Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) issued the following statement after voting for the fiscal year 2018 omnibus spending bill in the U.S. House of Representatives:

“I voted yes on the omnibus proposal because it is a good deal for Washington’s working families. The package invests in Washington state’s infrastructure, addresses the opioid crisis and enables people and products to move more efficiently across Washington state.

You cannot have a big league economy with little league infrastructure. Washington residents have voted three times to fund the Sound Transit (ST) expansion projects, a majority of which are self-funded. Until now, the federal government has not upheld its end of the bargain. The omnibus triples the size of Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants to $1.5 billion and provides more than $2.6 billion for the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grants. These are both critical for Sound Transit’s Lynnwood Link and ST3, and create local jobs. A robust investment in transportation means jobs, which are essential to Washington’s Second Congressional District.

The omnibus also includes a six-month Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) extension and an additional $1 billion to support airport improvement efforts. These funds will begin to address the nation’s antiquated infrastructure on the ground and in the air and help create jobs across the U.S. Washington state alone requires $12.6 billion in aviation investments according to the Association of Washington Business. As the Ranking Member of the Aviation Subcommittee, I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on a long-term FAA reauthorization bill to further address critical aviation investment needs.

The omnibus also helps veterans who deserve to be able to start families. Thousands of servicemembers, including some of the 56,000 veterans who live in Washington’s Second District, suffer battlefield injuries that make it difficult or nearly impossible to have children without medical assistance. A cycle of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment can cost $12,000 or more. I am very pleased that the omnibus allows the VA to cover IVF treatment, the most effective assisted reproductive technology available today.

Students must have every opportunity to learn the skills they need to compete in a global workforce. I have heard estimates that there are as many as 25,000 unfilled STEM jobs in Washington state. Congress must invest in young people early in their education and create more access to apprenticeships that my generation benefitted from. I am pleased the omnibus creates a new STEM and Computer Science Competition and increases funds for Career and Technical Education, apprenticeship grants and Pell grants which have helped more than 14,000 students in Washington’s Second District. These investments will help young people pursue a degree in STEM and prepare them for competitive jobs.

Operating under short-term Continuing Resolutions is not the way to run the U.S. Government. This funding is a step in the right direction on finding solutions for the opioid epidemic, helping our veterans and building the next generation workforce so young people have a leg up in an ever-changing global economy.”

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