Congressman Rick Larsen's Online Office

Washington, D.C. — On Tuesday night, Congress cleared the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act which will fund the federal government through September 30. The legislation passed the House on February 25.  President Obama has said he will sign the bill into law.

“As President Obama said today, this bill may not be perfect, but it is urgently needed to fund many of our national priorities, from law enforcement to education to health care,” said U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02). “The omnibus funds important local priorities as well, and invests in local initiatives to create jobs, strengthen law enforcement, provide clean drinking water, improve public safety and get our economy moving again. I thank my partner in the Senate, Senator Patty Murray, for helping deliver needed resources for the 2nd Congressional District and our state.”

“Creating jobs and meeting the needs of Northwest Washington families begins with returning their federal tax dollars to projects in their own backyard,” said Senator Murray. “That’s why I worked with Congressman Larsen to ensure that improving safety on U.S. 2, helping Northern Border communities, and addressing local transportation challenges were top priorities in this bill. In the face of a deepening recession, this bill makes targeted investments that will help get Northwest Washington working again.”

Larsen helped secure the following earmarked appropriations for the 2nd District and Washington state:

Skagit and Island Counties

$358,000 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to continue the Skagit Flood Control General Investigation Study

“In Skagit County, the question is not if the next flood is coming, but when,” said Larsen. “We need to protect the families, farms and businesses in harm’s way. Completing the Skagit River General Investigation Study is critical to our community’s flood control efforts.”

$371,000 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the Swinomish Channel to keep the channel navigable for local commerce

“According to the Port of Skagit County, approximately 340 local jobs depend on the Swinomish Channel being properly maintained,” said Larsen.  “Federal funding to dredge the Swinomish Channel will help ensure that boat builders, fisherman and other businesses can continue to create and sustain local jobs.”

“The Port of Skagit County thanks Congressman Larsen and his staff for their dedicated persistence and focused hard work to obtain funding for the dredging of the Swinomish Channel,” said Patsy Martin, Executive Director for the Port of Skagit County in June 2008. “Maintaining a dredged channel is vital to the economic health of the La Conner Marina, Town of La Conner, Swinomish Tribe and Skagit County.  Boat builders, log processors, rock haulers, fishers and many others will be able to maintain and grow jobs due to the dredging paid for by this funding.  Again, thank you Congressman Larsen.”

$950,000 for Washington State Ferries to Build  Ferry Propulsion Systems

“In Washington state, ferries are a critical part of our transportation system,” said Larsen. “Twenty-five million passengers ride our ferries each year and millions more depend on them to keep our economy moving.” 

$25,000 for the Skagit County Drug Task Force to purchase surveillance equipment for their counter-narcotics operations; $80,000 to purchase and install additional laptops and software for the Island County Sheriff’s Office to use in their patrol cars

“Methamphetamine and other drugs continue to threaten local schools, businesses and families,” said Larsen.  “In this time of tight budgets, we must ensure that local law enforcement officers have the tools they need to keep us safe.”

Snohomish County 

$2 million for the Washington State Department of Transportation to construct safety improvement projects on US 2  between Snohomish and Skykomish

“Improving public safety on US 2 has been one of my top priorities since I was first elected to Congress,” said Larsen, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “US 2 is a critical transportation corridor for Snohomish County families and businesses, and we must do more to make it safe.”

$50,000 to purchase new equipment for the Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force

“The Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force does critical work to protect our community from illegal drugs and drug-related crime,” said Larsen, co-chair of the House Meth Caucus.  “We cannot afford to short-change law-enforcement as they work to keep us safe.”

“This type of federal funding is crucial for local drug task forces to keep up with the escalating illicit drug threat we are facing,” said Pat Slack, Commander of the Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force, in June 2008.

To combat the methamphetamine epidemic in Washington state, Larsen also helped secure $1.1 million for the Washington State Methamphetamine Initiative.

For Snohomish County, Larsen also helped secure:

• $2,375,000 for Snohomish County to help complete an alternate route for truck traffic to bypass downtown Granite Falls, improving safety for drivers and pedestrians
• $500,000 to help the City of Snohomish upgrade their wastewater treatment plant to improve Snohomish River water quality
  

Whatcom County

$1.9 million to help the Whatcom Transportation Authority replace 33 aging buses with new, bio-diesel compatible buses

“Whatcom Transit saw the highest ridership increase in the country last year.  But while more Whatcom County residents than ever rely on public transit to travel between home, work and school, many of Whatcom Transit’s buses are aging and in need of repair,” said Larsen, a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “New buses will allow Whatcom Transportation Authority to keep up with skyrocketing ridership, improve efficiency and better serve the public.”

According to Whatcom Transit, this funding combined with resources from the recently-passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will fund the purchase of eleven replacement buses for Whatcom County.

$3 million to help Northern border communities recover the costs of detaining and prosecuting suspects charged with federal border crimes

“Whatcom County is currently spending more than 2 million dollars a year to prosecute federal border crimes,” said Larsen. “These resources will help relieve the heavy financial burden imposed on our Northern border communities.”

In 2002, Larsen first introduced legislation to help Northern border communities cover the cost of detaining and prosecuting suspects charged with federal border crimes. Larsen and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) have reintroduced this legislation in each successive Congress.

$300,000 to improve the water quality of Lake Whatcom, Whatcom County’s largest source of drinking water

“Approximately 96,000 people in Whatcom County depend on Lake Whatcom for clean drinking water,” said Larsen. “We must take action to clean up Lake Whatcom so it can continue to serve as a clean, dependable source of water for the community. Federal funding will help Whatcom County take steps to protect this critical reservoir.” 

Lake Whatcom is a large multi-purpose reservoir that is the source of drinking water for the City of Bellingham, Washington, Water District 10, and approximately 250 households on the lake – around 96,000 people in total. Lake Whatcom is likely to serve 100,000 people in less than five years.

$295,000 to expand and improve information sharing between Whatcom County law enforcement agencies through the Whatcom Exchange Network (WENET)

“Whatcom County’s WENET data integration program will provide law enforcement officers on patrol with real-time information on criminal offenders, giving them an important tool to protect our community,” said Larsen.

For Whatcom County, Larsen also helped secure $285,000 for emergency preparedness at St. Joseph's Hospital to enhance emergency power, water and air supplies and increase hospital security capabilities. 

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