Rick Larsen

I urge the committee to restore funding to STEP this year.

Cutting Medicare and Medicaid will put additional financial pressure on millions of caregivers and threatens their short term and long term financial security.

I just want to point out the irony, Administrator, that if you did have a line item of waste, fraud, and abuse of $627 million, under the sequester rules you could only cut that 8 to 10 percent.

I want to praise Administrator Huerta and his staff for efforts to extend occupational safety and health protections to flight attendants in their high-altitude workplace.

I didn't vote for the FAA authorization bill, because it amended the Railway Labor Act in a way that I believe will--is harmful to the right of workers to organize and to collectively bargain.

Our success in this country when it comes to infrastructure doesn't happen by accident, it happens on purpose.

I want to spend the money where we get the best return on investment.

I think it is just a waste of our resources to try to do it.

The bipartisan Congressional Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism (WMD Commission) determined in December 2008 that WMD terrorism is a continuing and serious threat.

The impact of sequestration on the Coast Guard's ability to maintain its legacy assets

With regards to container screening in the SAFE Port Act, we required 100 percent screening of containers entering the U.S. earlier this year, but Secretary Napolitano deferred meeting this requirement until 2014.

Later today the House will take up a bill that is key for jobs now and for opportunity for the future. First, we cannot have a big league economy with little league infrastructure. The transportation bill will do more to create jobs…

We do not need an expensive, low-tech flash pass that provides little security. We need an inexpensive, high-tech security credential that contributes to port security.

I, too, share your frustration with the lack of TSA's presence and, some might say, ability to be forthright with this committee.

The Government Accountability Office questions whether the TWIC has actually improved the security of our vessels, ports, and maritime infrastructure at all.

In the relatively short history of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential, or TWIC, it is no understatement to say that the development and implementation of this program has been, at best, dismal and its record of achievement…

I do not know of anyone on this committee who agreed with these controversial waivers.

U.S. industry has available capacity to move U.S. strategic oil reserves on U.S.-flag ships putting U.S. mariners to work.

The Jones Act exists for good reason. It sustains a vibrant and strong domestic maritime industry.

I would just ask my colleagues to oppose this amendment. We would ask our colleagues here in the House to oppose it. I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from…

The fiscal year 2013 budget includes $8 million to start a survey and design process for acquiring a new Polar icebreaker.

I fully support the President's goal to double our exports between 2010 and 2015, and I urge this Committee to support these initiatives.

I urge this committee to fund those initiatives that support a trade policy that promotes exporting our goods and not exporting our jobs overseas.

Boosting manufacturing is a key part of rebuilding the middle class by providing a source of good-paying jobs.

I fully support the president's goal to double our exports between 2010 and 2015 and urge this committee to support these initiatives.