By Rick Larsen / For The Herald
This week, the world witnessed the peaceful transfer of power from the Biden administration to a new administration. Remarkably, the new administration continues to make the wild claim that America is “on the decline.”
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Although several persistent challenges remain for the country, including the cost of living, housing and the opioid crisis, the new administration comes into office with the ability to build on a strong foundation put in place over the last four years under President Biden. Don’t take my word for it; numbers show this.
The new administration should be credited for what it improves upon and held accountable for where it takes us backward.
President Biden inherited a sputtering economy, a raging pandemic and unemployment above 6 percent. Four years later, President Biden turned over to the new administration an economy on the move, with unemployment down to 4.1 percent nationwide. The Biden-led infrastructure law, which was signed in November 2021, is a major reason for this boom, putting people back to work constructing and rebuilding America’s roads, bridges, highways, waterways, transit and rail.
You’ve likely seen this law in action. The Biden-led infrastructure law is bringing Sound Transit light rail service to Lynnwood, safer roads to Blaine and the Tulalip Tribes, better infrastructure to Paine Field and Skagit Regional Airport, and the largest public electric vehicle charging hub in the country at the Mount Vernon Library Commons.
Despite campaigning on economic issues, the new administration appears to have nothing in the works to help expand housing, bring down the cost of health care, create good-paying jobs and tackle inflation. Indeed, in the first two weeks of the new Congress, House Republicans did not pass a single bill to lower costs or help working families or small businesses.
Consider the cost of living: An inflation hangover contributed to Democratic losses in the 2024 elections, and prices remain persistently high. Residents in Edmonds and Oak Harbor wrote me about the higher cost of everyday groceries, including the higher cost of eggs. In 2024, the average American shopper paid $3.17 for a dozen eggs; nearly double the average price from 2021. This week, a dozen eggs at the Safeway on Broadway in Everett costs $5.99, which does not make it easy for the working families I represent.
A new administration in control of both houses of Congress could spearhead bold legislation to tackle inflation. Instead, the new administration’s signature issue is passing tariffs that would raise prices on everyday Americans by approximately $2,600 a year. These tariffs would hit Washington state particularly hard, where many jobs are inherently tied to trade.
Consider foreign policy: Faced with global challenges, including economic competition, climate change and advanced technology, the new administration’s foreign policy plans will antagonize rivals, alienate partners and cede global leadership to China and other nations that do not share U.S. values. These competitors are eager to rewrite the global rules in ways that could weaken the U.S. and threaten jobs in the global economy.
The new administration faces other persistent challenges that they must work with Congress to address, including immigration. Immigrants make Northwest Washington — and indeed the entire country — a stronger and better place to live and work. This administration has the opportunity to work towards humane, bipartisan solutions that secure the border and reform the broken immigration system to better welcome those fleeing violence and seeking opportunity. Instead, the new administration scapegoats immigrants and seeks to undermine long-settled constitutional rights to citizenship, and make our communities less safe.
Ultimately, the new administration should be credited for what it improves upon and held accountable where it takes us backward; on keeping the economy moving and on tackling the persistent challenges of today and tomorrow. I am ready to get to work building on the progress made to create more jobs, lower prices for working families and keep the economy moving.
U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Everett, represents Washington’s Second Congressional District, which includes part of Snohomish County and all of Whatcom, Skagit, Island and San Juan counties. He currently serves as ranking member on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee.
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