Larsen visits Blaine anchor chain manufacturer

Congressman Rick Larsen (D-WA) toured Lister Chain and Forge in Blaine on June 7.

Lister is the exclusive manufacturer of ship anchors and chains for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, which are both expected to undergo extensive fleet modernization efforts in the coming decades.

In 2021, Larsen and Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (D-WA) requested Congress close two loopholes in the 2022 Defense Appropriations bill that would have allowed the U.S. Department of Defense to outsource its anchor chains to foreign companies, potentially leading to job losses at Lister. The loophole subsequently closed.

During his visit, Larsen, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, touted the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which will provide over $1 trillion for improving roads, bridges and transit throughout the U.S.

“The technology of building our next generation of roads and bridges is changing,” Larsen said. “There are opportunities up here.”

Lister, which employs 40 people, is located at 3810 Loomis Trail Road. The company has provided product for the Department of Defense since 1988.