Press Releases
Kilmer to Hold Telephone Town Hall
Tacoma, WA - On Wednesday, November 17 at 6:30pm PT, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) will hold a telephone town hall to provide an update on the federal government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to answer questions from constituents. In addition, Rep. Kilmer will discuss the recently passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which aims to create good-paying jobs, modernize the nation's infrastructure, and reduce carbon pollution - and the ongoing effort to pass the Build B… Continue Reading
11.05.21
Kilmer Votes to Create Jobs & Support Historic Bipartisan Investment in American Infrastructure
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) voted to support the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act - the largest long-term investment in America's infrastructure and competitiveness in nearly a century. The bill includes $550 billion in new federal funding for infrastructure in communities across the country. This bill passed the Senate with a bipartisan vote of 69-30 on August 10, 2021 and passed the House with a bipartisan vote of 228-206 today. "This infr… Continue Reading
10.28.21
Kilmer Statement on Build Back Better Framework
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) released the following statement in response to President Biden announcing the Build Back Better framework: "Today, President Biden announced the Build Back Better framework - a historic investment in middle class families, in creating jobs, and in combatting the climate crisis. The framework announced today is about recognizing that middle class families and folks struggling to make ends meet deserve a break. It's about recogniz… Continue Reading
10.21.21
House Passes Kilmer’s Bipartisan Legislation to Help Communities Address Ongoing Opioid Crisis
Washington, DC - On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Drug-Free Communities Pandemic Relief Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and Dave Joyce (OH-14) to provide flexibility for community programs focused on the prevention of drug abuse and misuse. Specifically, the legislation helps Drug-Free Communities (DFC) coalitions during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure they can continue to serve local communities. The legislation temporarily… Continue Reading
10.21.21
Kilmer Calls for Robust Affordable Housing Investments
Washington, DC - On Monday, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) joined Rep. Ritchie Torres (NY-15) and over 120 colleagues in Congress to express support for keeping robust affordable housing investments in the Build Back Better Act. The letter, which was sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Leader Chuck Schumer, calls for any final legislation to include investments in affordable, accessible homes for America's lowest-income and most marginalized people. "Even before the pandemic… Continue Reading
10.20.21
Kilmer Urges Passage of Freedom to Vote Act
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) urged the Senate to move forward with the Freedom to Vote Act. The legislation is a sweeping package of reform bills aimed at strengthening the voice of the American people in their democracy by making it easier to vote, ending the dominance of big money in the political process, and ending partisan gerrymandering. Coupled with the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, this historic legislation aims to ensure every American has… Continue Reading
10.08.21
Kilmer Hosts Appropriations Defense Subcommittee Chair and Ranking Member to Highlight Funding Needs in the Region
Bremerton, WA - On Thursday, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) hosted members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, including Chair Betty McCollum (D-MN), Ranking Member Ken Calvert (R-CA), and Cheri Bustos (D-IL), for a day-long tour in Kitsap County. The visit included a tour of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, a roundtable discussion with small businesses, and a tour of Naval Base Kitsap. "A critical part of my job is to champion the issues important to our region," said… Continue Reading
09.30.21
Kilmer, Schatz Reintroduce Legislation to Protect Federal Workers and Their Families from Losing Their Homes, Falling Behind in Paying Bills During Government Shutdowns
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) reintroduced the Federal Employee Civil Relief Act to protect federal workers and their families from foreclosures, evictions, and loan defaults during a government shutdown. The Federal Employee Civil Relief Act would enable government employees and contractors to postpone payment obligations during a shutdown and for 30 days afterward. "No family should be left trying to figure out how to pa… Continue Reading
09.24.21
Kilmer, Kitsap County Commissioners Announce $10 Million Federal Grant for Kitsap County Defense Infrastructure Project
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners announced that they had successfully secured a $10 million federal grant for Kitsap County for the Bangor/Keyport Forcemain Replacement project - which will help fund the replacement of the sanitary sewer service force main break that supports Naval Base Kitsap (NBK)-Bangor. The grant, which Rep. Kilmer advocated for earlier this year in a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Defense, was awa… Continue Reading
09.23.21
Kilmer Helps Introduce the ‘Protecting Our Democracy Act’ to Restore, Strengthen, and Protect America’s Democracy
Washington, DC - On Tuesday, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) helped introduce the Protecting Our Democracy Act - a sweeping package of reforms that aims to strengthen America's democratic institutions against future presidents, regardless of political party, who seek to abuse the power of their office for corrupt purposes. The comprehensive proposals included in the legislation - many of which have been supported by both Democrats and Republicans in the past - aim to restore the govern… Continue Reading
09.23.21
Kilmer Votes to Support Servicemembers, Military Families, and Federal Civilian Workforce
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) voted to support H.R. 4350, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (NDAA). The bipartisan bill authorizes funding for the Department of Defense and passed the House of Representatives 316-113. "If you serve this country, Congress should have your back and invest in you and your family. I'm proud that this bill includes a number of measures to support our troops and their families," said Rep. Kilmer. "In our re… Continue Reading
09.22.21
Kilmer Encourages Local Students to Apply for Military Service Academy Nominations
Washington, DC - Today U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) encouraged students in Washington's 6th Congressional District to apply for nomination to the nation's military service academies. "It's an honor to consider students for service academy nominations," said Rep. Kilmer. "Every year there are a lot of great applications and reading through them makes pretty clear to me that our future is in good hands." As a member of Congress, Rep. Kilmer can nominate students to the U.S. Naval Aca… Continue Reading
08.16.21
Rep. Kilmer, Sen. Cantwell Tout Culvert Repair & Replacement Program in Senate-Passed Infrastructure Bill
SEATTLE, WA - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) joined U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and King County Executive Dow Constantine at an event at Carkeek Park in Seattle to tout the inclusion of $1 billion for the first-ever national grant program established to specifically address culvert impacts to anadromous fish in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) passed by the Senate. "Recently, people in the Pacific Northwest have faced horrific news regarding the potentia… Continue Reading
08.09.21
Kilmer Joins U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in Taholah to Discuss Coastal Resiliency and Relocation Efforts, Federal Funding Shortfalls to Tribal Communities
Taholah, WA - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) joined U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in Taholah, Washington, to tour the Quinault Indian Nation's Taholah Village Relocation project, an effort to move the Taholah Village to higher ground and relocate critical community facilities and housing. The Quinault Indian Nation, along with other coastal tribes in Washington, are facing increased threats from climate change, increased flooding, and the threat of tsunami - and are active… Continue Reading
07.30.21
House Passes New Federal Funding for Tribal Relocation Efforts in Western Washington
Washington, DC - On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass new critical funding that has been championed by U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) to support tribal relocation efforts in Western Washington. H.R. 4502, a package of seven fiscal year 2022 appropriations bills that passed the House, included $1,479,355 in federal funding for the Quileute Tribe's Move to Higher Ground water system improvement project and $500,000 in federal funding to help the Quinault Indian Na… Continue Reading
07.29.21
Kilmer, Strickland Secure Historic Funding Increase for Puget Sound Restoration
Washington, DC - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve $50 million in federal funding in fiscal year 2022 for the Puget Sound Geographic Program, which provides critical grant support to state, local, and tribal governments to implement projects to improve water quality, protect shorelines, and enhance fish passage and salmon habitat. The $12 million increase, which Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) fought to secure as a member of the Appropriations Committee, would bring … Continue Reading
07.22.21
House Appropriations Committee Advances New Federal Funding to Support Affordable Housing & Jobs on Tacoma’s Hilltop
Washington, DC - Last Friday, the House Appropriations Committee advanced new federal funding that has been championed by U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) to support two projects that aim to provide more affordable housing and job opportunities in the Hilltop neighborhood of Tacoma. The investments aim to revitalize a historic Tacoma neighborhood and to help ensure the residential and business spaces will be attainable to community residents and BIPOC-owned businesses. The House Appropr… Continue Reading
07.22.21
Kilmer, Coons, Herrera Beutler Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Spur Economic Growth & Create Jobs
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), along with Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03), introduced the bipartisan Rebuilding Economies and Creating Opportunities for More People Everywhere to Excel Act (RECOMPETE Act). The RECOMPETE Act would establish a new federal grant program at the Economic Development Agency (EDA) that would empower persistently distressed communities to develop, implement, and carry out 10-year economi… Continue Reading
07.21.21
Kilmer Pushes for Northern Border to Re-Open
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) released the following statement after the United States announced it will extend the Canada-U.S. border closure through August 21. "Having grown up in Port Angeles, I know how important tourism is to our region's economy. I was heartened when Canada announced it would ease border restrictions on August 9 for people who are fully vaccinated, but it's disappointing that our country hasn't followed suit. I'm concerned this will cont… Continue Reading
07.19.21
Kilmer Leads 100+ Members in Calling for American Leadership to Support Global Education
Washington, DC - Last week, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) led over 100 Members of the House of Representatives in a bipartisan letter to the Biden Administration calling for support for a $1 billion, five-year pledge to the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) - a multilateral partnership working to ensure all children have access to a quality education and are equipped to learn. In their letter, the lawmakers noted that continued U.S. leadership and financial commitments are criti… Continue Reading