The U.S. needs a better strategy to coordinate and prioritize its policies related to the Arctic region, according to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study out today that was released by Reps. Rick Larsen (WA-02), Tim Bishop (NY-01), John Garamendi (CA-03) and Senator Lisa Murkowski (AK).
The GAO study focused on U.S. participation in the Arctic Council, a voluntary body started… Read more »
By Danielle Douglas
House Demoorats introduced legislation Friday to protect borrowers who pay their student loans on time from being placed in default when the co-signer dies or declares bankruptcy.
These “auto defaults” force borrowers to either immediately repay the loan balance or ruin their credit, endangering their chances of getting a job, renting an apartment or… Read more »
Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, issued the following statement today regarding his support for a bill that would provide stronger federal oversight for immigration detention centers nationwide. The Accountability in Immigration Detention Act would improve conditions in detention centers such as the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, where detainees recently protested conditions with a… Read more »
Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, today introduced a bill to protect private student loan borrowers from “auto-defaults” when a loan cosigner, often a parent or grandparent, dies or files for bankruptcy.
In its April 2014 “mid-year update on student loan complaints,” the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau identified significant issues facing private student loan… Read more »
Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, issued the following statement today regarding his vote against H.R. 4438, the American Research and Competitiveness Act of 2014.
The Act would make the research and development tax credit permanent without providing a way to pay the expected cost of $156 billion over 10 years.
“Support for innovation has long been one of my top priorities. Research and… Read more »
Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, issued the following statement today after his vote against a Republican resolution to form a committee to investigate the attacks in Benghazi, Libya in 2012 that killed four Americans.
To date, multiple panels have investigated the attacks. They have released 8 reports, interviewed dozens of witnesses, and reviewed more than 25,000 pages of documents.
“The… Read more »
Today Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, led the Washington state Congressional delegation in asking the administration to move quickly in releasing a draft rule addressing standards for tank cars carrying crude oil by rail.
The Department of Transportation submitted a proposal for safe crude-by-rail transport to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs last week.
The letter states the… Read more »
Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, issued the following statement today after the passing of Billy Frank, Jr.
“Billy’s fierce and tireless advocacy for Washington state’s tribes, for the environment and for salmon populations was unparalleled. His decades of leadership leave a legacy of stronger treaty rights and healthier habitats to sustain tribal fishing for generations to… Read more »
Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, released the following statement after the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) voted to approve the final report on the 2010 Tesoro refinery explosion in Anacortes that killed seven employees.
“Completing the investigation into the tragic refinery explosion is a critical step in providing the Anacortes community with needed closure and in allowing the industry… Read more »
Reps. Rick Larsen, WA-02, and Suzan DelBene, WA-01, sent a letter today asking the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to support a strong hatchery program for salmon and steelhead in Washington state. The state announced a legal settlement last week resulting in only some winter steelhead being released, potentially delaying or canceling… Read more »
