The Protecting Our Marine Mammals (POMM) Act expands federal protections for marine mammals to include near-real time monitoring of whales, monitoring of underwater soundscapes to reduce noise impacts on marine mammals and grants for seaports to make investments to reduce vessel collisions. The bill also invests in the study of vessel quieting measures and establishes a position within the Coast Guard Puget Sound Vessel Traffic Center to better coordinate protection efforts between the Coast Guard, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the marine industry. Read more »
Reps. Rick Larsen (WA-02), Don Beyer (VA-08) and Judy Chu (CA-27) recently introduced the Restoring Fulbright Exchanges with China and Hong Kong Act. In 2020, President Trump signed an executive order to end Fulbright exchanges both to and from China and Hong Kong. Read more »
Reps. Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Suzan DelBene (WA-01) introduced the Prioritizing Digital Infrastructure Financing Act, legislation to enhance U.S. leadership in global digital infrastructure financing to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative and enhance data security around the world. Read more »
The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 3034, legislation introduced by Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Rick Larsen (WA-02) that would add Mount Vernon as a court location in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington by voice vote. Read more »
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Aviation Preparedness Plan Act, legislation introduced by Reps. Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Don Beyer (VA-08) to require the development of a national aviation preparedness plan for future public health emergencies. The bipartisan bill, which passed the House by a final vote of 293 to 133, now heads to the Senate for consideration. Read more »
Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) voted to lower the cost of health care and prescription drugs for working families and seniors, make a historic down payment to combat climate change and cut the deficit by $300 billion. Read more »
Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) announced the Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) has been awarded a $8,862,951 federal grant to replace eight aging diesel buses with eight electric buses and to purchase and install bus chargers. Read more »
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded a $25 million grant to construct a new six-lane, multimodal bridge over I-5 in Lynnwood, between the intersections of 196th Street SW (State Route 524)/Poplar Way and 33rd Avenue W/Alderwood Mall Boulevard. DOT awarded the funding through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Discretionary Grant Program, which enables communities of all sizes to carry out projects with significant local or regional impact. Read more »
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded a $25 million grant to replace the 60-year-old Lummi Island ferry with an electric-battery hybrid ferry and build related infrastructure. DOT awarded the funding through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Discretionary Grant Program, which enables communities of all sizes to carry out projects with significant local or regional impact. Read more »
Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Rick Larsen (WA-02) are calling for answers about widespread mail delays reported to both offices over recent weeks in Whatcom, Snohomish, and Island Counties. These complaints include delayed mail and packages containing medications, bills, and passports; hours-long lines at post offices; repeatedly unserved home mailboxes; and election ballots not delivered or picked up. Read more »
