A Blueprint for Supporting Our Troops
Hello Folks –
I hate to start my newsletter with tough news, but our region suffered a difficult blow last week when the Hurricane Ridge Lodge was destroyed in a fire. Having grown up in Port Angeles, I have countless memories from my time on the Ridge, and – like many people in our region – I understand its significance to our economy.
I’ve had a lot of people ask me: “So what happens now?”
Well, first, it’s important to note that Olympic National Park is still open for business. There are plenty of places to visit in the park (including Lake Crescent, Kalaloch, the Hoh Rain Forest, and other treasures). Additionally, the Park Service is working to ensure the road leading to the site can reopen to visitors soon. That will be critical for supporting visits to the Ridge as we head into tourist season.
Beyond that, I’m going to do all I can to ensure we have the resources to rebuild something worthy of this national treasure. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I’d worked to secure $10.8 million for the renovation of the lodge. Obviously, replacing the lodge is not technically the same as renovating it, so we may have to work through the Appropriations process again. What’s more, the cause of the fire is currently being investigated – and may determine how a rebuild is paid for. Please know that my staff and I have been in frequent contact with the folks at the park, and we’ll do all we can to support their next steps.
OK ... on to other news ...
A Blueprint for Supporting Our Servicemembers
Earlier this month, I had the privilege of welcoming Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a leader of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veteran Affairs to our region. I showed her key military construction sites at local military facilities, such as Naval Base Kitsap – Bangor, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS), American Lake VA Medical Center, and Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As the representative for our region, I serve over 75,000 veterans and more than 15,000 active-duty personnel. Military construction projects in installations throughout our area are essential for enhancing our military members' living conditions. This includes access to healthcare, dependable childcare, and available housing. Simply put, if you serve our country, the federal government should have your back. My priority is ensuring that both active-duty personnel and veterans, whether single or with families, receive the assistance they need. Fleet readiness is intrinsically linked to meeting our servicemembers' needs.
To meet the needs of the fleet, the Navy has proposed the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP). SIOP is a 20-year, $20 billion initiative to modernize our four public shipyards, including PSNS in Bremerton.
Our public shipyards maintain and repair nuclear-powered ships, including aircraft carriers and submarines. SIOP is vital for ensuring our fleet is prepared for current and future threats posed by adversaries such as Russia and China. This significant investment will lead to improvements in dry docks at PSNS and other crucial infrastructure projects, enhancing our fleet's readiness and enabling active-duty sailors and civilian workers to perform their jobs effectively. For example, Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz and I met the team at PSNS to discuss the need for a new dry dock so that there’s a place on the West Coast capable of servicing a Ford-class carrier.
I eagerly anticipate the progress SIOP will bring to our region and will continue advocating for the support our servicemembers and veterans deserve.
Tackling Mental Health in Our Military
As we discuss providing our servicemembers with necessary resources, I want to share some details regarding the bipartisan legislation I just introduced to address mental health issues within the U.S. Department of Defense.
The Servicemembers Mental Health Improvement Act aims to develop a strategy – led by a new mental health task force – to offer recommendations and potential solutions to the growing mental health crisis among our servicemembers. Defense Department studies show that servicemembers are five times more likely to suffer from major depression, six times more likely to experience intense anger, and 15 times more likely to struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder compared to civilians. These disorders result in the highest number of hospital stays and are the second most common reason for outpatient visits among servicemembers. I co-sponsored this legislation because urgent action is needed to address this issue.
In one of my recent meetings with a military leader, I asked him what kept him up at night. He didn’t say “budget cuts,” or “terrorists.” Rather, he told me, “The thing that keeps me up most is mental health. I’ve lost more soldiers to suicide than I have to enemy combatants.” That’s got to change. Establishing an action plan to improve overall health in the military is critical. I'm dedicated to ensuring that no service member's voice or story goes unheard and that the federal government takes responsibility for providing support when it's needed.
For more information on the Servicemembers Mental Health Improvement Act, please read this article Military.com published on my new bill.
United for Puget Sound
The recovery of Puget Sound is crucial to our region's environmental and economic future, salmon population restoration, and Tribal treaty rights. As the representative for our region, I recognize that federal funding and coordination are vital components of the solution. To ensure a unified approach, I recently co-launched the first meeting of the Puget Sound Federal Leadership Task Force, together with Representative Marilyn Strickland, as the Co-Chair of the Puget Sound Recovery Caucus.
The task force, alongside the Puget Sound Recovery National Program Office in Washington state – which I helped establish– will significantly contribute to the restoration and protection of Puget Sound. The inaugural meeting enabled various government agencies and Western Washington Tribes to start the process of implementing a five-year federal action plan focused on Puget Sound restoration and addressing Tribal treaty rights.
Additionally, last week, the annual Puget Sound 'Day on the Hill' event took place, where community and Tribal leaders came to DC and discussed federal priorities for Puget Sound restoration and tribal treaty rights. This event has become an essential part of our ongoing efforts to recover Puget Sound and build a better future for everyone.
All participants in this event have a deeply rooted reason for caring about Puget Sound’s recovery and the ecosystem it supports. For me, it’s about my children and their generation. Right now, we’re striving to protect these treasures – water, salmon, oysters, orcas, and everything else – for future generations. I am grateful that we’ve found a way to build upon this crucial conversation, and I’ll keep fighting to protect Puget Sound for future Washingtonians.
Working for You
Connecting Pets to People
It was great to connect with the folks at Prison Pet Partnership. By training service dogs, incarcerated people improve their chances of employment after being released. Trained service dogs are then placed in caring homes to help individuals with disabilities – talk about a win-win!
Working to Address Homelessness
I recently met Norm at the Fife Jobs Program – providing tiny homes and city jobs to folks experiencing chronic homelessness. I am grateful to the leaders in Fife for taking innovative action to help address homelessness and workforce development in our neck of the woods!
Advocating for the LGBTQ2SA Community
Congratulations to Quincy Tyson, Executive Director at the Rainbow Center on the new role. For more than 20 years, the Rainbow Center has served as a resource hub for the LGBTQ community in South Puget Sound. Through education, advocacy, and celebration, the Rainbow Center expands resources and safe space for everyone in our community.
Supporting Local Businesses
I recently had a great meeting with the team from Baker Manufacturing in Tacoma. They’re a third-generation family business and supplier to jet, spaceship, and submarine builders for more than five decades. I’m grateful for all of the local manufacturers who do business in our region!
OK – that’s it for now, folks. As always, I’m honored to represent you.
Sincerely,
Derek Kilmer