Accountability & Oversight

Larsen: Bipartisan PIPES Act Makes Northwest Washington Safer

| Posted in Press Releases

The bipartisan Promoting Innovation in Pipeline Efficiency and Safety (PIPES) Act of 2023 reauthorizes the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) pipeline safety program for the next four years and provides an efficient and effective framework to advance the safety of energy infrastructure nationwide.

Larsen Reintroduces Bill to Boost Federal Response to Seasonal and Pandemic Flu

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Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) introduced the Protecting America from Seasonal and Pandemic Influenza Act (“The Influenza Act”) to bolster the federal response to seasonal and pandemic influenza. Reps. Deborah Ross (NC-02), Ami Bera (CA-07), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), Ritchie Torres (NY- 15) and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C.-At-Large) signed on as original cosponsors of the bill.

Larsen: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is Working for Northwest Washington and the Nation

| Posted in Press Releases

"Today, we are here to highlight how federal infrastructure dollars, provided by Congress and distributed by DOT, are benefiting communities and building cleaner, greener, safer and more accessible transportation systems across the country." -Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02), the lead Democrat on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee

Larsen, WA Delegation Members Seek Answers on State’s Plan to Fund Local Efforts to Combat Opioid Epidemic

| Posted in Press Releases

Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) led seven members of the Washington congressional delegation calling for the State to provide answers about its long-term plan to reduce critical Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) funding for regional drug task forces that help local communities fight the opioid epidemic.

Larsen Statement on Defense Policy Bill Vote

| Posted in Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the below statement after voting “no” on the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act: “I voted ‘no’ because this bill reflects an extreme GOP shift to take reproductive health care away from women who serve and want to serve in uniform,” said Larsen, who served for 22 years on the Armed Services Committee. “It is my…

Larsen Discusses Local Priorities to Address Veteran Homelessness with VA Secretary Denis McDonough

| Posted in Press Releases

Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) recently joined U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough, Dr. Thomas Bundt, Executive Director of the VA Puget Sound Health Care System, and regional stakeholders for a roundtable discussion focused on efforts to assist and house veterans experiencing homelessness in Washington state. During the roundtable, Larsen highlighted the unique challenges facing local veterans and their families, as well as the ongoing efforts by agencies and organizations to serve veterans in Northwest Washington.

Larsen and Veasey Reintroduce Bill to Fight Discriminatory Voter ID Laws

| Posted in Press Releases

Reps. Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Marc Veasey (TX-33) recently reintroduced the America Votes Act to protect U.S. citizens who face disenfranchisement because of restrictive voter identification (ID) laws. In 2021, Larsen and Veasey included the bill in the House-passed For The People Act, which did not receive a vote in the Senate last Congress.

Larsen, DelBene Call for Answers Around Persistent Postal Delays, Workforce Shortages in Northwest Washington

| Posted in Press Releases

Representatives Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Suzan DelBene (WA-01) are calling for answers about persistent mail delays reported to both offices in Northwest Washington, including in Whatcom County during the December holiday period. In a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, Larsen and DelBene called for the United States Postal Service (USPS) to expeditiously address delays and mail failures. The lawmakers had previously written to DeJoy in July about widespread mail delays in the region.