The Wall Street Journal OnlineAmerican immigration debates usually focus on efforts to let skilled, hardworking foreigners into the country. So it's a change of pace to encounter an important "immigration reform" that would make it easier for American businessmen to get out, potentially boosting exports to boot.At issue is the APEC Business Travel Card, a creation of the… Read more »

Skagit Valley HeraldBy Lynsi BurtonSEDRO-WOOLLEY — U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen spoke to a crowd of seniors at Country Meadow Village in Sedro-Woolley Friday to criticize congressional Republicans’ efforts to reform Medicare and Medicaid. The Everett Democrat spoke to about three dozen people in a discussion that centered around health care policies, which has become a focus of… Read more »

South Whidbey RecordCongressman Larsen issues statement on death of Osama bin LadenU.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-2nd District) released the following statement early Monday on the death of Osama bin Laden:"Ten years ago our nation was united in a common purpose - to protect our country from further terrorist attacks and capture or kill those who attacked our nation. The announcement of… Read more »

South Whidbey RecordCongressman Rick Larsen has added his support to a federal examination to determine if gas prices are being manipulated.Larsen, U.S. Rep.-2nd District, said the Department of Justice's creation of the "Oil and Gas Price Fraud Working Group" was a step in the right direction.“Last week, the President announced the formation of an Oil and Gas Price Fraud… Read more »

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… 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… 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… 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… 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… Read more »