Adam Smith

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate and recognize Major Robert S. Swenson, USAFR, Retired. Major Swenson, a World War II veteran who did not receive his Bronze Star Medal for his bravery during the Varsity Operation in 1945, received his medal on August 10, 2013 at the Trigger Time Convention in the City of SeaTac, Washington. In 1945, as a glider pilot in the 435th Troop Carrier Group, 75th Squadron, Major Swenson and his fellow airmen distinguished themselves when enemy infantry mounted a counter attack. The 435th Troop Carrier Group fought and repelled the attack of approximately 200 enemy soldiers, a tank, a self-propelled artillery, and two 20mm flak guns. After the battle, a request was made by Major Charles 0. Gordon that all members of the 435th Troop Carrier Group be given due recognition. However, at the end of the war, the order was lost and went unfulfilled. The records have since been conserved at the Silent Wings Museum Archives and Major General Kenneth Dahl, Deputy Commanding General, I Corps at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, will formally present the Bronze Star Medal to Major Swenson at the convention. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize Major Robert S. Swenson, USAFR, Retired, for his fearlessness and dedication to serving his country.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 25th anniversary of the St. Paul Waterway Project and the leading role that Simpson, a Pacific Northwest forest products company in operation since 1890, played in this effort. In 1985, the Simpson company purchased a paper mill in Tacoma, Washington along the St. Paul Waterway and developed a plan to revive and clean up the area. At the time, there were 17 acres of underwater sediment to be cleaned up and seven acres of marine habitat in need of restoration. Located at the Commencement Bay Superfund site, Simpson's plan became the St. Paul Waterway Restoration Project. Simpson collaborated with the Audubon Society, the Puyallup Tribe, the City of Tacoma, the Sierra Club, and the Washington Environmental Council (WEC) Region 10, among others, in the successful restoration of this critical coastal habitat. The Commencement Bay Superfund project was the first of its kind in the U.S. and has since become a model for industrial and environmental partnership. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize the 25th anniversary of the St. Paul Waterway Restoration Project. Since its completion, we have seen significant improvement in the habitat and in the St. Paul Waterway and Commencement Bay.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Major Robert S. Swenson, USAFR, Retired, for being honored with the Bronze Star Medal in recognition of his actions during World War II. Following the recovery of lost records recommending this honor, the Bronze Star was presented to Major Swenson in July 2013 at Joint Base Lewis- McChord. In 1945, as a glider pilot in the 435th Troop Carrier Group, 75th Squadron, Major Swenson and his fellow airmen distinguished themselves when enemy infantry mounted a counter attack. The 435th Troop Carrier Group fought and repelled the attack of approximately 200 enemy soldiers, a tank, a self-propelled artillery, and two 20mm flak guns. After the battle, a request was made by Major Charles O. Gordon that all members of the 435th Troop Carrier Group be given due recognition. However, at the end of the war, the order was lost and went unfulfilled. It was not until July 2013, at the Trigger Time Forum at Joint Base Lewis--McChord, that Major Swenson, now living in Washington State, was awarded the Bronze Star. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize Major Robert S. Swenson, USAFR, Retired, for his inspiring bravery and dedication to serving his country.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, we rise today to honor the life of Kip Tokuda, and pay tribute to his leadership, service, and dedication to the citizens of the State of Washington. Kip was a Seattle native and a graduate of the University of Washington. Following completion of his graduate studies in social work in 1969, Kip entered public service as a social worker with the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services and gained a reputation for being a strong advocate for children and individuals with disabilities. He was later named to the Washington Council for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. The second son of parents who were incarcerated at the Minidoka Relocation Center, Kip possessed an unwavering sense of justice and equality. A prominent figure within the Asian American community, he served as the president of Seattle's chapter of Japanese American Citizens League (JACL)--an organization which is the oldest and largest Asian American civil rights organization. In 1998, Kip went on to found the Asian Pacific Islander Community Leadership Foundation, a non- profit organization that focuses on social justice, community empowerment, and public service. Beginning in 1994, Kip served as a Representative for Washington State's 37th Legislative District. During his four terms in the Washington State Legislature, he enjoyed many legislative successes. He introduced his first Day of Remembrance resolution in 1997, which has since become an annual tradition in the Legislature. He served as the co-prime sponsor, along with Representative Mike Wensmen of House Bill 1572, which created the Washington Civil Liberties Public Education fund in 2000. Kip also secured passage of the Special Needs Adoption bill, which helped adoption of special-needs children. He was a strong advocate who helped to pass the Homeless Children's Lawsuit legislation, which provided services for over 60,000 homeless families with children. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that we recognize the life of Kip Tokuda--a true trailblazer. We ask our colleagues to join us in honoring a long career of selfless and inspired service to his community, the State of Washington, and our Nation.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Tacoma's Targa Sound Terminal being honored with the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber's Tahoma Environmental Business Award. The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber annually recognizes entrepreneurial efforts that meet a high standard of excellence for environmental, preservation, and protection accomplishments. Targa Sound Terminal provides bulk liquid storage and supplies fuels and lubricants for boats, trucks, and rail cars. It handles petroleum and fuels for transportation companies and industrial markets and has expanded its business into renewable fuels with biodiesel blending and ethanol. It is committed to using the best environmental control technology available to make its operation the best in Washington State. Targa Sound Terminal won this award for its business practices and for its commitment to the City of Tacoma and the community. It helps to keep the Port of Tacoma competitive and creates family-wage jobs. Its employees have donated their time to fundraise for Treehouse, a non- profit serving youth in foster care, and Rebuilding Together South Sound, a non-profit improving the homes and lives of low-income homeowners. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I recognize Targa Sound Terminal and the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber for recognizing the company's high-standards of excellence in environmental preservation and protection and community service.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Banner Bank for being recognized with the Community Lender of the Year Award by the Small Business Administration's, SBA, Seattle District Office. Banner Bank was founded in 1890 in Washington State and today serves the entire Pacific Northwest region. The SBA Community Lender of the Year Award credits Banner Bank for its efforts and commitment to high volume lending. The award is based on the number of SBA 7(a) and 504 loans made and the total dollar amount of both loan types. In 2012, Banner Bank made 103 loans worth over $37 million within the region. Banner Bank is a commercial bank that serves 85 locations in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. They provide banking services and financial products to individuals, as well as small and medium-sized businesses in the region. Banner customizes their services to meet the needs of customers through responsive and knowledgeable banking solutions. They emphasize the vital role small businesses play in economic growth and use their expertise to help entrepreneurs build successful businesses. Banner's commitment to building relationships with each of their clients also contributes to the prosperity of the community. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize Banner Bank for receiving this award for their dedication to regional economic development and personalized banking solutions.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, July 11, I was unable to be present for three recorded votes. Had I voted, I would have voted: ``no'' on Rollcall vote No. 351 (on the motion to table the appeal of the ruling of the chair); ``yes'' on Rollcall vote No. 352 (on the motion to recommit H.R. 2642 with instructions); and ``no'' on Rollcall vote No. 353 (on passage of H.R. 2642).

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor and congratulate Jim Graddon, Police Chief of SeaTac, Washington, on his retirement. Jim has served 39 years in law enforcement, including the past 34 years with the King County Sheriffs Office. A native of South King County, Chief Graddon is a graduate of Burien's Kennedy High School. His father, Lawrence James Graddon, spent 20 years with the King County Sheriffs Office and retired as a Lieutenant. After first serving in the Seattle Police Department, Jim joined the King County Sheriffs office. As a Sergeant, he became adjutant to the Chief of the new SeaTac Police Department. He then went on to become co-supervisor of the Sheriffs Office's Major Crimes Unit. Jim Graddon served as a leader in the task force established to investigate one of the most notorious criminal cases in our nation's history--that involving the Green River Killer. Through his efforts and those of others, the suspect in the case eventually pled guilty to multiple murders, bringing closure to the families and friends of the victims. Since 2007, Jim has served as a Major in the Sheriffs Office and as the City of SeaTac's Chief of Police. He is also a Commander of the Sheriff's Office Southwest Precinct, which polices unincorporated areas throughout Southwest King County as well as in the cities of Burien and SeaTac. Further, Chief Graddon has supported victims of human trafficking with compassion and led various youth violence prevention efforts. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I congratulate Police Chief Jim Graddon on his retirement. The city of SeaTac, King County, and our region are extremely grateful for his many years of service keeping our community safe.

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, June 25; Wednesday, June 26; Thursday, June 27; and Friday, June 28, I was unable to be present for recorded votes. Had I been present, I would have voted: ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 287 (on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 2383); ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 288 (on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 1092); ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 289 (on ordering the previous question on H.Res. 274); ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 290 (on agreeing to H.Res. 274); ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 291 (on agreeing to the Grayson Amendment to H.R. 1613); ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 292 (on the motion to recommit H.R. 1613 with instructions); ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 293 (on passage of H.R. 1613); ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 294 (on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 1864); ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 295 (on agreeing to the Hastings of Florida Amendment to H.R. 2231); ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 296 (on agreeing to the Flores Amendment to H.R. 2231); ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 297 (on agreeing to the Cassidy Amendment to H.R. 2231); ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 298 (on agreeing to the Rigell Amendment to H.R. 2231); ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 299 (on agreeing to the DeFazio Amendment to H.R. 2231); ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 300 (on agreeing to the Broun Amendment to H.R. 2231); ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 301 (on agreeing to the Grayson Amendment to H.R. 2231); ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 302 (on agreeing to the Capps Amendment to H.R. 2231); ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 303 (on the motion to recommit H.R. 2231 with instructions); and ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 304 (on passage of H.R. 2231).

Mr. SMITH of Washington

Mr. SMITH of Washington. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly).

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I claim time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 2 minutes. The 56 inmates that we are talking about at Guantanamo are not the most dangerous terrorists in the world. In fact, the intel community and the Department of Defense determined they were acceptable risks for release back to Yemen, back to their home country. Not everybody that we rounded up and took to Guantanamo, unfortunately, turned out to be the very, very dangerous terrorists that we thought they were. The problem we confront with these 56 that we've determined are not a grave threat to the country, determining that if there is any minimal threat whatsoever we are simply going to hold them forever is, well, quite frankly, un-American. That is contrary to our values, to say that we are going to hold somebody indefinitely--I gather forever--because we think there might possibly be some risk. That's not the way the Constitution is supposed to work. More than anything, this amendment restricts the President's flexibility. If the President determines that this is safe, if the intelligence community determines this is safe, if the Defense Department determines this is safe, they ought to have that option. This amendment takes that option away and, once again, makes Gitmo the classic Hotel California: ``You can check in any time you want, but you can never leave.'' We cannot warehouse people forever. We need to give the President options, not restrict them. There are certification requirements that will always be in place to make sure that the Secretary of Defense, before releasing these people, certifies that he believes it is an acceptable risk. We will have to have that. But I think an absolute prohibition ties the hands of the President in an unhelpful way. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews). (Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SMITH of Washington. I yield myself the balance of my time just to say that I completely agree with the arguments of the gentleman from New Jersey. It's not a question of whether or not these people should be released. It's a question of who should make that decision. Should Congress make that decision and restrict the President? restrict the intelligence community? restrict the Department of Defense? As the gentleman from Arkansas pointed out, Yemen has been a very capable and helpful partner in the war against al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. I believe these decisions are best left to the experts and not to have Congress restrict them and limit their options. With that, I urge opposition to the amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. I yield myself 3 minutes. This is a very straightforward amendment that simply asks the President to put together a plan to close Guantanamo Bay. One of the complaints in recent weeks is that we've seen Guantanamo become more and more untenable. It continues to be an international eyesore. Way back in 2007, President George W. Bush said it should be closed. Then-candidate John McCain said it should be closed. As recently as last week, Senator McCain and some other Senators went down and reached that conclusion as well. I think a justifiable criticism of that has come from the other side of the aisle that said, well, you can't close it unless you've got a plan for what to do with the inmates and a plan for how to close it, and that is exactly what this amendment does. It requires the President within 60 days to come up with a plan for closing Guantanamo Bay prison, and then it also removes all of the restrictions that are in this bill that would stop him from generating that plan. The bottom line is that we do not need Guantanamo. Guantanamo was set up in the first place in the hopes that, because it wasn't actually on American soil, we could somehow hold people outside the normal bounds of due process and the Constitution, but the Court ruled otherwise. The Court ruled that habeas does apply because Guantanamo is effectively under the control of the United States. So there is no benefit there. There are no greater rights in the U.S. than there are in Guantanamo. We just continue to have this prison that has been set up in a way that the international community cannot stand, and it makes a problem for us in terms of being able to cooperate with our allies and to have the ability to get that cooperation to properly prosecute the war on terror. So I am simply asking that we put a plan in place so that we can close Guantanamo Bay once and for all--something that Republicans and Democrats alike have said that they've wanted to do. We simply haven't taken the steps necessary. The prison is becoming very, very expensive. There is $250 million in MilCon contained in this bill just to keep it at a somewhat temporary status. Beyond that, the prospect of the United States' simply warehousing 166 people forever with no end in sight is contrary, again, I think, to our values and to our process. I really want to emphasize the fact that we have here in the United States well over 300 terrorists incarcerated. There is a notion that somehow we couldn't possibly accommodate them here because of the threat, but we have Ramzi Yousef, and we have the Blind Sheikh. We have some of the most notorious terrorists in the world housed here already safely and securely. That is simply not an argument against doing this. The temporary facilities down at Guantanamo are not sustainable. Now, I'm not going to rush this and say we've got to close it tomorrow if we don't have a plan. I'm simply requiring the President to come up with that plan, and then am giving him the legislative freedom to develop that plan as what we've done in this bill far too often is to have restricted that. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler).

Mr. SMITH of Washington. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews). (Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SMITH of Washington. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran).

Mr. SMITH of Washington. I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time. A whole bunch of false arguments are being laid out here. As has been clear, no greater constitutional rights come to people in the United States than at Guantanamo. So that's just a phony argument. The second phony argument is that somehow they can't be held safely. I have a Federal prison in my district. I have an INS detention facility in my district. Frankly, if there was a supermax facility in my district, I would not have a problem with them coming to that district. They should be held. I would hope that all of our supermax facilities, which are holding very, very dangerous people, they better be holding them securely right now. It's $1.5 million a year versus $34,000. It is an absolute recruitment tool for al Qaeda. Our military leaders--General Petraeus-- have all said that this is something that is harmful to U.S. security. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).

Mr. SMITH of Washington. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Swalwell).