Press Releases

Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), teamed up with several community leaders from the 2^nd District to highlight how the majority party’s budget proposal to fund the government under a continuing resolution for the remainder of the fiscal year – will hurt families and undermine economic growth and job creation efforts in Northwest Washington.

“I am working to find solutions to get the economy back on track and fuel job growth in the Pacific Northwest,” said Rep. Larsen “This means making investments in local infrastructure that creates private sector jobs, supporting research that promotes innovation and building our manufacturing base to grow jobs through exports-all in order to maintain U.S. economic leadership in the world.”

“But the majority’s budget proposal takes the first steps to undermine these efforts to grow our economy and create jobs. These cuts are putting local jobs, law enforcement and help for hardworking families on the chopping block.”

Among the programs slashed by this budget, is critical student aid that helps many local families send their children to college. Presidents from two area colleges echoed Larsen’s concerns about the harm in cutting Pell Grants:

“We should be telling young adults "America will invest in you," but the Republican budget cuts delay and may end the dream of higher education for many.  In the 2^nd District, 8,264 students received Pell Grants that helped them attain the higher education and career training they need to secure good jobs after graduation,” said Rep. Larsen.

"At Everett Community College, more than 1,600 students used Pell Grants to help pay for college last Fall. Proposed cuts to the Pell Grant program would make it even harder for the financially neediest students in our community to start or stay in college. Our region's economy is struggling to recover, and this is the wrong time to cut back on funding for education and job training needed to put people to work," said Dr. David Beyer, Everett Community College President.

“Drastic cutting of Pell Grant funding would be detrimental to thousands of students who are relying on this financial assistance in order to pursue training and education that they need to take the next step in life.  Whatcom has experienced an increase of more than 300% in Pell Grant awards since 2007-08 with half of the 2010-11 academic year remaining.  So far this year, almost $7 million has been allocated.  For many students, this funding is the only hope they have to access the higher education system, facilitating their dreams of entering a career or baccalaureate institution that will in turn affect the economy of our local community, Washington State and our nation,” said Dr. Kathi Hiyane-Brown, President of Whatcom Community College in Bellingham.

The budget will also hurt Youthbuild, a program in Snohomish County that helps young adults who have dropped out of school obtain high school diplomas or GED certificates along wil the career training they need to get a job in construction. Through the program, the youth involved also help construct safe and affordable housing in the community.

“These budget cuts will destroy Youthbuild, a locally driven, taxpayer funded effort that connects young adults with skilled training in construction,” said Rep. Larsen.  

“In addition to providing valuable services to youth and addressing the need for housing in our community, the loss of the program would result in the loss of one staff position at the Council, two positions at Housing Hope, our private non-profit housing partner, and course sections with associated instructional staff at two local community colleges,” said Sue Ambler, CEO of the Workforce Development Council of Snohomish County.

This budget also puts local law enforcement and border security on the chopping block. Sheriffs from Whatcom and Snohomish County joined Larsen in emphasizing the danger in cutting the resources that they depend on to do their jobs keeping local communities safe.

“We can not afford to shortchange our local law enforcement as they work to keep our communities safe,” said Rep. Larsen.

“The struggling economy has slowed neither the pace nor necessity of technology in crime fighting. Cutting COPS dollars would send us back in time to fight crime with antiquated tools and methods. We simply can’t keep up with the criminals – let alone get ahead of them – if we can’t keep up with advances in technology,” said Snohomish County Sheriff Lovick. “We can’t afford to lose ground on our efforts to stop the spread of drugs in our community. The COPS grants we receive go directly to buying the equipment we need to identify and pursue drug trafficking organizations, as well as to investigating the manufacturing and distribution of methamphetamines. We’re going after the people who are going after our children.”

“Cutting Operation Stonegarden funds will deprive our local law enforcement agencies of the critical tools and resources they need to coordinate their efforts to secure the northern border,” said Rep. Larsen.

“A report recently issued by the Congressional Government Accountability Office on northern border security highlighted significant risks and vulnerabilities.  Our local communities are the first to be impacted by border-related crime and potentially affected by acts of terrorism.  It is essential to the safety of Whatcom County and the nation that the federal government continues to support local programs necessitated by the presence of the international border,” said Bill Elfo, Whatcom County Sheriff.

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