In The News
Rep. Kilmer Holds Telephone Town Hall on CARES Act, Coronavirus
by Mark Krulish
The worst is yet to come, but action taken this week by Congress will help families and workers who have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer told listeners during a telephone town hall Thursday evening. Kilmer, a Democrat who represents Washington's 6th Congressional District, was joined by a pair of medical experts - Dr. Paul Pottinger, director of the Infectious Diseases & Tropical Medicine Clinic at the University of Washington Medical Center, and Dr.… Continue Reading
03.26.20
Reps. Herrera Beutler, Kilmer Push for Loan Forgiveness for Small Businesses that Use Proposed Loan Program to Maintain Payroll During Crisis
U.S. Representatives Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Battle Ground) and Derek Kilmer (D-Gig Harbor) called on congressional leadership negotiating the next COVID-19 emergency response package to include an additional economic relief program for small businesses that will complement the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Disaster Assistance loan program currently being implemented across the country. Herrera Beutler and Kilmer sent a letter urging congressional leaders to include a relief program th… Continue Reading
03.26.20
Kilmer Co-sponsors Legislation to Minimize COVID-19 Impact on Student Veterans
On Monday, Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) co-sponsored the bipartisan Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act Of 2020, introduced by House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-CA) and Ranking Member Dr. Phil Roe (R-TN). The legislation aims to minimize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student veterans as schools and universities have taken proactive measures to mitigate the spread of the virus. "If you serve our country, the federal government should have your b… Continue Reading
03.25.20
Kilmer Joins Delegation in Calling for More Ventilators
Tacoma, WA - Friday, Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) joined a bipartisan group of 17 members of Congress from the Pacific Northwest in calling for more ventilators to be sent to the region as it continues to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, and for the administration to develop a national manufacturing goal for new ventilators. "Our hospitals across the region have grown more concerned that in a short time they will be overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients as intensive care unit capacity is reach… Continue Reading
03.25.20
'Action Is Urgently Needed': How Congress Can Help Workers During the Pandemic
'There is no time to waste.' As Americans grapple with the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health crisis and communities take significant measures to contain its spread, we are already seeing serious disruptions in everyday life and significant economic impacts. Now is the time for Congress to take bold, bipartisan action to protect the health, safety, and well-being of the American people. Two weeks ago, Congress passed an $8.3 billion emergency spending package to support the response to COVID… Continue Reading
03.25.20
Rep. Kilmer Joins Sen. Murray in Urging President Trump to Issue Major Disaster Declaration to Address Coronavirus
Tacoma, WA - Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) joined U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and the entire Washington state congressional delegation in urging President Trump to issue a major disaster declaration to help address the coronavirus outbreak in Washington state. This declaration would open up a full suite of Individual Assistance Programs as requested by Governor Inslee for Washington state, including Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Disaster Legal Services, Disaster Care Management, C… Continue Reading
03.25.20
Rental Assistance Bill Introduced By Reps. Kilmer & Heck
Representatives Derek Kilmer and Denny Heck introduced H.R. 6314, the Emergency Rental Assistance Act of 2020. In a release, Kilmer's office states that this legislation would increase short-term rental assistance for most Americans by significantly expanding the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program. H.R. 6314 would provide $100 billion to ESG for short-term rental assistance. This funding would be given out to states in two chunks: $50 billion over the first 60 days $50 billion ove… Continue Reading
03.24.20
Derek Kilmer on Kiro Radio 3/24/20 at 5:14am, 5:25am, 6:49am, 6:55am
03.24.20
Kilmer, Heck Introduce Bill to Provide Rental Assistance During COVID-19 Crisis
Monday, Representatives Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and Denny Heck (WA-10) introduced H.R. 6314, the Emergency Rental Assistance Act of 2020. This legislation would increase short-term rental assistance for most Americans by significantly expanding the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program. H.R. 6314 would provide $100 billion to ESG for short-term rental assistance. This funding would be given out to states in two chunks: $50 billion over the first 60 days, then $50 billion over the following 60 da… Continue Reading
03.24.20
How Your Business Can Respond To COVID-19
by John Powers
Your Kitsap Economic Development Alliance has been fully engaged in monitoring and mitigating the impacts of this unprecedented public health and economic disruption crisis during the month of March. Daily our team of economic development professionals participate in multiple online ConCalls, webinars and briefings, with numerous agencies at local, state and federal levels, and strategic partners to keep current regarding this rapidly evolving and unprecedented crisis. These confabs have include… Continue Reading
03.23.20
Kilmer Joins Senator Murray, State Lawmakers in Urging Trump to Issue Major Disaster Declaration to Address Coronavirus
Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) joined U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and the entire Washington state congressional delegation in urging President Trump to issue a major disaster declaration to help address the coronavirus outbreak in Washington state. This declaration would open up a full suite of Individual Assistance Programs as requested by Governor Inslee for Washington state, including Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Disaster Legal Services, Disaster Care Management, Crisis Counsel… Continue Reading
03.20.20
Derek Kilmer Coronavirus Interview
A discussion about the virus, bipartisan cooperation and what is being done for workers… Continue Reading
03.19.20
LISTEN: U.S. Rep. Kilmer Talks Plans To Support Small Businesses Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
by Ed Ronco
Widespread layoffs have swept across Washington state, as public health orders attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19 by closing restaurants, gyms, and other public places. Today, economic development officials in Pierce County as well as state and federal officials outlined some options for small businesses. They talked about low-interest loans, federal aid and other programs. U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer was part of that conversation, which took place by conference call. He spoke by phone with KNK… Continue Reading
03.12.20
House Votes To Modernize Itself, Adopts 29 Bipartisan Recommendations
by Katherine Tully-Mcmanus
The House is ready to make long overdue, behind-the-scenes changes, and it set those in motion by adopting a resolution on implementing 29 recommendations of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress. The House voted 395-13 on Tuesday to approve the recommendations, which were put together by the 12-member committee equally divided between Republicans and Democrats. The panel was established in 2019 to promote a more modern and efficient Congress, and its recommendations are aimed a… Continue Reading
03.12.20
Rare Bipartisan Vote for Steps to Strengthen and Modernize Congress
by Fulcrum Staff
Nine out of 10 House members don't agree on much, but they do agree it's past time to make an array of modernizing changes to the place they work. So the vote was 395-13 on Tuesday to implement 29 unanimous recommendations from a special bipartisan committee, with six members from each party, who worked on the package for almost a year. Their work is designed to bring the technology, purchasing, travel, and human resources practices into the 21st century, at least on half of Capitol Hill. The … Continue Reading
03.11.20
Legislation to Reform Congress Passes House
Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress' bipartisan legislation to make Congress more effective, efficient and transparent. H.Res.756, the Moving our Democracy and Congressional Operations Towards Modernization Resolution, includes nearly 30 of the recommendations made by the Select Committee, chaired by Rep. Kilmer, to make Congress work better for the American people. This marks the first time in recent history that a select commi… Continue Reading
03.04.20
Why I Went to the State of the Union | Mike Kelly
When President Trump gave his State of the Union address earlier this month, I was in the House Gallery as a guest of Representative Derek Kilmer, who invited me to be his guest to highlight the work the non-partisan volunteer organization I help lead, Bainbridge Island Citizens' Climate Lobby, has done in the district over the years. When he invited me, I told him I was honored to accept on behalf of all the people working across the district - from Tacoma to Forks to Bainbridge - on this impo… Continue Reading
03.04.20
A Step Forward in the Preservation of Point Hudson
In a room packed to capacity with shipwrights, boaters, historians and concerned citizens, Port of Port Townsend commissioners voted unanimously Feb. 26 to partner with the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation to restore and preserve Point Hudson. The partnership agreement directs port staff to begin working with staff from the non-profit Washington Trust over the next two years. They will begin inventory of the existing conditions of the Point Hudson property and determine what the next … Continue Reading
03.04.20
Kilmer Conducts Round Table of Area Artists, Arts Advocates
U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer of Washington state's 6th congressional district followed his tour of the construction of Fort Worden's Makers Square on Feb. 20 with a roundtable discussion at the Commons in Fort Worden that afternoon to hear from Port Townsend-area artists and arts advocates. Although the White House has repeatedly called to zero-out funding for the National Endowments for the Arts, Kilmer noted the U.S. House of Representatives passed a $1.4 trillion national budget last December that… Continue Reading
03.02.20
Congressman Kilmer Said He’s Fighting For Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Funding
U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer said Monday he is working on a "robust emergency funding package" to deal with the novel coronavirus outbreak in the United States. Kilmer, a 6th District Democrat, said in an email to constituents Monday that he had been briefed on the spread of COVID-19 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday. "It's important that you know that - according to the CDC - the vast majority of those around the world who have taken ill from COVID-19 hav… Continue Reading