Rick Larsen | October in Northwest Washington

||| FROM THE OFFICE OF.  U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN |||

From conversations with local food providers about growing demand for assistance to fighting for good-paying jobs and lower prescription drug costs, October has been a month focused on the issues that matter to people across Northwest Washington.

I want to share some of that work with you.

Earlier this month, I met with local food banks, hunger-prevention organizations, and community leaders at the Lynnwood Neighborhood Center to discuss growing demand for food assistance. Families are struggling with higher grocery prices, and Republicans’ cuts to SNAP will only make matters worse.

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 rule goes into effect. I joined my colleagues in urging the Trump administration to delay a new rule that could make it harder for Americans to get affordable prescriptions from Canada and other countries. The administration announced a delay, and I will continue fighting to keep health care affordable.

I also heard from farmers across Northwest Washington about how rising costs, including sky-high gas prices from the Iran War, are making it hard for them to make ends meet. I will keep fighting to end Trump’s unjustified war and bring down costs.

I also joined Senator Patty Murray in pressing the Trump administration to move forward with stalled border station modernization projects in Sumas and Lynden. These border crossings play a significant role in trade and economic development, and further delays could disrupt the local economy.

Supporting good-paying jobs and strengthening our local economy remain top priorities. I visited All American Marine in Bellingham, where federal investments are supporting local shipbuilding jobs and helping build electric ferries. I helped secure federal funding for equipment that is being used to build these vessels. I also joined Boeing workers and leaders in Everett to celebrate the FAA certification of the 737 MAX 10, an important milestone for our region’s aerospace workforce and manufacturing economy.

I have continued my work to hold the Trump administration accountable by visiting ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations facility in Ferndale to get answers about immigration operations in our region. I will continue to conduct close oversight of Trump’s immigration enforcement, keep pushing for answers, and fight to make sure ICE follows the same rules as every other law enforcement agency.

And with Election Day approaching, I reintroduced the America Votes Act to break down barriers to the ballot box. This bill builds on Washington state’s efforts to safeguard election integrity while eliminating laws that disenfranchise citizens and prevent people from participating in democracy.

Whether it is lowering costs, protecting jobs, or defending our rights, there is still more work to do for the people of Northwest Washington.