Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, today supported a Constitutional Amendment that would overturn the Supreme Court’s Citizens United and McCutcheon campaign finance decisions. Larsen is an original cosponsor of H.J.Res 119. Larsen has long advocated for limiting money in politics and has spoken against the Supreme Court’s recent decisions that have granted too much… Read more »
Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, released the following statement today regarding the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) determinations about the causes of the Skagit River Bridge collapse on May 23, 2013.
“The Skagit River Bridge collapse into the waters below last year dramatically severed a vital trade corridor for the Pacific Northwest and shook people’s… Read more »
Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, pushed today to make sure veterans can access the health care and education they need.
Larsen is cosponsoring a bill that would fix the long wait times veterans face when seeking care at Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) doctors’ offices across the country. The Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability and Transparency Act of… Read more »
House and Senate efforts to find a short-term fix to the Highway Trust Fund shortfall must lead to a long-term solution, Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, said today. The fund is the primary source of federal funding for roads, bridges, highways and transit. The U.S. Department of Transportation recently announced it will begin slowing payments from the fund to states as of August 1 if Congress… Read more »
Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02 cosponsored a bill today that would prevent companies from denying workers basic health care, including contraceptive coverage, based on religious beliefs. The Protect Women’s Health from Corporate Interference Act responds to the Supreme Court’s recent Burwell v. Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood v. Burwell decision. This decision exempted some… Read more »
Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, continued his efforts today to improve safety at refineries and chemical facilities following the April 2010 explosion at the Tesoro refinery in Anacortes that killed seven workers. Larsen sent a letter to President Obama asking him to take action to strengthen safety standards and culture at these facilities. The letter follows the release of a report from the… Read more »
Major upgrades to the Mukilteo Ferry Terminal, a project Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, has worked on for more than a decade, is expected to get an additional $12 million from the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC). The council’s Transportation Policy Board recommended $12 million for the project during its meeting today. Final approval for the funds will come later this year, following… Read more »
Better opportunities for job training and adult education will prepare more people to succeed in today’s economy because of a bill that Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, supported and the House of Representatives passed by a vote of 415-6. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act improves workforce development and job training programs by updating them to align with the needs of… Read more »
A veterans health care issue that an Island County service member asked Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, for help changing last year is moving forward in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
The VA announced it will update the Veterans Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) based on current medical standards, with rules set to be finalized by the fall of 2016. Larsen successfully… Read more »
Reps. Rick Larsen, WA-02, and John Garamendi, CA-03, today asked the Coast Guard to reactivate the Polar Sea icebreaker in a letter to Commandant Paul Zukunft. The U.S. currently does not have the icebreakers it needs to meet its responsibilities in the Arctic. Putting the Polar Sea back into service would better enable the U.S. to secure its national security, environmental and economic… Read more »
