A Day in the Life in D.C. and Updates on Rural Health Care
Hello Folks –
I hope this finds you I hope this finds you well. It’s been a busy few weeks – so let’s dive right in!
OK – on to the news.
Showing Up in D.C.
Members of Congress spend a lot of time running from pillar to post across their districts, meeting with folks to hear their concerns and answer their questions. But what about when we’re in D.C.? I’m frequently asked, “what does the average day look like for you?”
So, I thought I’d give you a sneak peek at what a day in D.C. looks like.
Without further ado, I give you: Thursday, March 23rd, 2023.
7 a.m. – Wake up and get rolling
I often start at 6 a.m., but on the 23rd I had a later-than-usual start. I generally eat some granola and pound two cups of coffee (caffeine helps me handle the time difference when I’m in D.C.).
8 a.m. – Walk to the Longworth House Office Building
8:30 a.m. – Call one of my colleagues
I kicked my day off with a conversation with one of my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee. We discussed some of our priorities heading into that day’s subcommittee hearings. In fact, on this day, I met with top administration officials in three separate hearings in one day. Meetings like these are an important opportunity for me to advocate for our region’s priorities in hopes of making the federal government work better for folks in our region.
9 a.m. – Meet with the Port of Grays Harbor
Did you know that the Port of Grays Harbor recently received a $25.5 million grant for a terminal expansion – made possible by the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law last year? I met with leaders from the Port to discuss how things are coming along.
9:15 a.m. – Meet with Shani Watkins, the Director of West Sound Tech (and her son Owen)
I’m a big supporter of career and technical education because it helps kids prepare for success in life. Shani and I chatted about the great work they’re doing and how the federal government can support it.
9:30 a.m. – Attend Interior & Environment Subcommittee Hearing
Then it was off to the Rayburn Building for the first of my appropriations hearings. On the Olympic Peninsula, we aren’t getting what we need from the Forest Service to keep forests healthy and support our mill infrastructure. I asked the agency’s chief about plans to address these issues that persist in our neck of the woods.
10 a.m. – Attend Defense Subcommittee Hearing
After questioning the Forest Service, I ran up three flights of stairs to attend the Defense Subcommittee hearing. Recent changes to the Military Health System have resulted in the downsizing of several Military Treatment Facilities, including Naval Hospital Bremerton in our neck of the woods. That’s why I asked Department of Defense leaders (Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Mark Milley) how they plan to improve health care for service members in places like Kitsap County.
11 a.m. – Attend Energy & Water Subcommittee Hearing
From there, I jumped a few doors over for yet another meeting – this time with the Secretary of the Department of Energy, Jennifer Granholm. I’m proud to represent the Department of Energy’s only Marine and Coastal Research Laboratory in our region. The marine energy research at the PNNL-Sequim campus plays a critical role in driving our regional economy and our ability to confront climate change. I asked Secretary Granholm about the importance of the Department of Energy research in the Pacific Northwest and more.
12:30 p.m. – Attend New Dem Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Lunch
After the hearing, I rushed to the Capitol Visitor Center for a lunch meeting focused on mental health and substance issues. We know we had challenges related to mental health and substance misuse before the pandemic. Sadly, those challenges have been exacerbated in recent years. That’s why, at this lunch meeting, I met with the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the Assistant Secretary in charge of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. I raised a specific concern with them regarding ensuring that our servicemembers and veterans are getting the care they need when they need it. As a co-chair of the Military Mental Health Task Force, our servicemembers’ mental health is one of my top priorities.
1:15 p.m. – Meet with Fawn Sharp, Vice President of the Quinault Indian Nation and President of the National Congress of American Indians
Then, I ran back to the Longworth Building. It’s important to me to check in with our tribal partners and ensure that the federal government is fulfilling its treaty obligations. It was great getting to sit down with Vice President Sharp last week to hear about the Quinault Indian Nation’s priorities and how I can be a partner moving forward.
1:45 p.m. VOTES
I dashed to the Capitol for a series of votes related to an education bill.
2 p.m. – 3 p.m. Three more meetings
I then ran back to the Longworth Building and met with the Bipartisan Policy Center, my policy staff, and a group of professors advocating for research funding.
3 p.m. House Administration Committee Oversight Hearing
Then I ran to the House Admin Committee Room for a hearing in which we discussed the response by Congress to the COVID pandemic. We heard testimony from the Office of the Attending Physician, and I asked him about lessons learned.
4 p.m. – 5 p.m. Four constituent meetings
Then, it was back to my office for a flurry of meetings with folks from our district. It started with a meeting with advocates for early learning from Tacoma and Bremerton with whom I discussed the importance of adequately compensating Head Start teachers. Then I met with leaders from an innovative Tacoma manufacturer, leaders from housing authorities in our region who are pushing for funding for affordable housing, and leaders from our state Conservation Commission.
5:15 p.m. – Speak to the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association
Then it was off to the basement of the Capitol where I met with the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association. Every day, our ports and waterways play a critical role in our state’s economy, helping contribute to job creation and enabling Washington state producers to send their products to almost any market in the world. That’s just one reason why I’m a strong supporter of federal funding for small ports and emerging harbors throughout the Pacific Northwest.
5:30 – 7:15 p.m. More votes
7:45 p.m. Back to my apartment
I ended my day with a quick dinner and then with a couple of hours of returning phone calls from folks in our district and another hour or so preparing for the next day. Then I talked with my youngest kiddo and went to bed.
In other words, every day is an adventure! And every day it’s an honor to serve you!
Investing in Rural Healthcare
I know all too well how important it is to ensure that residents in our most rural areas can receive dependable health care when they need it. From cancer patients to senior citizens, the need for accessible health care across the Olympic Peninsula is significant. As the representative for our region, I’m committed to ensuring that the federal government does its part to provide folks with the health care they rely on.
I’m excited to share that Jefferson Healthcare’s Expanding Healthcare for Rural Seniors project has been selected as one of the fifteen community project funding requests that my office will submit this year. This project aims to open a new clinic that will provide access to neurological, pulmonary, ENT, and geriatric care to hundreds of patients on the Olympic Peninsula
As the only community-owned and operated integrated healthcare system in Jefferson County, Jefferson Healthcare provides care and critical services to more than 30,000 patients across the Olympic Peninsula. I know that the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation have put a strain on our health care system, and by extension the senior patients it serves. That’s why, in a county where more than 41% of the population is over the age of 65, it is crucial that the federal government plays its part to get folks care.
I was in Port Townsend on Friday and met with the team at Jefferson Healthcare. I’m proud to support this project, and I look forward to helping our senior residents get the care they need – where they need it.
Working for You
Powering Our Economy
Governments should be technologically equipped to provide essential services and help small businesses grow and thrive. Thank you to the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber Technology Engagement Center of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for meeting with me to discuss how technology helps power our economy.
Restoring Puget Sound
Puget Sound is critical to the environmental and economic future of our region. I was proud to join Commissioner of Public Lands for Washington DNR, Hilary Franz, Mayor Victoria Woodards, Makah Chairman TJ Green, Washington State Representative Kristine Reeves, and others in Tacoma to talk about efforts in D.C. and Olympia to protect and restore the Sound.
OK – that’s it for now, folks. As always, I’m honored to represent you.
Sincerely,
Derek Kilmer