Honoring America's workers
Dear Friend,
Greetings from 30,000 feet above America. As I send this, I’m heading back to Washington, D.C. following the August recess. If you’ve been following my activities on Facebook, you’ll know that I’ve been busy (my wife, Jennifer, finds the word “recess” a completely unfitting description of the past month). I’ve enjoyed running from pillar to post around our region.
Like many of you, I also enjoyed celebrating Labor Day weekend. This past weekend wasn’t just a time for summer festivals and barbecues (though I will confess to spending some quality time at the Bremerton Blackberry Festival...and quality time with my grill).
It was also an important time to reflect on the meaningful contributions that hardworking men and women have made on behalf of our country.
As the President stated this weekend, “The eight-hour workday, 40-hour workweek, weekends. Overtime and the minimum wage. Safer workplaces. Health insurance, Social Security, Medicare, and retirement plans. All of those gains were fought for and won by the labor movement – folks who were working not just for a bigger paycheck for themselves, but for more security and prosperity for the folks working next to them as well. That’s how we built the great American middle class.”
To me, it’s important not just to celebrate those past accomplishments. We need to redouble our efforts to help America’s working families.
It’s time for Congress to pass a real budget that protects the interests of the middle class (rather than one grounded in mindless sequester cuts).
It’s time for Congress to pass a Highway Bill that invests in the America’s roads and transit systems - and America’s competitiveness.
It’s time for Congress to protect Medicare and Social Security so every retiree - now and in the future - has certainty and the ability to retire with dignity.
It’s time to raise the federal minimum wage so people working 40 hours per week, 52 weeks a year, aren’t earning a salary that puts them below the poverty line.
It’s time for Congress to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act and embrace the simple notion of equal pay for equal work.
There’s plenty more that must be done. And that requires Congress to not just get back to D.C. - it also needs to get to work.
Read on for more on what I’m doing to help workers breathe a bit easier.
Employing Local Workers
Earlier this month I joined Republican Representative David Joyce in calling on the Administration to renew its efforts to promote the use of Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) for federal construction projects. PLA’s are a tool that allow construction firms and labor unions to bargain over the terms and conditions of large, complex construction projects before they begin. This tool has been proven to help significant projects come in on time and on budget.
We have a great example of just how effective and efficient PLA projects can be with the Navy’s largest ongoing military construction project - the construction of a new wharf at Naval Base Kitsap. A project originally thought to cost $715 million is on its way to come in at under $400 million.
With tight budgets and even tighter milestones, our nation can stay on the path to success by maintaining the continued use of PLAs.
You can read more in the Kitsap Sun here.
Helping Workers Make Ends Meet
You may remember a few weeks back I encouraged you to share your thoughts about the President’s Department of Labor proposal to extend overtime pay to nearly 5 million workers.
Thanks to all who submitted their comments by last week’s deadline!
To me, it’s important that folks who work overtime get paid for working overtime. Throughout the coming months I’ll be sure to continue to update you on this proposal.
Keeping Teachers Out of Debt
My folks were both public school teachers and they taught me to value education. Education is the great equalizer - opening doors to economic opportunity. As your representative, one of my priorities has been to ensure that every student - in every school - has access to a top-notch teacher.
Unfortunately, programs designed to attract our best teachers to schools most in need are not getting the job done. From Federal Stafford and Perkins Loan Forgiveness for Teachers to TEACH grants, the current options available to teachers have failed to attract and retain high talent in our classrooms.
I joined my colleagues to introduce a bipartisan, bicameral bill that creates a more effective program to gives teachers the right support so they can make a difference in the lives of kids everywhere. To encourage talented teachers to make their mark helping students learn we need to make sure they are not left with crippling loan payments and substantial debt.
Read on for some of the highlights from the past two weeks!
Protecting Puget Sound
Like many of you, I care about maintaining a healthy Puget Sound. An icon of our region, the Sound is a cornerstone that supports tourism, fishing, shellfish harvesting, and other important industries.
In our ongoing effort to protect the Sound, last week my colleague Denny Heck and I hosted a field hearing as part of the Puget Sound Recovery Caucus. We joined members of the community along with Tribal, State and Local governments to discuss the need for greater federal participation and coordination in Puget Sound recovery and legislation we’re working on together. Our work toward a healthy Puget Sound is only just beginning - stay tuned for more.
Working for You
I was happy to participate in a panel discussion focused on reforming money in politics. A big thank you to the Jefferson County League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women for hosting this important event focused on addressing the influence of money in politics and what can be done to ensure that ‘We the People’ have a voice in our democracy.
Whether by bike, ferry, bus, or car folks in our region use all types of transportation to get around. I partnered with Downtown on the Go to chat one-on-one with bus riders in Tacoma last week. It was great to hear from so many folks about their concerns with the state of our transportation system (and other topics as well). Thanks to everyone who shared some of the issues they care about.
Sophie and I made the trip to Neah Bay for Makah Days. Our day began with a pit stop at Cockadoodle Doughnuts in Port Angeles. We couldn’t pass up a chance to try their peach fritters!
We were soaked - but honored to join Makah Chairman TJ Green and my friend Joe McGimpsey at the end of the Makah Days Parade. The storm that hit Neah Bay that day was as rough as I've seen. What a reminder of how important it is to take care of your neighbors.
Calling High School Students to Our Service Academy Night Open House
As your Representative, each year I have the privilege of nominating a limited number of highly qualified individuals to attend four service academies. In the upcoming weeks I will be hosting a Service Academy Night Open House for those interested in learning more about the academy application and nomination process. We will have representatives from the Service Academies available to answer your questions. We will also provide a brief overview of the process to compete for a nomination. If you know of an individual that is interested, please forward this information.
The event details are as follows:
September 15, 2015
5:00PM-6:30PM
Bremerton School District Administration Building Board Room
134 Marion Avenue North
Bremerton, WA 98312
To find out more information about the process my office uses to select nominees, visit my website at this link. If you have questions about the event, call my Tacoma office at (253) 272-3515.
Protecting Our National Security
Let me end by discussing what is likely to be the most consequential issue on which Congress will engage this year - the proposed nuclear deal with Iran.
After a great deal of reflection I’ve decided to support the Joint Plan of Action with Iran for one simple reason: I believe this deal represents our best chance to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.
Please go to my website at this link to read my statement on this important issue.
Thanks to all those who shared their thoughts on this critical matter.
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