Larsen Fights for Guardrails on Data Centers

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U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) joined 110 House Democrats in a letter to tech industry leaders last Friday demanding that all data center construction follow strict guardrails to protect consumers from electricity and water price hikes.   “Data center projects and the energy systems and infrastructure that support them must be built and operated responsibly with…

Larsen’s Water Resources Bill Passes House

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Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02)’s Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (WRDA 2026) passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 415 to 9. The bipartisan, biennial bill protects Northwest Washington’s environment, supports Columbia River Treaty negotiations and authorizes critical investments in Northwest Washington ports, inland waterways, flood management…

Larsen Votes to Protect Families from Data Centers Raising Costs

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Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement after the House of Representatives voted to pass the Ratepayers Protection Act 417 to 3. “I voted for the Ratepayers Protection Act to protect families from higher electric bills,” said Rep. Larsen. “This legislation is only a start, and there is a lot more work to do. I support tough, upfront…

Larsen Statement on Joint U.S.-Canada Oil Spill Response Exercise

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Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, released the following statement:  “On September 2, my staff observed a joint exercise between the U.S. Coast Guard and the Canadian Coast Guard designed to simulate response efforts and coordination between our two countries in the event of an…

Larsen Applauds $4.2 Million for Local Salmon Passage Restoration

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Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) announced that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) is awarding $4.2 million to the Skagit River System Cooperative (Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe and Swinomish Indian Tribal Community) for restoring fish passage to support Similk Estuary Chinook salmon.  “This is great news for fish!” said Rep. Larsen. “This…

Larsen Joins 167 Lawmakers Demanding the Trump Administration Halt its Roadless Rule Rollback

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U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) joined a bipartisan coalition of 167 Members of Congress last Friday in urging the Trump administration to abandon its proposal to rescind the Roadless Rule, a longstanding and successful conservation guardrail protecting 44 million acres of iconic landscapes and National Forest System lands. The letter underscores the Rule’s broad, bipartisan…

Larsen Demands Answers on Oil Spill Preparedness

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Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), top Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, sent a letter to Admiral Kevin E. Lunday, Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, to insist that the Coast Guard review and update its oil spill preparedness plans in light of a proposed new Canadian oil pipeline that will increase oil tanker traffic in the Salish Sea.…

Larsen Insists Coast Guard Act to Protect Salish Sea

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Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, released the following statement:  “People I represent need answers on how the new Alberta to B.C. pipeline at Roberts Bank is going to impact the Salish Sea and local marine habitats.  “Due to Canada’s plans to ship more oil in the…

Larsen’s Water Resources Bill Clears Committee Hurdle

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This week, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02)’s Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (WRDA 2026) passed out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee by a unanimous vote of 66-0. The bipartisan, biennial bill protects Northwest Washington’s environment, supports Columbia River Treaty negotiations and authorizes critical investments in Northwest Washington…

Larsen Cheers Trump Administration Backing Off Plan to End Key Ocean Monitoring Initiative

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“The Trump administration’s attempt to remove hundreds of underwater instruments that help scientists understand ecosystem threats and natural disasters like El Niño was shortsighted and dangerous. I am glad that the Administration is reversing course and will redeploy the sensors that it already removed from oceans off the coast of Washington state."