Adam's record on Defense & military

On March 28, 2002, Smith praised the Air Force's selection of Boeing to provide 767 aerial refueling tankers, citing the economic impact for Washington state.¹

On April 14, Smith introduced two bills, the Expanding Education for Military Families Act and the Military Education Extension Act, to allow portability of Montgomery G.I. Bill benefits to family members and extend the benefits' usage window to 15 years for active duty servicemembers and reservists.¹

On April 30, Smith praised the House Armed Services Committee's mark-up of the Defense Authorization Bill for extending the Montgomery G.I. Bill time limit to 14 years.¹

On May 8, after the House passed the FY2003 Defense Authorization Bill, which increased the time reservists can use their educational benefits from 10 to 14 years, Smith issued a statement saying he strongly supported the bill.¹

On October 9, 2002, Smith voted to instruct conferees on the defense authorization bill to accept Senate language that would have provided full concurrent receipt of military retired pay and VA disability compensation for veterans, after the House-passed version included only a partial repeal of the existing offset.¹

Smith supported passage of H.R. 4546, the FY2003 National Defense Authorization Act, which the House approved by voice vote and provided about $393 billion for defense programs, and which the president signed into law in December 2002 with an extension of the time limit for Montgomery G.I. Bill benefits; Smith said he remained concerned that the final bill did not deliver on promises to veterans regarding concurrent receipt.²

On October 8, 2002, Smith issued a statement on the resolution authorizing use of force against Iraq, saying Saddam Hussein could not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons and that force might be necessary to accomplish that goal.¹

On January 1, 2003, Smith congratulated Pierce College for joining eArmyU, the U.S. Army's online education program for soldiers.¹

On January 30, 2003, Smith was appointed to the House International Relations Committee while remaining on the House Armed Services Committee.¹

On February 11, 2003, he was appointed to the Asia and the Pacific Subcommittee of the House International Relations Committee.¹

On February 12, 2003, he was named to the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee and the Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee.¹

Smith voted in favor of H.R. 1307, the Armed Services Tax Fairness Act, which provided tax relief for military service members and their families.¹

On the same day, following news of a U.S.-led attack against Iraq, Smith issued a statement saying his thoughts were with coalition troops and their families, including those from McChord Air Force Base, Fort Lewis, and area National Guard and Reserve units.¹

Five days later, Smith announced a website for constituents and service member families containing information about the war in Iraq.¹

On April 30, 2003, Adam Smith announced that the Department of Defense had included $19 million in its Fiscal Year 2004 budget amendment for the McChord Air Force Base Mission Support Center, and said he was committed to seeing the funds authorized and appropriated.¹

Smith said recent military operations showed that airlift capabilities were critical and that the project would enhance McChord's ability to serve that role.¹

On May 21, 2003, introducing legislation to increase trade with the Middle East and Muslim world, Smith said promoting stability and economic growth in the region "must be about more than just foreign aid and military action."¹

On July 21, 2003, Smith introduced H.R. 2764, the "Expanding Education for Military Families Act of 2003," which would let active-duty personnel transfer Montgomery GI Bill benefits to family members if they agree to serve at least 10 years and would extend the MGIB enrollment decision period to six months.¹

On July 22, Smith issued a statement on a House Armed Services Committee hearing on the Air Force-Boeing agreement to lease 100 Boeing 767s converted into aerial refueling tankers to replace KC-135 tankers, in which he said the plan was "a good one."¹

On July 24, Smith entered a statement into the Congressional Record on the 50th anniversary of the Korean War armistice honoring a constituent, Korean War veteran Duane A. Osborn.¹

On July 29, Smith and Rep. Norm Dicks sent a letter to VA Secretary Anthony J. Principi opposing instructions given to VISN 20 leadership to resubmit facility recommendations with plans that could close VA facilities at American Lake.¹

Smith cosponsored the Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2003, which would end the reduction of a veteran's military retirement benefit by the amount of disability compensation received, and signed a discharge petition to force the bill to a floor vote.¹

He supported a letter calling for offsetting the $87 billion Iraq and Afghanistan supplemental appropriations request by reducing tax breaks for Americans earning over $300,000 a year, and after House Republican leadership did not permit his amendment offering a similar offset to be considered, announced he would oppose the supplemental funding legislation.²

He also signed a letter with seven other members of the Washington state delegation asking appropriators to extend TRICARE medical coverage year-round to National Guard and Reserve members who are unemployed or otherwise lack employer-provided health insurance.¹

A Democratic motion to recommit that would have fully funded concurrent receipt failed 217-188, after which Smith voted for final passage of the fiscal year 2004 Defense authorization bill, which phases in full concurrent receipt over 11 years for retirees with at least 50% disability and a Purple Heart or combat-related disability.¹

On March 29, 2004, Smith and Rep. Rick Larsen participated in a classified strategic policy forum, "Masked Dragon," that brought together 14 Members of Congress, senior military and Executive Branch officials, and examined crisis scenarios on the Korean Peninsula involving North Korea.¹

Smith said today's exercise put into perspective the strategic importance of military assets in Washington state.¹

On April 14, 2004, Smith announced a funding request for a community center in Bethel, an area adjacent to Fort Lewis Army Base and McChord Air Force Base, saying military families there lacked city services.¹

On May 12, 2004, Smith announced that the House Armed Services Committee had approved full funding for an additional 14 C-17 aircraft and that he had added language to the bill supporting multi-year procurement of the aircraft.¹

The same day, he announced he had secured $2.5 million for a mapping project in Tukwila to be used by the National Guard and the Department of Homeland Security, $1 million for a National Defense University information technology study, and $3 million for an AirWeighs weight-and-balance safety system for the Air Force C-130 fleet.³

He also announced $4.2 million for a Mounted Warrior Nomad Command & Control Heads Up Display for the Stryker Brigade stationed at Fort Lewis.¹

Smith said the C-17, homeland security mapping, AirWeighs, and Stryker display funding was requested through the 2005 Defense Appropriations bill.⁴

On September 7, 2004, Smith announced support for a bipartisan bill bringing the 9/11 Commission's recommendations to a House vote, a bill he cosponsored with more than 100 other members of Congress.¹

On September 9, 2004, Smith issued a statement marking the third anniversary of the September 11th attacks.¹

On September 27, 2004, the House Democratic Leadership appointed Smith to the conference committee on the Defense Authorization Bill for Fiscal Year 2005.¹

On October 7, 2004, after Congress finished work on the National Defense Authorization Bill, Smith said the final bill included a 3.5% across-the-board pay raise for service members and authorized a multiyear procurement of 100 new aerial refueling tankers.¹

On May 12, 2005, Smith said the Pentagon's BRAC Commission report would create joint-base Lewis-McChord in Washington State and close the Navy-Marine Corps Reserve Center in Tacoma, with 20 servicemembers transferred to other locations.¹

On May 24, 2005, Smith said H.R. 1815, the FY 2006 National Defense Authorization Act, included a 3.1% across-the-board pay increase, a $15,000 Guard and Reserve enlistment bonus, and $3.3 billion for force protection including up-armoured Humvees and body armor.¹

On May 25, 2005, after H.R. 1815 passed the House with what Smith called broad bipartisan support, Smith said the bill included $60 million in school impact aid and $25 million for Up-Armored HMMWV and Tactical Truck Crew Trainers affecting the Puget Sound region.¹

On June 16, 2005, Smith submitted a letter to BRAC Commission Chairman Anthony Principi raising concerns about the impact of the Joint Base Lewis-McChord proposal on the reduction of personnel at McChord Air Force Base.¹

On June 19, 2005, Smith said he was pleased that H.R. 2863, the Fiscal Year 2006 Department of Defense Appropriations bill, passed the House of Representatives with broad bipartisan support, and cited Puget Sound-region provisions in the bill including $30 million in school impact aid and $30 million for Up-Armored HMMWV and Tactical Truck Crew Trainers.¹

On July 4, 2005, Smith sent another letter to Principi citing a Government Accountability Office report on the Joint Basing concept and again raising concerns about the projected reduction in jobs affiliated with McChord AFB.¹

On November 17, 2005, Smith voted for the FY2006 Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Conference Report, which added $1.2 billion for veterans' health care and included a $1.42 million earmark for a Homeland Security education center at Camp Murray.¹

The same day, Smith said a Republican-sponsored resolution calling for the immediate withdrawal of all U.S. military forces from Iraq was irresponsible and said any withdrawal should be conducted in a thoughtful and deliberate manner.¹

In early December, after a trip to Iraq where he met with troops, military leaders, and Iraqi government officials, Smith said the Bush administration had made planning failures in the war, and on December 7 he introduced the "Enhancing America's Guard and Reserve" Act to expand TRICARE, education, and retirement benefits for Guard and Reserve members.²

On December 18, Smith voted against the FY2006 Defense Appropriations Bill because it included a provision allowing oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and voted for the FY2006 Defense Authorization Act Conference Report, which authorized $441.5 billion and included a prohibition on torture and cruel treatment of detainees sponsored by Senator John McCain.²

Smith supported H.R. 5122, the FY2007 Department of Defense Authorization Act, which passed the House with bipartisan support and moved to the Senate.¹

The bill included $50 billion in bridge funds to cover war costs for the coming fiscal year, plus additional funding for better equipped vehicles and improvised explosive device protection for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.¹

On June 15, 2006, Smith voted for a non-binding House resolution on Iraq and the war on terrorism, saying "This resolution does nothing to address the real challenges in Iraq or to hold the administration accountable for their mistakes."¹

He said his vote in favor of the resolution was not an endorsement of the administration's conduct in Iraq.¹

On September 26, 2006, Smith issued a statement opposing H.R. 6616, the military commissions legislation, saying it "runs counter to fundamental American values" (r6).¹

The next day, he issued a statement opposing H.R. 5825, a surveillance bill that passed the House, saying it "would allow the President to spy on Americans without a warrant for an unlimited period of time" (r7).¹

On September 28, 2006, Smith voted for the $462.9 billion National Defense Authorization conference report for fiscal year 2007, which included $70 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan operations (r8).¹

On November 7, 2006, after Donald Rumsfeld resigned as Secretary of Defense, Smith said the resignation was "an opportunity for a new direction in Iraq" (r10).¹

On January 9, 2007, Smith said he opposed a plan to send roughly 20,000 additional U.S. troops to Iraq, and on February 15 he voted for a House resolution opposing the deployment, which passed 246 to 182.²

In March, Smith and Rep. Ellen Tauscher introduced a bill to terminate the authorization for use of force in Iraq and require a troop redeployment plan, and in April he said he would vote for a conference agreement on H.R. 1591 that set a goal of redeploying most U.S. troops from Iraq by March 2008.²

He voted for H.R. 1591 when it first passed the House 218 to 212, and in May he voted for a revised Iraq Accountability Act that passed 221 to 205, but later that month voted against a compromise war supplemental bill funding military operations in Iraq through September.³

In August he voted for a bill setting minimum rest periods between troop deployments, which passed 229 to 194.¹

Smith voted for H.R. 2740, which extended U.S. court jurisdiction to private military contractors working in Iraq for agencies other than the Defense Department, and the bill passed the House 389 to 30 on October 3, 2007.¹

He voted for the fiscal year 2008 Defense Appropriations conference report, which passed 400 to 15 and provided $460.3 billion including a 3.5 percent troop pay raise, and for the Defense Authorization Conference Report, which passed 370 to 49.²

On December 18, 2007, Smith voted against a $70 billion war funding bill, saying it placed no constraints on the President's Iraq and Afghanistan policies, and introduced a resolution the same day calling for an increased U.S. commitment in Afghanistan tied to reducing troop levels in Iraq.²

On June 19, 2008, Smith voted no on both amendments of the fiscal year 2008 emergency supplemental appropriations bill, saying the first amendment's more than $160 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan operations lacked adequate restraints on President Bush's Iraq policy and that neither amendment offset its costs.¹

On June 24, 2008, the House Appropriations Committee approved $8.6 million that Smith had requested to build a cyber-warfare training and operations facility for the Washington Air National Guard's 262nd Information Warfare Aggressor Squadron at McChord Air Force Base.¹

On July 8, 2008, Smith called the Pentagon's decision to re-open bidding for a 179-aircraft Air Force refueling tanker contract "the right decision," after a GAO investigation found the original acquisition process disadvantaged Boeing's bid.¹

On July 31, 2008, Smith applauded House passage of H.R.6599, the fiscal year 2009 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill, which passed 409-4 and provided $93.7 billion for veterans' programs, a $6.1 billion increase over the prior year.¹

On September 9, 2008, Smith said he supported the Department of Defense's decision to delay the $35 billion tanker contract until the next administration, while stating he had serious misgivings about the management of the process.¹

That same day, Smith said the President's plan to reduce troop levels in Iraq by about 8,000 while only slightly adjusting force levels in Afghanistan maintained a long-term, unsustainable presence in Iraq, calling the approach highly irresponsible.¹

On September 24, 2008, Smith said a spending package secured $24.6 million for military projects in the Puget Sound region, including a cyber-warfare facility at McChord Air Force Base and equipment for Ft. Lewis' 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team.¹

Smith voted for H.R. 2647, the fiscal year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act, which the House Armed Services Committee reported by a vote of 61-0, and said the bill supports troops and their families, ensures military readiness, and focuses on strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan.¹

He voted for H.R. 2990, the Disabled Military Retiree Relief Act of 2009, which passed the House 404-0 and allows certain disabled military retirees to concurrently receive both their DoD retired pay and VA disability benefits from January 1, 2010 through September 30, 2010.¹

He voted for the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, which provided $108.9 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, a $14.5 billion increase over Fiscal Year 2009, and included funds for a Joint Access Road between Ft. Lewis and McChord Air Force Base.¹

On July 27, 2009, he introduced the Military Family Leave Act of 2009, which would provide two weeks of unpaid leave to the spouse, children, or parents of a military member who receives notification of deployment or is currently deployed.¹

On September 24, 2009, Smith said the Air Force's draft tanker RFP addressed concerns raised in the prior round of bidding and stated he would review the new guidelines in detail to ensure a fair and transparent procurement process.¹

On October 6 he voted for the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform & Transparency Act, and on October 7 he voted for the conference report on the fiscal year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act, which he said provided a 3.4% pay raise for troops and which included more than $35 million for Washington state projects he was described as instrumental in securing.²

On October 13 he offered a resolution honoring the Washington National Guard, including the 81st Brigade Combat Team, which had recently returned from deployment in Iraq.¹

Following the November 5 shooting at Fort Hood, he said on November 8 that he would evaluate the incident and work on policy adjustments, and on November 17 he introduced the Veterans to Work Pilot Program Act to create a pilot apprenticeship program for veterans on military construction projects.²

On January 20, 2010, Smith was named chairman of the House Armed Services Committee's Air and Land Forces Subcommittee, with jurisdiction over Army and nearly all Air Force acquisition programs.¹

On February 2, 2010, the House adopted an amendment offered by Smith to the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2009 requiring that a mandated report to Congress on cybersecurity workforce needs also examine security clearance and job suitability requirements that may deter hiring a trained cyber workforce.¹

On February 23, 2010, Smith released a statement on the Air Force's Request for Proposals for a new aerial refueling tanker, saying he would continue to follow the process to ensure a fair, open, and transparent competition, and on February 25, 2010, he released a statement on House passage of H.R. 2701, the FY2010 Intelligence Authorization Act, which he said provides funding and authorities for the intelligence community and strengthens Congress' ability to conduct oversight.²

On February 24, 2010, Smith testified before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity in support of the Military Family Leave Act of 2009, which he introduced and which would provide two weeks of unpaid leave to the spouse, children, or parents of a military member who is notified of deployment or is currently deployed.¹

On March 30, 2010, Smith said he was disappointed by a possible 60-day delay in the KC-X tanker Request for Proposals and said the original RFP timeline gave bidders adequate time.¹

On May 19, 2010, Smith offered an amendment to the FY2011 National Defense Authorization Act directing the Department of Defense to report on the impact of illegal foreign subsidies on the KC-X tanker competition.¹

On April 27, 2010, the House passed H.R. 5013, the IMPROVE Acquisition Act of 2010, and Smith said the reforms were expected to save $135 billion over five years.¹

In May 2010, Smith voted for the FY2011 National Defense Authorization Act, which included a 1.9 percent military pay raise and $700 million for National Guard and Reserve equipment.²

Smith, chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces, called North Korea's artillery attack on South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island "an unacceptable act of aggression" against a U.S. ally.¹

He led a Congressional Delegation to Afghanistan to meet with U.S. and Afghan officials and military commanders, and said afterward he remained "very concerned about the high cost of our efforts and the challenges we continue to face in developing a reliable partner in the Afghan government."¹

He was elected Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee for the 112th Congress.¹

After Secretary of Defense Robert Gates proposed reinvesting $100 billion in savings into military priorities, Smith said Gates appeared to have taken "a moderate and responsible approach"; he later said the fiscal year 2011 National Defense Authorization Act signed by the President authorized a 1.4% pay raise for troops.²

On 2011-02-23, after the Air Force selected Boeing's proposal for the KC-X Aerial Refueling Tanker, Smith said the decision was "a huge boost to Washington State," and on 2011-03-03, after EADS chose not to appeal the contract award, he called it "a step forward in America's military readiness."²

As Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, Smith said the committee passed the Fiscal Year 2012 National Defense Authorization Act by a vote of 60-1 on 2011-05-11 and the House passed it 322 to 96 on 2011-05-25; the President signed the bill into law on 2011-12-30.³

After President Obama certified the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in July 2011 and the repeal took effect in September 2011, Smith said the change "puts government policy in line with the values of our country."²

After the FY2013 Department of Defense budget was released, Smith, then House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member, said it followed the President's strategic review and complied with funding levels set by the Budget Control Act, an act he said he had not supported.¹

On March 7, 2012, Smith and Senator Mark Udall unveiled companion bills requiring that anyone detained on U.S. soil under the Authorization for Use of Military Force receive access to due process in Article III federal or state courts, and prohibiting military commissions and indefinite detention for individuals detained in the United States.¹

On March 22, 2012, following a meeting with Army leadership at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Smith said he and other members of the delegation pressed General Austin on what policies were in place to ensure soldiers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or Traumatic Brain Injuries receive treatment.¹

After the House passed the fiscal year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act, he thanked committee members and staff for their work but said he was troubled by language that relied too heavily on an extended combat mission in Afghanistan and by overly confrontational language elsewhere in the bill.¹

He said the Thornberry-Smith amendment in the NDAA was intended to let the government release factual information to counter extremist propaganda abroad, and said that, contrary to some reports, it did not legalize the use of propaganda on American audiences because no funds could be used to influence public opinion in the United States.¹

He traveled to Kenya to assess joint U.S.-Kenyan efforts against al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and al-Shabaab.¹

He also traveled to Uganda to assess international efforts to find Joseph Kony and the Lord's Resistance Army.¹

Smith, Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, said Gov. Chris Gregoire appointed Brigadier General Bret Daugherty as Adjutant General of the Washington National Guard, succeeding Major General Timothy Lowenberg after 44 years of military service.¹

On July 25, 2012, Smith received the Association of the United States Army's Outstanding Legislator Award, cited for his advocacy on behalf of military personnel and their families and for efforts to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in the Department of Defense.¹

On August 6, 2012, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and the Office of Economic Adjustment announced a $5.7 million grant to the City of Lakewood to improve the Freedom Bridge overpass near the Madigan Army Medical Center gate at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and Smith said he was proud to have helped secure the funding.¹

In a September 10, 2012 statement marking the 11th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, Smith, then House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member, said members of the Armed Services continued to fight to protect and secure the country from terrorist threats.¹

In a September 19, 2012 statement on the one-year anniversary of the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," Smith said the repeal allowed lesbian, gay, and bisexual service members to serve openly and honestly for the first time in the nation's history, and said Congress should pass the Military Spouses Equal Treatment Act, which he said would give same-sex spouses of service members and veterans the same rights and benefits as their heterosexual counterparts.¹

In a September 17, 2012 statement recognizing African Immigrant Health and Heritage Month, Smith, citing his role as Armed Services Committee Ranking Member, said he had seen firsthand the contributions African immigrants make to national security.¹

As House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member, Smith voted against the fiscal cliff agreement, saying it left the Department of Defense facing uncertainty over spending levels and the possibility of across-the-board sequestration cuts.¹

He introduced the Sequestration Relief Act of 2013 to eliminate the sequester and replace it with $320 billion in spending reductions phased in over eight years, and after sequestration took effect said the cuts were "not how we should govern or address our deficit issues."²

He voted against a continuing resolution that let the cuts proceed while giving the Department of Defense some discretion in implementing them, then supported a later continuing resolution with similar defense-funding flexibility, calling it "in no way perfect."²

He also reintroduced the Military Spouses Equal Treatment Act, legislation to give servicemembers and veterans with same-sex spouses the same benefits as their heterosexual counterparts.¹

On April 17, 2013, he voted for CISPA, citing a rise in cyberattacks on government agencies and private industries, while saying he still had significant privacy concerns about the legislation.¹

On April 24, 2013, after reports that the Assad regime had used chemical weapons in Syria, he said he was not convinced that military action was appropriate at that time.¹

On June 24, 2013, he said he was disappointed by the Army's announcement that it would deactivate the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, cutting about 4,500 soldiers, and said he had voted against the Budget Control Act of 2011 that led to the reductions.¹

On June 27, 2013, he said he was pleased that the House passed legislation protecting whistleblowers who report sexual assault in the military.¹

After visiting the Syria-Jordan border on August 27, 2013, Smith said the Syrian regime appeared to have used chemical weapons to kill hundreds of civilians and called for expanded military and non-military aid to opposition forces, while stating he was not calling for an open-ended commitment to remove the Assad regime.¹

After the President's September 10 speech on Syria, Smith said he was encouraged that a vote to authorize use of force had been postponed in favor of a diplomatic proposal to place Syria's chemical weapons under international control, and said he remained undecided on whether a military strike would be appropriate should diplomacy fail.¹

On September 15, Smith and House Armed Services Committee Chairman Howard McKeon issued a joint statement on the shooting at the Washington Navy Yard, saying they had full faith in military and law enforcement officials to bring the perpetrators to justice.¹

On September 19, after the House passed a continuing resolution that did not address sequestration, Smith said sequestration's cuts continued to threaten national security and military readiness.¹

On November 22, 2013, Smith said an interim deal with Iran was a step toward preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, describing it as halting Iran's nuclear program and rolling it back in key respects in exchange for temporary, targeted, and reversible relief.¹

On December 11, 2013, after the House passed the fiscal year 2014 National Defense Authorization Act, Smith said the bill was not perfect but made progress in prioritizing troops deployed in Afghanistan and elsewhere, and he urged the Senate to pass it.¹

The same day, after the House passed a bipartisan budget agreement, Smith said the deal provided two years of relief from sequestration for the Department of Defense and other discretionary programs.¹

On January 14, 2014, after the House passed the fiscal year 2014 appropriations bill, Smith said the legislation provided "sequester relief for the Department of Defense" but called it "by no means perfect."¹

On February 10, 2014, Smith voted to lift the debt ceiling until March 2015, saying the move allowed the government "to pay the bills we have already incurred" without increasing spending.¹

That same day, as House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member, Smith opposed separate legislation that would add another year of sequestration in exchange for repealing cost-of-living adjustments for working-age retired service members, saying it would force "cuts to readiness and procurement."¹

As House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member, Smith announced on May 5 that he would push an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act removing restrictions on transferring Guantanamo Bay detainees into the United States, and on May 20 offered a related amendment laying out a six-step plan to close the facility, which he said had cost more than $5 billion since 2002.²

On May 20 he also offered a separate NDAA amendment that he said would eliminate indefinite military detention of individuals detained in the United States under the Authorization for Use of Military Force, providing instead for transfer to trial in an Article III federal court or an appropriate state court.¹

After President Obama announced on May 26 a plan to maintain about 9,800 U.S. troops in Afghanistan after 2014 to train Afghan forces and support operations against Al Qaeda, Smith called it "a responsible path forward."¹

In statements on Iraq on June 12 and June 18, Smith said military action without political outreach to Sunnis by the Maliki government was "doomed to fail," and said he supported President Obama's plan to aid Iraqi forces with intelligence, training, and counterterrorism and operational support rather than direct U.S. military action.²

On September 10, 2014, House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith issued a statement on the President's speech on ISIL, saying the President "laid out an aggressive and appropriate course of action to address the threat posed by ISIL."¹

In the same statement, Smith said any military action against ISIL had to be complemented by a political strategy leading to the inclusion of marginalized Sunni populations in the Iraqi government.¹

On September 15, 2014, as the House began debate on an amendment authorizing the President to train and equip moderate elements of the Syrian opposition, Smith issued a statement encouraging support for the measure, saying the trained opposition "will become the backbone of the resistance to ISIL in Syria and the Assad regime."¹

In that statement, Smith said a capable ground force would eventually be needed to confront ISIL fighters and that this ground force "should not be United States military personnel."¹

On November 14, 2014, Smith said Republican calls for U.S. ground combat troops in Iraq and Syria were "ill-founded and does not comport with reality" and said ground forces in Iraq and Syria must be local forces, not U.S. combat troops.¹

On November 24, 2014, Smith said he supported the extension of nuclear negotiations with Iran, noting the extension kept a freeze on Iran's nuclear program and kept sanctions in place.¹

The same day, Smith thanked Secretary Hagel for his service after Hagel's resignation, citing Hagel's work on the Afghanistan drawdown and the Department of Defense's handling of ISIL, Russia, and Ebola.¹

On December 9, 2014, following release of the Senate torture report, Smith said "the act of torture stands in stark contrast to our values" and said information gained through torture is "often far different than the truth."¹

After Iran nuclear negotiations were extended, Smith said negotiators must build on a framework with "strong inspection and verification components" and said he would continue monitoring negotiations before reviewing a final deal.¹

On July 13, Smith praised Secretary Carter's decision to establish a working group on transgender military service, saying "the brave men and women who serve in our military should not be excluded from the rights and freedoms that they risk their lives to protect."¹

On July 14, after the administration announced an Iran nuclear agreement, Smith applauded the administration's work and said Congress would have the opportunity to scrutinize the deal.¹

On August 21, 2015, marking the second anniversary of Nestora Salgado's arrest, Smith called on the United States and Mexican governments to take immediate action to secure her release.¹

On August 31, 2015, as Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, Smith said he supported the Administration's nuclear agreement with Iran after reviewing the final agreement and speaking with the Administration, nonproliferation experts, and European allies.¹

On September 10, 2015, on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks, Smith said that as Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee he would remain focused on ensuring an attack like this never happens again.¹

Smith said the two-year bipartisan budget agreement reached by House and Senate leaders would increase funding equally for defense and non-defense investments, but said it does not eliminate cuts mandated by sequestration.¹

He said the revised National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 gives the Department of Defense a stable and predictable budget, while stating the bill does not address how Overseas Contingency Operations funds are used and does not close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay.¹

He voted for the revised NDAA, and after the President signed it into law he stated the bill does not address Base Realignment and Closure or personnel reforms and does not close Guantanamo Bay, while saying it is better than the original version.¹

He applauded Secretary of Defense Ash Carter's announcement opening approximately 213,600 previously closed combat positions across 52 military occupational specialties to women.¹

On April 25, 2016, Smith and two other House committee ranking members said they opposed a forthcoming amendment to the fiscal year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act that would block a Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces executive order requiring defense contractors with violations of employment, safety, or discrimination laws to disclose them when seeking new contracts.¹

On April 27, 2016, Smith said House Republicans passed a modified amendment allowing the Confederate battle flag to keep flying at The Citadel if the school's Board of Visitors voted for its removal, after he and Congressman James Clyburn had introduced a measure to withdraw ROTC support over the flag.¹

On April 28, 2016, Smith said the House Armed Services Committee marked up and passed the National Defense Authorization Act after members debated and voted on a number of provisions.¹

On May 3, 2016, Smith said the Russell amendment, offered by Republicans, sought to override an executive order barring government contractors from discriminating based on sexual orientation or gender identity by citing religious freedom, and he called it a direct attack on LGBT rights.¹

On December 1, 2016, Smith, then Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, said the FY 2017 NDAA "makes a valuable contribution to our country's national security."¹

The same day, on General Mattis's nomination for Secretary of Defense, Smith said the circumstances of the nomination raised "serious questions about fundamental principles of our Constitutional order" and said the House would need to conduct a full review, including Armed Services Committee hearings, before considering an exception to the statutory prohibition on recent military officers serving as Secretary of Defense.¹

On December 6, 2016, Smith said Lt. General Michael Flynn's name should be removed from his appointment as President-elect Trump's National Security Adviser.¹

On December 13, 2016, Smith joined six other members of Congress in a statement calling for a "comprehensive" and "truly bipartisan" congressional investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election.¹

On January 29, 2017, Smith said the National Security Presidential Memorandum reorganizing the NSC placed a political operative, Steve Bannon, at the table for all meetings and downgraded the role that objective intelligence and military advice play in the president's decision-making process.¹

On February 27, 2017, as Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, Smith said President Trump's budget proposal and policies were irresponsible and that reported cuts to diplomacy and development would threaten national security.¹

On March 16, 2017, Smith said increasing the defense budget at the expense of nondefense spending was unacceptable, citing diplomacy, development, and defense as the three pillars essential to protecting Americans and U.S. interests.¹

On March 27, 2017, Smith reintroduced the Relief from Sequestration Act of 2017 to repeal the sequestration mechanism and end automatic, across-the-board cuts to discretionary programs triggered when spending exceeds Budget Control Act caps.¹

On Memorial Day, Smith, in his role as Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, said he would continue to advocate for military personnel and their families.¹

He said he would continue to fight to make sure active duty military, national guard members, reservists, veterans, and gold star spouses receive the support and services they deserve.¹

On June 21, 2017, Smith and 22 other Armed Services Democrats introduced a bill described as boosting unity and deterrence against Russian aggression.¹

On July 13, 2017, Smith said he supported the FY2018 National Defense Authorization Act as it passed the House, saying the bill did not make hard choices about finite resources, and on July 27 he said he opposed the separate Security Minibus appropriations bill over its defense spending levels and $1.6 billion for a border wall, noting he had voted for the NDAA as Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee.²

Smith said the Defense Department's June 30 decision to delay transgender enlistment was unjustified and morally wrong, and that the administration's July 26 announcement on transgender military service was an unwarranted and disgraceful attack on service members who have served with distinction, adding that Secretary of Defense Mattis had determined that transgender people currently serving should continue to serve.²

On July 26, 2017, Smith and Bordallo called for the suspension of transfers of 'controlled property' military equipment to civilian law enforcement agencies under the 1033 program until oversight issues identified by GAO were addressed.¹

On 2017-08-25, Smith, the House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member, issued a statement opposing President Trump's order ending transgender military service and said he would work toward its reversal.¹

On 2017-10-12, Smith was among representatives introducing bipartisan legislation addressing President Trump's transgender military service policy.¹

Between 2017-09-24 and 2017-10-24, Smith issued multiple statements about the U.S. military's role in Hurricane Maria relief in Puerto Rico, citing figures on helicopters, troops, and vessels involved compared with prior disaster responses.⁴

On 2017-11-14, Smith introduced H.R. 4415, legislation to establish a policy against first use of nuclear weapons, and on 2017-11-17 the House passed the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act Conference Report.²

Smith cosponsored the Global Fragility and Violence Reduction Act, bipartisan legislation that would require USAID to coordinate with the State Department and Defense Department to address the root causes of violence and instability in fragile countries.¹

He said President Trump's decision to ban transgender military service was "vicious, inhumane, and utterly wrong" and said he would continue to fight the decision.¹

He joined Senate and House Armed Services Committee leaders in a letter to Defense Secretary James Mattis requesting additional details about the process by which the Department of Defense developed its transgender service policy recommendations.¹

He also said Trump's deployment of National Guard troops to the U.S. border was "an ill-conceived, unnecessary stunt" and joined other House Democrats in a letter to Mattis and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen opposing the deployment.²

On May 7, 2018, Smith said President Trump's withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal "will make us less safe by allowing Iran to quickly acquire a nuclear weapon."¹

During floor debate on the fiscal year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act on May 22, 2018, he said, "We are right now spending roughly 20% more money than we take in every year."¹

The same day, an amendment he authored to fund noise mitigation for two Highline School District schools under the National Defense Authorization Act passed the House.¹

On May 26, 2018, in a Memorial Day statement, he said that as Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee he would "continue to fight for servicemembers and their families, ensuring they receive the support and resources they have earned."¹

On June 20, 2018, Smith and Senate Armed Services Ranking Member Jack Reed sent a letter to Defense Secretary Mattis requesting assurances that Members of Congress could conduct oversight over Department of Defense sites used to house migrant children.¹

On July 15, 2018, Smith said it was "hard to see President Trump siding with Vladimir Putin over our own intelligence community and our criminal investigators as anything other than treason," and on July 23, Smith joined other national security committee ranking members in a letter to Secretary of State Pompeo, Secretary of Defense Mattis, and Director of National Intelligence Coats requesting briefings on Trump's private meeting with Putin in Helsinki.²

On July 26, 2018, the House passed the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act by a vote of 359-54, which Smith said included provisions he negotiated prohibiting in-flight refueling of Saudi-coalition aircraft conducting missions in Yemen absent certain certifications.¹

Smith said the NDAA conference report also included provisions addressing nuclear safety and whistleblower protections at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation and FAA funding for noise mitigation projects at Highline School District schools.²

Smith announced his candidacy for Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee in November 2018 (r19) and was elected to the position by the House Democratic Conference in January 2019 (r33).²

As Ranking Member, Smith joined colleagues in announcing a privileged resolution to withdraw U.S. forces from hostilities in Yemen in September 2018 (r4), after which House Republican leadership blocked floor debate on the measure that November (r22); the House later passed H.J.Res. 37 directing removal of U.S. forces from unauthorized Yemen hostilities in February 2019, with Smith voting yes (r46), and passed a second such measure, S.J.Res. 7, in April 2019, also with his yes vote (r60).⁴

Smith called a September 2018 proposal to redirect military readiness and infrastructure funds toward a border wall "irresponsible and appalling" (r3), said Trump's February 2019 national emergency declaration took funds from projects supporting the military and their families to build the wall (r50), and voted to terminate that declaration (r51).³

Smith called the Trump administration's ban on transgender military service "discriminatory and unconstitutional" (r26) and voted for a House resolution opposing the ban in March 2019 (r57).²

Smith voted yes on the rule to bring the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 to the floor (r1, r2), voted no on a motion to recommit the bill (r3), and voted yes on its passage, which the House approved 220-197 (r4).⁴

A press release from Smith's office said the bill included provisions to curb U.S. support for the Saudi-led coalition in the war in Yemen, prevent an unauthorized war with Iran, and end the President's ban on transgender service members (r8).¹

Smith voted yes on three joint resolutions disapproving proposed U.S. arms exports and transfers to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which passed the House 237-190, 238-190, and 238-190 (r5, r6, r7).³

He also voted yes on H.R. 3304, which passed 417-1 (r9), and issued a statement on passage of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 saying it eliminated the Budget Control Act's sequestration threat and provided parity in funding increases between defense and domestic programs (r10).²

Smith voted for the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act conference report, which passed 377-48, after issuing a statement calling it "the most progressive defense bill we have passed in decades."²

He voted for H.J.Res. 77 opposing the decision to end certain U.S. efforts to prevent Turkish military operations against Kurdish forces in Syria, after stating in a press release that the withdrawal decision "will harm American-backed Kurdish troops and is a catastrophic mistake."²

Following the U.S. strike that killed Qasem Soleimani, Smith voted for H.Con.Res. 83 and S.J.Res. 68, both directing the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran that had not been authorized by Congress.³

He issued statements opposing the Trump Administration's reprogramming of Department of Defense funds toward border wall construction, in one instance stating the Administration was "threatening to steal another $7.2 billion from the Department of Defense to spend on his pointless border wall."²

On September 25, 2019, Smith said the evidence was clear that President Trump withheld congressionally approved military assistance to pressure Ukrainian President Zelensky to investigate a political opponent, and said that, if true, this was a brazen abuse of presidential power and an impeachable offense.¹

On October 7 and October 24, 2019, as Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Smith said the withdrawal of U.S. military personnel from Northern Syria would harm Kurdish forces, and called the failure to support the Kurds a betrayal of a key partner and a major foreign policy blunder.²

On November 26, 2019, following the firing of Navy Secretary Richard Spencer, Smith said the President should not try to influence military justice proceedings or pardon service members before the process was complete, and said doing so had the potential to damage cohesiveness and discipline in the military.¹

On December 11, 2019, Smith said the House passed the FY20 National Defense Authorization Act, calling it the most progressive defense bill passed in decades, and said the bill included 12 weeks of paid parental leave for federal workers and increased oversight and accountability of the Department of Defense.²

Smith said he had grave concerns about the chain of events that led to the killing of Qasem Soleimani, saying the action would accelerate the cycle of violence in the region rather than calm tensions.¹

Smith said the House's passage of a War Powers Resolution on January 9, 2020, reasserted Congress's constitutional authority over war and sent a message that Congress and the American people did not want war with Iran.¹

On January 16, 2020, Smith said the Trump Administration intended to divert an additional $7.2 billion in Department of Defense funding to pay for a border wall, and said Congress had already provided funding for border security through the appropriations process.¹

On February 13, 2020, Smith said the administration planned to reprogram $3.8 billion in Department of Defense funding, including $1.5 billion from the National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account, to fund the wall through the counter-narcotics account.¹

Smith voted yes when the House passed the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act 295-125 on July 21, 2020.¹

In November 2020, Smith said the dismissal of Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and the following resignation of Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy James Anderson risked destabilizing Department of Defense leadership during the presidential transition.²

President Trump then vetoed the FY21 NDAA, and Smith voted yes when the House voted 322-87 to override the veto on December 28, 2020, a process the Senate completed with an 81-13 vote, Smith said in a statement issued January 1, 2021.³

On March 9, 2021, Smith said the 2002 Iraq war authorization should be repealed, noting that the Biden administration had expressed support for reviewing existing military force authorizations.¹

On June 14, 2021, Smith voted yes on two procedural resolutions under H.Res. 473 to bring H.R. 256, a bill to repeal the 2002 AUMF, up for House consideration; the resolutions passed 216-206 and 217-203.²

On June 17, 2021, Smith voted yes on passage of H.R. 256 to repeal the 2002 AUMF, which passed 268-161, and voted no on a motion to recommit the bill, which failed 204-219.²

In a statement issued that day, Smith said the vote confirmed, in a bipartisan way, that repealing an authorization for use of military force that is no longer applicable does not impede national security.¹

Smith issued a statement after the House passed H.R. 3985, the ALLIES Act, saying the bill would remove or revise statutory requirements in the Special Immigrant Visa process and increase the number of visas available to Afghans who worked for or on behalf of the U.S. government.¹

He said the legislation would help meet demand from Afghans already in the SIV application process as well as those who had yet to apply.¹

Smith voted yes on S. 957, directing the Secretary of Veterans Affairs regarding certain VA medical facilities, which passed 424-0, and voted yes on H.R. 4300, the Veterans in Parks Act, which passed 420-0.²

On September 20, 2021, Smith said the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ten years earlier had honored LGBTQ+ service members and said supporting diversity and inclusion in the military strengthens U.S. national security (r2).¹

The same day, he said he was glad to see the Biden-Harris administration take additional steps to urge an end to the conflict in northern Ethiopia and called for a negotiated ceasefire and political resolution (r4).¹

On September 23, 2021, the House passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 by a vote of 316–113, with Smith voting yes; he said the bill made reforms to the Uniform Code of Military Justice addressing sexual assault and built on efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the military (r7, r8).²

On September 28, 2021, Smith and the Washington congressional delegation sent Secretary of State Antony Blinken a letter calling for thirteen steps to aid the evacuation of at-risk individuals from Afghanistan, including expediting Special Immigrant Visa processing (r9).¹

After the fiscal year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act passed the House 363-70 and the Senate 88-11 and was signed into law, Smith, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said the bill would improve conditions for service members and their families.¹

He said the NDAA included modifications to the Uniform Code of Military Justice that change how the military handles sexual assault crimes, including a new special prosecutor empowered to take control of charging and prosecution of sex crimes.¹

On January 11, 2022, Smith voted yes on two procedural House votes advancing consideration of H.R. 1836, the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act, both of which passed 219-203 with all voting Democrats in favor.²

On March 8, Smith, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, praised the Biden administration's ban on Russian oil imports, saying it would "put unprecedented pressure on Vladimir Putin and the Russian economy."¹

On March 15, after President Biden signed the government spending package, Smith said the package included funding to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia.¹

On March 16, after President Zelenskyy's virtual address to Congress, Smith said the United States and its allies and partners "should continue to help the Ukrainians - offering humanitarian assistance, military aid, and more."¹

On April 2, after the United Nations announced a two-month truce between the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis in Yemen, Smith said he was "encouraged by the announcement of this two-month truce in the Yemen conflict."¹

On April 28, 2022, Smith voted yes on procedural motions that passed 218–204 and 220–205, and on final passage of the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act, which passed 417–10 in the House.³

Smith also voted yes on 19 additional bills between May 11 and May 18, including a Congressional Gold Medal for World War II Army Rangers veterans and a memorial post office designation for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, along with other bills on veterans' medical care, benefits, and VA operations.¹⁹

On May 27, identified as Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Smith released a Memorial Day statement.¹

Smith voted yes on two procedural measures tied to H.R. 7900, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, on July 13, 2022, then voted yes on final passage of the bill on July 14, 2022, which passed 329–101.³

In a press release issued the day of passage, he said the bill included "a package of bold reforms to prevent and mitigate civilian harm in military operations" and a 4.6% pay raise for service members and civilian personnel.¹

On July 14, 2022, Smith also voted yes on H.Con.Res. 59, condemning the October 25, 2021, military coup in Sudan, which passed 417–7.¹

The House passed H.R. 7900, the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act, by a vote of 329-101, after which Smith, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, issued a statement on the bill's passage.¹

Smith said the bill includes a package of reforms intended to prevent and mitigate civilian harm in military operations.¹

Smith said the bill also provides a 4.6% pay raise for service members and civilian personnel, invests in science and technology research including at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and supports the alliances and partnerships needed to meet global security challenges.¹

On 2022-12-08, after the House passed H.R. 7776, the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act, by a vote of 350 to 80, Smith, identified as Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said the bill included provisions to support service members and their families, advance research and development, and invest in alliances and partnerships.¹

On 2023-01-31, Smith said the House Armed Services Committee met with King Abdullah II of Jordan following a terrorist attack on a synagogue in Jerusalem, and stated that Palestinian leaders must take steps to prevent violence and that Israel should not take actions like settlement expansion.¹

On 2023-02-24, Smith, identified as Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, issued a statement on the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, saying Ukraine had retaken territory including Kherson and Kharkiv and calling for continued provision of military equipment and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.¹

On 2023-03-08, Smith voted NO on H.Con.Res. 21, a resolution invoking the War Powers Resolution, which failed 103-321 in the House.¹

Smith voted yes on H.Res. 240, a resolution condemning recent actions taken by the Russian military, which passed 410–0 in the U.S. House.¹

He voted no on H.J.Res. 27, providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, which failed 227–196, with Democrats splitting 10 yes to 195 no.¹

He voted no on H.Con.Res. 30, directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to remove United States forces, which failed 102–321, with Democrats splitting 50 yes to 156 no.¹

In a Memorial Day statement, Smith honored service members who "have made the ultimate sacrifice" and said the country's gratitude "should not only be expressed on this revered day."¹

Two days later, Smith said he voted to advance the Bipartisan Budget Agreement, which he stated would "save our economy from a devastating default on our debt" and would "safeguard veterans' health care."¹

On June 20, 2023, Smith voted yes on H.R. 1606, the Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act, which passed 407-0, and on H.R. 3672, to designate a Department of Veterans Affairs clinic in Indian River, Michigan, which passed 409-0.²

Between July 12 and July 14, 2023, Smith voted no four times on procedural votes governing House consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2670), no on final passage of the bill, and yes on a motion to recommit it.⁶

On July 27, 2023, Smith voted no on passage of H.R. 4366, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill for FY 2024, and yes on a motion to recommit it.²

In a press release the next day, Smith said he voted against the bill because it "falls short on our commitments to veterans, servicemembers, and their families," citing cuts to military construction projects, PFAS remediation, and veteran programs, and provisions he said would make it harder for veterans to access reproductive health care.¹

He voted yes on procedural motions advancing the National Defense Authorization Act to conference (r3, r4), and voted yes on a motion to instruct NDAA conferees that failed 205-214 (r7).³

On the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, H.R. 4365, he voted no on the procedural rules governing floor debate (r9, r10, r11, r12, r13), voted yes on a motion to recommit that failed 210-218 (r14), and voted no on final passage, which passed 218-210 (r17).⁷

In a statement issued after the House passed a 45-day continuing resolution 335-91, he said stripping supplemental funding for Ukraine from the bill meant "the Speaker has broadcast a dangerous message to Putin and the world" (r18).¹

He joined more than 100 House members in a letter to President Biden expressing support for Israel after the October 7 Hamas attack (r20), and said a subsequent House Republican proposal for Israel aid was "a clear political stunt" (r22).²

On September 30, 2023, Smith said the House voted 335-91 to pass a 45-day continuing resolution averting a government shutdown after Ukraine supplemental funding was stripped from the bill, and said he voted for it.¹

On October 20, 2023, Smith joined more than 100 House members in a letter to President Biden expressing support for Israel after the October 7 Hamas attack and calling for the return of hostages held in Gaza.¹

On October 28, 2023, Smith said he supported degrading and ultimately eliminating Hamas while also calling for humanitarian aid, including food, water, medical supplies and fuel, to reach civilians in Gaza.¹

On October 31, 2023, Smith said House Republican leadership's proposal to fund aid for Israel excluded humanitarian funding, included a partisan rider, ignored funding for Ukraine, and called it "a clear political stunt."¹

On December 5, 2023, Smith voted yes on H.R. 3848, which passed 408–10, and on H.R. 542, which passed 414–5, bills concerning veterans' housing and home- and community-based caregiver services.²

On December 14, 2023, Smith voted yes on H.R. 2670, the conference report on the National Defense Authorization Act, which passed 310–118.¹

In a statement that day, Smith said the NDAA provided a 5.2% pay raise for service members and investment in housing, child care, career opportunities, and health care for military families.¹

On December 6, Smith joined Representatives Garret Graves, Mark Green, Michael Guest, Dina Titus, and Salud Carbajal in introducing H.R. 5840, the Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act, to eliminate redundant fees and background checks for transportation workers seeking TSA-managed credentials.¹

On December 7, Smith issued a statement on the groundbreaking of the Mercy Angle Lake Family Housing project in SeaTac, crediting the Promoting Affordable Housing Near Transit Act he had included in the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act.¹

On December 14, Smith released a statement after the House passed the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act by a vote of 310 to 118, sending it to the President, and said the bill provided a 5.2% pay raise for service members and the highest level of HBCU funding authorization included in any NDAA.¹

On February 6, 2024, Smith voted against H.R. 7217, the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, saying he supported continued funding for Israel but that funding for both Israel and Ukraine should be voted on together.¹

On February 24, 2024, on the two-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Smith called on Speaker Mike Johnson to bring the Senate-passed foreign aid supplemental to the House floor for a vote.¹

On March 6, 2024, after the House passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024, Smith said the package included over $17 million for projects in the Ninth District.¹

On April 20, 2024, Smith said he voted for the national security supplemental after the House passed it, describing it as aid for Ukraine's defense that also addressed humanitarian and security matters in Israel and the Indo-Pacific.¹

On April 30, 2024, Smith voted yes on three veterans bills that passed the House by wide margins: the Student Veteran Benefit Restoration Act (406-6), the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration Act (403-10), and the Veteran Fraud Reimbursement Act (413-0).³

On May 11, 2024, as Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, Smith issued a statement on legislative efforts around a pause on "dumb bomb" shipments to Israel, saying the Administration's support for Israel had been "ironclad" while also citing "widely shared and legitimate concern for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza."¹

Smith voted no on procedural rules and on final passage of three fiscal year 2025 defense-related bills — the military construction and VA appropriations act (H.R. 8580), the National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 8070), and the Defense Appropriations Act (H.R. 8774) — each of which passed the House.⁹

He voted yes on a motion to recommit each of those three bills, all of which failed.³

In a joint statement with Representative Donald Norcross, Smith said an amendment to reduce fiscal year 2025 F-35 aircraft purchases until program failures were addressed had been ruled out of order and blocked from debate, and the statement said, "This is unacceptable program execution and Congress should not reward this behavior by buying additional aircraft above the President’s Budget Request."¹

On July 22 Smith voted yes to pass S. 3249, designating a VA outpatient clinic in Wyandotte County, Kansas, which passed 363-0.¹

Smith issued a statement on the death of former Representative George Nethercutt, saying Nethercutt worked during his decade in Congress on issues including agriculture, health care, national security and defense, and government funding.¹

Smith and Representative Donald Norcross said in a joint statement that a floor amendment to temporarily reduce fiscal year 2025 F-35 aircraft purchases until program failures were addressed was ruled out of order and blocked from debate.¹

Smith and Senator Patty Murray sent a letter to the executive director of the VA Puget Sound Health Care System about conditions in Building 18, citing local reporting on ceiling leaks and mold.¹

On September 24, 2024, Smith sent a letter cosigned by 102 colleagues urging U.S. officials to independently investigate the fatal shooting of American citizen Aysenur Ezgi Eygi in the West Bank.¹

On October 1, he condemned Iran's ballistic missile attacks on Israel and said the U.S. remains committed to Israel's security.¹

On October 7, marking the anniversary of the 2023 attack, he said he condemned that attack, said Israel has a right to defend against threats from Hamas, Iran, and Hezbollah, and called for a ceasefire and the return of the hostages.¹

On October 18, following the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, he said a ceasefire agreement must be achieved.¹

Smith said President Trump's response to the fatal collision of an Army helicopter and a Canadair Regional Jet over the Potomac River, which killed 67 people, was "appalling" and accused Trump of trying to "cynically push his political agenda ahead of any substantive investigation."¹

Smith said Vice President Vance's remarks at the Munich Security Conference were "an appalling display of cynicism and cowardice" toward allies that have stood with the United States against Russian aggression.¹

Smith voted yes on H.R. 495, the Subterranean Border Defense Act, which the House passed 402-1.¹

He later said a Continuing Resolution offered by House Republicans "guts services for working- and middle-class families to fund military projects and gives a blank check" to President Trump and Elon Musk.¹

As Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, Smith said the National Guard deployment to Los Angeles in June 2025 risked dangerous escalation (r23), condemned President Trump's order for U.S. military strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities that same month (r29), and said Trump's announced strike on Venezuela in January 2026, which the administration said had captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, had introduced chaos and instability into the country (r79).³

He introduced a War Powers Resolution seeking to end U.S. hostilities against Iran in June 2025 (r30), then voted yes on similar House resolutions to remove U.S. forces from hostilities in Venezuela and Iran that were not authorized by Congress on multiple occasions through mid-2026, most of which failed while two passed (r77, r82, r112, r122, r137).⁶

In June 2026 he voted no on a separate resolution to remove all U.S. forces from Lebanon, explaining that the country was not one where U.S. troops were engaged in hostilities and that the measure swept too broadly (r123, r124).²

He also introduced legislation affirming transgender Americans' right to serve in the military in May 2025 (r17) and voted no on passage of both the fiscal year 2026 Defense Appropriations Act and the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, after saying the growing defense budget was cutting into funding for programs such as Medicaid and food stamps (r39, r105, r135, r136).⁵