||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. RiCK LARSEN |||
SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA – On Thursday, May 27, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) will visit Orcas Power & Light Cooperative (OPALCO) to meet with Executive Director Foster Hildreth. Larsen and Hildreth will discuss how the utility is working to improve broadband connectivity within its service area. A senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Larsen is pushing for a bold, FDR-like investment in the nation’s infrastructure to create well-paying jobs, drive economic recovery and build a cleaner and greener transportation network.
Larsen will then tour three public works projects with the San Juan County Public Works staff, including the Orcas Landing Interpretive Outlook, Killebrew Lake Road Culvert and the West Sound coastal erosion project.
Next, Larsen will meet with Wildlife Cycles owner Dan Christopherson to discuss National Bike Month and how to expand and improve bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in the Second District.
Larsen will then tour the Island Primary Care Orcas clinic with Island Hospital CEO Charles Hall. The new clinic is a partnership between the Orcas Island Health Care District and Island Hospital after the University of Washington discontinued services on the island in March 2021.
Finally, Larsen will meet with Orcas Island Airport Manager Jeannie Sharpe and Port of Orcas Commissioner Robert Hamilton to discuss how federal pandemic relief is helping the airport maintain operations and keep critical infrastructure projects on track. Last year, Washington airports received more than $310 million in CARES Act pandemic relief funding, including $1.041 million for Orcas Island Airport.
In March, President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan, a nearly $1.9 trillion relief package Larsen supported to get more vaccines in arms, money in pockets and people back to work. The American Rescue Plan included $8 billion for airports to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Attendance will be limited to comply with public health directives.
Thursday, May 27
- Larsen will visit Orcas Power & Light Cooperative (OPALCO)
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. PDT
183 Mount Baker Road
Eastsound, WA 98280 - Larsen will tour County Public Works Projects
10:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT
8368 Orcas Road
Orcas, WA 98280 - Larsen will visit Wildlife Cycles
1:15 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. PDT
350 N Beach Road
Eastsound, WA 98245 - Larsen will visit Island Primary Care Orcas
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. PDT
7 Deye Lane
Eastsound, WA 98245 - Larsen will visit Orcas Island Airport
1:45 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. PDT
147 Schoen Lane, Eastsound, WA 98245
