Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) called on Congress to make a long-term, structural investment in child care to secure accessible and affordable child care for working families, drive economic recovery, and create and retain child care jobs. Larsen joined Assistant Speaker of the House Katherine Clark and 130 Members of Congress to urge congressional leaders to invest $700 billion over the next 10 years in the child care workforce, facilities and other necessary infrastructure and services to enable child care providers to provide care at an affordable price and meet the demands of local communities. Read more »

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee completed consideration of the INVEST in America Act, a bold, FDR-like surface transportation bill that will invest nearly $5 billion over the next five years in Washington state’s transportation network. Read more »

Reps. Rick Larsen (WA-02), Julia Brownley (CA-26) and Derek Kilmer (WA-06) introduced legislation to boost the use of electric buses in local transit fleets to combat climate change and keep people and the economy moving. The Generating Reduced Emissions by Electrifying New Buses (GREEN Buses) Act amends the Federal Transit Administration’s Low or No (Low-No) Emission Vehicle Program to require the deployment of electric buses by organizations engaged in public transportation. Read more »

Reps. Rick Larsen (WA-02), Don Young (AK-At-Large) and Angie Craig (MN-02) introduced bipartisan legislation to promote career opportunities and boost diversity in the U.S. transportation industry. The Promoting Service in Transportation Act authorizes the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to develop a series of broadcast, digital and print media public service announcement campaigns to promote job opportunities and improve diversity in the transportation workforce. Read more »

Aviation Subcommittee Chair Rick Larsen (D-WA) joined Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Vice Chair of the Committee Sharice Davids (D-KS), Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Conor Lamb (D-PA), Representative Kaiali'i Kahele (D-HI), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit Rodney Davis (R-IL), and Representatives Drew Ferguson (R-GA), Bill Johnson (R-OH), Don Bacon (R-NE), and Jack Bergman (R-MI) introduced bipartisan legislation seeking to preclude new foreign airlines from operating to and from the United States when they exploit “flags of convenience” to avoid the regulations of their home countries, or otherwise undermine labor standards. Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Aviation Subcommittee Chair Rick Larsen (WA-02) delivered the below opening statement at today’s House Aviation Subcommittee hearing entitled "The Leading Edge: Innovation in U.S. Aerospace.” More information about Tuesday’s hearing, including witnesses, testimony, additional background information and live webcast, can be found here. For video of… Read more »

As chair of the House Aviation Subcommittee, I recognize that aviation and aerospace mean well-paying jobs in the Pacific Northwest and across the U.S. More than 130,000 women and men are employed by over 1,300 aerospace-related companies in my home state of Washington. But, as the world celebrates the 51st Earth Day, I also recognize aviation’s contributions to climate change. The aviation and aerospace industry are responsible for 9 percent of carbon emissions in U.S. transportation, and up to 3 percent of total emissions globally. Clearly, Congress and the industry must act to reduce the sector’s environmental footprint. Read more »

Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Rick Larsen (D-WA) led 15 of their colleagues on introduction of the Healthy Flights Act of 2021. This legislation would issue a set of commonsense, uniform requirements during pandemics to help keep passengers and airline and airport workers healthy by minimizing transmission of viruses through our aviation system. In addition, the Healthy Flights Act would help prepare U.S. aviation stakeholders for future pandemics and epidemics through the development of a national preparedness plan to define the aviation system’s response to outbreaks and by advancing scientific research Read more »

Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) released a comprehensive report highlighting local transportation infrastructure needs in Washington’s Second Congressional District and calling for aggressive and progressive federal investment in the nation’s transportation network. A senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Larsen released the report in advance of Thursday’s full Committee hearing with DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Read more »

The American Rescue Plan includes bipartisan language Larsen championed that will save aviation and aerospace jobs in Washington state and across the country. The provision helps cover pay and benefits for aerospace supply chain employees at risk of being furloughed or who were furloughed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more »