In The News
Can This 'Marriage' Be Saved? How Conservatives and Liberals Can Learn to Trust Again
Over the past few years, I've led dozens of workshops in which ordinary Americans across the ideological spectrum share their strongly held political views. It's no surprise that liberals and conservatives have deep disagreements on the core issues facing America. But they usually agree on one thing: Congress is broken. As one participant exclaimed: "Please stop fighting all the time and get things done!" - ADVERTISEMENT - As another reflected: "Neither side is going to finally vanquish the … Continue Reading
07.25.21
House Appropriations Committee Advances New Federal Funding to Support Affordable Housing & Jobs on Tacoma’s Hilltop
On July 16, the House Appropriations Committee advanced new federal funding that has been championed by U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) to support two projects that aim to provide more affordable housing and job opportunities in the Hilltop neighborhood of Tacoma. The investments aim to revitalize a historic Tacoma neighborhood and to help ensure the residential and business spaces will be attainable to community residents and BIPOC-owned businesses. The House Appropriations Committee … Continue Reading
07.24.21
Kilmer Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Spur Economic Growth & Create Jobs
On July 22, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), along with Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03), introduced the bipartisan Rebuilding Economies and Creating Opportunities for More People Everywhere to Excel Act (RECOMPETE Act). The RECOMPETE Act would establish a new federal grant program at the Economic Development Agency (EDA) that would empower persistently distressed communities to develop, implement, and carry out 10-year economic developmen… Continue Reading
07.23.21
Herrera Beutler Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Create Federal Grant Program for Distressed Communities
Southwest Washington's U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, along with Washington Democrat Derek Kilmer, of Gig Harbor, introduced the "RECOMPETE Act" this week, which would establish a new federal grant program aimed at economically distressed communities. The Act, fully known as the "Rebuilding Economies and Creating Opportunities for More People Everywhere to Excel Act," would funnel money into infrastructure, rural broadband, brownfield redevelopment, workforce development, small business assis… Continue Reading
07.22.21
U.S. Keeps Canadian Border Closed for Another Month
PORT ANGELES - The U.S. government on Wednesday extended the closure of the land borders with Canada and Mexico to non-essential travelers until at least Aug. 21. The announcement by the Department of Homeland Security came two days after the Canadian government announced it would begin letting fully vaccinated U.S. citizens into Canada on Aug. 9, and those from the rest of the world on Sept. 7. It also means the MV Coho in Port Angeles will stay idled at least until August 21st. Coho official… Continue Reading
07.21.21
Q&A: Modernizing Congress With Rep. Kilmer
by Aaron Kunkler
The Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress has been working to update the nation's Legislative branch since its creation in January 2019. The Committee consists of six Democrats and six Republicans. It's chaired by Rep. Derek Kilmer of Washington state's 6th Congressional District, representing the Olympic peninsula. Since its inception, the Committee has issued a sweeping 97 recommendations, 24 of which have been approved by Congress. Some of its top priorities are improving sta… Continue Reading
07.13.21
U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer previews legislation
by Rob Ollikainen
PORT ANGELES - U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer touted the American Rescue Plan and previewed a bill he is authoring to help economically distressed areas like the North Olympic Peninsula in a virtual homecoming last week. Kilmer, a Gig Harbor Democrat who was raised in Port Angeles, told the Port Angeles City Council he planned to introduce a bipartisan bill that provides new grant funding to communities that have faced persistent challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Rebuilding Economies and Cr… Continue Reading
07.12.21
Opinion: Depolarizing Congress Starts With Relationships That Lead To Trust
by William Doherty
Over the past few years, I've led dozens of workshops in which ordinary Americans across the ideological spectrum share their strongly held political views. It's no surprise that liberals and conservatives have deep disagreements on the core issues facing America. But they usually agree on one thing: Congress is broken. As one participant exclaimed: "Please stop fighting all the time and get things done!" As another reflected: "Neither side is going to finally vanquish the other. So we'd bette… Continue Reading
07.10.21
Congressman Kilmer Visits Aberdeen to Talk Rail Separation Funding
by Dan Hammock
The need for relief from train and vehicle traffic conflicts in East Aberdeen is pretty well-known to anyone who regularly travels Highway 12. The trick is convincing federal funding sources of the project's importance, not just locally, but regionally and beyond. A roundabout and an overpass, part of the roughly $52 million proposed East Aberdeen rail separation project, would greatly improve safety and traffic flow, both private and commercial, through the area, which is responsible for about… Continue Reading
07.06.21
House Appropriations Subcommittees Advance Vital Federal Funding for Tribal Relocation Efforts in Western Washington
This week, the House Appropriations Committee advanced critical funding that has been championed by U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) to support tribal relocation efforts in Western Washington. The House fiscal year 2022 appropriations bills advanced by the Committee included $1,650,000 in federal funding for the Hoh Tribe's relocation development project and $1,479,355 in federal funding for the Quileute Tribe's Move to Higher Ground water system improvement project. The funding for the… Continue Reading
07.06.21
Kilmer-Led Culvert Amendment Part Of House Infrastructure Bill
by Dan Shalin
Washington, DC -Politicians and environmental leaders have offered their praise and support for an amendment to the INVEST in America Act designed to substantially invest in culvert restoration and aid anadromous fish passage and recovery efforts, according to the office of congressman Derek Kilmer (D-06). On July 1, the House of Representatives passed the $715 billion transportation and drinking water bill by a vote of 221-201, largely along party lines. This will set up talks with the Senate,… Continue Reading
07.05.21
U.S. House Advances Millions in Federal Funding for Grays Harbor Infrastructure Project
Legislation that cleared the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday includes millions of dollars in funding for Aberdeen and Hoquiam flood control projects, Heron Street Bridge rehabilitation and the East Aberdeen rail separation project. The INVEST in America Act aims to make transformational investments in highways, roads, bridges, transit, rail, and water infrastructure, and seeks to create good-paying jobs, modernize the nation's infrastructure, and reduce carbon pollution, according to … Continue Reading
07.05.21
House Passes Kilmer-Led Amendment to Support Fish Passage and Recovery in Infrastructure Legislation
On July 1, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the INVEST in America Act, which included an amendment led by Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and a bipartisan group of lawmakers from the Pacific Northwest to support salmon recovery. The amendment would create a new program within the U.S. Department of Transportation, the National Culvert Removal, Replacement, and Restoration Grant Program, to substantially invest in culvert restoration and aid anadromous fish passage and recovery effort… Continue Reading
07.04.21
Kilmer Secures Funding for Tacoma Infrastructure Priorities as Part of the INVEST in America Act
On July 1, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the INVEST in America Act, a comprehensive infrastructure package that aims to make transformational investments in highways, roads, bridges, transit, rail, and water infrastructure. Supporters of the bill believe it will create good-paying jobs, modernize the nation's infrastructure, and reduce carbon pollution. The legislation puts some of the key pieces of President Biden's infrastructure plan into legislation. The legislation also included… Continue Reading
07.02.21
House Advances Federal Funding for Grays Harbor Infrastructure
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the INVEST in America Act, a comprehensive infrastructure package that aims to make transformational investments in highways, roads, bridges, transit, rail, and water infrastructure. Representative Derek Kilmer states that this is consistent with President Biden's American Jobs Plan, legislation that seeks to create good-paying jobs, modernize the nation's infrastructure, and reduce carbon pollution. "Investing in infrastructure can put people to work n… Continue Reading
07.02.21
Bipartisanship: The Fruits of Collaboration Letter to the Editor
by Willie Dickerson
Re: "U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer helps restore civility to Congress" [June 30, Opinion]: Rep. Kilmer also demonstrates bipartisan work in the House beyond the committee. Recently, he and U.S. Rep. Brian Kevin Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., began circulating a bipartisan letter for representatives to sign calling on President Joe Biden to make a $1 billion pledge (spread over five years) to the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). The GPE has successfully partnered with more than 75 low-income countries to … Continue Reading
07.02.21
Bill Would Expand Retirement Options for Some Federal Employees
by Ian Smith
Legislation has been reintroduced to expand retirement options for some federal employees. For the third time in the past three years, The Federal Retirement Fairness Act (H.R. 4268) is being introduced by Congressman Derek Kilmer (D-WA). It would ensure that federal employees who began their careers as temporary workers are granted the opportunity to make catch-up retirement contributions so that they can retire on time, otherwise they would have to work longer to obtain full retirement benefi… Continue Reading
07.02.21
Guest Column: A Democrat and a Republican Walk into A…
by Elizabeth Bradley
A Democrat and a Republican walk into a Committee meeting …. and work together. No, this is not the beginning of a joke, but is an apt description of 12 of our U.S. House members who make up the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress. One observer wrote, "This committee is the most important small group of legislators that most Americans have never heard of." According to the Committee's website, the committee was established in January 2019 and is "tasked to investigate, stu… Continue Reading
07.01.21
Strickland, Kilmer Secure Historic Funding Increase for Puget Sound Restoration
On June 29, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior and Environment voted to approve $50 million in federal funding in fiscal year 2022 for the Puget Sound Geographic Program, which provides critical grant support to state, local, and tribal governments to implement projects to improve water quality, protect shorelines, and enhance fish passage and salmon habitat. The allocation comes after Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) led a letter to the Subcommittee in April, cosigned… Continue Reading
06.30.21
U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer Helps Restore Civility to Congress
Plenty of people are worried about political polarization. U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, is doing something about it. Kilmer, chairman of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress, is exploring ways to shift congressional culture to reward policymaking and collaboration rather than political posturing and unnecessary conflict. This is vital work. The country's deep political fault lines are not just exhausting, they are potentially explosive, as the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S.… Continue Reading