Adam Smith

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 124.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 5 minutes. Mr. Speaker, this resolution is very straightforward. The Department of Defense, in cooperation with the White House, recently issued a policy, which will be implemented in a couple weeks, that would, effectively, bar transgender people from being able to serve in the military. We have this resolution to reject that policy. It is that simple and that straightforward. We believe the policy that the Pentagon is putting forward is unfair, based on ignorance and bigotry, and will actually harm national security. We ask the House, in this resolution, to express the sense of Congress that we oppose this policy from the Pentagon. Again, what this policy is primarily based on is ignorance and bias against the transgender community. The policies being implemented will make it virtually impossible for them to serve in the military. This is unfair discrimination, and it is also harmful to national security. The Army last year failed to meet its recruitment quotas. It is a constant challenge in the military to find the people who have the character, the capability, and the ability to serve in our military. We have the best military in the history of the world. We need high- qualified people to serve. To single out a particular group of people, to discriminate against them and say that they cannot serve, not because they can't meet the qualifications--it is not because they can't run fast enough or shoot straight enough or work hard enough--to be a member of the military, but because of something that literally has nothing to do with their ability to do their job, is bad for national security and is unfair discrimination. We have heard a lot from people about how difficult it is for unit cohesion to have transgender people in the military, a whole bunch of arguments. The only problem with that is the military leaders who have actually been responsible for this--and I am just going to read one quote. There are many, and some of my colleagues will say it as well. Army Chief of Staff Milley, who is about to become the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, last year said there are precisely zero reports of issues of cohesion, discipline, or morale as a result of transgender people serving. There is no issue in terms of readiness, despite what the proponents of this policy will say. It is discrimination, pure and simple, and it is unnecessary. We also hear opponents say that the policy doesn't ban transgender people from serving and, under certain circumstances, they can. But those circumstances, as described, are so limiting and restricting. Worst of all, as I will explain in a minute, in certain parts, it allows them to serve only if they are willing to deny who they are. That amounts to a ban. If you cannot be who you are and serve in the military, then that is a choice nobody should have to make. Let's start with the fact that, right now, under this policy, anyone who wants to join the military, if they have transitioned to a different gender, either gone through the surgery or began hormone therapy, this ban says they cannot join. Again, this doesn't say anything about their fitness to serve, in terms of their physical ability or anything. If they have simply had transition surgery or gone through hormone therapy, they are barred from serving. Worse than that, the people who are already in the military who are transgender are, to a certain extent, grandfathered in. In many different places throughout this policy, it says over and over again that they have to serve in their biological sex. A lot of people go: Well, what the heck does that mean? That gets at the essence, at the very heart, of what it means to be transgender. This is not something that is just in people's minds. It is a physiological condition that people are born into in which they decide they are more comfortable being in the opposite gender. That is one of the cornerstone difficulties that all these people have to go through: Who am I? What gender do I want to be? Working with therapists and working with other people, they make that determination. They decide: I know who I am, and this is who I am going to be. This policy now says: Sorry, we don't care what your doctor says. You cannot be the gender that you know that you are. You have to deny who you are in order to stay in the military. In many places throughout this policy, that is a consistent theme and points out what is so totally and completely wrong about this policy. You have also heard, undoubtedly, that there are higher healthcare costs for people who are transgender. There are a number of studies out that show that actually isn't true. Yes, healthcare expense is part of people who serve in the military, and, regrettably, people who join the military have all manner of different healthcare expenses that we do have to pick up, but there is no evidence that this has an increased cost over an average servicemember. Furthermore, we know that the purpose of this policy is not about cost because one of the first points that I made was about how they are not now going to be allowed to join the military even if they have already gone through transition surgery or hormone therapy. So even if they are all done with that, and there is no additional medical cost to come, this policy says that they are barred and banned from joining the military.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself an additional 15 seconds. It makes it perfectly clear that this policy is unfair discrimination based on bigotry and ignorance, and I urge this House to reject it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, just briefly, I will agree, this is a messaging bill, and the message is this is a bad policy. That is what the House is doing. I will also agree that, when it comes to crafting the right policy in this area, it should be done in committee, and it will be done in committee. That is why we didn't bring that out here on the floor. But I think it is important for the House of Representatives to make it clear how wrong we think this policy is. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Kennedy).

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman from Massachusetts an additional 1 minute.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, on Monday, February 25, 2019 and Tuesday, February 26, 2019, I was unable to be present for recorded votes due to a doctor's appointment. Had I been present for these votes, I would have voted: ``yes'' on roll call vote No. 88 (on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 539); ``yes'' on roll call vote No. 89 (on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 276); ``yes'' on roll call vote No. 90 (on ordering the previous question on H. Res. 145); ``yes'' on roll call vote No. 91 (on agreeing to the resolution H. Res. 145); ``yes'' on roll call vote No. 92 (on ordering the previous question on H. Res. 144); and ``yes'' on roll call vote No. 93 (on agreeing to the resolution H. Res. 144).

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I would have voted ``yes'' on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 995, as amended, which was considered on Wednesday, February 13, 2019.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate Dr. Susan Enfield, Superintendent of Highline Public School District on being named the 2018 National Superintendent of The Year by the National School Foundations Association (NSFA). The award recognizes superintendents who through visionary leadership and collaboration, develop partnership with their education foundation which grants all students the opportunity of success. Dr. Enfield has extensive experience in education leadership, having served in several leadership roles across three states since 2003. She is a former high school teacher of English, Journalism, and English Language Learning. Dr. Enfield attended University of California, Berkeley before earning master's degrees from both Stanford and Harvard University. In addition, she holds a doctorate in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy from the Urban Superintendents Program at Harvard University. Prior to joining Highline Public Schools in 2012, Dr. Enfield served as the Chief Academic Officer, and the Interim Superintendent for Seattle Public Schools. NSFA selected Dr. Enfield based on her advocacy efforts, commitment to her students, and work with the Highline Schools Foundation. During her tenure as Superintendent, Dr. Enfield has overseen the renovation of school facilities, promoted technology and media literacy, and developed a strategic plan to make all Highline public schools inclusive and culturally responsive. Dr. Enfield's commitment to the students is clear. She has made it her mission to know every student by name, strength, and need. Under her leadership Highline Public School's high school graduation rates continue to improve. Dr. Enfield promotes the teaching of critical thinking and problem-solving skills and has made it her mission to properly prepare all 19,000 Highline Public School students for the future. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I recognize Dr. Enfield as the 2018 National Superintendent of The Year and celebrate her longtime commitment to education.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I respectfully submit the Rules of the Committee on Armed Services for the 116th Congress, as adopted by the committee on January 24, 2019.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Barbara Bailey, an extraordinary leader who will be remembered for her tireless advocacy for LGBTQ communities and communities of color. Barbara was a prominent Seattle presence, having run the independent bookstore Bailey/Coy Books for many years. Over that time, her Capitol Hill bookstore served as a key safe haven, and an inclusive space for LGBTQ individuals--particularly, during an era when prejudice, stigma, and discrimination against the LGBTQ community remained rife. During the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis, Barbara was part of a courageous group of activists who founded the Pride Foundation, with the vision of creating a community of shared humanity and expanding opportunities for LGBTQ peoples. With her passion, volunteerism, and conviction, Barbara helped lead the Pride Foundation at a critical moment in history, and helped to cultivate it into one of the leading LGBTQ organizations in the Pacific Northwest. To date, the Pride Foundation has remained on the forefront of pursuing equity and positive systemic change in our society. Barbara remained resolute in her tireless advocacy for equality throughout her life. Whether fundraising for organizations, supporting local candidates who shared her values, advocating on the Lambda Legal Board of Directors, or serving as a member of the Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA), Barbara Bailey's activism and principles paved the way for LGBTQ people in the region. Her legacy lives on through the Barbara Bailey Scholarship Fund, which will empower a new generation of leaders. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor and humility that I recognize the life of Barbara Bailey, a champion of civil rights in the Seattle area and whose impact will endure through the many lives which she inspired.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to section 1051 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115-232), I hereby appoint Eric Horvitz as the individual to serve as a member of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Seattle Credit Union's CEO, Richard Romero, for his work helping low income and immigrant families in and around Seattle. Mr. Romero is an example of the American dream in practice. He and his mother immigrated to the United States from Peru when Mr. Romero was just four years old. He began kindergarten unable to speak English, but through perseverance, he received his Bachelors of Science in Organizational Management from La Verne University. Starting his career as a bank teller, Mr. Romero worked his way up through the banking system, and made a name for himself as Chief Operating Officer of the LA Firemen's Credit Union. Today, Mr. Romero serves as CEO of Seattle Credit Union (SCU) where he has led the cooperative to massive growth and expansion. In his time as CEO, Mr. Romero has directed SCU according to the values of community engagement that he grew up with. Under his leadership, SCU has opened two new branches in low income neighborhoods, and begun to offer a variety of resources for immigrants and the underbanked. These resources include: a citizenship loan program and emergency financial planning information for immigrant families. Mr. Romero's empathetic approach to running a credit union has not gone unnoticed, as he was named Trailblazer CEO of the year by the Credit Union Times--an honor he has more than earned. Mr. Romero's story serves as a reminder of the importance of perseverance and community involvement. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize the work that Mr. Romero, and the Seattle Credit Union have done for the Community

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Paul Scott. He has been recognized as the 2017 employee of the year by the City of Kent, for his hard work and dedicated commitment to go above and beyond what is asked of him. Selected from a pool of over 600 people, Mr. Scott is the Public Works Accounting Manager for the City of Kent where he oversees the city's financial policies, labor agreements, accounting, and reporting systems. Mr. Scott has been a dedicated employee for over 25 years. In the City of Kent, the Employee of the Year award is entirely peer nominated and peer selected, which speaks to the level of respect Mr. Scott has fostered in the community. The amount of support Mr. Scott's peers have shown for him highlights the remarkable work he does. He can be regarded as an important example of what a devoted employee looks like, and his achievement serves to motivate civil servants all over the community. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize Mr. Paul Scott for his years of dedicated work for the City of Kent, and congratulate him on his well-deserved award.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Odle Middle School students: Ishan Bansal, Eric He, Neil Chowdhury, Eric Liu, and Clarance Zheng for their win at the National Science Bowl (NSB), held this past April 26 to April 30 in Washington, D.C. The Department of Energy (DOE) created the National Science Bowl in 1991 to encourage students to excel in mathematics and science, and to pursue careers in these fields. More than 290,000 students have participated in the National Science Bowl throughout its 28-year history, and more than 14,000 students compete in the NSB every year. Coached by Rina Chowdhury with guidance from Interlake High School teacher Michael O'Bryne, the Odle Middle School team was among 48 middle schools from around the United States that competed for the national title. Winning this title is not an easy feat, and their perseverance is truly remarkable. In addition to being named the 2018 National Champions, the team's diligence and dedication earned Olde's Science Department $1000, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize the enormous achievement of Odle Middle School and its students Ishan Bansal, Eric He, Neil Chowdhury, Eric Liu, and Clarance Zheng. Their impressive potential to thrive in a range of scientific and mathematical fields is demonstrated by their victory at the 2018 National Science Bowl, and I wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Franklin High School's Mock Trial team on winning the 2018 National High School Mock Trial Championship. The 2018 championships saw teams from high schools all across the country. Passionate students from over 40 states, the Mariana Islands, Guam, and South Korea met in Nevada, and presented their meticulously crafted legal arguments to a judge in hopes of convincing a jury to sympathize with their side. These students prepare for weeks in advance to put together their case and, given the importance of the justice system, it is encouraging to see teenagers show such enthusiasm to participate in it. Having worked as a prosecutor myself, I know the amount of preparation that is needed to effectively present your argument. The fact that these students have been nationally recognized for their ability to do so speaks to the bright future ahead of them. This is the third time a mock trial team from Washington State has earned the national title--two of those times have been Franklin High School. I have no doubt that these students all have promising careers to look forward to. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize Franklin High School's extraordinary achievement, and its students for their dedication to the legal system.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate The Lighthouse for the Blind on 100 years of dedicated service to the deaf, DeafBlind, and blind residents of the United States. The Lighthouse for the Blind is a not-for-profit, social enterprise originating in Seattle and expanding to multiple locations throughout the nation. Founded with the goal of empowering the blind, deaf, and DeafBlind community members, they have acted as a crucial employer for many people in my Congressional District, and throughout Congressional Districts across America. They work closely with both public and private entities, like The Boeing Company and the Department of Defense, to provide them with quality machine parts and equipment. The Lighthouse for the Blind stands as a beacon welcoming people into their safe harbor. They promote an environment of support, whether it be providing computer workstations for the visually impaired, or employing staff mobility instructors to ensure DeafBlind employees are able to travel independently with a white cane or service dog. The Lighthouse for the Blind has steadfastly stood by their main philosophy of supporting the workplace needs of all their employees. They are the largest employer of DeafBlind people in the nation, as well as the largest employer of blind people on the West Coast. The Lighthouse for the Blind goes above and beyond to support its employees. It does not surprise me that they got their start near my district--as they reflect our key values. It is critical that all members of our community feel uplifted, and that they are given the tools they need to have successful and fulfilling lives. When we hold each other up, as clearly shown by The Lighthouse for the Blind, everyone benefits. The Lighthouse for the Blind will be celebrating their centennial on September 15th where they will reflect on the last 100 years, and look forward to the next 100 years. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I congratulate The Lighthouse for the Blind on 100 years of success, and commend them for the vital role they play in our community.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend, David Rolf for his years of dedicated work as founding president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 775. After 15 years of impressive work, David is handing off the presidency of SEIU 775. In the years since David has led the union, he has been an indispensable force for labor issues in the State of Washington, and has been recognized nationally. I am certain he will continue to be in the years to come. David started his union career as an SEIU organizer where he worked hard and, over the years, rose through the ranks to become the Vice- President of SEIU International. There are few in my community who don't admire the work he has done, and it is not hard to see why. David and SEIU 775 are a strong force motivated by the interests of the workers they represent. Whether it be winning raises for the caregivers his union represents, expanding SEIU 775 to represent more workers, or leading the movement for a fifteen dollar living wage in the cities of SeaTac and Seattle--a movement that spread throughout the nation, David's passion for helping members of his community is astounding. His contribution to the fight for working people has changed the lives of so many, and earned the respect of many more. David will still be active and remain president of Working WA and the Fair Work Center. I look forward to hearing about his upcoming achievements. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize David Rolf for his diligent work representing working Americans. I congratulate him on all of his success, and wish him all the luck in his future endeavors.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate International Community Health Services (ICHS) on 45 years of dedicated service to the community. ICHS was founded in the 1970s when a group of advocates emphasized one of the City of Seattle's underserved populations. These advocates recognized elderly, low-income, Asian immigrants did not have a place where they could receive healthcare, and be properly informed about their health decisions. This small group of advocates, took it upon themselves to create change, and opened a small clinic--the Asian Community Health Clinic. They started this clinic with the goal of providing culturally and linguistically appropriate services to those who needed it. As the years went by, their small clinic grew both in size and in the range of services they offered, and changed its name to International Community Health Services. Today, ICHS is larger than ever, having expanded to provide dental care and a vision clinic. Not only have they expanded, but they have also stayed true to their founding priorities, and offer healthcare services to an ever growing list of minority populations providing in-language medical services for elderly citizens in over 50 languages. ICHS reflects some of the best elements of our community. They took a problem that affected a large group of underserved people, and decided to take it upon themselves to work towards resolving it. Healthcare in this country is an area where there is still a lot of work to do. Good healthcare is still unattainable to many in this country which is why I am grateful to ICHS for making a difference in this area. This February marked the 45th anniversary of the founding of ICHS, and I look forward to hearing about the important work they do in the coming years. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize ICHS for their essential work in the 9th District and the surrounding area, and I wish them continued success in their mission.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Officer Diego Moreno. An eight-year veteran of the Kent Police Department, Officer Moreno tragically passed away while in the line of duty last Sunday, July 22, 2018. He is survived by his wife Shelly and two children. A dedicated public servant, Officer Moreno was doing what he had done tirelessly during his 8 years on the force: keeping his community safe. He was known for his kindness, bravery, and unrelenting commitment and dedication to the residents of his community. He has received multiple awards for his service, including one in 2011 for saving a child from drowning. In 2017, Officer Moreno once again saved a life by administering aid to a resident suffering from a drug overdose. These are just a few instances of bravery and dedication that Officer Moreno exemplified throughout his career. Officer Moreno will forever be remembered as an active and caring member of our community. He served with immense integrity, earning the respect of his colleagues as he courageously gave his all to the City of Kent. His profound sense of duty will live on as an example for us all. Officer Moreno will be greatly missed.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor and commend Major Alexander ``Alex'' W. Hill from Federal Way, Washington, on his service in the United States Air Force. Major Hill distinguished himself from an early age. He attended local public schools and in 2002, graduated from Fife High School as a Washington State Honor Graduate. Major Hill then attended Washington State University (WSU), where he met his future wife, Sara, who is now the mother to their two young daughters, Mackenna and Arlee. He made the selfless decision to go above and beyond by joining the ROTC program at WSU. After graduating in 2006, Major Hill was commissioned in the Air Force. Major Hill's career in the Air Force has been one marked with distinction. He has logged over 2,800 flight hours and more than 1,600 combat hours. He has mastered operating a wide variety of aircrafts including AC-130U, AC-130W, MC-130W, MC-12W, C-130E/H/J, TC-12, and T- 6A. Among his many accomplishments, Major Hill was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Aerial Achievement Award. Major Hill has proven himself to be a strong and capable leader. On November second, 2016, joint U.S. and Afghan forces were ambushed by Taliban fighters near Kunduz, Afghanistan. Having suffered sixteen casualties in the first few moments of the ambush, and surrounded on all sides with enemies rapidly approaching, friendly forces turned to their air support--an AC-130U gunship commanded by Major Hill. Over the next two hours of non-stop combat, the gunship's crew conducted nineteen attacks, firing lethal ordnance within meters of their severely wounded comrades. Major Hill and his crewmember's efforts prevented enemy soldiers from approaching, and allowed the joint U.S. and Afghan forces to successfully withdraw and evacuate their wounded. Throughout the engagement, Major Hill and his crew displayed perseverance and quick thinking in a seemingly impossible situation. They were able to remain calm throughout multiple weapon malfunctions and setbacks. In the end, Major Hill and his crew saved fifty lives that day. Their bravery and clear-headedness earned them the 2016 MacKay Trophy for most meritorious flight of the year. Noted as humble by his peers, Major Hill is a committed leader who serves our country with distinction. He has not only answered the call to duty, but has answered it with exceptional skill and discipline. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize Major Alexander Hill, and thank him for his exemplary leadership and courage in service to his country.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Teresita Batayola, CEO of International Community Health Services (ICHS). International Community Health Services provides medical and dental care, as well as behavioral health and health education services to many, including the Seattle area's Asian and Pacific Islander communities. Under the leadership of Teresita Batayola, it has grown into an award-winning healthcare organization, and the largest nonprofit organization that serves Asian and Pacific Islander populations in Washington State. Born in the Philippines and raised in Seattle, Ms. Batayola knew from an early age that she wanted to be a leader in public service. She received a B.A. in Public Affairs from Seattle University, and a Masters in Urban Administration from Bucknell University. She proved to be an exemplary leader on economic and community development issues, and she worked as Strategic Development Advisor on a World Bank Project in Surabaya, Indonesia, and then headed Comprehensive Planning for the City of Seattle. Washington Governor Jay Inslee also appointed her to the Healthier Washington Health Innovation Leadership Network and the Seattle College Board of Trustees. In 2005, she became the CEO of ICHS. Under Ms. Batayola's stewardship, ICHS experienced unprecedented growth, opening several new clinics around the Seattle area--the culmination of an eight year-long planning effort. The organization currently serves over 25,000 patients at eight locations, providing care in over fifty languages. Ms. Batayola's outstanding leadership has helped to earn ICHS many awards. The Puget Sound Business Journal recognized Teresita Batayola as one of 2017's Women of Influence. In 2014 and 2015, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services named ICHS a National Quality Leader. The organization also received the Warren Featherstone Reid Award for Excellence in Healthcare from the state of Washington in 2015. Ms. Batayola herself has been recognized for an astounding number of awards. Some of these include being selected as Seattle Business Magazine's outstanding leader in healthcare, the Filipino Community of Seattle's recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Community Leadership, the University of Washington Women Center's WOMAN of COURAGE, the National Association of Community Health Center's Betsey K. Cooke Grassroots MVP Award winner, as well as a White House Champion for Change. Her commitment to affordable healthcare has ensured that ICHS has been able to provide diverse communities access to vital services. Ms. Batayola has helped make available culturally appropriate services to many who would otherwise be marginalized in the health sector. By doing so, she has helped to fight for equality and make our community an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to congratulate Teresita Batayola on being named a 2017 Woman of Influence. I commend her on her exemplary work. Her tireless dedication to public service has enriched countless lives in her community.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Diane Narasaki, Executive Director of Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS), on her retirement. Ms. Narasaki has served as the Executive Director of the ACRS for twenty-two years. Diane Narasaki's commitment to help others began at a young age. As a teenager, she learned that her parents, Richard and Dorothy, were interned during World War II along with 120,000 other Americans of Japanese ancestry. Her parents', as well as others stories inspired Ms. Narasaki to stand up for victims of oppression and inequality--a mission that has defined her remarkable career. After getting her Master's Degree from Seattle University's Master of Nonprofit Leadership program, she immediately set about making her mission happen. She spent two decades as a leader in her community, holding director-level positions at the Northwest Labor and Employment Law Office, the American Friends Service Committee, and the Wing Luke Asian Museum. In 1987, she helped overturn the conviction of Gordon Hirabayashi, a fellow Japanese American who was jailed for challenging the internment. In 1995, Ms. Narasaki joined the Asian Counseling and Referral Service, which provides a wide variety of services to King County's Asian and Pacific Islander communities. During her tenure as Executive Director, ACRS expanded its behavioral health and civic engagement programs. In addition, ACRS moved its headquarters to a larger facility in Rainier Valley, which allowed them to better serve the fastest growing racial group in King County. Today, ACRS has a staff of 250 people, a budget of $13 million, and serves more than 26,000 people annually in over 40 languages and dialects. Outside of running one of the oldest and largest pan-Asian Pacific American organizations in the United States, Ms. Narasaki's contributions to her community are numerous. She co-founded Washington State's Asian Pacific Islander Coalition, a network of local and community groups serving immigrants and refugees. She has chaired the Washington State Asian Pacific Directors Coalition and the Minority Executive Directors Coalition, and co-chaired the Asian Pacific Women's Caucus and the Seattle Community Police Commission. The U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services appointed her to serve on SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services National Advisory Council. In 2005, the Ford Foundation named her as one of seventeen people in the country to receive the Leadership for Changing America award. She also helped organize the Asian Pacific American Legislative day, an event in which dozens of community groups join forces at the State Capitol in Olympia to voice their concerns to lawmakers. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I congratulate Diane Narasaki on her well-deserved retirement. Her story is an inspiration to all those who strive to serve their communities.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the achievements of Tukwila City Councilmember Joe Duffie, and congratulate him on his retirement from the Council after 35 years of unwavering service to his community. Before serving on the Tukwila City Council, Duffie had already garnered an impressive list of accomplishments. In 1962, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and completed advanced infantry training as the most distinguished trainee of his Company. He served in Korea and earned the rank of Squad Leader. Shortly thereafter, Duffie went on to attend Command General Staff College where he achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant, went through Senior Non-Commissioned Officer training, and completed Command Sergeant Major Academy. After leaving Active military service Mr. Duffie maintained his positions as head custodian at Tukwila elementary school for two decades, served in the National Guard for thirty-one years, worked as a welder in a Seattle shipyard, and currently owns Duffie's--a home maintenance company with the slogan, ``No Job is Too Small.'' That slogan perfectly captures Joe Duffie. Since his election to the Tukwila City Council in 1981 by a four-to-one margin, he has been regarded as a man of the people. He is a tireless worker who selflessly gives out his personal phone number to any citizen who wants to reach him. He has constantly prioritized openness and transparency, and started a monthly tradition where Tukwila citizens have the opportunity to chat with their City Council representatives over coffee. His unique compassionate and personal approach to government will be missed. One of Mr. Duffie's greatest passions is education. His efforts have helped make Tukwila public schools some of the most diverse and inclusive in the country. His unswerving advocacy for the youth of Tukwila has resulted in many of the city's students knowing him by name. On top of his work as a City Councilmember, he has lead a weekly running program for Tukwila's elementary school students. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to thank Joe Duffie for his decades of service on the Tukwila City Council. I congratulate him on a well- earned retirement, although I know that Mr. Duffie will never stop working to make the city of Tukwila a better place.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the Housing Development Consortium (HDC), a nonprofit housing alliance that has celebrated its 30th anniversary. The HDC was founded in 1988 as an alliance of local housing authorities and advocacy groups with a simple mission: to make King County a better place to live for everyone, regardless of their income or race. What began as a small collection of local groups has expanded over the past three decades to encompass over one hundred and sixty organizations across the county. Though united in vision, the member organizations of the HDC span a variety of industries impacted by housing challenges including financial institutions, building contractors, law firms, and government agencies. All member organizations under the HDC's umbrella strive to reduce homelessness and provide affordable housing for low-income families. As living costs in King County continue to increase, the HDC has secured funding to keep housing affordable for 116,000 tenants and people who are at risk for homelessness. The HDC has lived up to its mission of working to ensure that all people live with dignity in safe, healthy, and affordable homes surrounded by communities of opportunity. The consortium operates on the local, state, and federal levels, funding and supporting a wide range of programs. They have created a program that provides King County residents with protection from income discrimination. They have established funding for housing trust funds in Washington State that have contributed to the construction of thousands of low to moderate income homes. They have campaigned for changes to the federal tax code and other measures that seek to minimize roadblocks to home ownership nationwide. For the HDC, no challenge is too great or too small. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I congratulate the Housing Development Consortium on 30 years of exemplary service to their community. I look forward to the next three decades of service and progress.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oregon for his comments because this is an issue we wrestle with in conference committee every year. We should be getting visas to those people who helped us out. For some reason, it is a mandatory score in terms of what it costs; and as I mentioned on the other issue, we struggle to find mandatory money. But rest assured, this is a priority that we will continue to fight for because I know how important this issue is, and I thank the gentleman for raising that. On the bill itself, let me say I intend to support the defense bill. I haven't always supported the defense bill. It is part of a collaborative process. We worked together and tried to generate a good piece of legislation, and I think, on balance, we did that this year. Number one, when you start with the top-line number, the budget agreement that we got earlier this year for FY18 and FY19 helped a great deal because it put in place clear top-line numbers for defense and for the rest of discretionary spending. And that has been the battle. Let me just say clearly that ever since the Budget Control Act was passed in 2011--and I know they have reasons for why that was passed-- the military and the rest of our discretionary budget has had to live under, I think it is, three or four government shutdowns, multiple threatened government shutdowns, continuing resolutions, and, in general, complete uncertainty on how much money they were going to have from one month to the next. This is a horrible way to run the government. We need to come up with a fiscal policy that sets clearly what we are going to spend on discretionary spending and gets it done as close to October 1 as possible. This has a devastating impact on our military's ability to be prepared to defend this Nation, to be prepared to fight the fights that we ask them to fight. It is worth noting, it also has a devastating impact on all other aspects of the discretionary budget: on infrastructure, education, just to name a couple. So getting back to regular order on fiscal policy is enormously important. I will also note--and I chose not to belabor the point this year, though I have talked about it in the past--that the Budget Control Act alone is not the problem. We do need to get rid of the Budget Control Act because it is a terrible way to budget and govern, but even once we do that, we still have a $22 trillion debt. We just passed another massive tax cut, and when you project out where our budget is going to be, we are looking at trillion-dollar deficits for as far as the eye can see and the largest debt that we have ever had as a nation, even as a percentage of GDP. The most important thing that we can do to give a guarantee of predictability to the men and women who serve in the military is to address the fiscal issues that we face as a nation. If we honestly address those issues, we are going to have a devil of a time paying for everything in the military that I know some on this floor would like. So we need to get to a consistent fiscal policy if we are going to have the dependability that I know the chairman wants, that I know everybody in this committee wants going forward; and if we don't do that, that uncertainty is going to continue going forward. Let me just say that to get the proper fiscal policy is going to require us to honestly assess the problems we face. And I will say just one more quick word about that before returning back to the bill. Earlier this year, or earlier this session, we passed, as I mentioned, a significant tax cut. We passed a significant increase in spending. I think the tax cut was roughly $2 trillion. The increase in spending was $500 billion. And then the very next week, we put on the floor a constitutional amendment to balance the budget. There were 134 Members of this body who voted for the tax cut, for the spending increase, and for the constitutional amendment to balance the budget. That doesn't make any sense. That doesn't add up. That is pure politics because, by and large, people want to see their taxes cut and they want to see their favorite programs increased and they would like to have a balanced budget. So we tried to do all three and wind up in a horribly inconsistent position. I would urge all of us to continue to work to get to some fiscal policy that makes sense because the result of a fiscal policy that doesn't add up is budgetary uncertainty for the discretionary budget, the largest portion of which is the Department of Defense. This bill does the very important job of setting defense policy for this country, and most important in all of that is it makes sure that the men and women who fight and serve in our military have the training and the equipment they need to carry out the missions that we give them. Now, again, going forward, we have big challenges. We have never faced a more complex threat environment. We face Russia and China and Iran and North Korea and terrorist organizations spread out all over the globe. It is incredibly complicated and difficult, and it is going to be very expensive, unless we make some smart choices. So we are going to have a tough time meeting the budgetary requirements that we have, no matter what. But in this bill, I think we addressed all those issues, and I think we addressed them very well and in a bipartisan fashion. As I mentioned in my opening remarks, we do work with our allies to confront the challenges in Russia and China, which are critically important to us going forward. We also, thanks to the chairman's leadership, continue our effort at acquisition reform, because one thing is for sure: Given the budget reality that I just described, no matter what, we are going to need to make sure that every dollar we spend at the Pentagon is well spent. Acquisition reform is one of the keys to getting us to that point, to more efficiently spending our money. I want to close by thanking the chairman, thanking Senator McCain, Senator Inhofe, who was also a big part of the process this year, and Senator Reed, and all the members of the Armed Services Committee and their staff. Once again, I want to reiterate, in this committee, we do legislation the way it is supposed to be done: bipartisan and under regular order. This place can work. The legislative process can work. We had a very long markup in the Armed Services Committee in which we considered a lot of issues, debated them, had votes, then we went to the floor, then we went to conference committee, and we produced what I think is an excellent product for the Nation. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for the conference report and again thank the chairman for his leadership. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.