Press Releases

Larsen Applauds Senate Passage of USA Freedom Act

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Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, today applauded Senate passage of the USA Freedom Act, a bill to end the government’s bulk collection of Americans’ phone record data. Larsen voted for and the House of Representatives passed the bill on May 13. The bipartisan bill (H.R. 2048) makes a number of needed reforms to government surveillance programs. Larsen has been a vocal advocate of…

Larsen Bill To Support Healthy Estuaries Passes House

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The U.S. House of Representatives today passed a bill that Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, introduced to fund estuary improvement projects in the Puget Sound region and nationwide. Larsen introduced the bipartisan bill with Rep. Frank LoBiondo, NJ-02, in February. H.R. 944 would reauthorize the National Estuary Program through 2020, funding local efforts to restore and protect sensitive…

Larsen: TPA Is Right For Pacific Northwest Economy

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Today, Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, announced his support for the 2015 Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) bill. Larsen said he intends to vote for the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 because of the critical role trade plays in creating jobs and growing the economy in the Second Congressional District and Washington state. “Over the last several…

Larsen, Reichert Introduce Bill to Help Small Businesses Overcome Exporting Hurdles

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Today, Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, and Rep. Dave Reichert, WA-08, introduced a bill to help small businesses in Washington state and across the country export their products overseas. The bipartisan State Trade and Export Promotion Utilization Program for American Small Businesses Act of 2015 would reauthorize funding for the State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) program that…

Larsen Bill Would Protect Grieving Student Borrowers From Harmful Auto-Defaults

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Tags: Education

Local Universities and National Organizations Support Bill Students with private education loans would be protected from “auto-defaults” when a loan cosigner, often a parent or grandparent, dies or files for bankruptcy if Congress passes a bill introduced today by Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02. In a report last year, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau identified significant…

Larsen: Time To Get Serious About Job-Creating Investments in Roads, Bridges, Highways

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Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, today voted to keep funds flowing to states for job-creating transportation projects, while calling on Congress to take up a long-term surface transportation bill that would invest in repairs and upgrades to roads, bridges, highways and transit systems. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a two-month extension of the Highway Trust Fund, which is set to expire…

As Head Start Turns 50, Larsen Hears PNW Success Stories

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Tags: Education

Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, marked the 50th anniversary of the Head Start program today by learning about local Head Start successes from across the Pacific Northwest. He also called for continued funding of education opportunities for the youngest students. “We need to be giving our students every opportunity to succeed. A strong start from the beginning with programs like Head Start…

Larsen Hears Veterans Concerns, Successfully Pushes For Changes in Defense Bill

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Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, today continued his efforts to ensure servicemembers transitioning out of the military have access to jobs and the health care they need. Larsen successfully advocated for these provisions in the annual defense policy bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 1735), which Larsen voted for and the U.S. House of Representatives passed. “When our…

Larsen: Immigration Detention Centers Should Be Humane and Fair

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Conditions at immigration detention centers would improve if Congress passes a bill introduced today with support from Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02. The Accountability in Immigration Detention Act of 2015 would create stronger, enforceable federal oversight and standards for immigration detention centers, promote alternatives to detention, and end the requirement that 34,000 detention beds be…

Larsen: USA Freedom Act Helps Bring Sunlight Into Government Surveillance

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Today, Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, voted for and the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to end the government’s bulk collection of phone record data. The bipartisan USA Freedom Act (H.R. 2048) also puts in place new processes by which the government must get approval to obtain phone records on a case-by-case basis from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC). Larsen…