Larsen, Rick RSS Articles

Larsen: New B.C. Oil Pipeline is “Not Ready for Prime Time”

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Last Friday, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) commented on the news that Canada is fast-tracking a new oil pipeline project that would increase oil tanker traffic in Larsen’s district:

“This project is not ready for prime time, and speeding up the review process will only make that worse,” said Rep. Larsen in the Washington State Standard. “Canada’s plan to fast track this new oil pipeline project puts sensitive marine habitats at risk and raises the chance of a devastating spill occurring before the U.S. and Canada can put updated plans in place.”

On July 2, the Government of Alberta announced a proposed new oil pipeline from Alberta to the Pacific Ocean that would transport 1 million barrels per day to an export terminal at Roberts Banks in British Columbia. Last Thursday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney designated the pipeline, now known as the Pacific Link, as a project of national interest, enabling a speedier regulatory review that could see pipeline design and construction underway by next fall. The new pipeline will increase tanker traffic in Haro Strait and Boundary Bay in the Salish Sea, and with it the risks for catastrophic oil spills impacting sensitive marine environments.

“The people I represent have serious concerns about this new pipeline and how it could harm the Salish Sea,” continued Rep. Larsen. “They deserve answers to their questions and updated spill response plans that account for more oil tanker traffic, and I will keep fighting to get them both."

Last month, Rep. Larsen’s staff observed a joint exercise between the U.S. Coast Guard and the Canadian Coast Guard designed to simulate response efforts and coordination between the two countries in the event of an oil spill in shared waters.

“This type of collaboration across the border between the U.S. and Canada is even more critical because of Canada’s plans to ship more oil in the Salish Sea with the proposed new Alberta to B.C. pipeline,” said Rep. Larsen. “I have concerns about the potential impacts of this proposed pipeline, including on tanker traffic in the Salish Sea, and I am glad that my staff could observe the exercise to ensure that there are relationships and procedures in place that benefit both countries in the event of a disastrous spill.”

Rep. Larsen is the top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which has oversight authority over the U.S. Coast Guard. In July, Rep. Larsen sent a letter to Admiral Kevin E. Lunday, Commandant of the Coast Guard, to insist that the Coast Guard review and update its oil spill preparedness plans in light of the new proposed pipeline. Larsen also pressed Coast Guard officials on their awareness of the new Canadian pipeline and how it would implicate existing oil spill prevention plans at a committee hearing. A video clip from that hearing can be found here, and the recording of the entire roundtable can be found here.

The Washington State Standard article is available here and below.

A proposed Canadian oil pipeline to a supertanker terminal at the Port of Vancouver in British Columbia is raising hackles among Washington state’s political leaders.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday designated the West Coast Oil Pipeline, now known as the Pacific Link, as a project of national interest. That enables a speedier regulatory review that could see pipeline design and construction under way by next fall.

In response, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson on Friday sounded alarms about increased oil spill risk to the Salish Sea in his first public comments on the massive project.

The Carney announcement wasn’t a surprise. In July, the prime minister and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith talked of fast-tracking the proposed 775-mile pipeline capable of carrying one million barrels of crude oil a day.

It would run from the Edmonton region to a new export terminal capable of handling supertankers proposed for Port of Vancouver’s Roberts Bank in British Columbia just north of the U.S. border. Oil could flow through by the early 2030s.

Once operating, many more oil-filled vessels traveling from the port would pass by the San Juan Islands and Olympic Peninsula on their way to Asia. Project critics fear a spill could easily reach north Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Washington’s outer coast, threatening sensitive ecosystems and killer whale habitat.

Ferguson said Friday that he was “disappointed” at the decision because resources needed to respond to a major spill are insufficient today.

“If a project of this scale is going to proceed, it needs to come with a corresponding commitment to also increase our region’s capacity to prevent and respond to a catastrophic spill,” he said in a joint statement with Casey Sixkiller, director of the state Department of Ecology.

Ferguson said the size of the oil supertankers envisioned for the route are unprecedented, and have been barred from Washington ports since the 1970s. Their capacity of 92 million gallons of oil is eight times the volume of oil spilled by the Exxon Valdez, he noted.

“If this project proceeds, it is critical that the Canadian government make detailed commitments to safeguard our shared marine waters and fill these gaps in our response capabilities,” he and Sixkiller said in the statement.

San Juan County council members, northern Washington tribal representatives and others have been pushing Ferguson since July to speak out and engage with the Canadian provincial and federal governments about the crude pipeline and tanker traffic.

On Tuesday, Ferguson met with Mark Wiseman, Canada’s ambassador to the U.S. in Seattle. It is not known if the two discussed the pipeline and Ferguson’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the meeting.

Sixkiller dispatched a lengthy letter to Canadian Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc in mid-September in a vain bid to forestall the fast-tracking of the Alberta pipeline permitting.

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen of Everett, whose 2nd Congressional District includes the state waters through which the supertankers would travel, was equally vexed. Many questions about the project and oil spill response need answers, he said.

“This project is not ready for prime time, and speeding up the review process will only make that worse,” he said in an email. “Canada’s plan to fast track this new oil pipeline project puts sensitive marine habitats at risk and raises the chance of a devastating spill occurring before the U.S. and Canada can put updated plans in place.”

The project comes as Canada looks to strengthen its economic ties beyond the U.S. and as Carney has said the nation is seeking to become an “energy superpower.”

Smith has said the province chose a southern pipeline route that ends on the shores of the Salish Sea because it can take advantage of the existing Trans Mountain Pipeline corridor as well as established relationships with First Nations.

Northern Washington tribes, including the Lummi, Samish, Swinomish and Makah, strongly opposed a previous Canadian pipeline expansion. The tribes argue that the large increase in vessel traffic endangers their treaty rights and threatens vital fisheries.

Maithili Devadas of the Georgia Strait Alliance, an environmental group in British Columbia fighting the export terminal proposed at Roberts Bank, panned Carney’s announcement.

“It would be reasonable to expect that a project with the potential to shape the environmental, economic, and social future of a region for decades to come would face an especially rigorous level of scrutiny. Instead, this project is being fast-tracked without any concern for its long-term impacts on ecosystems, communities and the people who depend on them,” she wrote in an update to supporters Friday.

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Washington Lawmakers, Colleagues Demand Transparency After U.S. Forest Service Coordinates with ICE on Public Lands

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, U.S. Representatives Rick Larsen (D, WA-02), Emily Randall (D, WA-06), Kim Schrier, M.D. (D, WA-08), Suzan DelBene (D, WA-01), Jared Huffman (D, CA-02), Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, Adriano Espaillat (D, NY-13), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Andrea Salinas (D, OR-06), Adam Smith (D, WA-09), Val Hoyle (D, OR-04), Marilyn Strickland (D, WA-10), Suzanne Bonamici (D, OR-01), and Pramila Jayapal (D, WA-07) sent a letter to U.S. Forest Chief Tom Schultz demanding transparency regarding immigration enforcement activities on U.S. Forest Service (USFS) lands.

This letter comes after a shocking incident over Labor Day Weekend where U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement Officers (LEO) coordinated with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to arrest five men who were camping with their families in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. As of October 5, 2026, four of the five men arrested remain in detention at the Tacoma NW ICE Detention Center.

“As Members of Congress representing the Pacific Northwest and Democratic leadership of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the House Natural Resources Committee, and the House Agriculture Committee, we are concerned that the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is misusing taxpayer dollars by neglecting their mission and directing career staff to prioritize immigration enforcement on federal public lands. Particularly during a difficult wildfire season, we want to express our gratitude to the Forest Service for fighting wildfires in the Pacific Northwest and across the country,” wrote the members.

The U.S. Forest Service has undergone significant funding cuts and reorganizations efforts since the start of Trump’s second term. Since 2025, the USFS has lost nearly 6,000 workers through DOGE cuts and other factors, raising concerns about wildfire preparedness, forest health research, and public land management. Earlier this year, USFS announced consolidation efforts to shutter research and development facilities nationwide. USFS backtracked on their original proposal to close 57 out of 77 research labs after public outcry. In September 2026, USFS announced they will be closing 23 labs.

The 2026 wildfire season is still underway, and Washington state has recorded one of the worst wildfire seasons to date with almost 900,000 acres being burned as of early September.

The members conclude the letter by demanding answers to the following questions by October 15, 2026:

Which agency first identified those arrested as targets for investigation, when were they identified, and what information about the targets was used to justify the raid?
Can you confirm that the law enforcement officers that first approached the families were employees of the USFS?
To what extent did USFS participate in the raid, and under what authority? Please provide any agreement or memorandum that governs cooperation between the U.S. Forest Service and DHS.
Please provide any agreement or memorandum between the U.S. Forest Service and DHS that governs the collection and sharing of visitors' identification and reservation data with DHS or ICE.
What other immigration raids has the U.S. Forest Service participated in since January 21, 2025?
What appropriations account(s) has the USFS used to fund its participation in immigration enforcement operations since January 21, 2025, and how much funding has been obligated or expended for this purpose?
Has any USFS law enforcement personnel time, budget, or resources been reallocated from other law enforcement priorities (e.g., resource protection, search and rescue, wildfire-adjacent enforcement) to support immigration enforcement operations? If so, how much of this reallocation has been disclosed to Congress since these funds were appropriated for land management and resource protection purposes rather than immigration enforcement?
Given limited agency resources, why is it a priority of the USFS to use employees in the targeting of families on public land?

The full text of the letter is available here.

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Larsen Reintroduces Bill to Fight Discriminatory Voter ID Laws

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Yesterday, U.S. Representatives Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Mark Veasey (TX-33) reintroduced the America Votes Act to protect U.S. citizens who face disenfranchisement because of restrictive voter identification (ID) laws.

“As Trump and Republicans in Congress continue their unlawful attempts to suppress the right to vote, it is more urgent than ever to break down barriers to the ballot box,” said Rep. Larsen, a co-founder of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus. “This bill builds on Washington state’s successful efforts to safeguard election integrity while getting rid of laws that disenfranchise citizens and prevent people from fully participating in democracy.”

“Voter ID laws are being sold as a solution to a problem that doesn't exist, and the people paying the price are eligible voters, especially in communities of color,” said Rep. Veasey, a founder and co-chair of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus. “The America Votes Act protects every registered voter's right to cast a regular ballot by affirming their identity under oath. It's common sense, and it's time for Congress to act to protect the vote for all Americans.”

Despite claims that restrictive voter ID laws are necessary to prevent voter impersonation, there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the United States. Some state legislatures across the country continue to use excessively restrictive voter ID laws to target and deny certain Americans the right to vote. Restrictive voter ID laws disproportionately impact Black and transgender Americans, perpetuating the systematic disenfranchisement of certain groups in the United States.

In 2026, a total of 36 states require voters to show identification to cast a ballot, and 24 of those states require voters to present identification with a photograph. These identification requirements are in addition to those under federal law to register to vote.

The America Votes Act would establish new federal protections for registered voters to affirm their identity by submitting a sworn, written statement, even if they do not have a government-issued ID. Voters who sign a sworn, written statement can vote using a standard, non-provisional ballot. The legislation is modeled on a successful Washington state law that allows voters to affirm their identity by submitting a similar written statement along with their mail-in ballot.

The full text of the America Votes Act is available here.

The America Votes Act is cosponsored by Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Betty McCollum (MN-04), André Carson (IL-07), and Julia Brownley (CA-26).

Larsen Fights to Protect Voting Rights

Rep. Larsen is a strong advocate for free and fair elections, expanding access to the ballot and Washington state’s vote-by-mail system. He has visited or plans to visit election offices in every county of Washington’s Second Congressional District to discuss the importance of safeguarding the right to vote with local officials ahead of this November’s elections.

Larsen first introduced the America Votes Act in 2012. The bill was included in the For The People Act, sweeping legislation to expand access to the ballot box, get dark money out of politics, end partisan gerrymandering and hold elected officials accountable to their voters. The For The People Act passed the House in 2021 but did not receive a vote in the Senate after Republicans blocked its passage.

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Larsen: Naval Station Everett is Ideal Homeport for Future Frigates

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released a report outlining why Naval Station Everett (NSE) remains the ideal location for homeporting future U.S. Navy frigates. Last year, the Navy cancelled the Constellation-class frigate program, which was scheduled to homeport its first twelve ships at NSE.

“NSE stands ready, willing and able to be the homeport for the Navy’s next generation of frigates,” said Rep. Larsen. “For more than 30 years, NSE has played a crucial role in keeping our country safe and protecting U.S. interests worldwide. It remains “The Sailor’s Choice,” and it should once again be the Pentagon’s choice for future ships.”

Rep. Larsen’s report highlights several strategic benefits to ships homeported at NSE, including:

NSE is the most modern shore installation in the U.S.;

NSE offers direct access to the Pacific without the need to navigate congested waterways, tidal restrictions, bridges or other obstructions;

NSE does not require regular dredging to maintain sufficient depth for Navy vessels;

Puget Sound ports like NSE are about two days closer to Asia than any other U.S. mainland port; and

NSE has available pier space to support new ships as the Navy expands its fleet.

Rep. Larsen’s report also highlights the quality of life servicemembers and their families enjoy while stationed at NSE:

Health care access at David R. Ray Branch Medical Center, Everett Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic and the Everett Vet Center;

An on-base National Association for the Education of Young Children-accredited child care facility;

Educational opportunities at Everett Community College, Edmonds College, WSU's Everett campus and UW’s campuses in Seattle and Bothell; and

Support transitioning to the civilian workforce through WorkSource, Everett Community College and Edmonds College’s Veteran Resource Centers and Snohomish County’s Veterans Assistance Program.

Rep. Larsen has long pushed to homeport more Navy and U.S. Coast Guard vessels at NSE. In 2019, he published “Naval Station Everett: 'The Sailor’s Choice' Poised for the Future,” a report which helped secure NSE as the homeport for the Constellation-class frigates.

In 2015, Larsen supported homeporting three destroyers at the base. In 2012, Larsen worked to bring three destroyers to the base and in 2013, pushed the Navy to avoid a gap between retiring frigates and bringing in the new destroyers.

Rep. Larsen’s new report, “Naval Station Everett: Still the Sailor’s Choice” is available here.

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Larsen Reintroduces Bill to Expand Workforce Opportunities for Communities Facing Substance Use Disorders

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, U.S. Representatives Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) reintroduced the Workforce Opportunities for Communities in Recovery Act to promote employment opportunities for workers in recovery and provide support to communities impacted by widespread substance use.

“The opioid epidemic continues to devastate communities in Northwest Washington,” said Rep. Larsen. “This legislation would break down barriers to employment for people in recovery and fund local organizations to address the nationwide behavioral health workforce shortage. I will keep working to get this bill over the finish line and to regain momentum in the fight against the opioid crisis.”

“For National Recovery Month, we celebrate those working to achieve and maintain recovery from addiction, and everyone who helped them along the way. Especially as families struggle to get ahead, it’s more important than ever that we help people in recovery overcome barriers to employment,” said Senator Markey. “This legislation will strengthen community partnerships that connect people with good jobs, peer support, and mentorship, supporting lasting recovery and helping communities heal.”

“Addiction and substance use are deeply tied to economic instability and the shortage of behavioral health professionals,” said Rep. Jayapal. “Our bill takes these issues head on by investing in local organizations that help those affected by substance use gain employment and empower more people to pursue the behavioral health field. By promoting economic stability and increasing the number of healthcare specialists, we can get to the root of the substance abuse crisis and help communities across the country.”

The Workforce Opportunities for Communities in Recovery Act would reauthorize and expand a pilot grant program first authorized in the 2014 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and later extended by the 2018 SUPPORT Act. The bill would authorize a total of $187.5 million over six years to continue this lifesaving and community-strengthening work and award grants to state and local workforce development boards to partner with treatment providers, employers, education providers, Tribal organizations, legal services organizations, or other designated community-based organizations to support individuals impacted by substance use. These partnerships would leverage grant funding to implement innovative approaches to support workers and to provide wraparound services to its participants.

The full text of the Workforce Opportunities for Communities in Recovery Act is available here.

A one-pager on the Workforce Opportunities for Communities in Recovery Act is available here.

Larsen Focused on Combating Opioid and Fentanyl Crisis

Larsen continues to focus on supporting local efforts to fight the opioid epidemic and save lives. In 2024, he published a districtwide opioid report outlining a four-pillar framework to combat the crisis. In addition to the Workforce Opportunities for Communities in Recovery Act, Larsen leads three bills aimed at combating the opioid epidemic:

In May 2026, Larsen reintroduced the bipartisan End Fentanyl Trafficking with Local Task Forces Act to establish a dedicated federal funding stream to help multi-jurisdictional drug task forces combat opioid trafficking in Washington state and across the country.

In June 2025, Larsen reintroduced the bipartisan Protection for Reservation Occupants against Trafficking and Evasive Communications Today (PROTECT) Act to give Tribal courts and law enforcement more tools and resources to combat the opioid epidemic.

Larsen also leads the Closing the Substance Use Care Gap Act to expand access to lifesaving, community-based harm reduction initiatives and services and enhance the federal response to the opioid and fentanyl epidemic.

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Larsen Fights for Guardrails on Data Centers

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) joined 110 House Democrats in a letter to tech industry leaders last Friday demanding that all data center construction follow strict guardrails to protect consumers from electricity and water price hikes.

“Data center projects and the energy systems and infrastructure that support them must be built and operated responsibly with a commitment to high-quality construction, good jobs, strong environmental stewardship, and strong partnerships with the communities they serve,” wrote the Members.

The lawmakers stated that they would oppose new data center construction projects that failed to incorporate strong labor standards, negotiate community benefits agreements with local leaders, and mitigate impacts on local air quality, drinking water and utilities costs for residents.

“At a time when the nation's power grid, roads, bridges, schools, and other public infrastructure require significant investment, data center development must strengthen rather than strain, these systems,” the Members continued. “Developers must also invest responsibly in grid infrastructure, including new generation and grid upgrades, to protect ratepayers from bearing the costs of data center projects' energy needs.”

The full text of the letter to tech industry leaders can be read here.

Larsen Holds Data Centers Accountable

Last week, Rep. Larsen voted for legislation to protect families from higher electricity bills because of data centers in their communities (the Ratepayers Protection Act). Rep. Larsen also cosponsors the Big Ugly Tax Breaks for Data Centers Act to roll back tax breaks for large AI data centers in Republicans’ Big Ugly Law.

Rep. Larsen supports tough, upfront restrictions on data centers:

No high electric bills for local families and small businesses;

No federal tax breaks;

No construction without community approval and union labor;

Data centers must pay their fair share to connect to and use the grid; and

Data centers must use closed loop water systems.

A one-pager on Rep. Larsen’s work to hold data centers accountable can be found here.

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Larsen’s Water Resources Bill Passes House

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02)’s Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (WRDA 2026) passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 415 to 9. The bipartisan, biennial bill protects Northwest Washington’s environment, supports Columbia River Treaty negotiations and authorizes critical investments in Northwest Washington ports, inland waterways, flood management systems and other water resources infrastructure.

“Today’s House passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 is great news for ports, harbors and inland waterways in the Pacific Northwest and across the country,” said Rep. Larsen, who is the top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “From expanding funding opportunities to restore ecosystems on Spencer Island to authorizing a study to mitigate Nooksack River flooding, WRDA 2026 continues bipartisan efforts to improve water resources infrastructure, create good-paying jobs and protect communities from natural disasters. I look forward to working with the Senate to pass a final WRDA 2026 into law.”

Since 2014, Congress has enacted a water resources development bill every two years to help improve the nation’s ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation system, flood and storm risk management, aquatic ecosystems and other aspects of water resources infrastructure. WRDA 2024 passed with overwhelming bipartisan support and included many of Rep. Larsen’s local priorities, including funding environmental infrastructure assistance to Western Washington state communities and expanding the Tribal Partnership Program (TPP) to make it easier for the Army Corps of Engineers to partner with Northwest Tribes on projects.

Washington State Wins in WRDA 2026

WRDA 2026 invests in Washington state priorities, including restoring the Puget Sound, addressing Nooksack River flooding and ensuring that critical Corps projects across the state can continue.

Wins for Washington in WRDA 2026 include:

Nooksack River Flooding: Authorizes a new feasibility study for flood risk reduction in the Nooksack River, which Whatcom County can use for long-term planning to address flooding concerns. Rep. Larsen has been working with local leaders to develop a plan to address Nooksack River flooding. Earlier this year, he advocated for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster relief funds to help communities recover from December 2025’s devastating floods, and he has championed FEMA flood mitigation grant funding so that local communities can prepare for future floods.
Disaster Debris Removal: Reforms how the Corps writes emergency debris removal contracts after floods to minimize harmful impacts to property and wildlife, and directs the Secretary of the Corps to ensure protection of healthy vegetation, important habitats, and vulnerable wildlife when setting standard contract terms. This provision will protect local ecosystems while cleaning flood debris in the Skagit River and other local rivers from December 2025’s floods.
Puget Sound and Adjacent Waters (PSAW): Increases the per project funding cap to $20 million, ensuring projects like Spencer Island restoration in Snohomish County continue to move forward. In 2018, Rep. Larsen successfully included an amendment in WRDA 2018 to increase the per project cap for PSAW to $10 million.
Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project (PSNERP): Allows the Corps to cost-share the relocation of related infrastructure for PNSERP projects at Lilliwaup Estuary, Tahuya Estuary, Snow Creek and Salmon Creek and Nooksack Estuary. Rep. Larsen previously worked to authorize $451 million for PSNERP in WRDA 2016. The Puget Sound is the largest estuary by water volume in the United States. Rep. Larsen's bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the National Estuary Program through 2031 and protect estuaries around the country passed the House last December.
Columbia River Treaty: Extends temporary authority for the United States to pay for pre-planned storage of water in Canada while United States and Canada continue to negotiate a new Columbia River Treaty. The United States’ current authority expires in 2027. The hydropower that the Columbia River Treaty provides benefits towns and cities across Northwest Washington, and Rep. Larsen has advocated for the Columbia River Treaty’s renewal for over a decade. Rep. Larsen supports efforts to negotiate a modern Columbia River treaty that manages flood risks and ensures a reliable clean energy supply, and he is working with local stakeholders to gather input ahead of negotiations.
Preventing Invasive Aquatic Species: Clarifies that indirect costs incurred by non-federal partners remain eligible for credit or reimbursement under the Corps’ Watercraft Inspection authority, which funds state efforts to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species. Invasive golden, quagga and zebra mussels continue to expand their footprint in the Pacific Northwest. Early detection monitoring, watercraft inspection and decontamination and eradication efforts are critical to preventing further spread.
Lower Columbia River Channel Maintenance: Clarifies that the cost of constructing a dredged material disposal facility for operation and maintenance of the Lower Willamette and Lower Columbia River is a federal responsibility that can be drawn from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF). These facilities are necessary for dredging operations to maintain the Columbia River waterway, which moves over $31 billion in cargo annually and supports 40,000 local jobs.
Lower Columbia River Turning Basin: Authorizes the Chief’s Report for Lower Columbia Turning Basin improvements. Traffic has continued to grow in the Lower Columbia River, with an increase in larger vessels that need room to safely turn and park. These improvements will allow for the better positioning of vessels, increase opportunities to use nearby tug service and improve efficient movement of vessels transporting goods.
HMTF Allocations for Donor and Energy Transfer Ports: Removes discretion for the Administration to ensure it fully utilizes a provision in WRDA 2020 requiring specific funding allocations from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund to donor and energy transfer ports. The Ports of Seattle and Tacoma are donor ports.
Office of Technical Assistance and Community Outreach: Creates an Office of Technical Assistance and Community Outreach within the Corps to help communities that may have difficulty navigating the Corps’ planning and construction processes. This office will serve as a one-stop-shop for directing communities to existing programs that assist with affordability concerns, address unique needs, and provide support for any stage of a Corps project.
Corps Study Process: Requires the Corps and the non-federal sponsor to establish an agreed-to timeframe (with milestones) for studies, and to allow the non-federal sponsor to request time extensions based on project complexity and sponsor’s goals.

For the legislative text of WRDA 2026, click here.

For a summary of WRDA 2026, click here.

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Larsen Votes to Protect Families from Data Centers Raising Costs

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement after the House of Representatives voted to pass the Ratepayers Protection Act 417 to 3.

“I voted for the Ratepayers Protection Act to protect families from higher electric bills,” said Rep. Larsen. “This legislation is only a start, and there is a lot more work to do. I support tough, upfront restrictions on large data centers: no high electric bills for local families and small businesses, no federal tax breaks, and no construction without community approval and union labor. Data centers must pay their fair share to connect to and use the grid, and they should be required to use closed loop water systems. I support the ability of local jurisdictions to enact temporary moratoriums to give themselves time to decide how they want to manage large data centers.”

The Ratepayer Protection Act requires state regulators to consider directing data centers to pay the full cost of connection to the grid, protecting ratepayers from footing the bill for data centers’ power consumption. In 2024, the Department of Energy projected that the percentage of U.S. electricity demand from data centers could grow from 4.4 percent in 2023 to 12 percent by 2028.

Rep. Larsen also cosponsors the Big Ugly Tax Breaks for Data Centers Act to roll back tax breaks for large AI data centers in Republicans’ Big Ugly Law.

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Larsen Votes No on More Trump Tariff Powers

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement:

“I support Ukraine. I always have, and I always will. But this sanctions bill isn’t necessary.

“President Trump already has authority to impose sanctions on the Russian officials and companies that are fueling the brutal war in Ukraine. And yet he has chosen to sanction only two Russian officials with that authority.

“Congress has already allocated $400 million for assistance to Ukraine. Instead of using these existing powers and dollars, the Trump Pentagon has refused to release that money to help the Ukraine military.

“President Trump is going easy on Putin and blaming Ukraine for surging diesel prices. This sanctions bill doesn’t do anything to help Ukraine that this President can’t already do.”

The House of Representatives today voted to pass the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act by a vote of 262 to 159.

Rep. Larsen is a strong advocate for a free and independent Ukraine. In June, he helped pass the Ukraine Support Act, which would impose tough sanctions on Russia and provide additional security assistance to Ukraine. Rep. Larsen is a member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA), an organization made up of delegates from all 32 NATO member countries with a mission to engage in dialogue over transatlantic security issues.

Rep. Larsen is also a leader in opposing the Trump administration’s tariffs and a member of the New Democrat Coalition Trade and Tariffs Task Force. In February, the House passed with bipartisan support a resolution that Larsen co-led to terminate President Trump’s abuse of “emergency” authorities to impose sweeping tariffs on U.S. imports from Canada.

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Larsen Statement on Joint U.S.-Canada Oil Spill Response Exercise

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, released the following statement:

“On September 2, my staff observed a joint exercise between the U.S. Coast Guard and the Canadian Coast Guard designed to simulate response efforts and coordination between our two countries in the event of an oil spill in shared waters.

“I have concerns about the potential impacts of this proposed pipeline, including on tanker traffic in the Salish Sea, and I am glad that my staff could observe the exercise to ensure that there are relationships and procedures in place that benefit both countries in the event of a disastrous spill.

“I will continue to work with federal agencies to ensure their oil spill prevention and response plans account for increased tanker traffic, identify federal actions to reduce the risk of a spill and engage my Canadian Government counterparts on the concerns people I represent have about the pipeline.”

On September 2, the U.S. Coast Guard and Canadian Coast Guard participated in a joint exercise designed to coordinate oil and hazardous spill responses in shared Pacific waters such as the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Haro Strait, Georgia Straits and Boundary Bay. These exercises occur every other year under the Canada-United States Joint Marine Pollution Contingency Plan.

On July 2, the Government of Alberta announced a proposed new oil pipeline from Alberta to the Pacific Ocean that would transport 1 million barrels per day to an export terminal at Roberts Banks in British Columbia located just north of the Canada-U.S. border. The new pipeline is anticipated to significantly increase tanker traffic in Haro Strait and Boundary Bay in the Salish Sea, and with it the risks for catastrophic oil spills impacting sensitive marine environments.

Larsen Insists Coast Guard Act to Protect Salish Sea

After hearing concerns from people who live in his district about this proposed pipeline, Rep. Larsen has been closely tracking developments on plans for pipeline construction and pressing the Coast Guard on its plans to update its prevention planning through the Canada-United States Joint Marine Pollution Contingency Plan. In late July, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a roundtable with officials from the Coast Guard on maritime safety. A video clip of Rep. Larsen asking Coast Guard officials about their awareness of the new Canadian pipeline and how it would implicate existing oil spill prevention plans can be found here, and the recording of the entire roundtable can be found here.

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Larsen to Host Third COVID-19 Telephone Town Hall

Wed, 20 May 2020 20:00:00 GMT

EVERETT, WA - Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) will host a live telephone town hall to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic with Second District residents. Suzan “Suzi” LeVine, Commissioner of the Washington Employment Security Department, will join Larsen to hear residents’ concerns and help answer questions about benefits available to Washingtonians suffering from the virus’ impacts.

Last month, Larsen hosted a COVID-19 telephone town hall with LeVine and Duane Fladland, Director of the Washington Small Business Development Center. This year, Larsen has held public forums in Mountlake Terrace, Sedro-Woolley, Bow, Clinton, Stanwood, Brier, Eastsound, Oak Harbor and Anacortes. In 2019, Larsen held twenty community forums across the Second District, including ten Community Coffees, six Veterans Forums and four Town Talks.

This telephone town hall is open to the public and the press. Please RSVP to Joseph Tutino at Joseph.Tutino@mail.house.gov.

Wednesday, May 20

Larsen will host live telephone town hall

Begins at 4:00 p.m. PDT

Dial in: 855.962.0954

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