Press Releases

United States Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab announced today that South Korea has agreed to reopen their market to U.S. beef and beef products. U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement: “I applaud Ambassador Schwab and the South Korean government for reaching an agreement to bring U.S. beef from cattle of all ages back to the South Korean… Read more »

In a Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing today, Committee Members including U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) heard from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency, legal scholars, county commissioners, water quality experts, and farmers about H.R. 2421, the Clean Water Restoration Act, which has been introduced by Chairman Jim Oberstar… Read more »

Today, Skagit County Commissioner Don Munks testified to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in a hearing on the Clean Water Restoration Act, legislation proposed by Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) which would amend the Clean Water Act. U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) worked with the Committee to get Skagit concerns a hearing in… Read more »

Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) led the Wild Sky Wilderness bill to its fourth victory in the Senate, clearing an important hurdle for the legislation to become law.  U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) must now lead the legislation through the U.S. House of Representatives one final time before it can be sent to the President, who is expected to sign it into… Read more »

“When I hear testimony from Ambassador Ryan Crocker and Gen. David Petraeus in the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday, I expect to hear one of three things: "Security has improved; we can't leave Iraq," "Security has worsened; we can't leave Iraq," or "Security has stayed the same; we can't leave Iraq." I can only hope that into… Read more »

To provide constituents with more information about his efforts to secure federal funding for 2nd District priorities, Congressman Rick Larsen (WA-02) has made public the list of earmarks he has requested for Fiscal Year 2009.  The earmarks Larsen has asked the Appropriations Committee to fund reflect a range of local needs in all of the six counties he represents, including funding… Read more »

With gas prices in Washington state the second highest in the nation, home foreclosures continuing to rise, and increasing pessimism about the U.S. economy, U. S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) called on Congress to pass a second economic stimulus package and key housing legislation as soon as possible. “Although Washington state, by the numbers, is not hurting as badly as… Read more »

Congressman Rick Larsen (WA-02) today congratulated Skagit County Community Action Agency for receiving $894,100 in Washington State Community Development Block Grant funding to expand their Distribution Center which supplies food banks in Skagit County. Larsen has supported federal funding for Community Development Block Grants, which provide local communities with resources to fight… Read more »

U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) is hosting U.S. Representative Gene Taylor (D-MS) in the 2nd District this week. Taylor is Chairman of the Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, which has oversight of the U.S. Navy.  Monday and Tuesday, Larsen and Taylor will tour Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and Naval Station… Read more »

U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement today after voting for the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 (H.R. 3773) which passed the House by a vote of 213 to 197: “This legislation gives the intelligence community the tools it needs to effectively track down terrorists around the world, and ensures that an independent judicial authority approves… Read more »