A New (Budget) Deal
Dear Friend,
As you read this we are flying through fall. Halloween has now come and gone (though, in my house, the candy will likely last for a few more days). Colorful leaves are now begging to be raked into a pile (and to become a target for my kids to jump into). And pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice latte, and pumpkin muffins have taken over grocery stores and coffee shops.
We’re not just seeing seasonal transitions. We also had some changes under the Capitol Dome, as Speaker John Boehner retired and Representative Paul Ryan picked up the gavel and became our nation’s 54th Speaker of the House.
In its own way it was a moment that demonstrated the power of our government. How we transfer power peacefully from one leader to the next. As Leader Nancy Pelosi remarked as she gave the gavel to (now) Speaker Ryan, “This is the People’s House. This is the People’s gavel.” I’m hopeful this reminded my colleagues of who we – as representatives – are here for.
Speaker Ryan commented, “The House is broken” and professed a desire to wipe the slate clean and change the way the House does business. I hope those words get backed up with action. We need to turn the page to a new chapter and get this economy – and this Congress – moving forward.
In the midst of the tumult around the speakership, the House actually passed some key items that had previously been mired by Congressional inaction. In the past two weeks the House sent to the Senate a bipartisan reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank (a critical tool for shipping American-made goods around the world while creating jobs at home). Democrats and Republicans also came together to reach a bipartisan budget deal that seeks to keep our economy on track.
A Two-Year Budget Agreement
Like every compromise, the bipartisan budget agreement that passed the House isn’t perfect. Nevertheless, it’s good to see Congress hammer out a compromise agreement that sets aside political grandstanding and prevents our economy from going off a cliff.
Most importantly, this bill does some good for folks in our region:
- With its passage and enactment we can temporarily set aside the threat of harmful across-the-board sequester cuts that have impacted paychecks and programs important to middle-class workers;
- We can better make investments in education and research to keep us a step ahead of our competitors;
- We can better have the backs of the men and women who serve our country and our veterans;
- And by protecting key portions of Social Security and Medicare, we can uphold our responsibility to seniors and people with disabilities, ensuring they can live with dignity.
My grandmother, now in her 105th year (I can only hope I inherited those genes!) has been able to live with dignity because of Social Security and Medicare. I know personally how important these two public policy programs are. So I was heartened that this deal fixes a spike in costs that many folks faced.
Seniors across America who do not receive Social Security, are new to the Medicare Part B program or are higher income recipients were facing a 52 percent increase in Medicare premiums. I don’t know anyone who could afford a spike like that. It would have been unprecedented and hurt millions of seniors.
Thankfully, as the American Association of Retired Persons noted, this deal prevents those premium hikes for some 16 million beneficiaries. All in all, there is a lot of good news here.
I’m glad Congress has made some progress with this agreement, but there’s certainly more to do. I’m hopeful this can serve as groundwork to reaching a long-term deal that protects our priorities, gets rid of the threat of sequestration once and for all, and puts us on a path to building shared prosperity for all Americans.
Great News for Tacoma
Turning from the budget, Tacoma also had a good couple of weeks too! The city was the winner of a highly competitive TIGER Grant from the Department of Transportation (DOT) to help expand the Link light rail line.
This investment will be used to help double the current Tacoma Link streetcar line to 4 miles and add in six new stations. It’s a big deal because the continued expansion of light rail will better connect all corners of the city, help locals and visitors get around, and make Tacoma an even more vibrant place.
This is another prime example of the good things we can do when the federal government teams up with local partners who, in this instance, have a clear vision of how to improve our region’s mass transit and keep the city – and its citizens – moving forward.
I’ve been proud to work with folks at the local level on this line. Earlier this year I sent a letter to DOT in support of the city’s TIGER grant application. I was also proud to join the Mayor and others to announce a Federal Transit Administration grant in September that will help the Link truly live up to its name and connect everyone.
By making progress in a way that respects the character of our unique neighborhoods we can make sure a completed Link light rail line supports all our citizens.
One Step Ahead
The threat of the Cascadia Subduction Zone triggering an earthquake that could produce a massive tsunami looms large in our lives. I want us to be prepared in the face of a major natural disaster. That’s why I led my colleagues in urging President Obama to make full funding of an Early Earthquake Warning System a top priority, including $16.1 million for the development and implementation of an on-shore West Coast system.
It’s important to the future of communities on the West Coast because an updated and operational system can serve as eyes and ears and give folks in places like Ocean Shores, Westport, and elsewhere more time if a large quake strikes.
I’ve written before about how my visit to the University of Washington’s Seismology lab reinforced how far we’ve come. The United States Geological Survey and the UW are working on state-of-the-art warning systems that can give people crucial seconds to get out a quake’s path. Imagine what those seconds could mean to someone about to cross a bridge, or in the midst of performing surgery, or taking care of a small child. It could literally mean the difference between life and death.
We are getting close to making this a reality. And that’s why we are asking the President to keep momentum moving forward. It’s part of my work as a member of the Appropriations Committee to make sure we have the right investments to get this system up and running soon.
You can take a look at the letter here.
Leading the Way for a Win-Win
To mark National Forest Products week, I spoke out last week regarding how new, innovative technologies can help us protect the environment, improve the health of our forests, and grow our economy.
Folks in our region don’t want the top export of our rural communities to be young people. We need the timber industry to grow in a way that doesn’t put conservation at odds with job creation. It’s something I also discussed at a summit on the Peninsula on Cross-Laminated Timber and other engineered wood products.
With local business, government, and community leaders, I discussed how these wood products can utilize an abundant and sustainable product native to Washington state while building on a workforce and infrastructure that sets us apart to give the nation greener buildings. To learn more about these innovative products, check out this TED Talk by architect Michael Green.
Construction sites across the country could soon use sturdy, innovative, renewable wood products grown and manufactured on the Olympic Peninsula. Working together we can set the stage for Timber 2.0, and build a market in which Washington state can lead the way.
Working for You
Tess and I had an awesome time serving as guest judges at the Union Pumpkin Fest Catapult Contest at Hunter Farms. Here I am with my fellow judges, State Representatives Drew MacEwen and Dan Griffey.
Congratulations to all of the award winners at the Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner and Business Excellence Awards (I admit, I didn't fully embrace the masquerade ball theme but had a terrific time). Special shout out to the Man and Woman of the Year, Ed Gadberry and Bobbie Stewart. Here's Chamber Board Chair Kristine Cowan and former Chair Barry Doll kicking off the festivities.
Each month I take some time to call some of our local radio stations and talk about the initiatives I’m working on to make some progress for our region. I chatted with hosts at Forks 1490 and Shelton’s KMAS radio station about, among other things, Secretary Vilsack’s visit to the Olympic Peninsula to highlight our successful forest collaborative. If you live in these areas I hope you got a chance to listen!
And finally, here’s Sophie (dressed as “Buttercup” from the movie The Princess Bride) and Tess (dressed as an Evil Mermaid) this past Saturday. Thankfully, I managed to dodge wearing the “Dread Pirate Roberts” costume.
As always, it’s an honor to serve as your representative. Please don’t hesitate to holler if I can lend a hand to you or someone you know.
Sincerely,
Derek Kilmer