Congressman Larsen (WA-02) - A Progress Report

Here's a letter to the Editor from the Lynden Tribune.

Says Congress moving forward
EDITOR, The Tribune:
  One year after the 2006 elections, I thought it might be helpful to update you on some of the new Congress’ accomplishments.
  To address concerns about ethics and the culture of corruption, the House passed tough reforms to tighten reporting rules for campaign contributions and ban gifts and meals from lobbyists. To address our homeland security needs, we passed the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations to help prevent future terrorist attacks and make America safer.
  This Congress made the single largest investment in college financial aid since the 1944 GI Bill, boosting aid for students and cutting interest rates on subsidized student loans in half – all at no new cost to taxpayers. For example, the College Cost Reduction Act will make higher education more affordable for over 4,500 students at Western Washington University and Bellingham Technical College alone.
  To help many of the 16,000 veterans in Whatcom County, the House and Senate passed the largest increase in VA funding in 77 years. Our bill would give the Veterans Administration resources to hire more qualified doctors and nurses, reduce waiting times for medical appointments and continue providing essential services to local veterans. With more veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, we need to ensure that all our veterans get the high quality care they need and deserve.
  We have done all this without adding to the nation’s fiscal deficit. In fact, this Congress has earned the fiscally responsible label by sticking to strict “pay-as-you-go” rules.
  In the coming year, we will keep working to provide opportunities for family farms and small businesses to thrive. We will keep working to support our service men and women, end U.S. military involvement in Iraq’s civil war and refocus on fighting terrorists. We will push the President to sign our comprehensive energy bill into law to help make America energy independent. And we will keep working to pass legislation to provide health care coverage to 10 million children across the country, and extend health care coverage to thousands of kids in Northwest Washington who need it.
Congressman Rick Larsen
Second District
Northwest Washington