December in Review
It is an honor to represent Washington's Second District — especially during trying times like these. Our shared values – working hard, caring for each other, and serving the community guide my work in Congress.
As tens of thousands of families face the historic flooding across Western Washington, I have met with local leaders to address the damage and identify urgent needs. With this information, I, alongside the entire Washington Congressional delegation, submitted our formal request for federal disaster assistance to ensure our communities receive the resources necessary for recovery.
I also joined nearly 100 Washington state elected officials in condemning President Trump's attacks on Somali Americans. I will continue working to protect the dignity and safety of all Washingtonians.
This month, Sound Transit opened the light rail extension to Federal Way. I am proud to have been a part of this project. We can not have a big league economy with little league infrastructure, and this expansion will uplift the entire region. I am also looking forward to the future connection to Everett.
As the top Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I have been laser-focused on bringing home results and leading essential bipartisan efforts.
At the end of November, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded more than $50 million in grant funding to four Northwest Washington transit agencies. As co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Bus Caucus, I am committed to increasing federal funding for bus transit and am proud to have secured:
- $10.07 million for Everett Transit to replace diesel and hybrid buses with new hybrid buses
- $9.37 million for Skagit Transit to purchase paratransit vehicles and 8 heavy-duty 40-foot coaches
- $13.99 million for Community Transit to replace diesel buses with hybrid buses
- $16.72 million for Whatcom Transportation Authority to replace diesel and hybrid buses with new hybrid buses
As we look towards recovering from the floods, know we are in this together. I will continue to do everything I can to support our communities during this crisis and beyond.
More soon,
Rick
