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Codi Hamblin

U.S. Congressman Rick Larsen recently made public the list of earmarks he has requested for the fiscal year 2009.

An earmark is federal funding directed to a specific project within Congress’ appropriations bills.

The earmarks Larsen asked the Appropriations Committee to fund reflect a range of local needs in the six counties he represents, including funding for transportation, law enforcement and national security.

“In the past several months, I have received an overwhelming number of requests for earmarks from local communities, constituents and organizations,” Larsen said. “After careful consideration, the earmarks I am requesting this year reflect a range of local needs and would make a real difference for Northwest Washington families and communities.”

Larsen received more than 140 requests from constituents and organizations asking him to request earmarks for the next fiscal year.

In reviewing these requests, Larsen said he considered whether the project would be located in the 2nd Congressional District and reflects 2nd District needs and priorities; whether the project is prepared to use federal funding effectively; and whether the project can be funded in an earmarked account.

Of the 140 requests he received this year, Larsen selected 59 to pass on to the Appropriations Committee. The Committee will evaluate all the requests they receive to determine which projects will receive funding.

Larsen’s requests included more than $13.5 million for Skagit County projects.
The Washington congressman’s requests include $25,000 to help the Skagit County Drug Enforcement Unit purchase surveillance equipment for their counter-narcotics operations.

“I’ve been working with Sheriff Rick Grimstead on drug enforcement issues, including methamphetamine issues,” Larsen said. “Skagit County is a great example of other rural counties in the U.S. — they don’t have the extra money sitting around to help them with things.”

Will Reichardt, chief criminal deputy with the Skagit County Sheriff’s office, said the money earmarked by Larsen would enhance local law enforcement’s ability to detect and document activity in low-light conditions.

The sheriff’s office plans to purchase a digital camera system that can operate in both day and night.

“This system has a seismic motion detector that is activated without us having to manually turn it off and on,” Reichardt said.

The money also would allow the sheriff’s office to purchase a variety of high-quality lenses as well as convert camera bodies to better document hand drug transactions, Reichardt said.

Providing money to local law enforcement officials in the six counties he represents has provided huge dividends in results, Larsen said.

“They make a few dollars go a long way,” he said.

Larsen also requested $1.3 million for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to continue the Skagit Flood Control General Investigation Study.

“I am committed to do my part to help the Army Corps get (the study) done,” Larsen said. “And then start identifying flood control projects.”

The 2nd District congressman also tagged another $2 million for Skagit County to construct a new arterial roadway connecting South LaVenture Road to the Anderson Road freeway interchange.

The change, Larsen said, would alleviate the pressure from College Way which has become very congested.

Larsen also would like to see $1.7 million committed for Skagit Transit to complete the Chuckanut Park and Ride, the county’s first major park and ride.

With gas prices rising nationwide, Larsen said he expects an increase in the number of commuters who use public transit, especially because of population growth in the North Puget Sound.

“Anything I can do to help Skagit and Whatcom transit authorities is going to be a great help in reducing congestion on our freeways,” Larsen said.

One of the largest requests Larsen made is $8.5 million for the Floriculture and Nursery Research Initiative conducted by the U.S.D.A. Agriculture Research Service.

Larsen said the month of April exemplifies why the floriculture industry means so much to the local economy.

“Clearly, it’s a part of the Skagit County,” he said, referring to the annual tulip festival.

A couple other funding requests would have an impact on the Skagit Valley, albeit indirectly, Larsen said.

He earmarked $500,000 for the Small Fruit Center located in Oregon. Approximately 60 percent of raspberries and other small fruits are raised in the Northwest, Larsen said.

“So even though the money will go to Oregon, it will have an extremely positive impact on agriculture in the 2nd District,” he said.

Larsen’s largest request of $548.3 million is to repair P-3 Orion Patrol Planes, some of which are based at NAS Whidbey, and accelerate development of P-8A multi-mission aircraft.

This is the U.S. Navy’s top unfunded priority not included in the President’s budget request for 2009, Larsen said.

The process
In upcoming months, the Appropriations Committee will consider all the requests received from Congress members across the country, as well as the president’s budget requests.

After the various appropriations bills are passed by committee, they need to pass the House of Representatives. Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate will be working on their own versions of the appropriations bills. After those bills pass the Senate, both the House and the Senate must agree on final legislation. This final legislation must either be signed by the president, or Congress must override his veto for the bill to become law.

Going public
Larsen said he released the list of earmarks in an effort to increase transparency for his constituents.

Rules put in place by the Democratic majority last year require that any earmark included in an appropriations bill will be made public and attributed to the member who requested it.

“I decided to share my earmark request with the public to provide constituents with more information about my work to secure federal funding for local priorities,” Larsen said. “I think communities in my own district should know what is being requested. It’s another step toward transparent government.

“It’s the U.S. taxpayers’ dollar and people should know what is being requested.”