The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced $714 million in ReConnect Loan and Grant Program funding to connect rural residents, farms and businesses to reliable, high-speed internet. This includes a $2,980,652 loan for the Hat Island Telephone Company to provide affordable high-speed internet to 93 people, six businesses and one farm. Hat Island Telephone Company has provided service to Hat (Gedney) Island since 1964. Read more »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the below statement in support of the Bipartisan Budget Agreement (BBA):
“I will be voting ‘yes’ on the Bipartisan Budget Agreement, a necessary step to prevent catastrophic default and maintain U.S. economic leadership in the world,” said Larsen, the lead Democrat on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee.… Read more »
Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) applauded the announcement by Washington State Department of Commerce of $121 million in grants for 19 broadband construction projects that will deliver reliable, high-speed internet access to nearly 15,000 households across the state. This includes $26,157,178 for six projects in Point Roberts, Bow and the San Juan Islands in Washington’s Second Congressional District. Read more »
Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) outlined his local priorities for inclusion in the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) during the House Armed Services Committee’s Member Day hearing Read more »
Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) issued the below statement in response to the expiration of Title 42 authority, which allowed the U.S. to quickly expel migrants from its borders to contain the spread of COVID-19, and GOP efforts to pass H.R. 2, the Child Deportation Act. Read more »
A bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Reps. Rick Larsen (D-WA-02) and David Valadao (R-CA-22) and Sen. Angus King (I-ME) urged U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to work with their Japanese counterparts to ensure equal market access for U.S. farmers by eliminating Japan’s damaging frozen blueberry tariffs. Read more »
Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) requested $46,401,575 for fifteen local projects in the Fiscal Year 2024 spending bill that local leaders and stakeholders identified as critical to their communities. Larsen submitted the requests to the House Appropriations Committee as the Committee begins work on legislation to fund the federal government. Read more »
Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) recently joined U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough, Dr. Thomas Bundt, Executive Director of the VA Puget Sound Health Care System, and regional stakeholders for a roundtable discussion focused on efforts to assist and house veterans experiencing homelessness in Washington state. During the roundtable, Larsen highlighted the unique challenges facing local veterans and their families, as well as the ongoing efforts by agencies and organizations to serve veterans in Northwest Washington. Read more »
Reps. Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Marc Veasey (TX-33) recently reintroduced the America Votes Act to protect U.S. citizens who face disenfranchisement because of restrictive voter identification (ID) laws. In 2021, Larsen and Veasey included the bill in the House-passed For The People Act, which did not receive a vote in the Senate last Congress. Read more »
Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) applauded the Federal Aviation Administration’s announcement of nearly $1 billion to improve terminals at 99 airports nationwide, including $37,365,000 for three critical projects at Seattle-Tacoma International, Spokane International and Pullman-Moscow Regional airports in Washington state. Read more »
