Special Video Message from Rep. Adam Smith (D, WA-9)Posted by Korean American Grassroots Conference – KAGC on Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Rep. Adam Smith, who represents over 15,000 Korean American constituents in Puget Sound, shared a special message with our community just moments before he voted for the interim bill to replenish the Paycheck Protection Program fund on Thursday, April 23rd. In addition to his commitment to support small businesses, Rep. Smith said “I also want to assure you that I’m going to do everything I can and work as hard as possible to push back on the bigotry that has been targeted towards too many in the Asian-American community already…We’re going to need to work together to get that done and I pledge you that support.“
Rep. Smith also expressed his gratitude for our community’s support for the Adoptee Citizenship Act, a bill to provide intercountry adoptees with citizenship, that he has introduced since 2016. Watch the video for the entire message on his support for the Korean American community and effort to provide relief to all of us in this global pandemic.
Transcript of the Message:
Hello, I’m Adam Smith. I’m the Congressman who represents the 9th District in the state of Washington and I just want to send a message to the Korean American Grassroots Conference, thanking you for your leadership in our community and across the country.
The Korean American community is a crucial part of the area that I represent. They are leaders in education, in business, in politics, and all parts of our life. And I appreciate that leadership. Now more than ever, as we face this Global pandemic, the challenges are great and it’s going to take leadership from throughout our community.
I know that the Korean American community in my area and across the country that they’re crucially involved in small businesses that are so crucial to our economy and to jobs and growth and I know how hard they’ve been hit. In a moment or two, as I speak to you, I’m going to go over and vote on the latest relief package to try and actually pump more money into the PPP fund to give small businesses access to money that they need to help survive this very difficult time, and that’s what we really need to do right now to help each other get through this and strength of the Korean American communities an enormous asset in that fight and effort.
I also want to assure you that I’m going to do everything I can and work as hard as possible to push back on the bigotry that has been targeted towards too many in the Asian-American community already. This is a global fight. Blame is not the point and racism and bigotry will only set us back. We need to stand up against that if we are going to unite politics in all facets of our community. I really appreciate your leadership.
I look forward to continuing to work with you. If there’s anything I or my office can do to help you or your members through this very difficult time, do not hesitate to ask what we’re going to work together and get through this and meet the challenges. We met all other challenges that we faced. It won’t be easy but I’m a hundred percent confident that we can get it done, together as a community.
Thank you again for the leadership and the opportunity to say a few words.