Larsen Bill to Protect Kids from DXM Abuse Passes the House

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Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Representatives Rick Larsen (D-WA) and Fred Upton (R-MI) to crack down on the bulk sale of dextromethorphan (DXM) passed the House today by a voice vote. The Dextromethorphan Distribution Act of 2007 (H.R. 970) will help prevent the abuse of DXM -- which has led to deaths in Whatcom county and other parts of the country -- by making it illegal to…

Larsen Votes to Help More Northwest Washington Families Afford a Home

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U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) has voted in favor of the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act of 2007 (H.R. 2895), legislation to create a national affordable housing trust fund to help states and local communities build or preserve 1.5 million houses or apartments over the next 10 years. The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday by a vote of 264 to…

Larsen Votes to Hold Private Contractors in War Zones Accountable for Criminal Behavior

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U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement today in support of the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act Expansion and Enforcement Act (H.R. 2740), legislation to hold private contractors in war zones accountable in U.S. courts for any criminal behavior.  The bill passed the House today by a vote of 389 to 30.“Private contractors…

Larsen: President Makes Wrong Choice by Vetoing Health Care for Millions of Kids

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Today, President Bush vetoed legislation passed by Congress to preserve health care coverage for millions of children currently insured by the Children’s Health Insurance Program and extend coverage to millions more who are currently uninsured – including over 50,000 kids in Washington state. U.S. Representative Rick Larsen released the following statement on the…

Larsen Statement on European Court Decision Against Microsoft

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U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement on the ruling by a European court against Microsoft in an anti-trust case: “The ruling by the European Union’s Court of First Instance affirming the European Commission’s decision against Microsoft sets a troubling precedent. I am concerned that punishing Microsoft…

Larsen Statement on Petraeus/Crocker Hearing on Iraq

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 Today the House Armed Services Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee held a joint hearing on the status of the war and political developments in Iraq.  The committees received testimony from General David Petraeus, Commander, Multi-National Force-Iraq, and Ambassador Ryan Crocker, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq. House Armed Services Committee Member U.S. Representative…

House, Senate Pass Largest Increase in College Aid in 63 Years at No Cost to Taxpayers

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 U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) today voted with a bipartisan majority in the House to approve legislation that would help tens of thousands of Washington state students pay for college at no new cost to U.S. taxpayers.  The College Cost Reduction and Access Act (H.R. 2669) would make the single largest investment in college financial…

Larsen Statement on Georgia-Pacific Mill Closing

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 U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement today on the announcement that Georgia-Pacific will be closing their Bellingham tissue mill: “Georgia-Pacific has been part of our community for 44 years. The closure of the Bellingham mill is sad news not only for the people who work there and their…