MARYSVILLE, Wash.—Intersections of railroads and roadways would get new funding for safety and efficiency upgrades if Congress passes a new bill introduced by Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02. The At-Grade Crossing Enhancement (ACE) Act of 2015 creates $300 million in annual grants to upgrade at-grade crossings, where rail incidents are most likely to occur and where rail lines have the… Read more »

New report details consequences for PNW if Congress fails to act Without Congressional action soon, the biggest source of federal funding for roads, bridges, highways and transit systems will expire, which has clear consequences for Pacific Northwest infrastructure, Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, said today. The Highway Trust Fund is set to expire on July 31 unless Congress acts to pass a new… Read more »

Today, Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, voted for and the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill reauthorizing a program to help workers whose jobs have been negatively affected by trade, called Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). The bill (Senate Amendment to H.R. 1295) also renews programs to facilitate trade and economic growth in developing countries, such as the African Growth and… Read more »

As House Republicans today held the 60th vote to repeal or undermine the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, called on Congress to instead focus on creating jobs and growing the economy by reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank. Larsen voted against but the House passed H.R. 1190, which would repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), an ACA mechanism to respond… Read more »

Today, Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, voted for and the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to give the President authority to finalize trade agreements. Larsen backed the Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (H.R. 2146) because trade supports jobs and a growing economy in the Second Congressional District and in Washington state. Larsen also voted last week to reauthorize a… Read more »

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… Read more »

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… Read more »

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… Read more »

Students across Northwest Washington benefit from STEM education Today, Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, continued his commitment to increasing access to STEM education by calling for a hearing on his Youth Access to American Jobs Act of 2015. Larsen introduced the bill to help students succeed in manufacturing jobs, an important sector for the economy in Northwest Washington. Larsen also… Read more »

Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, will hold a series of events with local businesses and organizations that export to countries worldwide during his time in Northwest Washington over the next week. Larsen also is hosting the administrator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to highlight the agency’s relationships with local businesses and the importance of trade… Read more »