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XinhuaChen Bingde, chief of the general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, will visit the United States in May, China's Ministry of Defense said late Tuesday."I will visit the United States next month at the invitation of Mike Mullen, Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff. I look forward to having an in-depth and candid discussion with U.S. political and military leaders on bilateral milit... Read more »

Whidbey News TimesNearly 5,500 people across the 2nd District dialed in during Congressman Rick Larsen's telephone town hall Wednesday night, according to officials in the U.S. Representative's office.Callers wanted to talk to the 2nd District Democrat about the economy, jobs, the federal budget and healthcare.Larsen hosted the call from his office in Washington, D.C.“I want to thank everyone who ... Read more »

Alcoa Intalco Works is celebrating. The aluminum plant recently opened another potline. The restart adds jobs during a time of high unemployment and a slow economy. Bonneville Power continues the effort to provide affordable power to this plant after the historic energy crisis in 2000. Read more »

KGMI News BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- U.S. Representative Rick Larsen says budget cuts could have a negative impact on students. Larsen said on Wednesday that cutting Pell grants in the federal budget would devastate students of local schools like Western Washington University. “Western Washington University in the last school year had about 3,100 students receive Pell grants, for a total of about $11-mi... Read more »

Arlington TimesBy Kirk BoxleitnerARLINGTON — When word broke that Boeing had secured a $35 billion Air Force tanker contract, Arlington-based AMT was among the local companies who saw it as good news.When U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen met with representatives of AMT and toured their facilities on March 25, he found out how much the company stands to benefit from Boeing’s fortunes.“About 92 percent of our ... Read more »

Seattle PIBy Aubrey CohenThe Air Force’s recent choice of Boeing’s 767-based aerial refueling tanker for a 179-plane contract isn’t necessarily the last triumph for the 767, Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and Chief Executive Jim Albaugh said Friday.“We’re not done. We’re going to build 179 of these, and then we’ll build another 179 for the U.S. Air Force,” he said after a celebration of the... Read more »

KOMO NewsBy Kera WanielistaRep. Rick Larsen speaks at the Squalicum Boathouse about the importance of exporting goods to help rebuild the economy. “We’re here to help,” was the message sent to small and medium sized business owners yesterday at the meeting to kick off the “Jump Start Washington Exports” (JustWaEx) program.Rep. Rick Larsen, the Washington State Department of Commerce, the Bellingha... Read more »

Bellingham Herald Op-Ed By U.S. Rep. Rick LarsenI recently returned from a trip to New Zealand and Australia that was productive and tragic. On Tuesday, Feb. 22, a deadly earthquake hit Christchurch, New Zealand, killing nearly 200 people and damaging countless buildings. Our delegation had left Christchurch two hours before the earthquake struck. My trip was initially focused on ways to expand th... Read more »

All Point BulletinBy Meg Olson A new U.S./Canada agreement highlights greater cooperation across the border as the key to increased security and prosperity for both nations. “We agreed to a new vision for managing our shared responsibilities —- not just at the border but “beyond the border,”” said U.S. President Barack Obama in a February 4 joint press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Steph... Read more »

Representative Rick Larsen (D – Wash.) sipped a coffee and talked with small business owners at Stanwood’s UPS Store last Tuesday. Photo credit: Jeremiah O'HaganStanwood / Camano NEWSBy Jeremiah O'HaganThere was no set agenda. John Russell, owner of the UPS Store, simply invited Larsen to come talk with a few business owners.Leaning against a counter, Larsen conversed on topics ranging from issues... Read more »