In The News
Wild Olympics plan unveiled -- 126,000 acres proposed for wilderness
by Joel Connelly
A sweeping plan, carefully vetted on the Olympic Peninsula, would designate 126,000 acres of mountains and forests on the peninsula as wilderness and protect 19 streams under the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The Wild Olympics proposal will be unveiled Thursday by Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Wash., and is supported by five Native American tribes, as well as such major peninsula businesses as Taylor Shellfish and Ocean Gold Seafoods. The land proposed for protection is in t… Continue Reading
06.16.19
Dems plan slice-and-dice strategy to pressure McConnell
by Sarah Ferris
House Democrats can't get Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to hold a vote on their biggest legislative accomplishment. So they're going to pass it all over again. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) is eyeing a new strategy that would take the caucus' signature achievement this year - a sprawling elections and government transparency bill - and break it into bite-size pieces with fresh votes on the floor, according to multiple lawmakers and aides. The move is intended to pressure … Continue Reading
06.13.19
The Honest Ads Act Returns
by ZACH MONTELLARO
ONLINE AD WATCH - The Honest Ads Act is back. The bill, which was originally introduced in 2017 but didn't gain much traction, was reintroduced in both the House and the Senate on Tuesday. The lead sponsors in the upper chamber are Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) (who replaced the late-Sen. John McCain as a Republican co-sponsor), while the House effort is being spearheaded by Reps. Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.) and Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.). The bill is an… Continue Reading
06.07.19
House OKs bill to fight ocean acidification
by Jesse Major
PORT ANGELES - The U.S. House of Representatives has passed U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer's Ocean Acidification Innovation Act. The bill passed in the House on Wednesday and - if passed by the Senate and signed by the president - would allow federal agencies to use existing funds to increase the ability to research, monitor and manage ocean acidification and its impacts. "We know that changing ocean chemistry threatens entire livelihoods and industries in our state. So, this bipartisan bill is really… Continue Reading
06.06.19
U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer to Participate in Roundtable Discussion on Expanding Access to Broadband Internet
by Dave Haviland
On Friday, June 7, Grays Harbor County Public Utility District, Representative Derek Kilmer, and local community leaders, will participate in a roundtable discussion on new efforts to connect communities to high-speed internet. The event will take place at 9:15am at Greater Grays Harbor in Aberdeen. The roundtable discussion will focus on how connecting communities to high-speed internet, through new legislation like the Broadband for All Act sponsored by Rep. Kilmer, will lead to new jobs and… Continue Reading
06.05.19
Congressional panel focuses on 'Broken Promises' report on Indian Country
by Meagan Racey
Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-Washington) is hosting tribal leaders and federal officials on Wednesday afternoon for a discussion on the "Broken Promises" report that was issued by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Released in December 2018, Broken Promises: Continuing Federal Funding Shortfall for Native Americans confirmed that the federal government is failing to meet its trust and treaty obligations in a wide range of areas, from health care and education to social services and public safety. It … Continue Reading
06.05.19
Home KBKW News Congressman Derek Kilmer to Enjoy Chowder at Channel Point Congressman Derek Kilmer to Enjoy Chowder at Channel Point
by Dave Haviland
On Friday, June 7th at 12:00 noon, Congressman Derek Kilmer, representative of Washington's 6th District, is scheduled to enjoy lunch with and speak to the residents of the Village Concepts of Hoquiam - Channel Point retirement community, as well as members of the public. Following a Speaker Series visit in May from Washington Secretary of State, Kim Wyman, it is very exciting to have another Washington State leader visit the retirement community. According to Maggie Birmingham, Channel Point's… Continue Reading
06.05.19
Seeking help in fight for rural health care
by Tim Wheeler
Fight for rural care. I was walking around Sequim posting leaflets headlined "Making Retirement Security Real For All" when I stopped at Olympic Medical Center's walk-in clinic to pin one on the bulletin board. Every seat in the waiting room was taken by elderly folks who looked even shakier than I am. Lots of them were leaning on canes and walkers. It got me thinking about the Trump administration's scheme to slash Medicare reimbursements for clinics like ours by 60 percent from $118.35 to … Continue Reading
06.04.19
'New Democrats' Outnumber Liberals, But Need Pizazz
by Mort Kondracke
The media, perpetually mesmerized by ideologues and charisma, have virtually anointed radical leftist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as the future of the Democratic Party. In fact, it should focus on Rep. Derek Kilmer and the House New Democrat Coalition he chairs. The Progressive Caucus, representing ultra-liberals, numbers 95 representatives. But New Democrats number 101, including most of the 40 newcomers who took seats away from Republicans in 2018 and 21 who won in 2016 Trump districts. If… Continue Reading
05.31.19
Inspirational Conference Helps Meet Puget Sound Needs
by Diane Buckshnis
I have been to many good conferences in my four decades of working in the financial and regulatory sector, but I must admit a recent conference for "Puget Sound Days on the Hill" was the most inspirational ever. The four-day conference, hosted by the Puget Sound Partnership (PSP), provided a myriad of historical, educational and environmental aspects, legislative updating, and an overall communal discussion on how can we save our Puget Sound, hence our salmon and, by extension, our orcas. I at… Continue Reading
05.31.19
Democrats push ‘For the People Act’ to change political campaigns, elections
Congressional Democrats say they have just the solution for Russia's nefarious activities in the 2016 presidential election, which special counsel Robert Mueller warned the country about Wednesday. They are pushing a massive bill to overhaul nearly everything about the way campaigns and elections work, from making voting easier to making stopping voter fraud harder, while trying to reel in some of the cash that has been spent to win seats in Congress. The bill, dubbed the For the People Act, c… Continue Reading
05.31.19
Nothing partisan about preserving national parks
America's national parks, monuments and historic sites are suffering from neglect - to the point of a $12 billion backlog of necessary maintenance. In Clark County, that is manifested in a $4.3 million backlog at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, according to the National Park Service. Throughout Washington, needed repairs add up to more than $400 million for deteriorating roads and ecosystems, leaky roofs and clogged drains. But we hope that competing need does not preclude mai… Continue Reading
05.31.19
Inspirational conference helps meet Puget Sound needs
by Diane Buckshnis
I have been to many good conferences in my four decades of working in the financial and regulatory sector, but I must admit a recent conference for "Puget Sound Days on the Hill" was the most inspirational ever. The four-day conference, hosted by the Puget Sound Partnership (PSP), provided a myriad of historical, educational and environmental aspects, legislative updating, and an overall communal discussion on how can we save our Puget Sound, hence our salmon and, by extension, our orcas. I at… Continue Reading
05.31.19
Bulletin Board: News from Tacoma and Beyond
by Matt Nagle
Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and Elise Stefanik (NY-21) have reintroduced the Broadband for All Act, bipartisan legislation to create refundable tax credits for businesses and groups of people who team up to build the infrastructure that connects them to the country's existing rural broadband service. "Too many rural communities are being left behind in our economy because America's internet infrastructure doesn't reach them," Rep. Kilmer said. "Connecting communities to high-speed internet will c… Continue Reading
05.30.19
Aberdeen Student Ranks High In Congressional Art Competition
by KXRO News
Aberdeen, WA - An Aberdeen Student placed in top three of congressional art contest. U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer announced on Wednesday that that Aberdeen High School student Josh Farrar was placed in the top three for the 2019 Congressional Art Competition. The annual nationwide art competition allowed high school students from across the United States to showcase their artistic ability with the chance of having their work displayed in the nation's capital. "We have incredibly talented … Continue Reading
05.30.19
P3 Act would remove the volume cap for green infrastructure PABs
by Brian Tumulty
Congressional legislation that would expand the use of private activity bonds to include so-called green bonds has been introduced by two House Democrats from Washington state as lawmakers continue to offer proposals for infrastructure investment. The Preventing Pollution through Partnerships Act or the P3 Act introduced by Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Wash., and original cosponsor Rep. Denny Heck, earlier this month is the same billKilmer proposed in the last Congress with Heck and Rep. Marcy Kaptur, … Continue Reading
05.28.19
Congressional Delegation Opposes Mining in Headwaters of Upper Skagit River
Today, nine members of the Washington congressional delegation, led by U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo voicing opposition to a proposed mine in the headwaters of the Upper Skagit River in British Columbia due to its potential impact on Washington state. Those signing include: U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray and U.S. Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-1), Rick Larsen (WA-2), Derek Kilmer (WA-6), Pramila Jayapal (WA-7), Kim Sch… Continue Reading
05.24.19
Here’s how we should fund repairs, maintenance of national parks
by Seattle Times editorial board
More than 200 members of Congress want America to fund maintenance at the national parks. Why don't all of them? The Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Act is a rare chance for a bipartisan win that lawmakers ought to prioritize. Washington lucked out when it comes to national parks. Mount Rainier, Olympic and North Cascades are treasures that other states envy. Vast tracts of mountains, seascapes, forests and wilderness inspire awe and allow visitors to escape the rush of modern life right in … Continue Reading
05.24.19
Rep. Kilmer Re-Introduces Broadband For All Act
by KXRO News
Washington, DC - Representative Derek Kilmer announced on Thursday that he, along with Elise Stefanik (NY-21), has reintroduced the Broadband for All Act. This legislation would create refundable tax credits for businesses and groups of people who team up to build the infrastructure that connects them to the country's existing rural broadband service. "Too many rural communities are being left behind in our economy because America's internet infrastructure doesn't reach them," Rep. Kilmer said… Continue Reading
05.23.19
Victory for long term care, but sharp fight to protect rural health care
by Tim Wheeler
SEQUIM, Wash.-Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law the Long Term Care Trust Act (LTCTA) in Olympia a few days ago even as Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Wash., introduced a bill in the nation's capital to protect rural health clinics, like the walk-in clinic here, from devastating Medicare cuts inflicted by the Trump administration. It is a war on two fronts, a case of government giving with one hand and taking away with the other. Advocates of senior citizens and people with disabilities are cheering the en… Continue Reading