Larsen Also Pushing Measures to Improve Veterans Health Care, Education With more than 700,000 veteran disability claims pending, Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, today voted for several bills to cut the backlog and get veterans the benefits they earned. “Tens of thousands of veterans across Northwest Washington served our nation honorably. Too many now bear the wounds of war,” Larsen said. “We owe these ... Read more »
Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, today praised the award of $2.4 million to restore habitat for Chinook salmon and steelhead trout in the Whidbey and Snohomish basins. The funding, awarded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is part of a long-term effort to rebuild fisheries in the region. “A healthy fish population means a healthy economy in Northwest Washington,” Larsen said. “This f... Read more »
The House of Representatives today passed a job-creating water infrastructure bill with the support of Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02. The Water Resources Reform and Development Act authorizes federal investment in ports, flood control and ecosystem restoration. Northwest Washington has several ongoing federally funded water infrastructure projects. “We can’t have a big league economy with little league ... Read more »
Northwest lawmakers are urging federal officials to quickly allow Bering Sea fishermen to start fishing for Alaskan king crab. The crab season was scheduled to start on October 15th, but due to the government shutdown, the federal employees at the National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) have been unable to issue permits for the fleet, thereby delaying the start of the season. In a letter sent to... Read more »
Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, issued the following statement today on the Senate agreement to reopen the government and raise the debt ceiling. “I support the agreement to reopen the government and protect the full faith and credit of the United States,” Larsen said. “We need to move past this manufactured crisis so we can get to work on the important issues that Congress still needs to address. “I hav... Read more »
Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, today signed an official House of Representatives petition to force a vote on a bill to reopen the government immediately. If a majority of representatives sign the petition (known as a discharge petition), the House of Representatives would have the opportunity to take an up-or-down vote on a bill to extend government funding. “The American people deserve to have their en... Read more »
Congress should “open the entire government for all Americans” and end efforts to restore government services on a piecemeal basis, Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, told his colleagues today. “We should not be opening just parts of the government to serve just some of the people,” Larsen said. “We should open the entire government for all Americans. The Republican solution to the Republican shutdown, this... Read more »
Washington state’s six House Democrats have joined 194 of their colleagues to call on House Speaker John Boehner to end the Republican-led shutdown by allowing an up-or-down vote on a clean budget bill that would open the government immediately. Reps. Rick Larsen, WA-02, Suzan DelBene, WA-01, Jim McDermott, WA-07, Adam Smith, WA-09, Denny Heck, WA-10, and Derek Kilmer, WA-06, signed a letter to Sp... Read more »
Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, issued the following statement on day five of the federal government shutdown. The House of Representatives today voted to provide retroactive pay to furloughed federal employees after the shutdown ends. “We’re in day five of a reckless government shutdown that the House of Representatives has the power to end with a single vote,” Larsen said. “The Senate has voted three t... Read more »
Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, issued the following statement after Foss Maritime announced it will move its operations to Everett: “Foss Maritime’s move to Everett starts another great chapter in the city’s proud manufacturing history,” Larsen said. “I look forward to welcoming the 250 workers and hopefully many more as Foss has new opportunities to expand its operations. “I congratulate Mayor Stephans... Read more »
