Press Releases

Today, US Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement after Republican leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives rolled out their budget proposal for 2012. “Budgets are not about dollars and cents, they’re about how we can keep our economy moving to grow jobs and help middle class families. “House Republicans need a wake up call to realize… Read more »

Today, US Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement after testifying to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit about his priorities for transportation initiatives that will create jobs in the Pacific Northwest.“Last week, I spoke with local private sector engineers who said that the single biggest action Congress… Read more »

Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement after voting against a budget bill in the US House of Representatives. Larsen voted against the Government Prevention Shutdown Act of 2011 because the bill violates the constitutional provision of passing the Senate and being signed by the President before becoming a law. Larsen did vote to cut off pay for… Read more »

Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement for Members’ Day for the House Budget Committee. Members’ Day provides Members of Congress with an opportunity to testify before the House Budget Committee regarding Members’ priorities in relation to the federal budget. Larsen submitted remarks that included his concern that budget cuts may… Read more »

Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) offered an amendment to help members of the armed forces and gold star recipients afford to stay in their homes after Republicans brought a bill to the floor that will terminate the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), a critical lifeline to homeowners who are struggling to keep their homes. HAMP currently helps 30,000 families… Read more »

Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), voted against H.R. 1076, legislation that would slash funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and other public radio programming. “I voted against these cuts that will hit PBS, NPR and other public radio broadcasting especially hard because these cuts are misguided attempts to stifle quality sources of information and… Read more »

Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), released the following statement after voting against H.J. Res. 48, a short-term Continuing Resolution to fund government operations through April 8th. “It is past time for the White House and Congress to come together and create a bipartisan long-term budget that will foster economic growth and job creation while tackling our debt… Read more »

Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, co-led a hearing to examine the United States response to piracy. Last month, 4 Americans, including a couple from Seattle, were killed by Somali captors while on vacation.“Today’s pirate is no Jack… Read more »

Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement after voting to end the FHA Refinance Program to reduce the deficit and focus attention on foreclosure assistance programs that are more successful. This program was authorized to use $8 billion from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) but has only 245 loan applications and only endorsed 44 loans. The… Read more »

Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), the Co-Chair of the bipartisan US-China Working Group, released the following statement after President Obama made an official announcement that he is nominating Commerce Secretary Gary Locke to serve as ambassador to China.“Gary is an outstanding nominee to serve as ambassador to China. As Co-Chair of the US-China Working Group, I… Read more »