Larsen, Rick RSS Articles

Larsen Announces $68.7 Million in Federal Funding for Blaine and Mount Vernon

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), the top Democrat on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, announced the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) awarded $66.4 million to the City of Blaine to build an overpass at the Bell Road rail crossing, and $2.3 million to the City of Mount Vernon to examine potential upgrades to eight rail crossings.

“$66 million is a massive win for Blaine that will make Bell Road safer and less congested while creating jobs,” said Rep. Larsen. “Mount Vernon is at the start of the planning process to identify which crossings to improve, and I will continue to work with local leaders to fight for many more projects in the future. Thank you Department of Transportation Secretary Duffy for recognizing the importance of these investments in rail safety for the communities I represent.”

The grants were awarded under FRA’s Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant Program, the first-ever dedicated federal grant initiative to help communities eliminate highway-rail grade-level crossings to reduce train-vehicle collisions and blocked rail crossings, and improve the movement of people and goods. RCE was established in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which Rep. Larsen helped pass in 2021.

“This $66 million federal investment is a major milestone for Blaine and a tremendous investment in the safety and future of our community,” said Mary Lou Steward, Mayor of Blaine. “The Bell Road overpass will eliminate train-related delays at this crossing, make daily travel safer and more reliable, and help ensure first responders can reach people when every second counts. We are grateful to our federal partners, BNSF, David Evans and Associates, City staff, and everyone who has worked to advance this long-awaited project. This investment will strengthen connections across our region and benefit our residents and businesses for generations to come.”

“Mount Vernon residents spend a significant amount of their daily commute waiting at railroad crossings,” said Peter Donovan, Mayor of Mount Vernon. “These crossings also impact first responders, public transit, school transportation, and commerce in general. Investments like this lay the groundwork for future improvements that will drastically improve our residents’ quality of life and economic vitality. When small cities like Mount Vernon obtain federal dollars like this, it has everything to do with the efforts of our hard-working federal delegation. We are once again deeply appreciative of Representative Rick Larsen’s advocacy and insistence that local infrastructure remain at the forefront of our national transportation conversation and strategy.”

In total, Washington state received nearly $105 million in RCE grants. Other awards in Washington include $26 million for the Port of Longview to construct a grade-separated overpass $8.9 million for the Port of Pend Oreille for safety improvements at multiple grade-crossings, and $800,000 for the City of Ellensburg and $480,000 for the City of Kennewick for highway-rail grade crossing planning projects.

Larsen Champions Rail Safety

Rep. Larsen has long been focused on improving rail safety in Northwest Washington and across the country. In 2023, he helped secure a $9.5 million grant for the City of Blaine to improve safety and accessibility and reduce congestion at the Bell Road rail crossing. In 2025, he helped the City of Everett secure an $18 million grant from FRA to eliminate two at-grade railroad crossings that pose significant risks to public safety through the construction of an overpass and new integrated roundabout near the Smith Island railroad terminal in Everett.

Rep. Larsen helped pass the BIL, which made $102 billion available for rail improvement projects. Rep. Larsen’s BUILD America 250 Act, which continues the investments made by BIL, provides nearly $83 billion in highway and multimodal funding to local communities.

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Larsen Urges Voters to Return Ballots to Drop Boxes and Pushes Back on New USPS Policy

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Last week, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) expressed concerns to the United States Postal Service (USPS) about delays in postmarking ballots delivered in Northwest Washington.

“Between August and October 2026, I visited local election offices in Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, Island and San Juan counties,” said Rep. Larsen. “During these visits, local election officials raised concern that changes to USPS policy may delay postmarking for mail-in ballots. Delays in postmarking can cause mail-in ballots to be wrongly rejected for being late, even if the ballots were mailed on election day.”

In his letter to USPS, Rep. Larsen requested the agency answer questions about the steps it is taking to ensure this policy change does not harm eligible voters in Washington state. Rep. Larsen also published an op-ed in the Cascadia Daily News urging voters to return their ballots to official drop boxes.

“The Washington Secretary of State’s office recommends voters return their ballots to drop boxes managed by local election officials, which bypasses the postmarking process,” said Rep. Larsen. “Regardless of who you vote for, I am working to make sure your voice is heard in our democracy.”

Rep. Larsen is a strong advocate for free and fair elections, expanding access to the ballot and Washington state’s vote-by-mail system. Earlier this month, he reintroduced legislation to protect U.S. citizens who face disenfranchisement because of restrictive voter identification laws (America Votes Act). Rep. Larsen is also the co-founder of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus.

The full text of Rep. Larsen’s op-ed in the Cascadia Daily News is available here.

The full text of Rep. Larsen’s letter to USPS is available here and below.

October 24, 2026

Dear Postmaster General Steiner:

I am concerned about the accuracy of postmark dates on ballots delivered in Washington’s Second District. County election officials in my district have raised concern that a United States Postal Service (USPS) initiative may result in election offices’ rejecting mail-in ballots for being late, despite voters mailing ballots by election day. To address these concerns, I urge USPS to restore daily evening mail pickups at post offices before the November 3 elections. Reinstating this commonsense policy will ensure ballots are accurately postmarked, delivered and counted in accordance with Washington state law.

Between August and October 2026, I visited local election offices in every county in Washington’s Second District. During these visits to Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, Island and San Juan counties, I saw firsthand the important work of local election officials who administer our local, state, and federal elections. Thanks to the dedicated efforts and those of volunteers, local elections offices ensure every eligible ballot is secure and accurately counted.

However, during these visits, local election officials raised concern that changes to USPS policy may delay postmarking for mail-in ballots. Washington state law permits counting ballots received after an election if the ballots are postmarked by election day. The state relies on accurate postmarking to implement its election laws and ensure all legally cast ballots are counted. Delays in postmarking can cause mail-in ballots to be wrongly rejected for being late, even if the ballots were mailed on election day. To ensure that Washington’s elections are secure and fair, USPS must reliably postmark ballots delivered to state election offices.

In April 2025, USPS established a Regional Transportation Optimization (RTO) initiative that eliminated afternoon or evening collections at certain post offices more than 50 miles from a regional processing center. For these applicable locations, mail deposited later in the day is not collected until the next business day for transportation to a processing facility, potentially delaying postmarking and delivery. An audit from the Postal Service Inspector General indicated RTO can result in mail getting postmarked on different days than their actual date of mailing.

Following the August 2026 primary elections in Washington state, Senator Maria Cantwell and Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs issued alarming findings about ballot rejection rates during that election period. According to the report, the statewide rate of ballots rejected for late postmarks increased by 32 percent in August 2026 when compared to those in the 2024 primary.

An analysis from Brookings raises further concern that RTO is contributing to the rise of late ballot rejections, showing that RTO exposure nearly doubled the rate ballots are rejected for arriving late. In Washington state, locations covered by RTO saw rates increase by 142 percent, the largest of the three states in Brookings’ analysis. Voters who submit their ballots on time should not lose the opportunity to have their votes counted because of preventable postal delays.

Postal workers provide an invaluable service to people across the United States, helping individuals receive their medications, ballots, paychecks, bills and other necessities. They often work long hours and manage operations with limited staff and resources, especially during peak season and during elections.

To ensure ballots are accurately postmarked for the November 3 election, I request answers to the following questions in writing no later than October 30, 2026:

1. Will USPS restore twice-daily collections and provide postal workers with the resources they need to effectively implement this change?

2. How is USPS working with states like Washington to ensure ballots are postmarked to accurately reflect the date they were mailed?

3. What steps is USPS taking to inform people in locations covered by RTO that postmarking may be delayed and that individuals should submit their ballots early to avoid rejection?

Thank you for your attention to this urgent request and for the work postal employees do every day to serve Northwest Washington.

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Larsen Continues to Press ICE for Answers about Local Activity

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) wrote to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding Larsen’s visit to ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) suboffice in Ferndale on October 9th:

“I support HSI’s mission to investigate and apprehend individuals involved in cross-border criminal activity, including human and drug trafficking,” said Rep. Larsen. “However, I am concerned by reports that HSI personnel, including those in Northwest Washington, have been reassigned to conduct civil immigration enforcement. HSI agents should be focused on investigating serious criminal activity, not diverted to support the President’s mass deportation agenda."

Rep. Larsen is conducting robust, close oversight of Trump’s immigration enforcement in Northwest Washington. In addition to ICE’s HSI facility, Rep. Larsen visited ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) facility in Ferndale in July 2026 and the privately-run ICE detention facility in Tacoma in June 2025.

“This is not case-closed on oversight of ICE activity in our region,” said Rep. Larsen. “I will keep pushing to get answers and accountability for my community. My office stands ready to help family members locate their loved ones in ICE custody and access legal services – call 425-252-3188 or go to larsen.house.gov/helping-you/visas-and-immigration.htm.”

Rep. Larsen’s full letter to Secretary Mullin and Acting Director Venturella is available here and below.

October 27, 2026

Dear Secretary Mullin and Acting Director Venturella:

Thank you for the opportunity to visit the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Blaine field office in Ferndale, Washington on October 9, 2026.

I support HSI’s mission to investigate and apprehend individuals involved in cross-border criminal activity, including drug smuggling, human trafficking and child exploitation. However, I am concerned by reports that HSI personnel, including those in Northwest Washington, have been reassigned to conduct civil immigration enforcement alongside ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

According to an August 20, 2026 report by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG), HSI agents devoted 800 percent more hours to immigration enforcement in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 than in FY 2024. During the same period, hours spent investigating fentanyl-related crimes fell by 31 percent, while fentanyl seizures by HSI agents declined by 39 percent.¹ HSI agents should be focused on investigating serious criminal activity, not diverted to support ERO’s civil immigration enforcement operations as part of the President’s mass deportation agenda.

To better understand whether HSI’s operations in Northwest Washington have been affected by the diversion of HSI staff to civil immigration enforcement, please provide the following information no later than Friday, November 20, 2026:

1. Since January 20, 2025, how many HSI agents assigned to the Blaine field office have been reassigned, detailed or otherwise assigned to support ERO operations? For each reassignment, please provide the number of personnel involved, the date the reassignment began and the duration.

2. Since the start of FY 2023 on October 1, 2022, how many agent hours at HSI Blaine have been dedicated to supporting the ERO mission of civil immigration enforcement? Please provide this data by year for FY 2023 through FY 2026.

3. Since the start of FY 2023, how many agent hours at HSI Blaine have been dedicated to investigating fentanyl-related criminal activity? Please provide this data by year for FY 2023 through FY 2026.

4. Since the start of FY 2023, how many fentanyl seizures have agents at HSI Blaine carried out? Please provide this data by year for FY 2023 through FY 2026.

5. Since January 20, 2025, have HSI officers received any directives, orders or guidance to expand or limit their work with ERO? If so, please provide copies of any relevant directives, orders or guidance and their dates of issuance.

6. Has the HSI Blaine facility been used to detain individuals arrested by ERO? If so, please provide exact dates and details of these detentions.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. I look forward to your response.

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Larsen, Dexter Introduce Bill to Stop Trump Admin from Rolling Back Veterans’ Benefits

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Yesterday, U.S. Representatives Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03) introduced the Veteran Breast Cancer Fairness Act to restore male breast cancer as a presumptive illness under the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT Act). October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and October 17 to 23 is Men’s Breast Cancer Awareness Week.

In September 2025, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) removed male breast cancer from the list of reproductive cancers considered presumptive under the PACT Act to align with President Trump’s discriminatory executive orders. Male breast cancer has been linked to toxic exposure, and about 100 male veterans are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.

“I am committed to ensuring veterans can access high-quality, timely health care for illnesses related to their military service, and this bill is an important step towards guaranteeing that,” said Representative Larsen. “Male veterans with breast cancer should not be denied the benefits they’ve earned because of this Administration’s political agenda.”

“Policy changes should be evidence-based and not based on political ideology and hate,” said Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. “That is why I was alarmed when last Fall, Secretary Collins removed male breast cancer as a presumptive illness to conform with Trump’s anti-trans mandates. As a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, I am proud to co-lead this bill with Rep. Larsen to restore male breast cancer as a presumptive condition under the PACT Act.”

The legislation would designate male breast cancer as a presumptive illness under the PACT Act. PACT creates a presumption of service connection for certain disabilities and illnesses that have been linked to exposure to hazardous substances during military service.

The full text of the Veteran Breast Cancer Fairness Act is available here.

The Veteran Breast Cancer Fairness Act is supported by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Burn Pits 360, the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to offer an independent burn pit exposure registry in which family members can record the names of warriors who served the nation but have passed away due to illnesses from toxic injury.

“Male breast cancer is rare, often caught late, and too easily overlooked, by patients and clinicians alike. For a veteran who breathed burn pit smoke for months or years, that diagnosis is hard enough without also wondering whether the PACT Act covers him,” said Julie Tomáška, PhD, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), Scientific Committee Chair at Burn Pits 360. “The science on military toxic exposures keeps pointing the same way: federal researchers found male breast cancer rates about 39% higher among Marines and sailors at Camp Lejeune, where the drinking water was contaminated with industrial solvents, than at Camp Pendleton. Yet last year VA stopped presuming those men's cancers are service-connected, while women with the same diagnosis still are. Reps. Larsen and Dexter's bill removes the guesswork and writes the answer into law, so every veteran, claims examiner and advocate works from the same clear standard.”

Larsen and Dexter Fight for Veterans in the Pacific Northwest

This February, Representatives Larsen, Dexter, Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-05) and Jen Kiggans (VA-02) introduced the Mammography Access for Veterans Act, bipartisan legislation to expand veterans’ access to lifesaving breast cancer screenings.

In November 2025, Reps. Larsen and Dexter joined many of their colleagues in a letter calling on VA Secretary Doug Collins to immediately restore male breast cancer as a presumptive condition under the PACT Act and to provide Congress with data and analysis used to justify the policy change in November 2025.

In his time in Congress, Rep. Larsen has hosted more than 70 forums to hear directly from Northwest Washington state veterans about their needs. In 2025, he published ‘Listening to Veterans in Northwest Washington,’ a report capturing local veterans’ most pressing challenges and outlining policy recommendations for Congress and VA to address these concerns.

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Larsen, Colleagues Succeed in Delaying New CBP Rule Harming Access to Lower-Cost Medications

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

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

“In the past few months, my office has received dozens of messages from constituents worried about how they are going to afford prescription medications if the Trump administration's new CBP rule goes into effect on October 22. I urged the Administration to delay the rule and stop health care from getting even more expensive, and last week, the Trump administration caved to pressure and announced a delay of the rule. I will continue to advocate for a final rule that stops dangerous and illegal drugs from entering our country without stopping affordable prescription medications.”

On October 16, the Trump administration announced that it would delay implementation of new Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) procedures from October 22, 2026 to January 20, 2027. The new CBP procedures would increase regulations for international mail shipments, which could disrupt 2.3 million Americans’ longstanding ability to obtain lower-cost prescription medicines from Canada and other countries for personal use.

Earlier this month, Rep. Larsen joined a letter signed by 71 Members of Congress to Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy, Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) Markwayne Mullin, Acting Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Kyle Diamantas and Commissioner of CBP Rodney Scott, urging the agencies to ensure Americans can continue obtaining non-controlled prescription medicines from outside the country.

“For years, our constituents who have struggled with high prescription drug prices have obtained their medicines from pharmacies outside the United States, especially from Canada,” the Members wrote. “We are concerned that the new process could be implemented in a manner that prevents personal-use prescription medicines from being shipped to the United States or results in their routine refusal, including medicines Americans have long obtained from licensed pharmacies abroad.”

The full text of the letter is available here.

Larsen Fights for Affordable Health Care

Increasing access to affordable health care in Northwest Washington is a top priority for Rep. Larsen. He is fighting to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits, and has hosted roundtables with Northwest Washington community members to discuss policies to expand access to affordable health care, including his legislation that would reverse burdensome paperwork requirements in Medicaid.

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Larsen Highlights Federal Shipbuilding Funding Creating Local Jobs in Bellingham

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Last week, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) toured All American Marine’s facility in Bellingham with Ron Wille (All American Marine, President and COO), Jim Wunderman (San Francisco Bay Ferry, Chair) and Raymond Scott (Echandia Marine, Head of Sales). All American Marine (AAM) is building electric ferries for San Francisco Bay Ferry (SFBF), and Echandia Marine is a Marysville business that provides batteries for SFBF’s ferries.

“Shipbuilding is alive and well in Northwest Washington, and it is creating local jobs that sustain families,” said Rep. Larsen. “As the top Democrat on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, I will continue to make investments in maritime infrastructure and passenger ferry systems that help regional economies grow.”

During the tour, Rep. Larsen operated a 550-ton CNC press brake and viewed two 30-foot MasterCam router tables. These pieces of equipment enable AAM to produce ferry vessels for SFBF, and AAM was able to purchase the equipment thanks to funding federal funding from the Small Shipyards Grant Program. Rep. Larsen helped AAM secure the grant to purchase the equipment in 2023.

“We were proud to welcome Congressman Larsen to All American Marine and show firsthand how federal investment in American shipbuilding translates directly into good-paying local jobs, modern manufacturing capabilities, and vessels being built right here in Bellingham, WA,” said Ron Wille, President and COO of All American Marine. “We are especially proud to be building San Francisco Bay Ferry’s first fully electric high-speed ferries, helping demonstrate what American shipyards and maritime technology can deliver for the next generation of passenger transportation.”

“These electric ferries can be built for roughly the same cost as diesel vessels but will cost less to operate and maintain,” said Jim Wunderman, Chair of SFBF. “We project vessel maintenance savings of 32% and the cost of electricity is anticipated to be at least 20% less than diesel fuel. These savings can be reinvested in the operation of more service to meet ferry demand that continues to surge.”

“Federal investment in shipyards like All American Marine creates demand that reaches well beyond the shipyard itself,” said Raymond Scott, Head of Sales at Echandia. “Our team in Marysville is proud to supply LTO battery systems for San Francisco Bay Ferry’s first fully electric high-speed ferries, and we thank Congressman Larsen for his leadership in making Northwest Washington a hub for the next generation of maritime technology."

On the T&I Committee, Rep. Larsen has been an advocate for the Small Shipyard Grant Program, which helps local shipyards make critical infrastructure investments. He has also been a champion for increasing federal funding for passenger ferries, which are critical to Northwest Washington’s rural communities and economy.

In August, Rep. Larsen announced the Small Shipyards Grant Program awarded $1.3 million to Everett Ship Repair LLC and Rozema Boat Works, Inc. Rep. Larsen also helped the Port of Bellingham secure $23.5 million from the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program in July.

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Larsen Statement on Bend School Shooting

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

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

"I am horrified and heartbroken by the shooting in Bend. These sickening tragedies must end. I am thinking of the families of the victims, and the child and teacher who are fighting for their lives in the hospital."

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Larsen Joins PNW Members Expressing Concerns with Potential ICE Purchase of Tacoma ICE Facility

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

On Tuesday, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) joined colleagues from the Washington and Oregon congressional delegations in demanding answers and transparency into ongoing efforts by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to purchase existing immigration detention centers currently owned and operated by private prison companies like GEO Group and CoreCivic.

“We are deeply concerned about the potential purchase of these facilities, as it appears to be an attempt to circumvent oversight and accountability at detention facilities,” wrote the Members. “Both GEO Group and DHS have stated that acquiring these facilities is aimed, at least in part, at circumventing attempts by states to conduct oversight at immigration detention centers located within their borders.”

The Northwest ICE Processing Center (NWIPC) in Tacoma, Washington is the largest ICE facility in the Pacific Northwest and one of the largest in the nation. ICE has a contract with GEO group to own and operate the facility. In June 2025, Rep. Larsen toured NWIPC and heard from Lelo Juarez, a Skagit County union leader detained by ICE, about poor conditions inside the facility. Larsen and other members of Washington state’s congressional delegation have previously written to ICE to express their concerns about conditions at the facility.

“As of March 2026, the Washington State Department of Health received over 3,500 complaints about Northwest Detention Center. Individuals have reported being sexually assaulted by an officer in their unit; unsanitary conditions, including unclean drinking water, worms, hair, and metal in food, and black mold in showers; and insufficient medical care,” continued the Members. “State oversight is an essential way to help ensure that the people detained in these facilities at U.S. taxpayer expense are being treated with dignity. Attempting to circumvent such oversight by purchasing substandard detention facilities and continuing to allow such inhumane conditions to persist is unacceptable.”

In 2023, the Washington State Legislature passed a law guaranteeing state health inspectors access to privately-owned detention facilities. GEO Group has prevented officials from the Washington State Department of Health from inspecting the facility since 2023, which Washington state is currently challenging in court. ICE’s contract with GEO Group for NWIPC expires on October 27, 2026. If ICE buys NWIPC, it could limit the Washington State Department of Health’s ability to inspect the facility.

The full text of the letter can be found here.

In addition to Rep. Larsen, Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Emily Randall (WA-02), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Janelle S. Bynum (OR-05), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Kim Schrier (WA-08), Adam Smith (WA-09) and Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) also signed the letter.

Larsen Fights to Hold ICE Accountable

In July 2026, Rep. Larsen conducted an oversight visit of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) facility in Ferndale to get answers for the community about the facility’s operations. Last week, Rep. Larsen conducted an oversight visit ofICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) facility in Ferndale to follow up on questions that he had about HSI’s involvement in ERO operations.

In June 2025, Rep. Larsen conducted an oversight visit of NWIPC and met with Lelo Juarez, a Skagit County union leader and activist whom ICE detained in March 2025.

In Congress, Rep. Larsen has refused to vote for ICE funding without placing additional guardrails on the agency and requiring that ICE follow the same rules as every other local, state and federal law enforcement agency.

Rep. Larsen supports strengthening accountability and oversight of ICE operations and DHS detention facilities, including:

Prohibiting ICE officers from wearing masks during arrests;

Requiring ICE officers to be trained in de-escalation;

Prohibiting masked ICE officers from using restricted equipment, such as tear gas;

Ending family and child detention;

Ending DHS’s use of private detention facilities;

Providing individuals in immigration detention with unlimited communication with legal counsel;

Repealing the Alien Enemies Act, which President Trump has used to deport immigrants from Venezuela with no due process by accusing them of “invading” the United States; and

A complete and independent investigation into the killings of unarmed civilians.

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Larsen, Murray Urge Trump Administration to Fund Sumas and Lynden Border Station Modernization Projects

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair on the Senate Appropriations Committee, sent a letter to General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Edward Forst requesting GSA prioritize construction of two stalled border station projects in Northwest Washington. Senator Murray and Congressman Larsen sent this letter on September 22 and have yet to receive response from GSA.

“It has come to our attention that Washington state’s Kenneth G. Ward and Sumas Land Ports of Entry (LPOE) projects are temporarily prevented from moving forward,” the lawmakers wrote. “We write to express our concern regarding this decision by General Services Administration (GSA).”

A land port of entry (LPOE) is a federal border facility used to control the entry and departure of people and cargo at a land border. Congress appropriated $3.4 billion to modernize 26 LPOEs across the United States in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021, which both Senator Murray and Representative Larsen helped become law. As of August 12^th, 2026, the GSA has temporarily prevented nine of those projects from moving forward, including the Kenneth G. Ward Land Port of Entry in Lynden and the Sumas Land Port of Entry.

“Both LPOEs are vital border crossings for Washington state and Canada and play a significant role in trade and economic development that is relevant to the economic vitality of the United States,” the lawmakers continued. “Delaying these projects will have consequential impacts on the nation’s supply chain, labor market, and national security.”

Rep. Larsen and Sen. Murray stressed the importance of certainty about the status of the border station projects for city officials in Sumas and Lynden to plan for the impact that construction will have to downtown buildings and the local economy.

“These projects are also key to local development plans in the cities of Sumas and Lynden, where the LPOEs are located,” the lawmakers wrote. “LPOE modernization will impact several existing buildings in Sumas’s downtown core, and Lynden is preparing to take on additional commercial traffic. Prolonged uncertainty on project timelines will only lead to more disruption and delays in economic development of these cities.”

The lawmakers urged GSA Administrator Forst to prioritize the Kenneth G. Ward and Sumas Land Port of Entry projects when the GSA reassesses the prioritization of the remaining nine LPOEs in the coming months and requested continued updates on decisions regarding the projects.

The full text of the letter can be read here.

Larsen and Murray Conduct Oversight of GSA Under the Trump Administration

As Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Murray has led oversight of GSA’s reckless effort to dump federal properties, pressing the Trump administration on why it terminated leases without notifying Congress as required by law, and how veterans, taxpayers, Tribal members, and farmers would still get the in-person help they depend on. Murray continues to hold the Trump administration accountable for skirting the law, keeping Congress in the dark, and cutting off services families rely on.

In a Transportation & Infrastructure Committee oversight hearing in March, Rep. Larsen raised concerns about the GSA’s tumultuous first 14 months under the Trump administration and a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that the GSA signed with the Defense Ministry of Pakistan without providing evidence of the GSA’s legal jurisdiction to enter into the MOU or engage in redeveloping the private hotel.

This July, Rep. Larsen and Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management Ranking Member Greg Stanton (AZ-04) sent a letter to Administrator Forst seeking answers about the agency’s involvement with the renovation of the Roosevelt Hotel and reporting from Bloomberg that the GSA signed a $1.4 million contract with Sullivan & Cromwell—a law firm with significant ties to the Trump administration—to provide legal services regarding the privately-owned property.

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Larsen Continues to Hold ICE Accountable at Ferndale HSI Facility

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

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

“I am committed to getting answers for the people I represent about immigration operations in Northwest Washington. Today, I went to ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) facility in Ferndale. This visit is a follow-up from my visit to ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) facility in July.

“I will continue to conduct robust, close oversight of Trump’s immigration enforcement in Northwest Washington. On questions that I was not able to get complete answers to from ERO and HSI, I will keep fighting for more information for the people I represent.

“1. HSI was created to investigate human trafficking, financial crimes, narcotics and cross-border smuggling – not civil immigration violations. Agents told me that HSI staff were assigned to do ERO’s civil immigration enforcement in 2025 because ERO was not yet staffed up to fulfill Trump’s aggressive deportation agenda. I will be following up to get more information about HSI’s operations in 2025. I support HSI’s mission to stop child and drug trafficking, and HSI agents should do HSI work.

“2. HSI agents said that while they were supporting ERO operations in 2025, they stopped at the start of this year.

“3. HSI’s facility does have holding space for detaining people, and they told me they haven’t held anyone longer than four hours this year. They cannot hold an individual for more than 12 hours, and detained people have access to food, a phone room and medical treatment if needed.

“This is not case-closed on oversight of ICE activity in our region. I will be following up with more questions for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE, and I will keep pushing for answers. I will keep fighting to cement humanity into U.S. immigration policy and to make sure ICE follows the same rules as every other law enforcement agency.

“My office stands ready to help family members locate their loved ones in ICE custody and access legal services – call 425-252-3188 or go to larsen.house.gov/helping-you/visas-and-immigration.htm.”

Larsen Fights to Hold ICE Accountable

In July 2026, Rep. Larsen visited ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) facility in Ferndale to get answers for the community about the facility’s operations. In June 2025, Rep. Larsen toured the privately-run ICE detention facility in Tacoma and met with Lelo Juarez, a Skagit County union leader and activist whom ICE detained in March 2025.

In Congress, Rep. Larsen has refused to vote for legislation that would fund ICE without placing additional guardrails on the agency and requiring that ICE follow the same rules as every other local, state and federal law enforcement agency.

Rep. Larsen supports strengthening accountability and oversight of ICE operations and DHS detention facilities, including:

Prohibiting ICE officers from wearing masks during arrests;

Requiring ICE officers to be trained in de-escalation;

Prohibiting masked ICE officers from using restricted equipment, such as tear gas;

Ending family and child detention;

Ending DHS’s use of private detention facilities;

Providing individuals in immigration detention with unlimited communication with legal counsel;

Repealing the Alien Enemies Act, which President Trump has used to deport immigrants from Venezuela with no due process by accusing them of “invading” the United States; and

A complete and independent investigation into the killings of unarmed civilians.

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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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