Rick Larsen

I think we should continue to push for Congress to fully fund its intercity passenger rail commitments to create more jobs, grow regional economies, reduce congestion and carbon emissions, and build a cleaner, greener, safer, and more…

As we did in fighting for rail funding in the BIL, this committee is committed to helping communities get regular and reliable passenger rail service.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was a monumental achievement that supercharged our Nation's investment in rail with $100 billion in funding.

This committee is committed to helping communities get regular and reliable passenger rail service.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) was a monumental achievement that supercharged our nation's investment in rail with $100 billion in funding.

It is past time to do this for rail.

The BIL is also an investment in the workforce. This funding will be used to grow a well-trained, diverse workforce to build, operate, and maintain a national intercity passenger rail network.

Passengers and States want more rail service.

The BIL was a monumental achievement that supercharged our nation's investment in rail with $100 billion in funding.

I look forward to discussing what an appropriate balance is.

I am not disputing the subject matter of any of these national emergencies is not important.

So, I know all too well that Article One of our Constitution enshrines Congress' power to make laws, control the power of the purse, and check the power of the President.

Congress puts sunsets on Presidential authorities all the time. That is not constitutionally questionable.

I think there are reasons why elected officials acted out of good faith, given the knowledge we had and the science we knew at the time.

I think legislative vetoes are unconstitutional, in my view.

I think there is a reason for the National Emergencies Act.

COVID is the most random killer that I have lived with in 57 years.

We are here to discuss safeguarding our democracy, strengthening our democratic institutions and Congress' responsibility to maintain their Article One power as a co-equal branch of government.

But in the long term, emergency powers should not be a convenience that is used to circumvent congressional action.

A core tenant of the Constitution is a system of checks and balances, which ensures that no one branch of Government has too much control or power.

So, regardless of the sitting President's political party, Congress needs to conduct oversight of emergency powers used by the executive branch.

Financial literacy education in the Department of Defense Education Activity schools is critical to prepare military children for the future.

It's a little bit different being on this side of the dais after 22 years on the committee.

Congress specifically noted that the State-by-State, go-it-alone approach was, quote, 'inadequate in every vital aspect.'

It is more effective and less costly to prevent pollution than to clean up pollution.