Congressman Adam Smith was the youngest state senator in the country when elected to his first term at age 25 in Washington State. Since January 1997, he has been a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Washington’s 9th District. He received a whopping 71% of the vote when re-elected in 2022. He is also the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee.
But Congressman Smith is more than a political figure. He has seen his fair share of pain. Three hip surgeries, a collapsed lung, a liver ailment, chronic pain, anxiety, and depression are cocktail enough for putting a strain on anyone’s mental health. But also factor in that his friend and colleague, Gabby Giffords, who he traveled to conflict zones with, survived an act of domestic terrorism when she was shot in the head at a public event in Arizona. He also learned at age 26 that he was adopted.
In a remarkable step of courage and inspiration, Congressman Smith became an author. His book: Lost and Broken: My Journey Back from Chronic Pain and Crippling Anxiety, advocates for those who have struggled with mental health issues.