The month of December was a busy one for Washington Rep. Adam Smith, D-Tacoma, but he's poised to have another successful year serving soldiers and their families in the South Sound.

Smith returned Dec. 2 from leading a congressional delegation to Afghanistan. The delegation met with U.S. and Afghan officials, U.S. and NATO commanders, and U.S. military personnel to assess the political, civil and military developments on the ground.

"It is clear that (U.S. troops) are doing a tremendous job in a very difficult situation," Smith said. "We are beginning to see some signs of success. They have created some space in regions where the Taliban was once prominent. This space is now allowing U.S. and NATO personnel to work with local partners and make progress toward establishing functional governance and civil institutions."

Smith, who chairs the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces, organized the trip to help educate key congressional members on civil, military and political counterinsurgency and counterterrorism initiatives in Afghanistan. Specifically, the focus of the trip was on interagency cooperation, special operations, intelligence and development activities in Afghanistan. His committee work and extensive travel to Afghanistan and the region has allowed him to develop extensive knowledge of the national security challenges the nation faces.

"While we are beginning to see some signs of progress, I remain 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," Smith said. "We have a significant national security threat in the region and we must make certain that there is a clear, more cost-efficient policy to both ensure the security and stability of Afghanistan and to responsibly draw down our military forces."

Smith's big month continued Dec. 16 when he was elected to serve as the next Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee.

He pledged to continue to be a strong advocate for military personnel and their families, and reiterated his commitment to providing them with the benefits and support they "deserve for their years of faithful service."

That includes giving them the tools they need to succeed.

"I am committed to providing our Armed Forces with the best equipment and resources available to carry out their current and future missions," the congressman said.

And Smith sees many good things on the horizon for troops with the Dec. 17 passage of the fiscal year 2011 National Defense Authorization Bill.

"This legislation supports the men and women of our Armed Forces by ensuring that they have the resources they need," he said. "It places our policies and priorities exactly where they belong - on our troops and their families."

The bill authorizes a 1.4 percent pay raise for troops, strengthens military health care and family support programs, and authorizes numerous other programs that will assist military families, Smith said.

"I am pleased to see this legislation authorizes funding for the procurement and research development programs to ensure that our soldiers and airmen have the equipment and resources they need to carry out their missions," the congressman said. "This includes funding for programs such as Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles, equipment for the National Guard and Reserve, Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Systems, as well as other vital equipment and systems used by the Army and Air Force."