U.S. Congressman Rep. Rick Larsen, representative for Washington state’s 2nd Congressional District congressional district, welds his initials onto the keel during a keel laying authentication, July 8, 2026, in Mount Vernon, Washington. These next generation boats will replace the 52-foot heavy weather boats that were in service from the 1950s until 2021 and are designed to perform a wide range of Coast Guard missions in extreme weather and challenging surf conditions that exceed the capabilities of other boats. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Briana Carter)