Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, today voted for and the House of Representatives passed the final version of the annual defense policy bill, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2015. The bill includes several provisions that support Navy bases in Northwest Washington, strengthening national security and improving the local economy. One measure in the bill allows the Navy to buy an… Read more »

Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, today voted for and the House of Representatives passed the bipartisan final version of the annual defense policy bill, the Carl Levin and Howard P. ‘Buck’ McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015. The bill contains key provisions that continue to invest in vital assets in Northwest Washington, while strengthening U.S. national… Read more »

U.S. Senator Patty Murray, WA, and Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, took action this week to respond to constituents concerned about noise from the EA-18G Growlers at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. Murray and Larsen asked the U.S. Navy to consider recommending funding for the construction of a hangar at Ault Field called a hush house, which would muffle noise from on-ground engine testing and… Read more »

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, today applauded the sailors of the USS Ingraham as the ship returns from its final deployment. The Navy frigate most recently assisted in a mission to target drug trafficking routes off the coast of Central America. The ship is home ported in Everett and will be decommissioned in November. “The USS Ingraham and its sailors have a long and decorated… Read more »

Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, today voted in favor of and the House passed a spending bill that will maintain government operations through December 11. The continuing resolution also extends the authorization of the Export-Import Bank through June 30, 2015, and authorizes the administration’s plan to train and equip moderate Syrian opposition forces to fight against the terrorist group… Read more »

Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, today voted in favor of training and equipping moderate Syrian opposition forces to fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Larsen, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, has received regular briefings about ISIL and the threat it poses. He asked the administration this week to consider lessons learned from past efforts to train and… Read more »

Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, released the following statement after President Obama announced his plan for U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Based on the President’s plan, the military will have 9,800 troops in Afghanistan at the end of 2014, half that at the end of 2015, and routine embassy personnel only by the end of 2016.  The administration estimates the post-2014 troop… Read more »

Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, today voted for the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act after working with colleagues to strengthen the bill’s privacy protections. Larsen helped build support for key amendments that strengthen privacy protections, oversight and accountability. “Near daily news reports are an important reminder that foreign governments and criminal… Read more »