Rick Larsen

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 70th anniversary of the independence of the state of Israel, which falls on April 19 this year. Israel is an important friend and ally of the United States. The United States and Israel share a unique bond based on democratic principles, common values and mutual strategic interests. In Washington state, the Puget Sound region is home to the fastest growing Jewish community of any metropolitan area in the United States, including almost 10,000 Israelis. On April 22, people from across Washington state will gather for a Yom Ha'atzmaut festival, celebrating 70 years of Israeli Independence. I would like to recognize the Israeli-American community for its contributions to Washington state and honor the hope of the Jewish people.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the distinguished life and distinguished career of 98 year-old Mr. Alfred Nyholm Larsen of Bellingham, Washington. Mr. Larsen is a World War II, U.S. Navy veteran who served in the United States, Europe and Asia. Mr. Larsen also worked under the ACTION program which oversaw federal volunteer programs such as Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA). He created the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, which is one of the largest volunteer efforts in the country for individuals 55 or older. He is a proud father of four and is spending his retirement in his home state of Washington. I would like to thank and recognize Mr. Larsen for his commitment to the state of Washington and his service to this country.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the distinguished career of Commander Pat Slack of the Snohomish Regional Drug & Gang Task Force, who will be retiring at the end of this year. Commander Slack is an army veteran who received the Bronze Star for his service in Vietnam. Following his service, he spent 25 years with the Snohomish County Sheriff's office and five years as a Deputy Chief with the Everett Police Department. In 2000, he became the Commander of the Snohomish Regional Drug & Gang Task Force, which has become the largest of its kind in the state under his leadership. The task force targets drug trafficking organizations and street gangs involved in drug activity to reduce availability and trafficking of drugs in the state and county. This is with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life in our communities. Commander Slack was instrumental in starting the drug take back program in Snohomish County and he has been a member of a number of national and local teams and organizations focused on drugs and public health. I would like to recognize Commander Slack for his excellent leadership and his commitment to fighting the opioid epidemic in my district.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the Garamendi-Hunter amendment because I know how important a strong icebreaker fleet is to national security. The committee recognizes this reality, as elsewhere in the bill we give the DOD some important authorities to support icebreaker procurement. However, this section 123 prohibits DOD funding for icebreaker procurement. This amendment strikes this provision because flexibility will be essential to funding new icebreakers. Coast Guard shipbuilding budgets are insufficient for icebreaker procurement absent radical cuts elsewhere. As co-chair of the Arctic Working Group, I know that the United States needs icebreakers. These ships protect economic interests in the region, and they defend our sovereignty. As the Arctic becomes increasingly navigable, the importance of icebreakers will only grow, and I urge my colleagues to support the Garamendi-Hunter amendment.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, due to a request by the Governor of Washington to lead the largest-ever state delegation to the International Paris Air Show, I was unable to participate in floor proceedings for the week of June 19-23, 2017. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 309; YEA on Roll Call No. 310; NAY on Roll Call No. 311; NAY on Roll Call No. 312; NAY on Roll Call No. 313; YEA on Roll Call No. 314; NAY on Roll Call No. 315; NAY on Roll Call No. 316; NAY on Roll Call No. 317; YEA on Roll Call No. 318; NAY on Roll Call No. 319; YEA on Roll Call No. 320; NAY on Roll Call No. 321; YEA on Roll Call No. 322.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the American Health Care Act. Over the past several weeks, I have held six townhalls where I have discussed health care with more than 800 of my constituents. Thousands more have called or contacted my office. Erica, from my hometown of Arlington, told me that, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, her family can now keep their house and pay their mortgage. Nancy from Bellingham told me she works with families who rely on Medicaid to avoid bankruptcy due to extra medical costs that come with caring for babies with disabilities. So many Washingtonians support the Affordable Care Act and benefit from it. And of my constituents who oppose the Affordable Care Act, none of them have asked me to support legislation that would cover fewer people. None of my constituents have asked Congress to make poor people pay more for insurance. And not one of my constituents have asked Congress to give the rich a massive tax break, but that is what the American Health Care Act will do. This bill, Mr. Speaker, will hurt people--women, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and middle class families. It will result in universal chaos, not universal coverage. I strongly urge my colleagues to oppose this measure.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 276, as amended, introduced by the gentlewoman from American Samoa (Mrs. Radewagen), which will ensure reliable air service into American Samoa. American Samoa is situated in the center of the South Pacific, about 2,500 miles south of Hawaii. Its nearest neighboring islands are at least 500 miles away, and the territory is more than 7,000 miles from where we stand today. This remote location already makes export and travel difficult and costly. Complicating matters more is the fact that the current cabotage laws prohibit foreign air carriers from carrying passengers between the islands, except in certain emergency situations. The Department of Transportation has authority to issue waivers in such emergency cases, but the waivers are good for only 30 days. A foreign airline that is otherwise fit to provide service between American Samoa's islands is, therefore, forced to apply monthly for a waiver. H.R. 276 would remove this burden by permitting DOT to grant the cabotage waiver for up to 6 months. This change ensures that domestic air transportation is provided and sustained between the islands, benefitting both the people and the economy. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill. I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. LoBIONDO: Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from American Samoa (Mrs. Radewagen).

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands (Mr. Sablan).

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 7, the latest attack on women's reproductive rights. Today's bill comes on the coattails of the new administration's yesterday reinstating the global gag rule, which limits women's reproductive health care outside the U.S.--and all of this after 3.2 million women and men across the country participated in the women's march last Saturday. The march sent a clear message that this administration should not undermine women's rights and women's health care. And this is the response--to undermine women's reproductive health care? Madam Speaker, the people of our country are watching; they are showing up; they are paying attention; and they will not back down in the face of attempts to move this country backwards. I urge my colleagues to oppose H.R. 7.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to this budget resolution that would begin the process of repealing the Affordable Care Act without a plan to replace it, and I rise on behalf of my constituents who are imploring Congress to save the Affordable Care Act. Luanne from Coupeville, Washington, wrote to me. She said: As someone with several serious preexisting conditions, I could not get insurance coverage in the past. My husband and I spent an incredible amount of money--including retirement savings and out-of-pocket dollars--for my care and prescriptions. There were truly times when we had to choose food over medication. And without the ACA, Jennifer from Lynnwood told me that her best friend ``will be forced to work as many jobs as she can in order to obtain money due to the costs of her pregnancy that will no longer be covered. . . . . She needs the Affordable Care Act, as do many Americans. Please, I beg you, do not get rid of it. . . . The Republicans in Congress do not understand how much of us low-income Americans need this.'' These are just two of the hundreds of Washingtonians who have contacted me over the past 2 weeks. Mr. Chairman, do not take away these lifesaving benefits from Luanne, Jennifer's friend, and the rest of my constituents. I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Terry Belcoe, who passed away on Friday, September 23, 2016, after fighting a courageous battle with cancer. Mr. Belcoe was born in Mount Vernon, Washington on April 19, 1956, and spent most of his life in Bellingham, Washington. After completing his Associates degree at Whatcom Community College, he earned his Bachelor's degree in Administration and Accounting, and later his Master's in Business Administration at Western Washington University. Throughout his career, Mr. Belcoe was known for forging partnerships to improve the community. He served as the Board Chair of the United Way of Whatcom, Skagit County Community Action Agency, United Way of Skagit County and the Oversight Committee for Leadership Skagit program. His advocacy extended to acting as a guest speaker and mentor to students at WWU and volunteering with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program of Whatcom County. In line with his passion for fighting for children in need of nutrition and housing, Mr. Belcoe actively engaged with legislators and communities to support low-income families. Recently, he celebrated 15 years as the President and CEO of North Coast Credit Union in Whatcom and Skagit counties and in October of 2016, he was selected as the Washington Credit Union Advocate of the Year, but unfortunately he passed away less than three weeks before the honor could be presented. Mr. Speaker, Terry Belcoe was a dedicated public servant and I would like to honor him for his many contributions to our community and our state. My thoughts are with his partner Karen, his daughters and his sister. Terry will be greatly missed.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in honor of the five individuals who were killed this past weekend in a mass shooting at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington. Sarai Lara was a 16-year-old sophomore at Mount Vernon High School, a cancer survivor, and her mother described her as her ``right hand.'' Chuck Eagan was a Boeing maintenance worker from Lake Stevens, Washington. He had two daughters. He was planning on retiring next year. Shayla Martin was a 52-year-old from Mount Vernon and a makeup artist at the Macy's where the shooting took place. Belinda Galde was a 64-year-old from Arlington, Washington. She had served the public for more than two decades as a probation officer at the Snohomish County District Courts. Beatrice Dotson was Belinda's mother. She was 95 years old. I honor these five individuals and express my condolences to their families and their friends, and I honor and I thank the law enforcement officials whose quick investigation led to the capture of the suspected shooter in less than 24 hours. Finally, I offer condolences to the community of Burlington, Washington, which is undoubtedly struggling to make sense of this senseless gun violence that was brought to their doorstep.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 5957, the FAA Veteran Transition Improvement Act of 2016. Last November, after passing the House and the Senate by unanimous consent, the Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act was signed into law. That legislation recognizes that no one who has sustained an injury due to military service should have to choose between earning a paycheck or receiving health care. Specifically, that act provides up to 104 hours of upfront, disabled veteran leave during an employee's first 12 months on the job. The Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act will apply to anyone hired on or after November 5 of this year. However, that legislation only applies to Federal civilian personnel covered under title 5 leave provisions. Consequently, those not covered under title 5--including employees of the FAA--are not able to use these leave benefits. Now, in my own State of Washington, there are more than 650 veterans who work at the FAA; and across the country, more than 15,000 veterans work for the FAA. From 2012 to 2016, the FAA hired between 150 to 350 veterans each year--men and women who have served our country but may be unable to get the health care that they need. So in an effort to expand these benefits to disabled veterans hired by the FAA, Representative LoBiondo joined me in introducing this bipartisan bill earlier this month. H.R. 5957 will ensure that newly hired disabled veteran FAA employees receive the same upfront disabled leave that personnel at other government agencies will receive. This legislation will help ensure that no newly hired disabled veteran FAA employee is faced with the choice between earning a paycheck or receiving health care, and finishes the laudable work that was started by the Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act. I want to thank all the advocacy organizations who support this legislation, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion, Paralyzed Veterans of America, American Federation of Government Employees, the Federal Managers Association, the FAA Managers Association, Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. I also want to be sure to thank Representative LoBiondo for working with me on this important legislation. Lastly, I want to thank and recognize Senator Hirono, who has introduced companion legislation in the Senate, and I look forward to continue working to move this important bill past the finish line. Last week, this bipartisan bill was unanimously reported out of the committee, and today I ask for this Chamber's support as well. Let's not keep these veterans waiting.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this extension to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This measure is the product of dedicated bipartisan work. For that, I thank Chairman Shuster, Ranking Member DeFazio--and, from across the Capitol, Senator Thune and Senator Nelson. I am pleased that we included some time-sensitive and safety- and security- critical measures in this legislation. Passing this extension is the right thing to do for the safety and security of the American traveling public. In addition, I am pleased that the legislation directs the FAA to continue moving forward on safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and directs the Department of Transportation to move forward on a long-overdue rule to better assist disabled travelers. However, there are many important bipartisan provisions that regrettably did not make the cut. I stand by my remarks regarding the first extension in September as well as the extension we passed in March. We did not have to go down this road. Because of a desire to privatize the nation's air traffic control (ATC) system, some critical pieces of the legislation have been tied up. We could have been here on the Floor today with a long-term reauthorization bill that took a comprehensive approach to addressing the pressing needs of the FAA, aviation safety and air travel. Mr. Speaker, if you ask 10 aviation stakeholders to identify the area of the FAA most in need of reform, I would venture to say most if not all 10 of them would say, ``certification.'' Both the House and Senate long-term FAA bills included far-reaching reforms to streamline the FAA certification process that would help U.S. manufacturers become more competitive, expand their global presence and create jobs in the United States. The certification reforms that have bipartisan and bicameral support would have immediate benefits in my home state of Washington--where aviation manufacturing is a significant economic driver--as well as for the entire U.S. economy. They would improve safety by permitting manufacturers to deliver newer and safer technology to the market more quickly. Yet this legislation omits most of those reforms. That is a critical and unfortunate omission, in my view. In addition, this legislation fails to synchronize flight attendant rest rules with pilot rest rules. Synchronizing these rules would enable flight attendants to receive the rest they need and further improve the safety and security of the flying public. And while it falls outside the jurisdiction of the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, I have serious concerns about expanding the look-back period to fifteen years for current and prospective airport employees. I said back in February, when T&I marked up a controversial long-term FAA reauthorization, that I feared we were in for more serial extensions. All Democrats and two Republicans voted against that bill because of its science experiment with air traffic control privatization. But the rest of the bill had strong bipartisan support, and instead of enacting another extension, we could be here to enact meaningful reforms that aviation stakeholders need. So it is with disappointment that I am here to support a temporary extension.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary career of Valerie Bailey Grasso. Ms. Grasso retired earlier this year, concluding a remarkable 32 years of federal civil service with the Department of the Navy, the Library of Congress, and the Congressional Research Service (CRS). For the last 18 years, she has served as a defense acquisition policy analyst in the Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division of the CRS, rising to Specialist, the highest grade attainable. While at the CRS, she supplied Members of Congress, their personal staffs, and the staffs of congressional committees with consistently high quality insights, policy analysis, and historical context. I personally relied on reports she authored on topics including rare earth elements, veterans employment, and surplus military equipment. Ms. Grasso joined the CRS as a permanent staff member in 1998. She is the author or co-author of more than 30 CRS reports on a wide array of defense-related topics associated with weapon systems acquisition, defense contracting, the evolving defense industrial base, outsourcing of defense functions, contract competition, domestic material sourcing, and sealift. Her works were widely read by congressional clients and contributed directly to the CRS' mission of informing the legislative debate. I served as co-chair on the House Armed Services Committee's 2012 Panel on Business Challenges within the Defense Industry. Valerie provided direct support to that panel and her insights and analysis were essential to the panel's work. Valerie was also a long-time member and officer of the Congressional Research Employee Association (CREA), the collective bargaining organization representing the interests of those working at the CRS. She served on the CREA board for nearly a decade, from 2004-2013, where she was a member of the telework committee and the CREA bargaining team. In 2013, she was elected Vice-President of CREA, and for the last two years of her career she served as CREA's President. She has also been recognized for her work with the Library of Congress chapter of Blacks in Government. I ask my fellow Members to join me in applauding Valerie Bailey Grasso for her lifelong commitment to supporting the nation and this body and in wishing her a long and enjoyable retirement.

Mr. LARSEN of WASHINGTON

Mr. LARSEN of WASHINGTON. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National Infertility Awareness Week, which ran from April 24-30. The CDC recognizes infertility as the inability to get pregnant after one year of trying. It affects both men and women, and there are a variety of causes. Resolve, the National Infertility Association, estimates that it affects approximately 10 percent of the population. For couples dealing with infertility, there are a number of options. They can choose to adopt, or try to conceive through lUI, medications, or assisted reproductive technology like in vitro fertilization (IVF). Although none of these methods is guaranteed, improvements to technologies and treatments in recent years have increased the likelihood of successful therapy. Not all families have access to this technology. Under present law, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is expressly prohibited from covering IVF for women and men who have served our country in uniform. This is especially galling considering that many of these veterans are facing infertility as a result of injuries incurred during their service. That is why Senator Murray and I introduced the Women Veterans and Families Health Services Act--to repeal this outdated policy and specifically authorize provision of fertility treatment. Our bill also provides other important resources to military families, including cryopreservation of gametes and adoption assistance. As we recognize National Infertility Awareness Week, it is my sincere hope that we not lose sight of Americans experiencing infertility. And it is long past time that Congress authorizes VA to cover fertility treatments, including IVF to wounded veterans, so they can achieve their dreams of starting families.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 44 on January 13, 2016, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' Personal Explanation

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment. For over 75 years, the Davis-Bacon Act has been protecting middle class families and taxpayers. As a son of a union worker in Snohomish County, Washington, I know how important prevailing wages can be for middle class families. A prevailing wage is not necessarily a union wage--it's set by the Department of Labor after surveying local labor. But it's a living wage, one that has helped build middle class economies in my district in places like Everett and Lynnwood. Davis-Bacon standards also ensure that taxpayers are getting their money's worth when it comes to construction projects. By paying a decent wage, Davis-Bacon projects are built by more experienced and more productive construction workers. The result is better built, longer lasting projects that save money over their lifetime which is especially important because poor and crumbling infrastructure hurts everyone. We shouldn't cut corners when it comes to our transportation infrastructure, and we shouldn't cut corners when it comes to hiring construction workers. The amendment before us would do just that. Workers deserve to be paid fair wages. I ask my colleagues to support middle class families by voting against this amendment.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that amendment No. 13 printed in part A of House Report 114-326 be modified in the form I have placed at the desk.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I have heard from many midsize cities in my district that they often struggle to compete with larger cities for Federal transportation funding. While the needs of midsize cities are just as significant as those of larger cities, the administrative burden of accessing TIGER grants or TIFIA loans is often too great. My amendment addresses that difficulty by improving access to TIFIA loans. While TIFIA is a great funding source for bigger projects, sponsors of smaller projects can be discouraged from using it because the application process is complicated and requires more resources than these cities can muster. My amendment would require the Secretary to provide an expedited process for TIFIA applications that are less than $100 million and backed by real revenue. These are smaller, lower risk projects that aren't happening because States and localities might be scared off by the long and involved TIFIA loan application process. By creating an expedited process for these smaller, lower risk projects, we can open access to Federal resources for smaller cities and counties that we represent. This is a streamlined amendment that puts more power in the hands of State and local governments, something I know that my colleagues can support. I appreciate that Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member DeFazio have made other improvements to the TIFIA process in the underlying bill, and my amendment complements these improvements in a straightforward way. I would appreciate the support of the leadership on the committee for this amendment. I ask support of my amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I ask support for this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LARSEN of Washington

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, today I congratulate Job Corps on the recent 50th Anniversary of the founding of the program. Established in 1955 as a partnership between public agencies and private businesses, Job Corps has since offered more than 3 million young people housing, educational opportunities and job training to connect them with good jobs and financial independence. Every year, more than 50,000 people enroll in Job Corps, including veterans, young parents and youth aging out of the foster system, because Job Corps provides these individuals with the critical resources they need to become successful. Job Corps continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of youth and employers, preparing students to succeed in the current marketplace. And it changes lives--more than 80% of Job Corps graduates obtain jobs, join the military or enroll in higher education. Cascades Job Corps in Sedro-Woolley is one of four centers in Washington state. Cascades Job Corps Center ably serves my constituents, helping nearly 500 students each year learn skills necessary to fully participate in our economy and democracy. Hands-on and self-paced job training in fields like carpentry, medicine and office administration ensures that students are qualified for jobs in the local economy. After graduating from the program students receive support to help them find housing, transportation and jobs in their field. Cascades Job Corps Center was recently selected by the Burlington Chamber of Commerce as Business of the Year, underscoring its importance in the community. Nationally, Job Corps generates an average of $1.91 in local economic activity for each dollar invested in it. The Cascades Job Corps Center also makes a difference by partnering with local organizations like Community Action of Skagit County, Habitat for Humanity and the Helping Hands Food Bank to offer students meaningful service work. I congratulate Job Corps for 50 years of offering young people from all walks of life the opportunity to build successful careers and fulfilling lives.