Adam's record on Education & libraries

On June 24, 2000, Smith joined the New Democrat Coalition to unveil "e-genda 2.0," a set of technology priorities that included improving teacher quality and expanding technology education.¹

Smith said the e-genda's focus on education and worker training was needed to fill technology jobs in Washington state.¹

On July 10, 2000, Smith announced the House of Representatives had passed H.R. 894, "Aimee's Law," legislation he had co-sponsored for nearly three years.¹

On July 28, 2000, Smith announced he would donate $500 from his congressional pay raise, which he had voted against, to the Des Moines Senior Center.¹

On 2002-02-27, Smith visited a classroom at Alpac Elementary School in Pacific, WA to read to children as part of the National Education Association's Read Across America event.¹

On 2002-04-14, Smith introduced two bills to expand education benefits for the military: the "Expanding Education for Military Families Act," allowing portability of Montgomery G.I. Bill benefits to family members, and the "Military Education Extension Act," extending the benefit-use time limit to 15 years for active-duty servicemembers and reservists.¹

On 2002-04-30, 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 2002-05-08, the House passed the FY03 Defense Authorization Bill, HR 4546, which Smith said included Montgomery GI Bill improvements increasing the time reservists have to use their educational benefits from 10 to 14 years.¹

Smith announced a town hall on corporate responsibility for August 26 at the Federal Way Regional Library, referencing the House's 412-3 passage of corporate reform legislation the previous month.¹

He announced meetings on August 23 with the Des Moines Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club of Lakewood on fiscal discipline, citing an Office of Management and Budget report projecting a $165 billion federal deficit.¹

He announced meetings in Yelm on August 27 with the Yelm Chamber of Commerce and a roundtable of elected and community leaders on health care, transportation, veterans affairs, homeland security and the war on terrorism.¹

On November 24, 2002, Congressman Adam Smith presented 17-year-old Caroline White of Lakewood with the Congressional Award Bronze Medal, recognizing goals she completed in voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness, and expedition/exploration, including assisting a kindergarten class at Franklin Elementary School and teaching tae kwon do to children ages 4-13.¹

On December 2, 2002, Smith congratulated the City of Fife on securing a $20,000 grant from the Department of Justice's Community Oriented Policing Services Secure Our Schools program, which covers up to half the cost of school security measures such as metal detectors, locks, and lighting, and said "Fife's grant will enable local law enforcement and the school district to implement much needed safety enhancements."¹

On December 3, 2002, Smith praised the FY 2003 National Defense Authorization Act, signed into law earlier that week, for extending the time limit for use of Montgomery G.I. Bill education benefits and raising from 10 to 14 the number of years members of the Reserves have to use those benefits.¹

On January 1, 2003, Smith congratulated Pierce College in Lakewood for becoming one of 12 colleges to begin offering online courses in 2003 through eArmyU, the U.S. Army's e-learning program, and said the partnership was a natural pairing for Washington state.¹

On January 12, 2003, Smith announced a January 15 meeting with his Technology Advisory Council, which had recently added Pierce College as a member following its eARMYU partnership.¹

The release said eARMYU "leverages technology to help deliver real choices for education and training to members of the Army, supplying long-distance learning and higher education quickly and efficiently to soldiers at home and abroad."¹

Smith congratulated Sumner High School teacher Loren Willson on being selected as a Semi-Finalist in the 2003 National Council on Economic Education/Nasdaq National Teaching Awards competition.¹

The competition recognizes high school teachers for excellence and innovation in incorporating economic education into any subject area, with Regional Semi-Finalists receiving individual awards of $1,000.¹

Smith said the award recognized Willson's 'originality, creativity and effectiveness in the teaching of economics and finance.'¹

Smith announced the winners of the Congressional Art Contest for Washington's Ninth District, naming Cedric McArthur of Tacoma School of the Arts first place, Laura Adams of Tacoma School of the Arts second place, and Ryan Davidson of Bethel High School third place.¹

Smith convened a judging panel of Bonnie Gallagher of the Hilltop Artist Association, Mayumi Tsutakawa of the Washington State Arts Commission, and Ann Darling, a community arts activist, to select the winners.¹

McArthur's piece will be displayed in a U.S. Capitol corridor, and he will travel to Washington, D.C., courtesy of Southwest Airlines.¹

On March 9, 2004, Smith received the Information Technology Industry Council's "Legislator of the Year" award, with the release stating he had promoted pro-growth policies including investment in math and science education.¹

That same day, he joined two fellow New Democrat Coalition co-chairs in releasing a policy agenda that called for increasing the number and quality of math, science and engineering graduates in the U.S.¹

On March 29, Smith announced a $375,000 Department of Justice grant to the city of Lakewood to fund three school resource officers over three years.¹

Between April 13 and April 19, he announced requests for federal appropriations funding for after-school and early childhood education programs in King County, continuing education and job training services at a proposed Bethel community center, and a marine science and technology education center at Highline Community College.³

On June 19, 2005, Smith issued a statement on H.R. 2863, the FY2006 Department of Defense Appropriations bill, saying it included $30 million in Impact Aid funding for schools nationwide, including schools in the Puget Sound area.¹

On June 23, 2005, Smith voted for an amendment restoring funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which the House passed 284 to 140.¹

Smith said the funding supports public broadcasting programming that provides news and educational entertainment for children.¹

On June 27, 2005, Smith voted for H.R. 3057, the FY2006 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, which increased funding for the Millennium Challenge Account, a program that grants assistance to countries meeting standards including investment in health and education.¹

On November 16, 2005, Smith voted against the H.R. 3010 conference report funding Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education programs, and Congress rejected it, sending it back to conference committee.¹

On December 13, 2005, he voted against the reconsidered H.R. 3010 conference report, saying it cut more than $700 million from No Child Left Behind, gave Title I its smallest increase in eight years, held Pell Grants at $4,050 for a fourth straight year, and gave IDEA Part B state grants their smallest increase in a decade.¹

On December 18, 2005, he voted against the budget reconciliation conference report, which he said added new fees and higher interest rates for student loans.¹

On May 10, 2006, Smith said he supported H.R. 5122, the fiscal year 2007 Defense Authorization Act, which passed the House with bipartisan support and included $50 billion in bridge funds to cover war costs in Iraq and Afghanistan, along with funding for better-equipped vehicles and IED protection.¹

On May 24, 2006, Smith joined Senator Maria Cantwell in a letter to the Secretary of Labor applauding a Department of Labor decision to extend Trade Adjustment Assistance eligibility to workers who produce "intangible products" such as software, while noting the decision "represents just a small step" toward meeting the needs of today's workforce; the letter also cited Smith and Rangel's H.R. 4156 to extend TAA benefits to all service-sector workers affected by foreign competition.¹

On June 8, 2006, Smith voted for H.R. 5522, the Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill for FY2007, which increased funding to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria by $750 million to $3.43 billion and increased Millennium Challenge Account funding by $248 million to $2 billion, $1 billion below the President's request.¹

Smith said he was "pleased" that the bill increased AIDS, TB, malaria and MCA funding, but "disappointed" that the House Foreign Operations subcommittee's overall budget allocation had been reduced, which he said made additional MCA and anti-poverty funding not possible.¹

On January 16, 2007, Smith voted for a bill to halve interest rates on subsidized undergraduate student loans from 6.8% to 3.4% by 2011, which the House passed 356 to 71.¹

On February 5, 2007, Smith said President Bush's fiscal year 2008 budget request would slash funding for Medicare, Medicaid, education, and environmental protection to pay for tax breaks for multi-millionaires.¹

On February 7, 2007, Smith announced guidelines for his Ninth District Congressional Art Contest, open to students in grades nine through 12, with entries due between March 1 and March 23.¹

Smith voted for the fiscal year 2008 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill, H.R. 3043, which passed 276-140 and included a $390 increase to the maximum Pell Grant and $2 billion more than 2007 funding for No Child Left Behind programs.¹

He said the bill would make college more affordable and help improve schools.¹

On August 1, 2007, Smith voted for H.R. 2272, the COMPETES Act, which passed 367-57 and authorized funding for programs to create new science and math teachers and to support research through the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, and National Institute of Standards and Technology.¹

On November 6, 2007, Adam Smith voted for H.R. 3043, a conference report including the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill, which passed the House 269 to 142.¹

The bill supported K-through-12 education, college affordability, health care access and research, and job training, and included funds Smith helped secure for South Sound projects, including $1,500,000 for the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and $200,000 for Northwest Center's academic and vocational resources for developmentally delayed or disabled persons in King County.¹

Smith said the President should sign the legislation when it reaches his desk.¹

On April 11, 2011, Smith said Washington's Museum of Flight was not chosen by NASA to display a retired Shuttle Orbiter, called the decision "unsatisfactory," and said he was confident the museum would continue to educate and inspire the next generation of engineers, scientists and astronauts of Washington State.¹

On April 14, 2011, Smith said the Department of Defense and Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act included a provision allotting $250 million in funding for schools on military installations nationwide.¹

He said the funding measure gives the Clover Park School District the opportunity to secure millions of dollars for renovations and new construction of elementary and secondary schools on Joint Base Lewis-McChord.¹

Smith, Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, spoke at the August 22, 2011 groundbreaking of Raisbeck Aviation High School in Seattle, saying the school would help produce highly skilled workers for a competitive global economy.¹

In a September 4, 2011 Labor Day statement, Smith said the country should keep investing in education and workforce training and pursue a balanced, long-term approach to economic growth.¹

On September 7, 2011, responding to President Obama's jobs address, Smith said federal investment in workforce training, transportation, education, and energy would support jobs, and said closing corporate tax loopholes to help offset the plan "makes sense."¹

In a September 14, 2011 statement for National Hispanic Heritage Month, Smith cited his support for "our region's Community and Technical Colleges" and called for raising high school graduation rates and expanding access to higher education.¹

Smith said Washington State was awarded a Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge grant that will provide up to $60 million to fund its early childhood education programs.¹

Smith announced nominations of students from Washington's 9th congressional district to the U.S. Service Academies, saying the academies provide unique educational and leadership development opportunities.¹

In a statement on the President's State of the Union address, Smith said investing in community colleges and making higher education more accessible and affordable were among the steps needed to get the economy back on track.¹

Smith and Rep. Rick Larsen announced $2 million in Army Corps of Engineers funding for two Puget Sound restoration projects, including Seahurst Park, which Smith described as a location for research, education and recreation.¹

On December 11, 2012, Smith congratulated seven South King County school districts for winning a $40 million Race to the Top grant from the U.S. Department of Education.¹

Smith said the fiscal cliff agreement left uncertainty for government spending, including education funding, because it delayed rather than resolved sequestration, and said a continuing resolution passed in March 2013 failed to address sequestration's impact on education, transportation, and scientific research.²

He said the Republican budget released in March 2013 slashed investments in education and worker training programs for working class families, and said he voted for the House and Senate Democratic budget proposals.²

On June 30, 2013, Smith said federally backed Stafford student loan interest rates doubled that day from 3.4 to 6.8 percent and that he cosponsored legislation offered by Representative Courtney to extend the 3.4 percent rate for two more years.¹

On July 18, 2013, Smith opposed H.R. 5, a Republican bill to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, saying it cuts funding by over $1 billion and eliminates provisions protecting disadvantaged students.¹

Marking the 50th anniversary of the War on Poverty, Smith said the poverty rate had fallen from about 26 percent in 1967 to 16 percent in 2012 and credited anti-poverty programs including SNAP, unemployment insurance, housing subsidies, Head Start, and earned-income tax credits.¹

He called for advancing education and job-training programs and for raising the minimum wage and extending unemployment insurance.¹

After the House passed the Fiscal Year 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Smith said the bill provided critical funding for early childhood education and Head Start and sequester relief for the Department of Defense, while saying it did not restore unemployment insurance and left the National Institutes of Health underfunded.¹

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Smith said millions of people still had unequal access to a good education and employment opportunities.¹

In an April 1 statement, Smith said the Republican budget proposal cut funding for education, job training, and other programs while giving more tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans.¹

On April 9, Smith said he supported the Van Hollen budget and the Congressional Black Caucus budget, which he said would bolster investments in education, job training, and innovation, and said the Republican budget that passed that day moved in the wrong direction.¹

On April 23, after the Secretary of Education announced that Washington state's No Child Left Behind waiver would be removed at the end of the 2014 school year, Smith called NCLB a broken policy and said Congress needed to reauthorize the education law.¹

On January 9, 2015, Smith said he was "very happy to see the President take action to make higher education more affordable and accessible for every student" regarding the America's College Promise proposal to cover two years of community college tuition.¹

On January 19, in a statement recognizing Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Smith said "Zip codes and incomes too often dictate one's ability to access high-quality education, affordable healthcare, and good-paying employment opportunities".¹

On February 2, after President Obama released his Fiscal Year 2016 budget request, Smith said the proposal would "invest in making paychecks go further, and improving access to education and good-paying jobs".¹

On February 18, after a school and Hindu temple in Bothell were vandalized, Smith called the acts "unacceptable and will not be tolerated".¹

On March 25, 2015, after a House vote on Fiscal Year 2016 budget proposals, Smith said the Democratic budget would expand tax credits for working families and increase access to quality education, while the Republican budget would make cuts to education, research, and energy.¹

On April 13, 2015, after the Senate HELP Committee marked up an Elementary and Secondary Education Act reauthorization bill from Senators Patty Murray and Lamar Alexander, Smith said No Child Left Behind is deeply flawed and that Washington's loss of its NCLB waiver had led nearly every school in the state to be labeled failing.¹

On April 14, 2015, Smith called the pay gap between men and women discriminatory, harmful, and unacceptable, and said he was an original cosponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act.¹

On April 22, 2015, Smith said Congress must invest in clean energy and improve the nation's energy policy to address climate change.¹

On December 2, 2015, Smith said the House passed a bipartisan reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act that replaces the flawed policies of No Child Left Behind, and said he voted for S. 1177, the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015.¹

He said that under NCLB, 88 percent of schools in Washington state had been deemed failing since the state lost a U.S. Department of Education waiver in 2014.¹

On December 17, 2015, Smith said he voted to pass the Fiscal Year 2016 Omnibus Appropriations Act, which he said included funding for programs that support education.¹

On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Smith said that to achieve Dr. King's vision the nation must advocate for equitable access to education, along with fixing the criminal justice system, providing affordable housing and transportation, and guaranteeing the right to vote.¹

Responding to President Obama's Fiscal Year 2017 budget proposal, Smith said it funds investments to expand access to education, improve Information Technology for federal services, and prioritize research and development programs to address climate change.¹

On April 12, 2016, Smith called for implementing the Paycheck Fairness Act to address the gender pay gap, citing that women earned 79 cents for every dollar earned by men.¹

On April 25, 2016, Smith, along with Robert C. "Bobby" Scott and Elijah Cummings, opposed a proposed NDAA amendment that would have banned implementation of the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order.¹

On May 12, 2016, Smith said he supported the steps taken in the Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Reduction Act while stating he was "deeply disappointed" that the bill and related legislation did not provide full funding to address overdose deaths.¹

On May 23, 2016, Smith joined other members of the King County congressional delegation in sending a letter to HUD regarding the Housing Choice Voucher inflation formula affecting rental costs in the Puget Sound region.¹

In a Labor Day statement, Smith said the labor movement had a role in "supporting education and workforce training programs", among other things.¹

Discussing a Veterans History Project event his office hosted in Seattle, Smith said the project played a role in "educating future generations on the history of our country."¹

Smith voted for H.R. 5963, the Supporting Youth Opportunity and Preventing Delinquency Act of 2016, which he said includes provisions "to ensure the continuity of young people's education while incarcerated."¹

Smith issued a statement recognizing local students Jessica and Max for earning Congressional Award Medals, citing Jessica's more than 400 volunteer hours and Max's environmental volunteer work and Eagle Scout project.¹

Smith visited Compass Veterans Center on February 10 to deliver valentines made by students through his office's second annual Valentines for Vets program, and his staff delivered additional valentines to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Washington and Seattle VA Hospital on February 13, with students from eighteen elementary schools making over 1,000 valentines.¹

Smith announced a Social Innovation Fund grant to Friends of the Children Seattle, which serves students who receive reduced-price lunch, have incarcerated parents, were born to a teen parent, or are in foster care, with the award supporting a goal to double the number of children served over four years.¹

On March 27, 2017, Smith reintroduced the Relief from Sequestration Act of 2017, which he said was designed to repeal the sequestration mechanism established by the Budget Control Act of 2011.¹

On March 30, 2017, Smith joined Senators Cantwell and Murray and Rep. Reichert in introducing legislation to designate the Mountains to Sound Greenway as a National Heritage Area.¹

On April 4, 2017, marking Equal Pay Day, Smith said it was "unacceptable" that women make 79 cents for every dollar earned by men, and said he was a cosponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act.¹

In a statement opposing the House Republican budget resolution, Smith said Congress should invest in education, affordable health care, infrastructure, and the economy, and said the Republican budget was a vehicle for tax cuts he said would benefit the wealthiest while shifting the tax burden to working Americans.¹

After the resolution passed on October 26, 2017, he said the budget reflected "insufficient investment in priorities such as education, infrastructure, and nutrition assistance."¹

Opposing the Republican tax bill on November 9, 2017, he said the country needed to invest in its education system, repair highways and bridges, and fund other priorities rather than pursue a $1.5 trillion tax cut while carrying $20 trillion in debt.¹

On passage of the fiscal year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act Conference Report on November 17, 2017, he said the bill included provisions supporting investments in education, public health, and workforce development.¹

In a May 17, 2018 statement, Smith opposed the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (Farm Bill), saying its changes to SNAP would cut an estimated $23 billion in benefits affecting 2 million Americans, including 930,000 people in Washington state.¹

On May 22, 2018, Smith spoke on the House floor during debate on the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act, addressing fiscal responsibility and nuclear weapons.¹

Also on May 22, 2018, an amendment authored by Smith to the same defense bill, providing FAA noise mitigation funding for two Highline School District schools left ineligible under a changed noise contour, passed the House.¹

On October 5, 2018, Smith introduced the Empowering Individuals to Succeed Through Education and Workforce Training Act, which would establish a new grant program under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to fund support services such as child care and transportation for people receiving education and workforce training.¹

Smith said the bill would provide the wraparound services needed to help individuals complete education and training programs for in-demand jobs.¹

On October 30, 2018, Highline Public Schools and Port of Seattle officials recognized Smith for his role in passing legislation that preserved noise mitigation funding for schools affected by SeaTac airport noise, making Highline eligible for over $18 million in FAA and Port funds for Des Moines Elementary School and Highline High School.¹

Smith led a letter with Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal to ICE Acting Director Ronald Vitiello requesting information about the death of asylum seeker Mergensana Amar at the Northwest Detention Center and about steps to prevent similar deaths.¹

On December 14, 2018, Smith became an original cosponsor of the Establishing a Humane Immigration Enforcement System Act, which would convene a commission to develop a roadmap for immigration enforcement that includes terminating ICE within one year of enactment.¹

Smith said the bill was about "shining a light on the injustices of our current system, and changing the way that we conduct immigration enforcement."¹

On December 20, 2018, Smith sent a letter to FAA Acting Administrator Daniel Elwell urging the agency to implement guidance under a NDAA provision he secured so Highline School District could apply for more than $14 million in Airport Improvement Grant funds promised in 2002.¹

Ahead of the 2019 State of the Union, Smith said national priorities must include affordable health care, fighting climate change, addressing housing costs, rebuilding infrastructure, and increasing access to education.¹

On February 25, 2019, Smith did not vote on H.R. 276, the Recognizing Achievement in Classified School Employees Act, which passed the House 387-19.¹

On April 30, 2019, Adam Smith reintroduced the House Intern Pay Act, which would fund a full-time, year-round paid internship position in each House member's office at $15 per hour for the first year of enactment.¹

On May 14, 2019, Smith and Congressman Rob Woodall introduced the bipartisan Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2019, which would close a loophole in the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 that has prevented some international adoptees, now adults, from receiving U.S. citizenship despite being raised by American parents.¹

On May 16, 2019, Smith voted yes on passage of H.R. 987, the MORE Health Education Act, which passed the House 234-183, and voted no on a motion to recommit the bill with instructions, which failed 188-228.²

On May 20, 2019, Smith submitted written testimony to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on the effects of aviation noise and emissions on communities near airports.¹

On June 12, 2019, Smith voted yes on the rule providing for further consideration of H.R. 2740, the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill, which passed 232–189, and yes on ordering the previous question on that rule, which passed 230–184.²

On June 18, 2019, Smith voted yes on a motion that the Committee rise on H.R. 2740, which passed 317–82.¹

On June 19, 2019, Smith voted yes on passage of H.R. 2740, which passed 226–203, and no on a motion to recommit the bill, which failed 196–231.²

On November 21, 2019, Smith introduced the Empowering Individuals to Succeed Through Education and Workforce Training Act, which would establish a new competitive grant program under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act dedicated to support services for individuals receiving workforce training and education.¹

He said the bill would provide wraparound services needed to help individuals complete education and training programs for in-demand jobs.¹

On December 10, 2019, Smith and Rep. Kim Schrier released a joint statement on the introduction of the Safety Net Health Plan Employee Student Loan Forgiveness Fairness Act, which would codify safety net health plans as qualifying employers under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program and expand access to that program for employees of certain safety net health plans.¹

On January 16, he voted yes on H.J.Res. 76, which passed the House 231–180; in a statement, he said the resolution blocked a Department of Education rule that denied debt relief to students defrauded by predatory, for-profit colleges.²

On January 27, he voted yes on H.R. 943, the Never Again Education Act, which passed 393–5.¹

On January 28 and 29, he voted yes on procedural resolutions advancing H.R. 3621, the Student Borrower Credit Improvement Act, voted no on a motion to recommit the bill with instructions, which failed 201–208, and voted yes on the bill's passage, which the House approved 221–189.⁴

On January 30, he issued a statement for National Mentoring Month describing the Bright Future program in Washington's Ninth District, which pairs youth from the Renton School District with mentors and a paid position at a local car dealership.¹

In a statement on February 28, 2020, Smith said public health officials had described the risk to the community from a coronavirus case in King County as currently low but subject to change, and urged individuals, schools, and workplaces to follow the guidance of health experts.¹

Smith joined the Washington congressional delegation in sending a letter urging President Trump to issue a major disaster declaration for the state on March 20, a letter to the GEO Group requesting information on coronavirus preparedness at the Northwest Detention Center on March 21, and a letter urging FEMA to provide medical personnel and equipment for field hospitals on March 24.³

On March 27, Smith said the House had passed the CARES Act, which he said directed funds to hospitals, providers, and state, local, and tribal governments, provided relief to small businesses, and expanded unemployment benefits.¹

Smith said the Trump Administration blocked the CDC from testifying before the Committee on Education and Labor about safely reopening schools, and said the decision of how and when to open schools should be left to states and school districts working with public health experts.¹

On July 29, 2020, Smith voted yes on H.R. 7327, the Child Care for Economic Recovery Act, which passed the House 250-161, and said in a statement that it and the Child Care Is Essential Act would invest in child care infrastructure and expand access to child care tax credits.²

On August 21, 2020, Smith said USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue's refusal to extend school meal waivers "has neglected students and families at a time of unprecedented need," and called on the Administration to extend the waivers through the rest of the school year.¹

The House passed H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, which Smith said would invest in rebuilding the country's public schools and child care facilities and let high-poverty schools make urgent repairs.¹

After the Trump administration blocked CDC officials from testifying before the Committee on Education and Labor about safely reopening schools, Smith said the President's comments threatening to withhold federal funds from schools that fail to fully reopen for in-person instruction were shameful.¹

The House also passed the Child Care Is Essential Act and the Child Care for Economic Recovery Act, which Smith said would let child care providers keep staff on payroll and would expand child care tax credits for families.¹

After USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the department would not extend school meal waivers, Smith said the decision made it harder for families to access food assistance programs amid pandemic-driven food insecurity for children and families.¹

On September 16, 2020, the House passed H.R. 2574, the Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act, and H.R. 2639, the Strength in Diversity Act, which Smith said were the first bills to address school segregation in roughly three decades.¹

On December 17, 2020, Smith voted yes on H.R. 3250, the Julius Rosenwald and the Rosenwald Schools Act, which passed the U.S. House 387-5.¹

In a November 11, 2020 letter, Smith said he worked with colleagues in Congress to pass the Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act after learning some student veterans were at risk of losing GI Bill benefits due to the shift from in-person to online instruction.¹

On February 2, 2021, Smith introduced the Pre-Apprenticeship Wrap-around Support Services Fund Act of 2021 with Rep. Jim Langevin, which would let pre-apprenticeship programs use grant funds for participant stipends covering costs such as housing, transportation, and childcare.¹

On February 5, 2021, Smith applauded House passage of the National Apprenticeship Act reauthorization, saying it would invest more than $3.5 billion over five years to create nearly 1 million additional apprenticeship opportunities.¹

On February 17, 2021, Smith said he supported continued discussions between educators, administrators, and public health officials on reopening schools for in-person instruction, and said he supported swift passage of the $1.9 trillion relief package.¹

On March 10, 2021, after the House passed the American Rescue Plan Act and sent it to President Biden, Smith said the package gives schools resources for COVID-19 prevention and mitigation.¹

On April 30, 2021, Smith submitted a Community Project Funding request of $850,000 to the House Appropriations Committee for Maritime High School, a project-based school in South King County focused on the maritime industry and marine sciences.¹

The same day, he submitted a $1,000,000 request for the MLK Mixed Use Affordable Housing and Early Learning Center, which is planned to include an early learning center and play area operated by the Refugee Women's Alliance.¹

Smith's April 30 submission of ten Community Project Funding requests for fiscal year 2022 covered projects in areas including education, alongside affordable housing, health care, and other services.¹

On April 30, 2021, Smith submitted a Community Project Funding request of $850,000 to the House Appropriations Committee for Maritime High School, a project of Highline Public Schools in South King County, Washington.¹

The same day, he submitted a $1,000,000 request for the MLK Mixed Use Affordable Housing and Early Learning Center in Rainier Valley, Seattle, which is planned to include an early learning center and play area operated by the Refugee Women's Alliance.¹

He also submitted a $1,000,000 request for the Keiro Site in Seattle's Central District, which is planned to include dedicated space for early childhood education.¹

On June 29, 2021, Smith voted yes on H.R. 3005, which directs the Joint Committee on the Library to replace certain statues in the United States Capitol; the bill passed the House 285-120.¹

The same day, he voted yes on H.Res. 504, which set the terms for floor consideration of H.R. 3005 alongside the IG Independence and Empowerment Act and was adopted 218-197, and voted yes to order the previous question on that resolution, which was adopted 214-195.²

On June 30, 2021, Smith announced $750,000 for a Seattle MLK Jr. Way S safety and accessibility project, $2,500,000 for Kent's Meeker Complete Street/Safe Routes to School project, and $1,800,000 for a Georgetown to South Park pedestrian and bike connection, each secured as part of the INVEST in America Act.³

On July 1, 2021, Smith announced $20 million for eleven transportation projects in Washington's 9th District as part of the INVEST in America Act, which passed the House that day, and said, "I am proud to have secured funding for eleven transportation projects in the Ninth District in the INVEST in America Act."²

On July 13, 2021, Smith announced the inclusion of $8,148,000 in the FY 2022 House appropriations bills for ten community projects in the 9th District.¹

On July 16, 2021, Smith reintroduced the Emergency Economic and Workforce System Resiliency Act to provide funding to state and local workforce agencies to prevent layoffs and support displaced workers.¹

He voted yes on H.R. 4233, the Student Veterans Counseling Centers Eligibility Act, which passed 420-4; H.R. 4706, the Blackwell School National Historic Site Act, which passed 417-8; and H.R. 5609, the Cattle Contract Library Act, which passed 411-13.³

He also introduced the Aviation Noise and Emissions Mitigation Act and issued a statement after voting to pass H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act.²

He issued a statement after the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act was signed into law, which he said passed the House by a vote of 363-70 and the Senate by a vote of 88-11.¹

On March 16, 2022, Smith introduced the Empowering Individuals to Succeed Through Education and Workforce Training Act, which would establish a fund under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to provide wrap-around support services and stipends for people in workforce training and two-year education programs.¹

Smith did not vote on H.Con.Res. 70, a resolution condemning threats of violence against historically Black colleges and universities, which passed the House 418-0.¹

Smith said the $1.5 trillion government spending package signed into law on March 15, 2022 would deliver funding to address challenges facing American families including education and job training.¹

Smith also said the over $9 million he secured for ten community projects in the Ninth District would help address education and workforce training, among other areas.¹

Between May 17 and July 26, 2022, Smith voted yes on the VETS Credit Act, the Student Veteran Work Study Modernization Act, the Cybersecurity Grants for Schools Act of 2022, the Supporting Small Business and Career and Technical Education Act, the Campus Prevention and Recovery Services for Students Act, and the Mathematical and Statistical Modeling Education Act, all of which passed the House.⁶

On May 17, the House passed H.R. 7309, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2022, and Smith said his amendment to provide meals and other food assistance to youth program participants was included in the bill.¹

On July 13, Smith voted no on a motion to commit S. 3373, the Protecting Our Gold Star Families Education Act, which failed 208-219, then voted yes on passage of the same bill, which passed 342-88.²

On August 24, 2022, after President Biden announced cancellation of $20,000 in federal student loan debt for Pell Grant recipients and $10,000 for other borrowers earning under $125,000 per year, Smith said Congress must reform the postsecondary education system and lower the cost of colleges and universities, including by making community and technical colleges tuition free.¹

On September 29, 2022, Smith introduced the Community and Technical College Investment Act, which he said would provide states funding to offer tuition-free community and technical college and would establish and expand wraparound support services including housing, food, and transportation.¹

On Dec. 5, 2022, Smith announced Subhadra Vadlamannati of Mercer Island High School as the winner of the 2022 Congressional App Challenge for Washington's Ninth District, for her app EduLang, a multilingual library app aimed at bridging the language gap through storytelling.¹

On Dec. 22, 2022, Smith voted yes on H.R. 7939, the Student Veteran Emergency Relief Act, which passed the House 380-35.¹

On Dec. 23, 2022, after the House passed the $1.7 trillion government funding package, Smith said it included over $24 million he secured for 15 community projects across the Ninth District.¹

Smith introduced the Community and Technical College Investment Act, which would provide grant funding for states to create tuition-free community and technical college programs and expand support services including housing, food, and transportation for students.¹

After the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in college admissions, Smith said the ruling would deepen inequities in the education system for Black and Latino students and called on Congress to pass investments in education for underserved communities.¹

In June 2023 Smith voted no on a resolution condemning the use of elementary and secondary school facilities to shelter migrants, which passed 223-201, and in July he voted yes on a motion to recommit the Schools Not Shelters Act, which failed 200-212, then voted no on passage of the bill, which passed 222-201.³

On July 28, 2023, Smith voted against the FY2024 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill, saying it "falls short on our commitments to veterans, servicemembers, and their families" and fails to invest in programs veterans rely on "for education, job training, housing, and child care."¹

On August 9, 2023, Smith introduced the Expanding Service Coordinators Act with Representatives Joyce Beatty and Suzanne Bonamici to increase funding for service coordinators serving federally assisted housing.¹

On August 18, 2023, Smith hosted a roundtable with state and federal officials to discuss broadband access and the use of $1.23 billion in BEAD program funding for Washington state.¹

On November 15, 2023, Smith introduced the Pre-Apprenticeship Wrap-Around Support Services Fund Act, which would fund transportation, housing, and childcare stipends, lost hourly wages, and certification costs for people enrolled in pre-apprenticeship programs.¹

On November 14, 2023, he voted no on ordering the previous question and on agreeing to the resolution providing for consideration of H.R. 5894, an appropriations bill for the Department of Labor; both measures passed anyway, 217–208 and 217–209, with all voting Democrats opposed on each.²

On December 13, 2023, he voted yes on H.Res. 927, condemning antisemitism on university campuses and the testimony of university presidents, which passed 303–126 with Democrats split 84 yes to 125 no.¹

On January 16, 2024, Smith announced the winners of the 2023 Congressional App Challenge for Washington's Ninth District, naming Volapyk, created by Davin Aoyama and Abhay Raj, as the first-place winner.¹

On January 17, Smith voted no on H.Res. 969, a resolution providing for consideration of H.R. 6914, the Pregnant Students' Rights Act, which passed 198–194.¹

On January 18, Smith voted yes on a motion to recommit H.R. 6914, which failed 207–213, and voted no on passage of the bill, which passed 212–207.²

Smith submitted 15 Community Project Funding requests to the House Appropriations Committee for the FY 2025 appropriations bills, covering affordable housing, workforce development and job training, public safety, economic development, and transportation and infrastructure.¹

Local organizations and agencies, including Purpose Dignity Action and the City of Renton, issued statements of support for the funding requests.¹

Smith, with Rep. Don Bacon and Sens. Mazie Hirono and Susan Collins, introduced the Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2024, which would grant U.S. citizenship to international adoptees who were legally adopted in the U.S. as children but lack citizenship status due to a gap in the Child Citizenship Act of 2000.¹

Smith released a statement on the death of former Congressman George R. Nethercutt, Jr.¹

Smith joined a letter opposing proposed cuts to museums and libraries funded through the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which supports literacy, STEM education, internet access, and job training programs.¹

In July 2025, Smith said the Trump administration withheld nearly $7 billion in federal K-12 education funding and joined 150 House Democrats in a letter urging distribution of the funds, including more than $136 million for Washington state schools.²

Smith introduced an education package to expand tuition-free community college and career-connected high schools, and separate legislation aimed at expanding access to workforce training, pre-apprenticeship, and education programs.²

In January 2026, Smith voted no on passage of the Flexibility for Workers Education Act, which failed 209–215, and voted yes on a motion to recommit that bill, which also failed 209–213; he later voted yes on a motion to recommit the Pregnant Students' Rights Act, which failed 213–216, and voted no on the bill's passage, which passed 217–211.⁴

Smith voted no on H.R. 7892, the No Aid for Ghost Students Act, which passed the U.S. House 249–172, with Democrats split 36 yes to 172 no.¹

He said the Education Department had already built a system in April to catch ghost-student fraud and that the bill locked that untested system into law without guardrails.¹

In April he introduced legislation to provide career training and wraparound services for high school students, and in July he introduced the Educators for America Act and the Building Community in America Act to expand recruitment of teachers and mentors.²