistance, global health, and humanitarian relief are also vital for countries to improve their outbreak response and recovery. Efforts to cut these programs and gut key agencies such as USAID, the State Department, and the CDC are short-sighted and harm the long-term health and economic wellbeing of the U.S. In the coming months and years, a lot of attention will be given to questions around how the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded and how we prevent and better mitigate future outbreaks. We must use this opportunity to reinforce the value of U.S. global leadership and make the case for strengthened investments in global health and development. If anything, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a stark reminder that these investments are critical to protecting the health, economic, and security interests of the U.S.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Gerrilynn ``Lynn'' Nishimura, whose leadership in the labor community has improved the lives of countless people in Washington State. On February 5, 2020 Lynn Nishimura unexpectedly passed away after beginning her retirement that was set to be filled with two things she was most passionate about--travel and continued service to her community. Lynn Nishimura had an admirable career. She worked her way up at a variety of banking institutions, starting as a teller and retiring as a Senior Vice President. After her retirement in 2018, Lynn resumed her position as an unpaid volunteer of the Puget Sound Labor Agency as their Executive Director, where she had been since 2013. The Puget Sound Labor Agency credits Lynn Nishimura for providing crucial leadership and steering the organization through difficult times with her expertise in finance management and her devotion to their mission. Lynn Nishimura worked tireless hours during her time with Puget Sound Labor Agency to ensure people got the help they needed, from guaranteeing wheelchair ramp installations were completed to ensuring union member hardship assistance would continue to be available to the thousands of people who needed those services. Lynn is remembered for her warmth and fearlessness to rise to challenges in order to improve the lives of everyone around her. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I recognize the life of Gerrilynn ``Lynn'' Nishimura. Her life and dedication to service is a reminder that it only takes one person to make lifechanging impacts in a community.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the House Armed Services Committee, I rise to honor and express gratitude to Mr. John Johnson for his illustrious career serving his country upon his retirement. Known as JJ to his friends and family, his long career is marked with distinction and praise from his colleagues who consider him an exemplary patriot and an embodiment of what it means to dedicate one's life to service. Born in Georgetown, South Carolina, Mr. Johnson's service to our country started in 1969 when he joined the U.S. Air Force. He served in the prestigious Air Force Honor Guard and, later, in the Air Force Legislative Liaison Office at the Pentagon, rising to the rank of Senior Master Sergeant. After 20 years of service, Mr. Johnson retired from the Air Force but chose to stay in Washington to join the Capitol Hill Police Department, where he served for another 20 years. During his four decades of service, he supported over 100 Congressional Delegation trips and served in every Presidential Inauguration since President Nixon. In 2009, Mr. Johnson retired from the Capitol Police but again chose to serve the public by joining the House Armed Services Committee. Over the past decade, he has supported the Committee with all hearings, meetings, and events. He has been an instrumental part of the committee's staff and although he kept a low profile, his impact is deeply felt and is a testament to his invaluable work and contribution. His presence will be sorely missed by his many colleagues who consider him a close friend, mentor, and inspiration. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I recognize and thank John Johnson for his many years of service to this country and the House Armed Services Committee. I wish him a happy retirement, to be enjoyed with his friends and family.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Norcross), chair of the Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cooper), the chair of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces.