U.S. lawmakers grill airline executives after customer disasters Reuters David Shepardson and Alana Wise 5/2/2017 U.S. lawmakers threatened United Airlines (UAL.N) and other carriers on Tuesday with legislation aimed at improving customer service after a passenger was hauled down the aisle of a flight last month. Top airline executives testified to the House of Representatives… Read more »

Key Sound Transit deal back on track with budget agreement Everett Herald Jerry Cornfield 5/2/2017 LYNNWOOD — A compromise deal to fund the federal government provides Sound Transit and Community Transit with millions of dollars they’ve been counting on to expand light rail and bus service in Snohomish County. The agreement also maintains funding for Community… Read more »

Congress, Rick Larsen blast United Airlines KGMI News  5/1/2017 A congressman who represents parts of Whatcom County says United Airlines put its own needs above those of the its passengers’ when it forcibly removed a man. Democrat Rick Larsen says that’s not how the airline should have handled the doctor who refused to get off the flight to accommodate a crew… Read more »

Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02), the top-Ranking Democrat on the House Subcommittee on Aviation, along with Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR-04) and Republican Reps. Frank LoBiondo (NJ-02) and Drew Ferguson (GA-03), have introduced bipartisan legislation that would preclude the Department of Transportation (DOT) from issuing a foreign air carrier permit for US operations to an airline that exploits… Read more »

Larsen tours state-of-the-art fishing trawler Go Anacortes Jacqueline Allison 4/26/2017 Sophisticated. That’s the word Capt. Bob Hezel uses to describe the fishing boat he will captain next winter. The boat, called America’s Finest, is a 262-foot commercial fishing trawler being built by Dakota Creek Industries, which is scheduled to complete construction in November. … Read more »

Dakota Creek working on state-of-the-art fishing vessel Skagit Valley Herald Brandon Stone 4/21/2017 ANACORTES — U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen met Thursday morning at Dakota Creek Industries with shipbuilders and commercial fishermen eager to show off a new, fuel-efficient fishing vessel. The ship, America’s Finest, is bigger, safer, more efficient and pollutes less than… Read more »

State lawmakers respond to United Airlines incident KGMI 4/13/2017 OLYMPIA, WASH. – Congressman Rick Larsen and Senator Maria Cantwell want answers about an incident where a United Airlines passenger was dragged from his seat. They sent letters to Untied CEO Oscar Munoze, who’s already apologized and promised to release the results of an internal investigation by the end… Read more »

Senators ask United: Was there intelligent alternative to dragging passenger? Seattle PI Joel Connelly 4/13/2017 Was there an intelligent alternative to dragging a bloodied passenger off an airplane, and why didn't United Airlines find it, bipartisan leaders of the Senate Commerce Committee are demanding to know. The leaders, including Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., have penned… Read more »

Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02), the top-Ranking Democrat on the House Subcommittee on Aviation, and Peter DeFazio (OR-04), the top-Ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, today sent a letter to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Elaine Chao, requesting any findings from the agency’s review of the April 9th incident that occurred… Read more »

Larsen, DeFazio request any DOT findings from review of 'Outrageous' United incident San Juan Islander 4/11/2017 Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02), the top-Ranking Democrat on the House Subcommittee on Aviation, and Peter DeFazio (OR-04), the top-Ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, today sent a letter to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of… Read more »