Press Releases

{The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a House-Senate agreement on transportation funding which includes millions of dollars for Northwest Washington secured by U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) and U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), including resources to make safety improvements to U.S. Highway 2, purchase new buses for Skagit Transit and construct a Marine Trades Center as… Read more »

U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement today in support of legislation to provide Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) relief for middle-class families, extend Washington state’s sales tax deduction for one year, and put money back in the pockets of college students, teachers, homeowners and other working Americans.  The tax relief bill (H.R. 3996)… Read more »

House Armed Services Committee Member U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) voted today in favor of a House-Senate agreement on defense appropriations which will improve U.S. military readiness by funding needed equipment and training, and support military families by investing in military health care and a pay raise for Armed Services personnel. The funding bill passed the House by… Read more »

U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement today on the Peru Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which is scheduled for a vote this week in the U.S. House of Representatives.  Larsen will vote for the Peru FTA when it comes to the House floor. “The Peru Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will open market access for Washington goods and services and increase… Read more »

Late last night, The House passed a House-Senate agreement on military construction and veterans funding which includes appropriations for Snohomish and Island counties secured by U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) and U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA). The bill passed the House by a vote of 269 to 142.  To become law, these appropriations must either be signed by the President… Read more »

A provision secured by U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) to return the waterfront portion of the Whatcom Creek Waterway from federal to local control – an essential step in the City of Bellingham’s Waterfront Redevelopment Project – passed the House late last night over the… Read more »

{Late last night, The House passed a House-Senate agreement on health, education, labor and veterans funding which includes appropriations for Skagit and Whatcom counties secured by U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02). The bill passed the House last night by a vote of 269 to 142.  The Senate is scheduled to consider the bill today, and the President has threatened a veto. To… Read more »

Earlier today, international news agencies reported U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is expected to announce a formal agreement to establish a military hotline, or Defense Telephone Link, between the U.S. and China during his visit this week to the People’s Republic of China. In response, U.S. Reps. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), the co-chairs of the… Read more »

U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) has called for a hearing in the House Homeland Security Committee on problems with the NEXUS program that have made efficient cross-border travel difficult for many of his constituents in Northwest Washington. The NEXUS program allows pre-screened, low-risk travelers to be processed more rapidly at the U.S.-Canadian border. In letters… Read more »

U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement on the announcement today by Whidbey-Island based Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, Inc. that they are ending operations at their Freeland and Langley facilities: “This announcement is a great surprise.  Matt and all the workers have consistently developed quality boats that are used all over the… Read more »