Press Releases
Kilmer Seeks to Shine a Spotlight on Disparities Facing Tribal Communities
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) led a bipartisan group of Members of Congress urging the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to update a 2003 report to provide clear details on the disparities facing Native American communities. The original report, A Quiet Crisis: Federal Funding and Unmet Needs in Indian Country found that federal investments too often failed to provide quality health care, education, and housing among other basic needs. In the letter, Kilmer and 19… Continue Reading
05.12.15
Kilmer Calls for New Study of Jet Noise over Olympic National Park
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) called for a new study of military jet noise over Olympic National Park. Kilmer urged the National Park Service to collect new noise samples and data for the Federal Interagency Committee on Aviation Noise (FICAN). He also asked FICAN to review the NPS findings along with previous studies from other agencies like the Department of Defense. The new review would come as the Navy has proposed expanding training missions on the Olympic … Continue Reading
05.08.15
In Port Angeles, Kilmer Joins Official Launch of the Olympic Peninsula Collaborative
PORT ANGELES, WA - Today, Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) joined the official launch of the Olympic Peninsula Collaborative in Port Angeles. Kilmer hosted an interactive panel discussion with local stakeholders to detail how the collaborative will seek to benefit the environmental quality of area forests and support sustainable timber harvests on the Olympic Peninsula. Kilmer was joined at the event by regional leaders from the National Forest Service, local governments, the local timber … Continue Reading
05.07.15
Hatch, Warner, Joyce and Kilmer Urge Improvement for Loan Assistance Programs for Teachers
Washington, D.C.—Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, along with Senator Mark Warner, D-Va., Representative David Joyce, R-Ohio, and Representative Derek Kilmer, D-Wash., sent a letter to the Department of Education recommending measures to simplify the loan forgiveness process for teachers. The letter cited department statistics indicating that the United States is in dire need of more teachers, and an effort to improve the loan assistance programs could potentially attract more talented educators to o… Continue Reading
05.01.15
Kilmer Statement on Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) released the following statement after he voted against the Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill. All major veterans groups have come out against the legislation including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion, and the Paralyzed Veterans of America. “I represent more veterans than any other Democrat in Congress,” said Kilmer. “As a member of the Appropriations Committ… Continue Reading
04.24.15
Kilmer, Visclosky Make Progress Increasing Flexibility for Veterans Seeking Healthcare
WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 23, 2015 - The House Appropriations Committee passed a bill that includes a provision authored by Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Pete Visclosky (D-IN) to increase flexibility for veterans seeking healthcare. The initiative was contained in the Fiscal year (FY) 2016 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill that cleared the committee yesterday. The report language would make it easier for veterans with long travel times to VA clinics to get c… Continue Reading
04.22.15
On Earth Day, Kilmer, Herrera Beutler Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Fight Ocean Acidification
WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 22, 2015 - On Earth Day, Representatives Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to help fight ocean acidification. The bill, entitled the Ocean Acidification Innovation Act, would allow federal agencies to use existing funds to design prize competitions in order to increase our ability to manage, research, and monitor ocean acidification and its impacts. This budget-neutral legislation was created in collaboration wi… Continue Reading
04.22.15
Kilmer-Backed Provisions Included in Military and Veterans Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the House Appropriations Committee passed a bill that includes provisions authored by Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA). The Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill contains initiatives from Kilmer that increase veterans’ access to care, encourage the use of innovative timber projects by the military, and save taxpayers money at the Department of Veterans Affairs by encouraging the use of commercial cloud computing technolog… Continue Reading
04.03.15
Kilmer Visits University of Puget Sound Classroom, Talks to Students about Debt Graduates Face
TACOMA, WA -Representative Derek Kilmer joined a class at the University of Puget Sound (UPS) yesterday to highlight legislation he’s working on to help graduates dealing with debt and make it easier to establish a career. Last year, a Pew Research study found that a third of Americans aged 26-33 have a four year college degree. But the total amount graduates owe in student loans has skyrocketed by 112.5% since 2007. Upon graduation the average person faces $27,689 in debt. This has made it… Continue Reading
03.31.15
Kilmer Hails New Official Report Recommending Overtime for Shipyard Workers Overseas
BREMERTON, WA - Today, Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) released the following statement after the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a new report recommending a permanent extension of overtime for civilian shipyard workers overseas. OPM indicated a two-year overtime extension should be approved so that the agency can work with the Department of Defense on the long-term solution. “We need to show shipyard workers we have their backs,” said Kilmer. “I’m glad that this key agency rep… Continue Reading
03.26.15
Kilmer Votes to Approve Landmark, Bipartisan Bill to Ensure Medicare Patients’ Access to Doctors
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) voted to approve a bipartisan agreement that ensures Medicare patients’ access to physicians, continues providing healthcare to low-income children, and extends a program key to rural communities on the Olympic Peninsula. The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (H.R. 2) was approved by a vote of 392-37. The legislation now moves to the Senate for consideration. In 1997, Congress created the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) for… Continue Reading
03.26.15
Kilmer Statement on Bill to Reform Department of Defense Acquisition System
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) noted the introduction of a bill to reform the Department of Defense’s (DoD) acquisition system. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, released legislation focused on strengthening the DoD’s workforce. The bill will eventually be included as part of the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act. “Reforming the Pentagon’s purchasing system will help us maintain the best fighting force in the world,” sai… Continue Reading
03.26.15
Kilmer Statement on House Budget
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) released the following statement after voting against the House Republican budget proposal. “A budget is a reflection of our values. It’s not simply numbers on a spreadsheet. Our nation’s budget shows what we care about; and what as a nation we aspire to be. The budget the House passed today fails to live up to our values and aspirations. It fails to make the kinds of investments in infrastructure and economic growth that will crea… Continue Reading
03.25.15
Kilmer Presses Canadian Delegation on Solution to Sewage Being Dumped into the Strait of Juan de Fuca
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) met with members of the Canadian parliament and pressed them to find a solution to the dumping of raw sewage from Canada into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The meeting was a part of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group (IPG), a bilateral association that includes members from the Senate and the House of Commons of Canada. “It’s time for Canada to solve this sewage problem,” said Kilmer. “I grew up in Port Angeles, right … Continue Reading
03.24.15
Reps. Huffman, Kilmer, DeFazio Statement on Bipartisan Agreement to Renew Secure Rural Schools Program
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congressmen Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), Derek Kilmer (D-WA-06), and Peter DeFazio (D-OR-04) today released the following statements after securing a renewal of the Secure Rural Schools program, which expired last September due to Congressional inaction. The renewal will be included in an upcoming vote this week. “I am pleased that funding for rural communities was included in this bipartisan bill, and I was glad to be able to work with my colleagues Peter DeFazio and Derek Kilme… Continue Reading
03.23.15
Heitkamp, Inhofe, Kilmer, Cole Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Ease Financial Costs of Adoption in Tribal Communities
U.S. Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) and James Inhofe (R-OK) as well as U.S. Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Tom Cole (R-OK) today reintroduced bipartisan legislation ease the financial challenges of adopting children in tribal communities throughout the country. In all 50 states, parents who adopt children with special needs are able to claim the full adoption tax credit, helping to reduce the financial cost of adoption. However, if they open their homes to a child with special needs … Continue Reading
03.02.15
Kilmer, Jones Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Stop Policy that Lowers Compensation for Defense Workers
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Representatives Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and Walter Jones (NC-03) introduced bipartisan legislation to stop a policy that lowers compensation for federal employees and active-duty servicemembers who travel for work. Last fall, the Department of Defense (DOD) enacted a proposal that passed the burden of finding affordable lodging while on assignment onto the individual employee rather than the department or service. The members’ bill would prohibit reducing the rate of per … Continue Reading
02.26.15
VIDEO: Kilmer Calls on House to Approve Funding for the Department of Homeland Security
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) called for the House of Representatives to approve funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In a speech on the House floor, Kilmer highlighted the impacts a DHS shutdown could have on federal workers and emergency services in Washington state. Without Congressional action, DHS will run out of funds for its budget on February 27. In Washington state there are more than 6,000 DHS employees and in Kilmer’s district there … Continue Reading
02.24.15
Review of Veterans Healthcare System Called for by Kilmer Moving Forward
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) praised the effort to comprehensively study management problems at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The Government Accountability Office (GAO) agreed to examine the organization's layout, workforce, and IT systems after a request from Kilmer. The report follows numerous reports of manipulated wait times and management failures at the VHA. "We have an obligation to care for veterans who sacrificed so much to fight for our… Continue Reading
02.24.15
Kilmer Urges Army Corps to Take Action to Ensure Completion of the Quillayute Harbor Dredging Project
WASHINGTON, DC - Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) urged the Army Corps to take action to complete the Quillayute Harbor dredging project in a timely manner. In a letter to Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army Civil Works, Kilmer called for the Corps to recover taxpayer dollars and hold the contractor accountable for failing to complete work on the Quillayute River Navigation Project. Kilmer noted that the failure to complete this project would have an impact on the local econom… Continue Reading