8:27 p.m. PDT Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, issued the following statement following the I-5 bridge collapse in Skagit County: “I am monitoring the bridge collapse in Skagit County. My office stands ready to assist emergency responders and local and state officials. I encourage people to follow police instructions and stay away from the site of the collapse to let first responders… Read more »

Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, today introduced a jobs bill that will help small- and medium-sized businesses grow by equipping them with tools to compete for federal, state and local government contracts. Larsen’s bill would lower costs and increase funding for Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) which help businesses meet requirements for government contracts. “My top… Read more »

Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, and Rep. Suzan DelBene, WA-01, today highlighted new economic data showing jobs progress in Northwest Washington and called for Congressional action to accelerate the jobs recovery. The latest unemployment numbers for April 2013 show unemployment at the lowest rates for the same month in the last four years in Island, King, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom… Read more »

Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, issued the following statement today regarding the 37th effort in the House of Representatives to repeal the Affordable Care Act. “The 37th time is not the charm. With these stunt votes to nowhere, Republicans have spent millions of taxpayer dollars and wasted far too much time that could have been used to pass job-creating legislation. “With more than… Read more »

Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, today voted against a Republican bill that would require the United States to put foreign bondholders ahead of payments to Americans in the event that Congress fails to raise the debt ceiling and forces default. “This bill sends a dangerous message around the world and to our own citizens: that the United States is getting ready to default on our… Read more »

The Navy plans to more than double its planned P-8A Poseidon basing at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and will accelerate planned basing of destroyers at Naval Station Everett, Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, announced today. Larsen was briefed today on the Navy’s strategic laydown plan for 2013-2020 which outlines the changes. “If there was any lingering concern about the future… Read more »

Larsen, DelBene Unveil the Bill to Cut Taxes on Craft Distilleries in Everett EVERETT, Wash.—Craft distilleries will be able to grow and create new jobs if Congress passes a new bill authored by Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02. Larsen is joining Rep. Suzan DelBene, WA-01, a cosponsor of the bill, and Northwest Washington craft distillers to announce the Small Distilleries Fairness Act today… Read more »

(CNN) -- Air travelers across the country are breathing a sigh of relief that they might get to their destinations on time after Congress took action to roll back a part of the automatic spending cuts that forced furloughs on air traffic controllers. As someone with a 2,300-mile commute, I understand the frustration that travelers felt as delays tripled to nearly 9,000 by Thursday… Read more »

Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, ranking member on the House Aviation Subcommittee, issued the following statement today after President Obama nominated Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx to be the next Secretary of Transportation: “Last fall at the Democratic Convention I had the pleasure seeing firsthand the results of Mayor Foxx’s commitment to forward-looking transportation policy.… Read more »

Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, said the Congressional deal to end furloughs for air traffic controllers “lands somewhere short of a profile in courage” because Congress has failed to address the bigger problems that sequester created. Larsen, the ranking Democrat on the House Aviation Subcommittee, said kids and seniors across the country are being hurt thanks to Congress’s… Read more »