In The News
Kilmer, Murray re-introduce Wild Olympics legislation
by Rob Ollikainen
PORT ANGELES - U.S. Rep Derek Kilmer and Sen. Patty Murray have re-introduced Wild Olympics legislation to protect environmentally sensitive areas, support outdoor recreation and preserve and grow jobs on the Olympic Peninsula, they said last week. The Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act would designate 126,554 acres of Olympic National Forest as wilderness and 464 miles of rivers and streams and as wild and scenic rivers. The legislation has repeatedly stalled in Congress … Continue Reading
03.04.17
Trump proposal: Slash Puget Sound cleanup money by 93 percent
by JOEL CONNELLY
A draft Trump administration plan, proposing deep cuts in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, would slash the EPA's budget for Puget Sound cleanup by an astounding 93 percent. During the current fiscal year, the EPA will have spent $28 million on restoration and monitoring of the Sound. The money has been spread among local governments, Native American tribes and nonprofits. The spending has been driven by a longtime bipartisan goal on putting Puget Sound at the same priority cleanup lev… Continue Reading
03.04.17
Political divide persists in Grays Harbor County
by Natalie Brand
The vast majority of people who turned up to a town hall with Congressman Derek Kilmer at the 7th Street Theater in Hoquiam expressed deep concern about what's going on in Washington D.C. "Right now, I feel helpless and frightened. What can we do to stop that from happening," asked one audience member worried about the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. "It is helpful when you show up to an event like this," responded Rep. Kilmer who went on to talk about citizen engagement. Some constituents… Continue Reading
03.03.17
Puget Sound programs face cuts under budget proposal
by JOHN FLESHER, MATTHEW DALY and CATHERINE LUCEY
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Trump administration would slash programs aimed at slowing climate change and improving water safety and air quality, while eliminating thousands of jobs, according to a draft of the Environmental Protection Agency budget proposal obtained by The Associated Press. Under the tentative plan from the Office of Management and Budget, the agency's funding would be cut by roughly 25 percent and about 3,000 jobs would be cut, about 19 percent of the agency's staff. President Don… Continue Reading
03.03.17
Town halls, talk back -- Three Democrats, controversial Republican face voters
by Joel Connelly
Three of Washington's Democratic U.S. House members will face voters over the next four days, along with a controversial Republican state legislator frequently absent in Washington, D.C., as part of the Trump transition team at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The state's four Republican members of Congress have avoided face-to-face town meetings, although aides to U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., did meet with a crowd of more than 800 constituents in Spokane earlier this wee… Continue Reading
03.03.17
Bipartisan legislation provides resources to relieve mental health provider shortage
Four U.S. Members of Congress jointly introduced bipartisan legislation earlier this week that would provide assistance to mental health patients in crisis. The Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Accessibility Act of 2017 - introduced by U.S. Reps. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA), Derek Kilmer (D-WA), and Tim Murphy (R-PA) - enables the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide loans to local organizations seeking to build psychiatric and subst… Continue Reading
03.03.17
Puget Sound would be hurt by proposed EPA cuts
by Hal Bernton, Jim Brunner
The Environmental Protection Agency's funding for restoring Puget Sound would be almost wiped out under President Donald Trump's proposed agency budget, according to a leaked memorandum documenting the cuts obtained by the National Association of Clean Air Agencies. An EPA spokesman in Seattle on Friday declined to comment on the proposed budget cuts. Under the proposal the EPA funding would be slashed by 93 percent, dropping from nearly $28 million in the current fiscal year to $2 mill… Continue Reading
03.03.17
Rep. Kilmer joins with others in Congress for legislation to counter cyberattacks
U.S. Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-WA) has joined with Barbara Comstock (R-VA) and U.S. Senators Mark Warner (D-VA) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) to propose bipartisan, bicameral legislation to help state, local and tribal governments more effectively battle computer hackers and counter cyber threats. The State Cyber Resiliency Act would set up a cybersecurity grant program that would provide resources for states to develop and implement effective cyber resiliency plans. This includes efforts to i… Continue Reading
03.02.17
Bipartisan bill would give cybersecurity grants to state and local governments
by Joe Uchill
Bipartisan lawmakers in both chambers proposed local, state and tribal grants to boost cybersecurity. On Thursday, Reps. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.) and Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.), along with Sens. Cory Gardner and Mark Warner (D-Va.), introduced the State Cyber Resiliency Act, which would fund Federal Emergency Management Agency-administered grants for cybersecurity planning and implementation. "Despite the velocity of the threat, 80% of states lack funding to develop sufficient cybersecurity," sa… Continue Reading
03.02.17
Rep. Derek Kilmer To Talk With Residents Friday
Representative Derek Kilmer will be in Hoquiam, speaking with residents, tomorrow at the 7th St Theatre. Kilmer's office in a release said that this will be a part of his series of town hall meetings throughout the region over the recent weeks, visiting locations around the Olympic Peninsula. Rep. Kilmer will be speaking at the 7th Street Theatre in Hoquiam from 5:30-7pm. He will also be holding a town hall in Sequim on March 6. These town halls are open to the public and anyone who attends w… Continue Reading
03.01.17
NAFCU hails reintroduction of supplemental capital bill
National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions (NAFCU) Vice President of Legislative Affairs Brad Thaler today praised Reps. Peter King, R-N.Y., and Brad Sherman, D-Calif., for their bipartisan leadership in seeking credit union relief by reintroducing NAFCU-backed legislation, the "Capital Access for Small Business and Jobs Act," which would give credit unions access to supplemental capital, an element of comprehensive capital reform supported by NAFCU. "The 'Capital Access for Small … Continue Reading
02.28.17
USS Enterprise reactor work up in air
by Ed Friedrich
The Navy has decided to store the USS Enterprise until experts can thoroughly analyze how to best dismantle its eight de-fueled reactor plants. Puget Sound Naval Shipyard is the only U.S. shipyard that recycles nuclear-powered ships. Since 1984, it has completed 129 submarine and cruiser reactor compartment packages and shipped them to Hanford Nuclear Reservation for burial. The Enterprise, commissioned in 1961, is the world's first nuclear-powered carrier. The ship was deactivated in 2012 at … Continue Reading
02.27.17
Tell Congress that nutrition programs are working
Did you catch Leonard Pitts's column, "This is America: An open letter to so-called President Trump"? Do you feel like Alice in Wonderland in this madness? In 2013, the top one percent in the U.S. owned 40 percent of the nation's wealth and the bottom 40 percent owned almost nothing. Of the more than $400 billion in tax incentives that promote asset-building, less than 3 percent benefit the bottom 40 percent of earners. Trump has proposed yet more tax breaks for the wealthy, and massive cuts to… Continue Reading
02.25.17
Congressman Kilmer town hall attracts nearly a thousand
by Terryl Asla•
Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Bremerton, held a mid-week town hall meeting Feb. 22 at the Admiral Theatre in downtown Bremerton. As recent congressional town hall meetings go, it was more love fest than protest. By 5:30 p.m., the downstairs and the balcony were packed with standing-room-only crowds. The official count was 960 people, according to Chad Haight, Admiral Theatre's director of operations. Before taking questions, Kilmer opened his remarks with a short PowerPoint presentation highlighting wh… Continue Reading
02.24.17
Kilmer holding series of Town Hall meetings
by Barb Aue
In order to hear directly from residents of Washington's 6th Congressional District, Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) is holding a series of Town Halls throughout the region. Town Halls are open to the public and all are encouraged to attend. Participants will have the opportunity to hear an update on Congress and ask questions. The Grays Harbor Town Hall is set for Friday, March 3, from 5:30-7 p.m. at the 7th Street Theatre in Hoquiam. The theatre is located at 313 7th St. Doors open a half … Continue Reading
02.24.17
Guam honors its Chamorro culture at the 2017 new year’s celebration
by Arlene Dennistoun
The Asia Pacific Cultural Center's 19th annual New Year event featured Guam this year, and Guamanians cheerfully shouted, "Hafa Adai!" which means 'welcome' in the Chamorro language. The event drew thousands of people who staked out the best viewpoints to catch performances by Guma' Imahe's dancers, who were graceful, powerful, and at times, fierce. Gary Lizama, president of Guma' Imahe since 2012, said Guam is unique because of its hospitality, and visitors are welcomed and made to feel a par… Continue Reading
02.24.17
Town hall meeting more love fest than protest
by Terryl Asla
Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Bremerton, held a mid-week town hall meeting Feb. 22 at the Admiral Theatre in downtown Bremerton. As recent congressional town hall meetings go, it was more love fest than protest. By 5:30 p.m., the downstairs and the balcony were packed with standing-room-only crowds. The official count was 960 people, according to Chad Haight, Admiral Theatre's director of operations. Before taking questions, Kilmer opened his remarks with a short PowerPoint presentation highlighting wh… Continue Reading
02.23.17
Kilmer draws large crowd of like-minded to town hall
by Josh Farley
Duane de Lessart took the microphone at U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer's town hall meeting Wednesday to argue that his "quality of life" as a gay man was under attack. The Erlands Point resident told the Gig Harbor Democrat he worries President Donald Trump's administration will unveil proposals that will negatively impact everyone in the LGBTQ community. "I'm here, I'm queer, and I'm not going back in the closet," he told Kilmer, drawing dozens of the energized crowd to their feet at the Admiral Thea… Continue Reading
02.23.17
KILMER WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT HEALTH CARE
Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) announced a new way for constituents to share stories about how the Affordable Care Act has impacted them. Across the country last weekend, Representatives called attention to the impact that the Affordable Care Act has had on patients, families, doctors, and hospital providers. Kilmer is urging constituents to visit his website at http://www.kilmer.house.gov/contact/your-aca-story to share questions and concerns they have about an effort to eliminate the Affor… Continue Reading
02.23.17
Senators: OPM needs to advise DoD on hiring freeze exemptions
by Eric White
In today's Top Federal Headlines, a bipartisan group of Senators want the Office of Personnel Management to work with the Defense Department to clarify what positions are exempt from the hiring freeze. A group of nine senators say the Office of Personnel Management needs to work with the Defense Department to clarify exemptions from the hiring freeze for positions at military depots, shipyards and arsenals. They wrote to Acting OPM Director Kathleen McGettigan, saying military service secreta… Continue Reading