Taking some time while Congress is out of session, Congressman Adrian Smith, R-Neb., is making the rounds in his district.

Smith represents district 3 of Nebraska. District 3 is comprised of the western three-fourths of the state. It includes Grand Island, Kearney, Hastings, North Platte, Sidney, Scottsbluff and Kimball.

Smith said as of Friday of last week, he has visited with Rotary Clubs, schools, families, and media.

He is traveling with John Blake, Community Liaison, from Smith’s Scottsbluff office.

On his visits Smith has opened himself up for questioning. While at the Observer office on Friday, he once again answered some questions.

According to a press release dated Feb. 4, 2010, Smith supported passage of H.R. 4061, the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act. Smith, a ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation, co-sponsored the bill.

“Technology has really opened up convenience for a lot of things,” Smith said, “but it has also opened us to malicious and non-malicious attacks.”

This bill will help to raise the awareness that there is technology out there that can protect people, he said.

“We need to make sure that consumers understand what cybersecurity is out there,” Smith said.

This bill will authorize activities in three areas in support of federal focus on cybersecurity. Such as supporting basic research at the National Science Foundation, expanding NSF scholarships, increase research and development, standards development and coordination, and public outreach.

When it comes to the Republican Party, Smith said they are not the party of “No”.

“It is not fair to say that the answer is always no,” Smith said.

It is sometimes the answer when there is no other option besides yes and no, he said.

Smith said more options need to be presented to them (Congress) where the American people are concerned.

Smith said he also sees a need for a “high priority to be accurate.”

He referenced the American Recovery Act. Smith said there are projects that the Obama administration is claiming as part of the ARA. But, Smith said, these projects were underway before the ARA. Smith saids there needs to be accuracy here.

“I don’t care who get’s credit, just be accurate,” the Congressman said.

“It really speaks to the overzealous desire to say that anything that has been good is because of the ARA,” he said.

Congressman Smith cited the hard work, and the good ethics of the American people for the efforts.

But the party is not Smith’s driving force.

Historically the parties were able to dictate what the members were going to vote. Now, the members of the party vote differently.

“I vote for the people I represent before the party,” Smith said.

When it comes to the good of the country and how he must vote there, smith said,”I am an American long before I am a Republican.”

Smith is also a Nebraskan and is concerned about the people he represents.

An issue that concerns him that Nebraskans could be facing is Cap and Trade.

Smith said Capo and Trade will hurt rural America. The effects of the proposal will kill jobs, bleed budgets and lead to more government intervention, he said.

Further, he said the proposal is unclear.

“The Secretary of Agriculture pointed out that farmers could plant trees to gain carbon credits on marginal acres, but fails to say how many, what type and so on,” Smith said.

It is hard to marginalize that to the people of the Panhandle, the Congressman said.

“I am not comfortable with legislation that doesn’t lay things out clearly,” Smith said.

Smith is a Gering native and a sixth generation Nebraskan. He has served in public office for 16 years and was sworn in to Congress on Jan. 5, 2007.