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Border concerns dominate Rick Larsen visit

By Meg Olson

After meeting with two-dozen community members U.S. Representative Rick Larsen is working on a process through which local residents and businesses can work out solutions to their border issues. “Rather than just tackle things on a case by case basis, let’s try and define some broad issues and bring those locally to the Department of Homeland Security,” he said. “There is still some way to go to get people to understand the unique needs of Point Roberts. It’s going to require a new balance.”

Larsen called a town hall meeting August 17 to talk about his work in Congress and check in with local concerns. “It’s my opportunity to connect Washington D.C. with Point Roberts,” he said.

Audience members gave Larsen the standard panoply of Point Roberts border grievances: lines are too long, there are unreasonable limits on groceries and on what can come and go via NEXUS lanes, rude treatment from inspectors, confusing and unreasonable regulations thwarting local businesses.

Larsen reiterated that Canada is the U.S. number one trading partner, and in the case of Point Roberts it’s more like a marriage. “The Department of Homeland security is still coming to grips with that uniqueness,” he said. Larsen said he felt it would be an ongoing process of balancing security and community needs. “You don’t solve issues at the border,” he said, quoting former senior staff member Andy Anderson. “You manage them.”

Following the meeting Larsen said his staff would look into putting together a smaller group that could come up with a list of recommendations to ease up getting goods and people across the Point Roberts border that Larsen would then meet with the local port director to discuss. “Let’s see if we can come up with things collectively,” he said. “People seemed positive about creating a problem-solving forum.”
Reporting from Washington D.C. Larsen said a theme in the recent 9/11 commission report was that “the only risk greater than terrorism is continuing to fight terrorism the way we are now,” which could stimulate more changes at the border. He recommended to the audience they read the report. Larsen also reported on his work on a bill sending the states a $300 billion dollar package of transportation dollars that would help ease the pinch on Washington roads. “Transportation means jobs,” he said.

Larsen urged community members to continue bringing concerns and feedback to his office. “There’s a saying, ‘politicians don’t see the light, they feel the heat,’” he said.

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