Congressman Rick Larsen's Online Office

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) helped secure funding for NAS Whidbey, Ebey’s Landing and other Island County and Northwest Washington priorities as part of an end-of-the-year appropriations bill passed by Congress. The House and Senate passed the bill this week and have sent it to the President to be signed into law. Larsen released the following statement:

“This legislation includes funding for Ebey’s Landing to help protect one of Washington state’s natural and historic treasures for future generations.

“Providing an indoor washrack for NAS Whidbey means that sailors will no longer have to spend thousands of hours each year washing planes in rain, gale-force winds and low-winter temperatures.

“I appreciate Senator Murray’s leadership in helping deliver these critical resources for Northwest Washington.  Time and again, she has been a champion for local priorities.

“For families in Island County and across the country, this legislation makes critical investments in veterans’ services, health care, education and other priorities here at home. However, this bill is not perfect.  It does not make the full investments I would have hoped in many of our nation’s priorities because of the President’s failure to compromise.   But it does represent an important step forward and delivers needed resources for Northwest Washington.

“This Congress has made significant progress.  We have invested in our economy, national security, veterans’ health care, education and energy independence, making substantial improvements in the lives of Americans.

“There is more work to be done, and we will work to accomplish it with the best interests of the American people in mind.”

Larsen helped secure the following resources in the bill for Island County and Northwest Washington:

• $10.61 million to build an interior washrack for planes at NAS Whidbey;
• $492,200 to purchase easements for land at Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve;
• $400,000 to help the Northwest Agriculture Business Center create a technological network connecting producers, retailers and distributors so local farmers can get their products to market more efficiently;
• $1.8 million to help the Washington State Meth Initiative fight meth and keep our communities safe; and
• $714,400 to create a National Meth Center to help local leaders across the country use the most effective strategies to fight the meth epidemic.

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