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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

WASHINGTON — This morning, Speaker Johnson published an op-ed in USA Today highlighting House Republicans’ historic accomplishments during the 119th Congress and the contrast between common sense vs. crazy in the closing days of the midterms.

“As I’ve campaigned across the country, I’ve met thousands of Americans who will never forget what a disaster the Democrats made of public policy,” Speaker Johnson wrote. “They remember being silenced as left-wing ideologues wrecked their schools and communities, censored their speech, mocked their faith and traditions, and tried to erase our history. They won’t be discouraged by unreliable polls or by pundits declaring that these elections are destined to be won by the party opposing the president.”

Read the op-ed here or below:

The GOP Has Delivered

Democrats have bent the knee to their far-left wing. Even a narrow Democratic House would be held hostage by the DSA, and France offers a preview of where that could lead.

Op-ed by Speaker Mike Johnson

USA Today

October 30, 2026

Throughout our nation’s history, midterm elections have normally been a referendum on the president. But these are not normal times. In these pivotal midterms on Nov. 3, voters face a much larger choice between two completely different visions for America.

One seeks to preserve and strengthen the foundations that made our nation great, while the other seeks to tear them down. One wants to build, the other to destroy.

Our framers understood that a truly free and prosperous people must embrace and maintain essential first principles: individual liberty, limited government, the rule of law and the inherent dignity of every person. We have not always lived up to those principles, but our constant pursuit of them made America the freest, strongest and most prosperous nation in human history – and it is why we remain so.

Democrats have bent the knee to the far left

Tragically, today’s Democratic Party no longer seeks to preserve our foundations but to dismantle them. Since a far-left socialist insurgency overwhelmed the party’s centrist wing, even the old-guard Democrats in Congress have been forced to bend the knee to the socialists.

The shift didn’t take place overnight. “Woke” Democrats promised that defunding the police would make communities safer. Under President Joe Biden, they took long strides further left, arguing that opening the border would somehow enrich American communities. They insisted that boys could be girls and girls could be boys, and that the only remedy for perceived discrimination in our schools, our boardrooms and our government was actual discrimination.

In four years, the Democrats’ endless mandates, trillions in new spending and 40-year-high inflation crushed family budgets.

As I’ve campaigned across the country, I’ve met thousands of Americans who will never forget what a disaster the Democrats made of public policy. They remember being silenced as left-wing ideologues wrecked their schools and communities, censored their speech, mocked their faith and traditions, and tried to erase our history.

They won’t be discouraged by unreliable polls or by pundits declaring that these elections are destined to be won by the party opposing the president.

House Republicans understand that to win the midterms, we need to defy history. But we also understand that 2026 is different. It presents an unprecedented and fateful question: Will we reject and tear down the American system, or will we keep building on what made our nation the most exceptional the world has ever seen?

Republicans have delivered

Republicans have chosen to build.

In this Congress, thanks to legislation like the Working Families Tax Cuts, Americans are keeping more of what they earn. We ensured an average $10,900 boost in take-home pay for a family of four through no tax on tips and overtime, a bigger standard deduction, an expanded child tax credit and tax relief for buyers of American-made cars.

We created the first-ever nationwide school choice program to empower parents, and we launched Trump Accounts, opening an investment account that grows with the stock market to children born between 2025 and 2028.

We cut $1.6 trillion in wasteful federal spending and are unleashing American energy dominance after years of Democratic efforts to choke off domestic production and phase out fossil fuels.

As a result, more than a million private-sector jobs have been added, and American manufacturing is coming home as pro-growth policies work in concert with President Donald Trump’s reshoring agenda.

Despite Democrats forcing three government shutdowns, including the longest in U.S. history, Republicans delivered historic results in two years with the slimmest House majority since the Great Depression.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party keeps pushing further left and courting a new generation of voters energized by the Democratic Socialists of America and its false promise of a progressive utopia. DSA is proud of the platform it published, calling for eradicating our borders and prisons, granting mass amnesty to illegal immigrants in perpetuity, abolishing the Senate, and replacing both the presidency and the Supreme Court with an executive and judiciary handpicked by a DSA-run Congress.

And it’s not just the fringes of the party embracing these insane ideas. Party leaders are making room for them, too. The top Democrats in Congress are welcoming these candidates into their “big tent.”

A Democratic victory in the midterms would inevitably cede unprecedented power to this growing socialist cadre, whose stated aim is to remake the party and end the free market system. Old-school Democratic strategist James Carville admitted he’d rather Republicans keep the House than Democrats win it by five, because his party would be “hostage to the DSA.” On this, Carville is right.

For a preview of where that road leads, just look at France. The violent riots rocking the country – the smashing of buildings and cars, the looting of hundreds of shops, the torching of a historic town hall in Limoges – are not the “peaceful demonstrations” of disgruntled students or a French people who simply “love to protest.”

The crisis there is the inevitable result of decades of catastrophically misguided policy choices: lax immigration and border enforcement, suffocating regulation and government largesse that has stagnated growth, stifled innovation and driven debt to a staggering 119% of GDP. By abandoning the principles of assimilation and fiscal restraint, French leaders have allowed their once-great nation to be looted and burned by far-left radicals who hate it.

The chaos unfolding in France is a dark harbinger of what could happen here if Democrats take back the House. What generations built over centuries can be torn down in a few years – but only if we allow it. May God help us not make that mistake.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Paul Tonko (Capital Region New York)

ALBANY, NY — U.S. Congressman Paul D. Tonko and U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $8,180,000 from the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law in Safe Streets and Roads For All (SS4A) grant funding to improve safety at major roadways throughout the Capital Region. The lawmakers explained that this funding will fund safety analyses and launch pilot programs for emergency vehicle alerts, prehospital blood delivery, and more to improve roadway safety outcomes in Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, and Schoharie counties.

“Before the investments made with our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, our communities faced many hazards from crumbling road and water infrastructure, legacy pollution, and other serious threats to safety,” Congressman Tonko said. “Thanks to our historic law, we’re seeing meaningful action that makes our Capital Region a better, safer place to call home. I look forward to seeing our New York communities continue to reap the benefits of this investment, and pledge to not stop in my effort to deliver for our Capital Region and beyond.”

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law we passed is paving the way for safer roads in the Capital Region. I am proud to deliver this $8.2 million federal investment to help give communities across the Capital Region the tools they need to improve street safety,” said Senator Schumer. “These grants will help improve road safety and save lives by developing comprehensive action plans. I will continue fighting to deliver funding for safer streets in every corner of New York.”

“Programs like Safe Streets and Roads for All are vital to preventing traffic tragedies in our communities,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This $8.2 million investment will allow the Capital Region to develop and implement targeted safety plans where they are needed most. I am proud to deliver these federal dollars, and I will keep fighting to ensure New Yorkers can travel safely.”

The lawmakers explained that the nearly $8.2 million will be divided between three projects serving nine counties:

• $4 million for the Capital Region Integrated Roadway Safety and Post-Crash Care Initiative to develop a Supplemental Action Plan and conduct demonstration activities focused on post-crash care, emergency response coordination, and crash prevention across New York’s Capital Region. Work includes safety analysis, partner coordination, protocol development, and pilots for emergency vehicle alerts, responder data interoperability, prehospital blood delivery, and responder protection to improve survivability, dispatch efficiency, and roadway safety outcomes.
• $4 million for the Wilton Emergency Squad in Saratoga County to develop a Supplemental Action Plan and conduct demonstration activities focused on post-crash care, emergency response coordination, and roadway safety across its service area. Work includes safety analysis of high-risk corridors, stakeholder coordination, protocol development, and temporary pilots such as emergency vehicle transponder alerts, data interoperability tools, signal pre-emption, and prehospital blood delivery to inform future safety initiatives.
• $180,000 for the City of Hudson to develop its first Comprehensive Safety Action Plan for the city and conduct a temporary demonstration activity at a community-identified location. The work includes developing a high-injury network, completing a systemic risk assessment, reviewing policies, engaging partners and the public, and identifying safety strategies to address crashes involving vulnerable road users and freight traffic; demonstration results such as speed and near-miss data will inform the final Action Plan.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Rep Ro Khanna (CA-17)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representatives Ro Khanna (D-CA), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Greg Landsman (D-OH), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) reintroduced the bipartisan Campus Accountability and Safety Act after recent incidents of alleged sexual assault at Cornell University and Louisana State University. The legislation would improve the way colleges and universities report incidents of sexual assault that take place on their campuses, and it would protect both survivors and accused students by ensuring that schools have a uniform and fair process for investigating and conducting campus disciplinary proceedings. Additionally, it would create new resources and support services for survivors and set new notification requirements for both survivors and accused students involved in the campus disciplinary process.

“After the horrific allegations at Cornell, LSU, and the countless stories we have heard from survivors on campuses across the country, Congress must act to protect survivors and ensure there is accountability. Due to stigma, many survivors don’t report sexual violence, much less pursue justice through their university’s system, and many perpetrators are never held accountable. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan bill with my colleagues to increase transparency, provide resources for survivors, and reduce barriers in the reporting process,” said Rep. Khanna. 

“Students can’t learn if they are not safe. No student should have to fear sexual harassment, violence, or stalking while pursuing an education. The horrifying allegations recently brought to light at Cornell underscore the urgent need for action. Survivors of sexual abuse deserve confidential support and to be heard and treated with dignity. This legislation strengthens transparency and accountability and makes clear that keeping students safe is a fundamental responsibility of every college and university,” said Rep. Frankel.

“Students have to be kept safe on college campuses. The reports of sexual violence at colleges and universities make it clear that changes are needed. Our bipartisan effort will ensure there’s way more transparency, accountability, and support for students,” said Rep. Landsman.

“Sexual assault on college campuses continues to be a crisis that demands our immediate action. And, as with all crimes, weak enforcement and insufficient accountability only embolden perpetrators to act with impunity. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation is a commitment to our students that we are taking action: action to ensure their safety and action to hold our educational institutions accountable by transforming how sexual assault and violence are handled and addressed. By demanding greater transparency, enforcing stringent accountability measures, and providing essential resources and support to victims, we can eliminate the toxic culture of inaction that has plagued our campuses for too long and create a safer environment for our students,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick.

Specifically, the Campus Accountability and Safety Act would: 

• Increase transparency and reporting requirements under the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act by mandating that the institution’s website include campus safety policies, an annual security report, instructions for filing a complaint, and statistics of sexual misconduct allegations on campus.  
• Create sexual and interpersonal violence specialists at each institution to serve as confidential aides for victims. 
• Ensure that sexual and interpersonal violence specialists are well-trained by requiring training created by the Department of Education. 
• Ensure that individuals who report sexual misconduct in good faith are not punished for acts of self-defense, or alcohol or drug use, that is revealed by that report.  
• Expand the VAWA Campus Grant Program to also address sexual harassment on campuses.  
• Requires the comptroller general to study the effectiveness of VAWA grants and submit a report to Congress within 2 years of enactment. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), senior member of the House Ways & Means Trade Subcommittee and active member of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, and Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), senior appropriator and Co-Chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, demanded U.S. Customs & Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott enforce federal sanctions law prohibiting the import and sale of Russian diesel in the United States and refer any attempted importations for prosecution.

“A Putin diesel tanker is en route to reach an American port in early November.  Any business, considering complicity in violating federal law should consider the consequences.  Those who import, purchase, or transport banned Russian diesel engage in unlawful conduct. They can expect prompt congressional investigation and eventual prosecution.  Trump’s illegal sanctions waiver may protect his pal Putin but will not protect Americans who engage in criminal conduct,” said Congressman Doggett.

“The law is clear—it is illegal to import Russian energy into the United States. Any entity that facilitates such importation or purchases will be directly funding Dictator Vladimir Putin’s barbaric war against Ukraine in violation of Federal law. Such actions warrant serious consequences,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). “We expect to see US Customs and Border Protection turn these Russian tankers away at the border.”

On October 9th, after a call between President Trump and Vladimir Putin, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued General License 135, authorizing the sale, delivery, offloading, and “importation into the United States” of Russian diesel through April 7, 2027. Now, three vessels carrying roughly 40,000 metric tons of Russian diesel are expected to arrive next week.

This shipment directly violates the Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act, which passed the House 413–9 and the Senate unanimously, and was signed into law on April 8, 2022. Under the law, there is a strict ban on the importation of all Russian energy products classified under chapter 27 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, which includes diesel. The law allows the ban to end only if the President certifies that Russia has ended its war on terms Ukraine accepts, after consulting Congress and giving it 90 days to object. The President has done none of this.

In response to the approaching vessels, the Members are demanding CBP enforce federal law and refer any attempted importation of Russian diesel for prosecution.

You can read their letter here and below.

The Honorable Rodney S. Scott

Commissioner

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20229

Dear Commissioner Scott:

As Members of Congress, including the sponsor of the Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act (Public Law 117-109), we write regarding Russian diesel now bound for American ports. According to press reports, the Agioi Fanendes loaded roughly 40,000 metric tons of diesel at the Russian port of Primorsk and listed the Port of New York and New Jersey as its destination, with arrival expected around November 7. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the agency charged with enforcing the import prohibitions Congress enacts. We urge you to enforce this one.

The law is clear. Section 2 of the Act bans the importation into the United States of all Russian Federation products classified under chapter 27 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, which includes diesel. Section 3 provides the only way to lift that ban: the President must consult with Congress, submit a report, and certify that Russia has reached an agreement to withdraw its forces and end hostilities that Ukraine accepts, poses no immediate military threat to any NATO member, and recognizes the right of Ukrainians to choose their own government. Congress then has 90 days to disapprove. None of these steps has been taken, and Russia continues its war against Ukraine.

General License 135, issued by the Treasury Department at President Trump’s direction after his call with Vladimir Putin, purports to authorize these imports but cannot set aside a prohibition Congress wrote into statute. Any Russian diesel brought into the United States is imported contrary to law.

Those who take part face serious criminal exposure. Under 18 U.S.C. § 545, anyone who knowingly imports merchandise contrary to law, or who “receives, conceals, buys, sells, or in any manner facilitates the transportation, concealment, or sale of such merchandise after importation,” knowing it was imported contrary to law, may be imprisoned for up to 20 years. Fines can reach $250,000 for an individual and $500,000 for a company, or twice the gross gain from the transaction. The merchandise, or its value, is subject to forfeiture.

That reach is broad. It extends beyond the importer of record to:

1. buyers and sellers of the fuel, including traders and brokers;
2. customs brokers who file the entry;
3. terminal and storage operators that receive or hold it;
4. pipeline, barge, rail, and truck carriers that move it inland; and
5. distributors and wholesalers that buy or resell it.

 Prosecution under § 545 may be brought up to five years after the offense.

The stakes are real. Reuters valued the first 300,000 tons of diesel Russia has promised at roughly $400 million. At that price, the up to 4.8 million tons President Trump announced after speaking with Putin would be worth more than $6 billion, and the single cargo aboard the Agioi Fanendes more than $50 million. Every sale strengthens the Russian economy that finances Putin’s war against Ukraine.

Americans would get almost nothing in return. The Agioi Fanendes cargo amounts to roughly 300,000 barrels, less than three hours of fuel for the U.S. transportation sector, according to Energy Information Administration data. Even the full 4.8 million tons would cover less than two weeks. 

Given the expected arrival dates, we ask that you respond to the following questions immediately:

1. Has CBP received any entry filing or advance notice for a vessel carrying Russian-origin diesel, including the Agioi Fanendes? If so, who is the importer of record, and who are the consignee and customs broker?
2. What instructions has CBP given its port directors, including at the Port of New York and New Jersey, on the entry of Russian-origin chapter 27 products?
3. Has CBP received direction from the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Homeland Security, or the White House to admit these products? If so, please provide it.
4. Will CBP refuse entry to, and seize, Russian-origin diesel imported contrary to the Act? If not, under what legal authority would CBP admit it?
5. Will CBP issue guidance to the trade community making clear that these imports remain prohibited by statute, and that anyone who imports, buys, sells, or facilitates the sale of this fuel may face criminal penalties of up to 20 years in prison, substantial fines, and forfeiture?
6. Will CBP refer any attempted importation of Russian-origin diesel to Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Justice?

 Congress enacted this ban, with overwhelming bipartisan support, to deny Putin the resources to wage his war. No one who handles this fuel should be under any illusion about the risks. We urge CBP to enforce the law as written.

Sincerely,

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Bryan Steil (Wisconsin-1)

Today, Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01) awarded Burlington veteran Senior Master Sergeant Shane Morris, USAF, Retired, with the First Congressional District’s 2026 Veteran of the Year Award.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Paul A Gosar DDS (AZ-04)

Kingman, AZ — Congressman Paul Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-09), today announced a major step forward in efforts to release 832.6 acres of federally obligated property at Kingman Municipal Airport, following the Federal Aviation Administration’s publication of a notice seeking public comment on the City of Kingman’s land-release request.

After years of work to move this process forward, Congressman Gosar has worked directly with FAA leadership and local officials to address outstanding issues and advance the proposal.  The FAA’s notice, published in the October 29 Federal Register, brings the project one step closer to allowing Kingman to put this long-underutilized property to productive use.

“This has taken far too long, but we are finally making real progress,” said Congressman Gosar. “I have worked persistently with the FAA and Kingman officials to get this across the finish line. This land represents an enormous opportunity for Kingman, and I have pushed to make sure federal red tape does not stand in the way of local economic development.  We are not at the finish line yet, but this is an important step in the right direction.”

The FAA is considering the City of Kingman’s request to release 832.6 acres from federal airport-use obligations, allowing the city to dispose of the property for non-aeronautical purposes.  The property includes an approximately 790-acre parcel, and an additional 42.6 acres associated with the proposed Flying Fortress Parkway.  The FAA notice identifies a fair market value of $8 million for the property.

Located adjacent to Kingman Airport and the Airport Industrial Park, with direct access to a BNSF Railway mainline, the property offers significant potential for industrial development, manufacturing, logistics and future job creation.  Moving the land-release process forward will help Kingman attract private investment, expand its economic base and create new opportunities for residents throughout Mohave County.

Gosar also praised Kingman’s local leadership for its foresight and continued cooperation in pursuing the release.

“Kingman’s local officials understand what this property could mean for the community, and they have stayed at the table and done the work to move this forward,” Gosar said. “I appreciate their partnership and their willingness to work constructively with my office and the FAA. When local leaders have a vision for their community, the federal government should be a partner in making that vision a reality—not an obstacle.”

The FAA is accepting public comments on the proposed land release through November 27, 2026. Public participation is an important part of the process before the FAA makes its final determination.

Gosar encouraged interested residents and stakeholders to review the notice and submit comments before the deadline.

“This is an opportunity for the public to weigh in on a project that matters to Kingman’s future,” Gosar said. “We need to keep this process moving and get this land into a position where it can support economic growth, investment and good-paying jobs.  I will continue working with local officials and the FAA until we get this across the finish line.”

The FAA’s notice of intent to rule on the land-release request is available in the Federal Register. Written comments must be received by November 27, 2026. Instructions for submitting comments and the FAA’s contact information are provided in the official notice.

Click here to read the FAA notice.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Paul A Gosar DDS (AZ-04)

Goodyear, AZ — Congressman Paul Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-09), today invited Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to Arizona for a flyover tour of the Colorado River system and the communities, farms, mines, Tribal lands, and infrastructure affected by the federal government’s proposed water reductions.

In a follow-up letter to Secretary Burgum, Gosar expressed concern over the secretary’s recent characterization of Arizona’s impending water cuts as “completely manageable” during an interview with KOLD News 13, emphasizing the importance of evaluating these reductions in the context of their real-world consequences for Arizona’s communities and economy.

“Respectfully, what may look manageable in a Washington briefing room looks very different on the ground in Arizona,” said Congressman Gosar. “Arizona has conserved water, invested in infrastructure, and done its part.  We cannot continue to shoulder a disproportionate share of the burden while other states are spared mandatory cuts. Arizona deserves fair treatment.”

Under the current federal framework, Arizona faces a reduction of 760,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water over the next two years—roughly one-quarter of its allocation.  California faces a reduction of 440,000 acre-feet, Nevada faces 50,000 acre-feet, and the four Upper Basin states face no mandatory reductions under the framework.

“Water is life for Arizonans,” Gosar said.  “It sustains our families, farms, communities, mines, military installations, and industries essential to our economic and national security.  These decisions have real consequences, and we must ensure Arizona’s concerns are fully understood and fairly addressed.”

Gosar also emphasized the importance of protecting Arizona’s Tribal Nations and ensuring their concerns are fully addressed in negotiations over the Colorado River’s future.

“Tribal Nations are sovereign nations with water rights, communities, and futures at stake,” Gosar said.  “Their concerns must be meaningfully addressed—not overlooked or treated as an afterthought in decisions that will affect generations to come.”

Gosar’s invitation builds on his September 29 letter to Secretary Burgum, in which he urged the Department of the Interior to ensure Arizona receives fair treatment under the new federal operating framework.

During the proposed flyover, Gosar hopes to show the secretary firsthand the challenges facing Arizona’s water delivery systems and the communities and industries that depend on them, while discussing practical solutions to strengthen the state’s long-term water security.

Gosar has long advocated for solutions that go beyond conservation alone, including desalination, advanced water treatment, aquifer recharge, water storage, and conveyance infrastructure.

“My goal is to work with the administration to find practical, lasting solutions that protect Arizona’s water security, respect Tribal sovereignty, and strengthen the future of the American West. I look forward to welcoming Secretary Burgum to Arizona and working toward a fair framework that recognizes the realities on the ground,” concluded Congressman Gosar.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)

Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), the top Democrat on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, announced the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) awarded $66.4 million to the City of Blaine to build an overpass at the Bell Road rail crossing, and $2.3 million to the City of Mount Vernon to examine potential upgrades to eight rail crossings.

“$66 million is a massive win for Blaine that will make Bell Road safer and less congested while creating jobs,” said Rep. Larsen. “Mount Vernon is at the start of the planning process to identify which crossings to improve, and I will continue to work with local leaders to fight for many more projects in the future. Thank you Department of Transportation Secretary Duffy for recognizing the importance of these investments in rail safety for the communities I represent.”

The grants were awarded under FRA’s Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant Program, the first-ever dedicated federal grant initiative to help communities eliminate highway-rail grade-level crossings to reduce train-vehicle collisions and blocked rail crossings, and improve the movement of people and goods. RCE was established in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which Rep. Larsen helped pass in 2021.

“This $66 million federal investment is a major milestone for Blaine and a tremendous investment in the safety and future of our community,” said Mary Lou Steward, Mayor of Blaine. “The Bell Road overpass will eliminate train-related delays at this crossing, make daily travel safer and more reliable, and help ensure first responders can reach people when every second counts. We are grateful to our federal partners, BNSF, David Evans and Associates, City staff, and everyone who has worked to advance this long-awaited project. This investment will strengthen connections across our region and benefit our residents and businesses for generations to come.”

“Mount Vernon residents spend a significant amount of their daily commute waiting at railroad crossings,” said Peter Donovan, Mayor of Mount Vernon. “These crossings also impact first responders, public transit, school transportation, and commerce in general. Investments like this lay the groundwork for future improvements that will drastically improve our residents’ quality of life and economic vitality. When small cities like Mount Vernon obtain federal dollars like this, it has everything to do with the efforts of our hard-working federal delegation. We are once again deeply appreciative of Representative Rick Larsen’s advocacy and insistence that local infrastructure remain at the forefront of our national transportation conversation and strategy.”

In total, Washington state received nearly $105 million in RCE grants. Other awards in Washington include $26 million for the Port of Longview to construct a grade-separated overpass $8.9 million for the Port of Pend Oreille for safety improvements at multiple grade-crossings, and $800,000 for the City of Ellensburg and $480,000 for the City of Kennewick for highway-rail grade crossing planning projects.

Larsen Champions Rail Safety

Rep. Larsen has long been focused on improving rail safety in Northwest Washington and across the country. In 2023, he helped secure a $9.5 million grant for the City of Blaine to improve safety and accessibility and reduce congestion at the Bell Road rail crossing. In 2025, he helped the City of Everett secure an $18 million grant from FRA to eliminate two at-grade railroad crossings that pose significant risks to public safety through the construction of an overpass and new integrated roundabout near the Smith Island railroad terminal in Everett.

Rep. Larsen helped pass the BIL, which made $102 billion available for rail improvement projects. Rep. Larsen’s BUILD America 250 Act, which continues the investments made by BIL, provides nearly $83 billion in highway and multimodal funding to local communities.

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