Larsen Supports Bipartisan Bill to Pay Public Servants

Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement: “I support the bipartisan Senate bill to pay Coasties, TSA agents, CISA experts, FEMA staff and other DHS employees who do important work protect our country. Unfortunately, House Republicans have rejected that and chosen to continue to force public servants to work without pay and Americans to wait in line for hours to catch a flight. “Since the beginning of this shutdown, I have fought to pay DHS staff and require ICE to follow the same rules as every state and local law enforcement agency. This fight is not over. I continue to honor and thank the DHS employees who have missed a paycheck and continued to show up to serve their fellow Americans.” Yesterday, Rep. Larsen voted no on a bill to fund DHS, ICE and CBP through May 22, 2026. The bill passed the House by a vote of 213 to 203. Rep. Larsen is cosponsoring legislation to fully fund FEMA, the U.S. Coast Guard, TSA and every other agency within DHS except ICE, CBP and the Office of the DHS Secretary. He is the top Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which has jurisdiction over FEMA and the U.S. Coast Guard. Rep. Larsen supports negotiating a full-year funding bill for ICE, CBP and the office of the DHS Secretary that creates accountability and oversight of ICE operations and DHS detention facilities. ###