In The News
Summit Nabs USDA Loan for Wellness Center
Summit Pacific Medical Center (SPMC) in Elma has received assistance in construction of a wellness center through a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) loan…SPMC will hold a groundbreaking ceremony 4-7 p.m. on Sept. 15 with food and special guest speakers such as SPMC staff and U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer.… Continue Reading
09.01.17
Legislators Work Out, and Work Together, to Get Bills Passed
by Richard Walker
U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-WA, tells a story about the advice he received when he was a rookie state senator. A veteran legislator, a Republican, advised him to always reach across the aisle-always get a sponsor from the other party for each bill. And always do what you think is right-vote for the good bills, vote against the bad ones. Kilmer took that advice with him to Congress, where he co-chairs the House Bipartisan Working Group. Members of the working group identify issues on which they agr… Continue Reading
09.01.17
'There's a lot of energy'
by Andrea Haffly
District administrators, teachers and staff members have spent the summer training and preparing for the new school year. This training culminated in the annual PSD Kick Off event held Aug. 23…Joining the event to show their support were U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, whose children attend PSD schools, and state Rep. Michelle Caldier, as well as representatives from the community and local businesses.… Continue Reading
09.01.17
Democrats Say Citizens United Should Die. Here's Why That Won't Happen
by Sarah Kleiner
[Democrats have] ramped up their…effort…to blunt Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the controversial 2010 Supreme Court decision that unleashed a torrent of special interest spending on U.S. elections… In doing so, they've introduced two dozen bills related to money in politics… One is Rep. Derek Kilmer's Restoring Integrity to America's Elections Act (H.R. 2034), which has five Democratic and six Republican cosponsors.… Continue Reading
08.31.17
The Future of Work
In the Spring of 2017, T4A convened several members from the New Democrat coalition in the House of Representatives, and the Mayors of San Jose and Stockton…Other groups found potential solutions to the the urban/rural divide. In the group moderated by Kate Gordon (T4A) with Rep. Scott Peters (CA), and Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA), a representative from Upwork noted that the company sees a lot of urban-based companies outsource tele-jobs to rural areas (such as virtual assistants).… Continue Reading
08.31.17
Lawmakers Urge Federal Actoin on Fish Farm Fiasco
by Steven Dunkelberger
U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Patty Murray (D-WA), joined by Reps. Adam Smith (WA-09), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Rick Larsen (WA-02), Derek Kilmer (WA-06), Denny Heck (WA-10), and Suzan DelBene (WA-01), wrote an urgent letter to the heads of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to press the two agencies to take quick and decisive action to address the impacts of hundreds of thousands of escaped farmed Atlantic salmon in Washingt… Continue Reading
08.31.17
Treaty Tribes Upset with Appeal in Major Case Amid Salmon Disaster in Washington
The release of thousands of farmed salmon into treaty fishing grounds isn't the only crisis facing tribes in Washington. Just two days before the spill at a commercial operation prompted declarations of a disaster, the state asked the nation's highest court to overturn a ruling in a key case…Rep. Derek…and Chairman Tim Ballew II of the Lummi Nation surveyed the spill of farmed Atlantic salmon into treaty waters in Washington. Kilmer pledged to help address the situation, according … Continue Reading
08.25.17
NWN Digital First Apprenticeship
Within any given 90 day period over 500,000 jobs open up in the tech industry. But this influx of jobs has hit a roadblock: there aren't enough people with the appropriate qualifications to fill those jobs. Rep. Derek Kilmer of Washington's 6th district has cosponsored a bill designed to help close the gap between available jobs and available workers. Some of the jobs require degrees in computer science but many simply require on the job training.… Continue Reading
08.25.17
Climate Solutions Caucus Up To 52 Members
The bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus in the House of Representatives now boasts 52 members. That is 26 Republicans and 26 Democrats who have set aside partisan scuffles to focus on combatting climate change together. The caucus, first formed in 2016 by Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) and Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL), recently welcomed its newest members, Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) and Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA). Rep. Tom Reed, who represents New York's 23rd district, is also a member… Continue Reading
08.23.17
Attorney general to speak at Dems event
Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson is set to be the keynote speaker at the Jefferson County Democrats' 23rd annual Fish Feast on Sunday, Aug. 27 at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. Other elected officials set to address local Democrats include U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, who is to talk about the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act; and state Sen. Kevin Van de Wege, and state Reps. Mike Chapman and Steve Tharinger, who discuss their work in the Legislature.… Continue Reading
08.23.17
‘A fitting tribute’: Olympic Wilderness renamed for longtime outdoors advocate, former Gov. Dan Evans
by Lynda V. Mapes
"When it came to protecting our most precious outdoor spaces, it wasn't about Democrats or Republicans," said Congressman Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor. "But about Washingtonians." For many, Evans is that rare thing - a beloved politician whose stature transcends party or generation. Naming the wilderness for Evans "puts an iconic name next to an iconic place," said U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.… Continue Reading
08.16.17
Signs of bipartisan progress on climate change
The House Climate Solutions Caucus was created in 2016 by Republican Rep. Carlos Curbelo and Democratic Rep.Ted Deutch. Both represent Florida. From the beginning, the Congressmen decided that membership in the caucus would come in pairs - one Republican and one Democrat at a time. Their aim is to create a bipartisan group to engage in constructive dialogue to propose climate solutions ("Leading on climate change," Aug. 14). Recently, Rep. Ed Royce, a Republican from California, and Rep. Derek K… Continue Reading
08.16.17
Feds award money to boost quake warnings
SEATTLE (AP) - The U.S. Geological Survey has awarded $4.9 million to six universities and a nonprofit to help advance an early warning system for earthquakes along the West Coast. U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell and U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer of Washington state pushed for funding, saying such the early warning system is critical.… Continue Reading
08.16.17
Highway 3 widening in Belfair now complete
by Ed Friedrich
BELFAIR - After two years of dust, dips and delays, smooth, wide blacktop bisects Belfair. Ceccanti, Inc., began construction on the $26.5 million project in July 2015. Over the past 25 months, the Tacoma company extended the center turn lane all the way through town and added paved shoulders and sidewalks on both sides. The North Mason community will celebrate the completion of the Highway 3 widening project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony 10 a.m. Thursday at Kitsap Bank. Speakers will include … Continue Reading
08.15.17
Feds award money to boost warnings for West Coast quakes
SEATTLE - The U.S. Geological Survey has awarded $4.9 million to six universities and a nonprofit to help advance an early warning system for earthquakes along the West Coast. The federal agency says the ShakeAlert system could give people seconds or up to a minute of warning before strong shaking begins. U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell and U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer pushed for funding, saying such the early warning system is critical for Washington state.… Continue Reading
08.15.17
PLU nets grant to bolster workforce with nursing grads
"These students represent critical support that is needed in our region," said U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, the representative for Washington's 6th Congressional District, in a letter of support for the grant co-signed by U.S. Rep. Denny Heck. "Supporting them will help create leaders and role models for future generations across the Pacific Northwest."… Continue Reading
08.15.17
Healthcare talk dominates Congressman’s town hall meeting
by DAN HAMMOCK
Congressman Derek Kilmer held a town hall meeting in the Aberdeen High School auditorium Sunday afternoon and spent a great deal of time talking about how fixes to the current Affordable Care Act were preferable to the current administration's plan of a total repeal. Kilmer, a Democrat representing the 6th District, including the Olympic Peninsula, said fixes to the Affordable Care Act can be made. The individual market could be stabilized by guaranteeing cost sharing reductions and creating a p… Continue Reading
08.14.17
Bi-partisan efforts to improve rural medical services
WASHINGTON - Today, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) and Congresswoman Niki Tsongas (D-MA), along with Reps. Jeff Denham (R-CA), David Valadao (R-CA), Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-CA), and Derek Kilmer (D-WA), introduced the Training the Next Generation of Primary Care Doctors Act of 2017 to reauthorize the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) Program for three years. This legislation will also allow for the expansion of new programs within existing centers and the creati… Continue Reading
08.14.17
Rep. Kilmer announces town hall tours in August
Congressman Kilmer to hold town hall in Aberdeen on Sunday. In an effort to hear directly from residents of Washington's 6th Congressional District, Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Wash., has announced he will hold a series of town halls throughout the region. Town halls are open to the public. Participants will have the opportunity to hear an update on Congress and ask questions.… Continue Reading
08.14.17
Congressman Kilmer visits cyber squadron
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer of Washington State's 6th Congressional District visited the Washington Air National Guard's 262nd Network Warfare Squadron here on August 12. Kilmer toured the 262nd facility, addressed airmen and fielded questions, and met with senior Washington National Guard leaders. As part of the Air Guard's 252nd Cyberspace Operations Group, the 262nd is known for its work assembling Cyber Protection Teams, developing protocols and best practices fo… Continue Reading